Andreas.

Mirella's POV

“Jaxon, he threw me out,” I sobbed into the phone, my voice barely audible over the rain hammering the roof of the cab. “He doesn’t want me anymore.”

The driver's eyes flicked at me in the rearview mirror, his gaze was pitying, cautious, Then turned back to the road. I pressed my forehead against the cold window, watching the Belgrave skyline blur into streaks of light.

“Slow down,” my brother’s voice came through, low and tight. “What the hell do you mean threw you out? Where are you?”

“I, I don’t know,” I stammered. “I just left. I couldn’t stay there. He…he said he wants a divorce. Jax, he’s leaving me for Liora.”

Silence. Then a hissed curse. “That son of a, Mirella, listen to me. I’m coming back tonight.”

“No, no, you can’t.” I wiped my face with my sleeve. “You told me you have important meetings and conferences for the next day,“

“To hell with the conference!” he barked. Then his tone softened, breaking at the edges. “You’re crying, I can hear it. Little sister, I’m so sorry. I should’ve, “

“Don’t,” I whispered. “Please don’t apologize, this is not your fault, Jaxon. I don’t know what to do...”

I didn’t realize how desperate I sounded until the words left me. Jaxon was the only person I could call. Mother would only lecture and ridicule me. I doubt she’d even let me stay the night. And Tessa, well, she’d want to kill Nikolai before I even had a chance to take in all that'd happened.

There was rustling on the line, the sound of him pacing, “Okay, you need somewhere safe to stay. Don’t go to a hotel, the tabloids will sniff it out. You remember Andreas?”

My stomach flipped. 

“Andreas voss?”

“Yeah.”

“ I can’t,” I said quickly. Andreas was jaxons best friend from when they were toddlers. He was tall, steady and always watching with that unreadable expression.

Andreas and I were never close. In fact, I had settled on the fact that maybe he hated me. Whenever I would come around them, he’d leave. He never smiled or uttered more than 10 words to me whenever we talk.

“You can, and you will,” his tone hardened. “He’s the only person I trust when I’m not there. He’ll take care of you.”

I stared at the rain sliding down the window, the city lights bending through it. I hadn’t seen Andreas in years.

“He won’t want me there,” I murmured.

“Mirella,” Jaxon said, his voice gentler now, “Andreas will protect you, he’ll take care of you. I’m calling him now. Text me where you are.”

Before I could protest again, the line went dead.

I stared at my reflection in the glass, smudged makeup, swollen eyes, my hands trembled as I typed out my location.

The driver cleared his throat. “Ma’am, you sure you’re okay?”

I forced a shaky smile. “Just a bad night.”

I said as I signaled him to stop in front of a closed coffee shop, the rain was still pouring heavily.

A few minutes later. My phone vibrated.

It was an unknown number.

Unknown number: stay where you are. I’m coming to get you.

My breath caught, Jaxon had really called him.

My mind kept replaying the last hour, the envelope, the papers, Nikolai’s blank expression. Everytime I blinked, I saw his back as he walked away.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, a protective reflex I had gotten. As the cold from the rain bit at my skin.

“Soon,” I whispered. “I’ll figure it out. I’ll figure everything out.”

Headlights cut through the rain ahead, slowing at the intersection. A black SUV pulled up on the other side of the street.

Even through the downpour, I recognized the sharp silhouette of the man who stepped out.

Andreas.

He didn’t run, didn’t shout my name. He just opened an umbrella and walked toward me.

When he reached me. His voice is low and steady.

“You shouldn’t be out in the rain, Mirella.”

My throat tightened. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

He offered his hand. For a moment I just stared at it, the broad palm, the water dripping from his sleeve. My pride screamed to refuse, to say I was fine, to keep some shred of dignity, but the exhaustion won. I placed my hand in his.

It was warm and I clung to that warmth.

He guided me to his SUV, tucked me under the umbrella, then helped with my suitcase like it weighed nothing. When we were both inside, silence filled the car except for the rain tapping against the roof.

I could smell his cologne, woody, rich, and intoxicating.

“You didn’t have to,“ I began.

He cut in softly. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight, mirella.” The way my name rolled off his tongue.

Something in the way he said it, no pity, no judgement, made my chest ache.

“Jaxon called,“

“Yes he called me, he’s furious.” His jaw tightened. “If he weren’t halfway across the world, your husband would already be bleeding.”

I looked away.

The rest of the drive passed in heavy silence. My mind drifted to the envelope sitting on the table, probably already signed by him. I hadn’t even bothered to check.

We reached Andreas’s estate.

“Come inside,” he said, quietly stepping out before I could argue.

I followed him through the front door. The warmth hit me instantly. My soaked dress clung to my skin.

He disappeared for a moment, returning with a towel. “Here.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, drying my hair. My voice shook. “I’m sorry for showing up like this. I must look pathetic.”

“Stop apologizing mirella, you’ve seen better days, yes, but you do not look pathetic.” He said, his eyes away from me.

My lips trembled, but I forced the tears back. “I’ll find a hotel tomorrow. I just…need to rest tonight.”

“You’re staying here,” he says firmly. “End of discussion.”

He motioned towards the hallway. “Guest rooms ready. There’s soup in the kitchen for you to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

He studied me for a moment. 

“Try anyway.”

I nodded, though the thought of food made my stomach twist.

When i finally sat on the edge of the guest bed, exhaustion hit all at once. The house was quiet, the rain drummed steadily on the roof.

I heard footsteps pause outside my door. I heard Andreas’s voice low and unmistakable, speaking to someone over the phone.

“Yeah, she’s here. She’s safe,” he said, then after a pause, his tone darkened.

“No, Jaxon. Don’t come back yet. If he touches her again, I’ll handle it.”

I leaned closer to the door, heart pounding.

Then his next words froze me completely.

“He won’t get away with this, I swear I’ll destroy him.”