Chapter six

I pushed his chest away, with all the strength I had in me. His head hit the porcelain. The door banged behind me as I ran out, my heels clicking rapidly on the floor.

My shoulder hit a guest walking toward me, I bent down to pick up my purse without looking up. 

Nikolai stood with the guest. He turned to look at me, quickly signaled to one of the waiters and passed him the glass.

He walked toward me and grabbed my wrist. His hands felt like iron, he stared into my eyes, scanning left and right, he said nothing.

He then turned to the crowd. The waiter stood in front. He took a fresh spoon and a glass cup. 

He tapped the rim three times. The ringing sound cut through the room. Heads turned to our direction.

Silence fell. I lowered my head and my skin felt hot under the stage lights.

“I apologize for the interruption.” My husband said, bowing his head.

“I appreciate your presence. Y'all stand for me and my wife.” He slowly turned his head to look at me, I softly curved my lips. 

“My wife is tired and she needs my company. Please enjoy the evening and the moment.” He raised his glass.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.” The crowd lifted their glass of wine up in the air and responded. 

Nikolai had a long drink. He handed the glass away and wiped away the little stain on his lip with his thumb.

He didn't look at me again, he led me toward the elevator. 

The door slid open, he stepped in first and I followed.

The small space felt like a cage. The scent of his expensive cologne choked me.

“Babe?” My voice cracked.

No, not now. He didn't look at me, instead he stared at the glowing floor number 4,5,6. 

I swallowed. The elevator bell rang, the door slid open to our room. 

He stepped out first and struggled with his tie. I leaned on the couch, my fingers trembled as I unbuckled my heels. The strap dug into my ankle. I walked to the wardrobe to find a robe. 

A hand held my neck tight and pulled my hair backward. My head snapped towards the ceiling, I struggled with his fingers. 

“Please, stop.” I cried.

“Why did you want to embarrass me?” He squeezed my neck harder.

I gasped for air, my vision became blurred and tapped his hands. 

He didn't move. He was too strong.

Elena was right. Now that Nikolai knew the truth, he would kill me. I could die tonight.

My eyes became blurred until I didn't notice anything in the room.

He let go, I collapsed.

I hit the floor, I coughed continuously. Each breath felt like swallowing shards of glass. 

I got to my feet and ran to the guest room. I turned to lock the door behind me. I moved the couch and table to the door. 

I slowly fell on the floor, and cried until my eyes swelled. My chest tightened.

The sun hit my face, I slowly opened my eyes. I quickly rushed to sit down then scanned the room. 

I took a deep breath and lay down.

I grabbed my phone under the pillow, my eyes landed on the time.

5:44am.

“Thank goodness I was still alive,” I muttered.

I pushed the couch from the door and the table with all my strength. I twisted the keys and headed towards the kitchen.

I needed to fix this, so I pulled onions and carrots from the fridge. The knife hit the wood in a steady rhythm. Thwack, thwack, thwack. The smell of the food filled the kitchen.

I walked to the dinner table, set two plates, two forks, perfectly aligned.

Nikolai walked down the stairs, he adjusted his silk tie. I forced my lips into a curve.

“Good morning,” I said.

He walked past me without a response. He didn't blink.

I stepped into his path. He stopped.

“I made breakfast.” I kept smiling.

He looked at the table. He lifted the lid and steam rose.

“Did you cook this?”

I nodded. I waited for a smile.

My hands hid behind my back so he wouldn't see them shake. 

He smirked. 

He pushed the plate, it slid across the table and fell. He walked out and slammed the door behind him.

I slowly sat down on the tiles and cried until the house went silent.

Evening came. I wore a brown sexy silk dress. Ready for dinner with my husband, I sat on the couch. The clock ticked 8:00 PM, then 9:00 PM.

My eyes slowly closed and opened again, it was 10:00 PM.

I stood up and paced back and forth. I stared at the wall in the living room waiting for my husband.

My phone buzzed on the dinner table. I rushed over to pick it. 

The screen displayed ‘Husband’, and I swiped right.

I gently placed the phone on my ear.

“Hello?” 

“Yulia, come to the hospital down the street.” My husband's voice became very flat.

“What?” 

“Are you sick?”

“Why are you there?”

The line went dead. I grabbed my car keys and ran to the car.

The hospital smelled of antiseptic. I found him sitting on a chair. His suit was wrinkled, he stared at his hands.

“Nikolai.” 

He looked up. His eyes were tiny.

“Sit down,” he pointed at the chair beside him.

I sat down, my hands were on my lap and m

y heart began to beat faster.

“Someone was involved in an accident,” he said, staring at the floor.

“Who?”