Chapter 31: The Video That Burns

Bella sat on the edge of the bed with the USB drive burning a hole in her palm. The gala dress still clung to her body, red fabric wrinkled from Mikhail’s hands. She stared at the small black stick like it could bite her.She should wait. She should tell him first.Instead she stood up, walked to the laptop on the desk, and plugged it in.The file opened right away. One video. No title. Just a date from three weeks ago.She pressed play.The video was shaky at first. A dark room. Her father sat at a table. Two men in suits stood across from him. One of them was Rossi’s guy. She recognized the face from the warehouse.Her father looked nervous. Sweaty. He kept rubbing his hands together.The taller Rossi man slid an envelope across the table. Thick. Full of cash.“This clears your debt,” the man said. “All of it. Plus extra for your trouble.”Her father stared at the envelope. “And Sofia?”“She stays safe. As long as you keep your mouth shut and your daughter stays with Lobanov.”Bella

Chapter 32: War Declared

Bella stayed in Mikhail’s lap for a long time. His arms were still around her, warm and steady. She kept the USB hidden in her fist behind his back, pressing it so hard the edges dug into her palm. She couldn’t tell him. Not yet.Mikhail kissed the side of her head. “You feel better?”She nodded against his chest. “A little.”He rubbed her back slowly. “Good. I have to go downstairs for a bit. Stay here and rest.”She lifted her head. “What’s happening?”“Business,” he said. “Nothing you need to worry about.”She watched him stand up and fix his shirt. He looked at her one more time before he left. The door clicked shut behind him.Bella waited until she was sure he was gone. Then she opened her hand. The USB drive sat there, small and dangerous. She slipped it into the pocket of the hoodie and stood up.Downstairs in the war room, Mikhail stood at the head of the table. Viktor and three other men waited.“We hit the shipment tonight,” Mikhail said. “The one coming in from the east do

Chapter 33: Jealous Fire

Mikhail stared at his phone screen. The photo showed Bella sleeping peacefully in their bed. The message underneath read: “We’re already inside.”His hand tightened around the phone until the screen cracked. He looked up at Bella, who was still catching her breath from their quick moment in the corridor.“They’re inside the penthouse,” he said.Bella’s face went pale. “What?”Mikhail grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the stairs. “We’re not staying here. Viktor, get the car ready. We’re moving to the safe house.”The whole building was still in chaos from the evacuation. People rushed past them. Sirens kept blaring. Mikhail kept Bella close the entire way, one arm around her waist like he was afraid she would disappear.In the car, he didn’t let go of her hand. His thumb rubbed over her knuckles again and again.When they finally reached the safe house outside the city, Mikhail still looked angry. He walked her inside, checked every room himself, then locked the door behind them.

Chapter 34: Sickness and Secrets

Bella woke up with her stomach turning. The feeling hit her fast. She sat up slowly, one hand pressed to her belly. Mikhail was still asleep beside her, one arm thrown over her waist. His breathing was deep and even.She slipped out of bed carefully. Her legs felt weak. The room spun a little as she walked to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before she threw up.Her whole body shook. She held onto the seat, breathing hard between heaves. When it finally stopped, she flushed and sat back against the wall. Sweat covered her forehead.Mikhail appeared in the doorway. He looked worried. “Bella?”“I’m okay,” she said. Her voice sounded weak. “Just… bad dream. Made me sick.”He walked over and crouched in front of her. Touched her forehead with the back of his hand. “You feel warm.”She tried to smile. “It’s nothing. Stress from everything that’s happening.”He didn’t look convinced. He helped her stand up and walked her back to the bed. “You’re not training today. Stay here a

Chapter 35: The Father’s Reckoning

Bella sat on the edge of the bed with the pregnancy test still in her hand. Two pink lines stared back at her. She felt numb. The chain around her neck felt heavier than ever. She slipped the test back into the drawer and closed it fast.Mikhail was downstairs in another meeting. She had time.She walked to the closet and pulled out her old hoodie. The burner phone was still hidden in the pocket. She turned it on. The message from her father was still there. She read it again. Her hands started shaking.The door opened.Mikhail walked in. He stopped when he saw her sitting there with the phone.“What’s that?” he asked.Bella tried to hide it behind her back. Too late.He crossed the room in three steps. Took the phone from her hand. Looked at the screen.His face changed. First confusion. Then anger.He read the old messages. The ones where her father told her to come home. The ones where he said the Lobanovs would burn everything.Mikhail’s voice came out low. “You kept this from me?

Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 35

Chapter 31: The Video That Burns

Chapter 32: War Declared

Chapter 33: Jealous Fire

Chapter 34: Sickness and Secrets

Chapter 35: The Father’s Reckoning