Bound by lies Trapped by Desire novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Elena’s POV:

“Elenal Why are you doing this?” Serge’s voice rang out, too now to sound authoritative “I’ve loved my whole life not knowing my wife left me with a daughter in this worldTM

My heart stuttered once, but I didn’t let it show. I didn’t give him that power.

My eyes flicked to the bodyguard standing just a few feet from him, his hand resting with quiet purpose on the grip of his holstered gun. Then my gaze tumed to the woman beside me. The only woman who had ever really mattered,

Beatrix My mother.

I swallowed down the lump clawing up my throat and looked Sergel dead in the eye. “Well then you can live the rest of your life thinking that as well!

His expression faltered. For the first time since he stepped foot in this house, Sergei Morozov looked shaken. Not furious. Not condescen

Just shaken.

He looked between my mother and me, like trying to decode something that no longer made sense. Like he couldn’t fathom how the story had turned out this way.

“Is it because of her?” he asked finally, his voice quieter, but with a growing edge. “This woman? She’s not your real mother. She didn’t give birth to you.”

The words hit like a slap

I didn’t flinch.

“And yet she was beside me,” said calmly, biting back the crack in my voice, “when I needed adults the most.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You don’t understand, do you, Sergei?” I continued, straightening my spine until my posture matched the fire inside me. “My childhood is over. I’m an adult now. The time when I needed parents is gone. It passed. And during that time?” 1 pointed at Beatrix. “She was the one who hold my hand during fevers. She was the one who scrubbed vomit out of bedsheets. She carried me through panic attacks. Through my illness. Through rights I couldn’t breathe. Through years where I thought dying might be easier.”

My voice trembled.

“And where were you?”

Sergei didn’t move.

“Where were you when she went hungry to buy my medication? When debt collectors knocked on our door in the middle of the night? When I sat in school with bruises on my arms because we couldn’t afford heating and I got frostbite on my walk there?”

I took a deep breath, blinking back angry tears. “You weren’t there. And your money wasn’t there. What was there was your company. Your business that ruined our lives.”

His ja ticked.

“It doesn’t matter whether you knew or not. The damage was done. You were the root of it. You don’t get to walk in now and pretend you. I never needed you. So, you can leave,”

Idon’tored

The silence that followed was thunderous. My chest rose and fell quickly as adrenaline cooled in my veins, every word I’d hurled into the air echoing back

1/4

Chapter 89

like a wardruin

I’d never spoken like that to a man older than me. Not like that. Hot with that kind of fire. That kind of fury. That kind of truth.

My mother had always taught me to be respectful, especially to elders, She’d slapped my hand once just for raising my voice it a leacher

But right now? I didn’t Eare.

I had stared the devil in the face, and I didn’t blink.

Serge’s gaze darkened. The pain flickering in his eyes was buried quickly, like a shutter slammed down over it. His back stayed straight, arms still at his sides, but something in his face bined hollow.

“I’m not saying you need me,” he said at last, his voice lower now, oddly quiet. “But I can give you many things that you want. Things notaven that

Nikolai can afford.”

Iblinked.

Was he serious?

Ilet out a bitter laugh, breathless and sharp, and turned away from him, pacing a few feet to collect myself. I ran both hands through my hair, gripping the strands for a second, grounding myself with the pressure.

Then I turned back to face him, disbelief coating every syllable.

“Are you… bribing me?” I said slowly, as though my brain couldn’t quite process how ridiculous it sounded out loud.

I turned to my mother, searching her face for confirmation that I hadn’t just imagined it. Her expression was tight, but resigned, like she’d already expected this outcome from the moment Sergei first darkened our doorway.

“My goodness,” I said, laughing again. But there was no humor in it. “I can’t believe this.”

“I don’t need anything from you,” I said finally, my voice hardening. “Nothing, I’ve already paid too high a price for the scraps of comfort I get in life. And i definitely don’t need to owe another man something I can never repay”

Because somewhere deep down, I knew the truth.

That with Nikolai, too, I would never be free. No matter what he said. No matter how many times he claimed towed him nothing

I felt it. That debt. That weight. That tether wrapped around my throat.

Even if earned every cent and repaid it, my own emotional debt would remain. The debt he owed me.

Because even if I did want to repay him, I couldn’t. And maybe.. maybe a part of me didn’t want to

And that was the worst part.

I caught movement from the corner of my eye. The bodyguard had leaned down, his lips close to Sergel’s ear. His whisper was low, but just close enough for me to catch fragments.

close down unconscious location”

Istiffened.

My fists clenched at my sides.

What the hell were they talking about?

I stepped slightly forward, heart beginning to race again.

A

Chapter 89

Serger’s brow furrowed, then he let out a soft sigh its expression twisted in mild frustration before he gave a short shake of his hai

He waved a hand dismissively.

“Let’s leave,” he said at last, turning foward the door. His eyes lingered on me for a long, stretched moment something unreadable ficting brkind thens

Then he looked at my mother, nodded once like this was just a formality, and walked out of the house with the grace of a man who believed he still had time on his side.

I didn’t move until Theard the front doar click shut

And

then?

Ecollapsed onto the sofa like my spine had finally given out. My knees drew up toward my chest, my arms wrapping around them, and buried hall my lace into the worn fabric of the cushions.

Mom remained standing, arms classed, watching me.

And then she turned, looking past me toward the far corner where Benjamin stillingered. She raised her chin slightly.

“You may leave too,” she said, her tone icy and final. Not cruel, but unshakable.

Benjamin paused, clearly wanting to protest. His lips parted slightly, brows drawing inward.

But then he nodded. Silent Respectful

“Yes, ma’am”

The front door opened again. Closed.

And the house fell into silence.

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