Bound by lies Trapped by Desire novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Elena’s POV

Thanted toward the reception desk then ponting and praying that Mikolai would leave. Each step took echoed too loudly, like the world its has into a bush, just watching me

My legs felt heavy, sluggish with the weight of everything I’d just taped. The throb from the most hadn’t gone away it was a dull, constant pressure in my lower abdomen, enough to make me pause minutely every few steps and breathe through it

Treached into my hoodie packet and pulled out my phone with stiff fingers, unlocking it to pay the bill.

My fingers tapped against the glass as the payment processed. The receptionist smiled politely, her gaze dropping to the printed prescription that peeked out of the folder tucked in my open bag.

“All done, Ms. Kovalyova. Take care of yourself, alright?” she said, her voice syrupy and soft, like she already knew too much like maybe she’d seen girls like me walk in and out with the same hollow eyes and trembling hands,

I nodded mutely and turned to leave–only to find a tall, immovable wall of dark fabric blocking my way

Of course it was him. Of course he was still here.

My stomach dropped, twisting and knotting into itself clenched the folder tighter under my arm, suddenly hyper–aware of how fragile In

I stepped to the side, trying to bypass him without a word, but he mirrored the movement.

“Elena”

His voice was almost a growl.

God, why did it still have to feel so hard?

Before I could step away again, he reached forward and caught my wrist–his grip firm, not hurting, but firm enough to halt me.

“Nikolai,” hissed through clenched teeth, glancing around. “People are staring”

must’ve looked.

“I don’t care,” he said, dragging his free hand through his hair. His tie was askew, like he’d rushed out of somewhere without stopping to fix it. “Elena. please. Don’t do this, I know I messed up. I know this is all my fault. But I’ll fix it. I’ll fix everything, just-

“You can’t fix things that have already happened,” Isnapped, yanking him down the hallway to a quieter corridor near the restrooms. It was narrow, cramped, and smelled faintly of antiseptic. Better than being gawked at by strangers.

I turned to face him fully, tightening the grip on my bag praying he couldn’t hear how loud my heart was thudding.

“You know what Sergei did,” I said evenly, watching his expression still. “Benjamin must have already told you. About him showing up at my home.”

Nikolai blinked once, twice. His face was pale under the hallway lights. That was all the confirmation needed

“My mother is mad at me,” I continued, voice shaking despite my best efforts. “She’s seriously–actually furious. At me. For the first time in my life. And it’s because of you.”

“She was my fine, Nikolai looked away, blinking fast, trying not to lose it. “She was the last line I wasn’t willing to cross. And you–you blew right past it. You knew how much she meant to me. You knew everything, and still–still–you said nothing”

His shoulders stiffened. Guilt coated his features, weighing on him like chains.

1/3

Chapter 97

If you’d told the in the beginning before we signed that contract, maybe I coulit vn forgivin you, I continued. even understood. But you didn’t. You blinduded me. You let me fall into thi: mese. You wood there and watched.

Tprused, breathing hard. The ache from earlier pulsed through my abdomen, but tignored i

“And you can’t fix my relationship with her. No one can. Not even you.” My voice cracked, and i turned my face away, athamed “ou’ve done ano

He said nothing, so I pushed on before last my nerve

“if this is about the money,” I said, “Then fine. Tell me what i

at Lose I’ll pay you back. I’ll work every day for t

Lemot of my life ifthave to?

“No.” Nikolai said softly, his eyes dark. “You don’t owe me anything.”

But even as he said it, he reached for me again and pulled me into a sudden, desperata kiss.

1 froze, my hands braced against his chest, heart slamming wildly in my ribs. His lips were warm, familiar, pleating–but it wasn’t enough. Not anymore,

1shoved him away.

“Nikolaiz

He stared at me with eyes I’d dreamed of. Eyes that had once felt like home. But today, they just made me feel homeless.

“Please,” he whispered. “I don’t believe you feel nothing for me.”

And he was right

; right. Damn him. He was right

But I remembered my mother’s words from the night before, words that cut deeper than any blade ever could.

| never taught you to lose your self respect in love”

And no matter how much I wanted him, needed him, missed him–t couldn’t lose myself for him.

“It’s too late for this,” I said, pulling back again. “Don’t do this anymore. Tell your men to stop following me. Or…”

He exhaled sharply. “Or what?”

Thesitated. My heart slammed harder against my ribs as I said, “Or’ll ask the one person I never wanted to ask to interfere.”

His expression shifted instantly He knew exactly who I meant.

“Sergei,” he said, his voice a whisper of dread.

Inodded.

Nikolai stepped back as if I’d slapped him, and for a brief second I saw something shatter behind his eyes. Regret? Rage? I couldn’t tell

I turned away from him, walking back down the hallway without looking back–until I did. Just once. I opened my mouth to say something, but the words never came. So I turned again.

And this time, I kept walking.

Back in the common area, I spotted Malakai near the automatic doors. He was scrolling through his phone, probably expecting I’d never return. His head jerked up when he saw me, brows lifting in surprise.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and careful

I forced a smile that probably looked most like a grimace. “Yeah. Just bred. Would you mind. dropping me at the metro station?”

2/3

12:23 Mon, 28 Jul (

Chapter 97

He stared for a second like I’d just asked him to abandon

“drop you home,” he said simply “Come on.”

| sighed, hall relieved. I didn’t have the energy to arque. Or to deal with the stares the other commuters would throw me the smell of tom people crammed in too undil a space. I just needed… quiet.

Malakal opened the car door for me and I slipped inside, wincing a little at the ache in my stomach as i hockled up. His car smelled faintly of cada leather polish, comforting in a way that made no sense.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify