Chapter 9
His voice trailed off as the truth slammed into him. His eyes went wide, the panic slowly creeping up his neck as he pieced together the lies he’d been fed.
“How is that even possible?!” he spat, his disbelief palpable. “Catherine said it was just a minor skirmish… That you came out of it with just a few scratches-”
But as the weight of his mistake dawned on him, his words stopped. His loyal secretary, the one he trusted, had lied to him. And now, Ryan was facing the consequences of his ignorance. The veins in his forehead bulged as desperation clouded his eyes.
“Helena,” he finally said, his voice breaking. “What really happened that day?”
1/6
I exhaled slowly, the weight of the truth heavy in my chest. “I faced the Italian Mafia’s Don–Nikolai Federico.”
The name fell from my lips, and Ryan’s face went ashen. He froze, as though a ghost had just walked into the room. Nikolai was a name feared by all, including Ryan. And when I said it, I saw the recognition flicker in
Ryan’s eyes. He knew, without a doubt k
Nikolai’s involvement meant something far that more serious than he’d ever imagined.
“The devil,” I said under my breath, my voice a bitter whisper. The world had dubbed him that for a reason–his ruthlessness was legendary. And he was the one who’d come to my aid, not my husband.
Ryan had no chance of surpassing him. And when I said Nikolai’s name, Ryan’s blood
2/6
turned to ice. The moment I had crossed paths with Nikolai, I knew I’d been in the presence of a force far beyond anything Ryan could handle.
“Nikolai was the one who ordered his men to stop firing,” I said, each word heavy with truth. “He saw the blood soaking through my clothes and walked right through the chaos to get to me. He knew exactly what he was risking.”
Ryan’s expression shifted from disbelief to something darker. His face lost all color, and I could see the realization dawning on him. His world–the world he thought he controlled–was crumbling.
All those years together, and Ryan had taken my loyalty for granted. Now, facing my unwavering stance, his pride shattered. His face went from red to white, as he realized
3/6
where this was headed.
“Why would Nikolai Federico save you, Helena?” His voice was tight with jealousy and confusion. “He must be playing with you. He must be toying with you.”
I shook my head slowly, the bitterness creeping into my voice. “I thought the same at first.”
A laugh escaped me, but it was cold, devoid of warmth.
“How ironic it is,” I said, my voice sharp with disdain, “that the man I thought of as my enemy–the man I glared at and swore I would never give in to–was, in fact, my savior. While you were off ignoring my calls and betraying me, Nikolai was there, risking his life to pull me from the jaws of death.”
Ryan’s face crumpled, the last vestiges of his composure crumbling. He stood there, stunned and helpless, unable to process the gravity of what I had just revealed. The truth was too much for him to handle, and I could see that it was breaking him.
“Helena, what on earth are you talking about? Stop this nonsense.” Ryan looked momentarily confused, but then he let out a bitter laugh, fully aware that his position to lecture me had long evaporated.
“We’re still married, Helena. How could you think I’d be with Catherine? Don’t even entertain the thought of another man; it makes me furious. I swear, I’ve never looked at her with anything but the affection of a sister”
“Ryan, it’s too late for that, I replied, my voice cold and final. “You’re my ex–husband now.
5/6
