Chapter 130

Elena:

I walked out of the bathroom, having been done with my shower, knowing that I was at least going to get myself a night’s rest.

Considering that Konstantin was now with the man, whoever that was, I knew that unless he called me, he wasn’t going to be paying me a visit tonight.

I opened my bedside drawer and popped a pill, knowing that it was the one thing that kept me from carrying the man’s child, the one genuine favor that his right hand gave to me. And I walked toward the water jar that I had in my room, filling the glass cup before swallowing the pill. I knew that I was going to have to have Batrov bring some for me soon, and knowing him, he was going to be bringing them to me without me asking anyway.

My sore muscles ached, and I sat on the edge of the bed massaging them, hoping that the pain would somewhat soothe itself, but I knew that it wouldn’t; it never did anyway.

“Everything that you see here, belongs to you.” I heard Konstantin say from behind the door. His voice was proud as he spoke, and it didn’t take me long to realize that he was speaking to the man that woke up. “You know, as my heir, I am not going to deprive you of anything.”

I looked down at my lap, closing my eyes in fear that he would walk into the room. It was the one thing that I dreaded. However, the man’s next words took me off guard as his voice sent shivers down my spine. 

“Who’s in there?” He asked, his voice calm as he asked, and I could imagine his eyes being questioning. My heart clenched for a second and I couldn’t help but frown at the goosebumps that rose on my skin.

“My wife, her name is Elena.” Konstantin answered, making my stomach churn. The term wife was not one that I favored as I knew for fact that I was anything but that. The man hummed in response, and I waited for them to come inside before I was taken by surprise when they just kept going. 

I wrapped my arm around myself before getting up from the edge of the bed as I walked toward the window. And closing the shades, I knew that it was going to be another day that I passed without giving in to what he wanted. My cries of pain were not ones that he was going to here, and I was more than sure that they didn’t happen. 

I looked at the door for a second before walking toward my bedside table, and I couldn’t help but find my tears falling from my eyes at the picture of my mother, father, and younger brother smiling into the picture. My little sister was in my father’s arms, kissing his cheek as he held her to his chest. At least my sacrifice did something good in the end…

And closing my eyes, I recalled the struggle that I went through to beg Konstantin to allow me to keep the picture. My chest ached, and I put it back inside the drawer before wiping the tears that fell from my eyes as I laid under my blanket, preparing to call it a night. 

One day you are going to get out of this, when? I don’t know, but I know that I won’t be living through this misery for too long…

***************************** 

I woke up to my bedroom door opening, and sitting up, I waited for a second, gulping as I knew that Konstantin wouldn’t be sparing a moment. He didn’t like it if I was asleep when he entered the room. To him, I was to wake up the second I felt his presence. 

“You are a light sleeper,” a strange man’s voice said, and I watched as he closed the door before opening the light. His brown eyes met mine, and I couldn’t help but frown as he studied my expression. “I was curious about who he was keeping inside, and that is why I came.”

I kept my eyes on him, not saying a word in fear that it was going to be some sort of game. Konstantin often liked to play them, wanting to catch me off guard, but the man frowned in confusion when he saw that I didn’t react. 

“I am Vladimir, by the way. I was told that you’re Elena,” he said, taking a step forward. He nodded at the chair that was beside the window, and I took a deep breath as goosebumps rose on my skin at his sight. “Would you mind if I sit?”

I shook my head, and he smiled, turning the chair to face me as he sat. 

“You are not much of a talker, are you?” He asked, raising an amused eyebrow. “You can take a seat on the chair in front of me if you want, and if you are indecent, I can look away as you get dressed if it is going to make you more comfortable.”

I did not respond, I didn’t dare to, but growing curious, I pushed the blanket off my body before getting up from bed. The nightgown reached my ankles anyway, the only exposed were my hands and neck. The man, Vladimir, smiled when he saw that he got his way, but I knew better than to sit on the chair in front of him, and for that, I kept my distance as I sat on the edge of the bed. He nodded in understanding, and I looked at the closed blinds. 

“Batrov is asleep, and that means no one knows that I am here.” He said, and I studied his expression, trying to understand what it was that he wanted with me. “You are not going to speak, are you?”

I shook my head at him, and he nodded before getting up from the chair, his calm expression never leaving his face for a moment. I knew that he was injured and because of that, I didn’t understand how he was able to stand so casually when he just woke up from the coma that he was in. 

“Well, I’m not sure how this is going to make you feel; but Konstantin left for the next few nights before he heads off to LA.” He said, and I couldn’t help but find myself letting out a breath of relief, one that the man caught before he smirked. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Elena. And I do hope that I manage to see you again soon…”