Chapter 168

Elena:

I frowned when I saw Batrov in the garden, walking aimlessly as if he had nothing to do.

The man had lost more than he would want to, and I knew that deep down, despite him not saying anything about it, that he might be blaming me for it.

“Batrov.” I said, calling the man who had hurt me the other day. I could still remember how he held me the other day. The man who I trusted with something in this house was another to have hurt me. It was a shame. I had to admit, I didn’t like where things went, but I knew not to be foolish to trust him again.

“You called for me, Elena.” He stated, looking down at his feet, avoiding my eyes. I could still remember when he would watch as his boss took me mercilessly. The man never bothered to stop him, but I knew that he had no other option. He wasn’t Vladimir, and he was loyal to Konstantin with everything that he had. But he still did suggest that he would help me run, and that was something that I couldn’t understand. Everything about him was something that I couldn’t grasp.

“I haven’t been seeing you in the house…”

“I am working as one of the gatekeepers. The back one to stay away from Mr. Konstantin’s sight. You know, he has given orders for me not to be seen,” he said, and I looked down at my feet, avoiding his eyes for a second. 

“I can help speak to Vladimir. At least, you can get a better…”

“I don’t want any favors from your owner.” He said, stopping me. “I was given an order based on the bullshit game that you pulled off. I am just surprised that you would bother speaking to me to begin with.” 

“I am not owned by Vladimir, Batrov.”

“That’s what you believe.” He said, shaking his head at me. “One minute you are going to think that you are loved and that you’re special. But then, when he is tired of you. You are going to know what it is to be set aside, and you will not know how to react to it. The pain would be too great for you to handle, and one way or the other, you are going to find it in yourself to be forced to forget him. The one issue you’ll have is that HE is going to move on. What would happen to you? Nothing. You are going to rot in that room just as you did before.”

“That may be what you think. But you know for fact that it is not the reality of things.” Batrov scoffed, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Do you really believe that he is going to want a woman who is living under the mercy of his uncle? Nevertheless, he can’t even take you out of the Estate itself. You are going to be his pleasure toy when he comes back to the Estate, but did you ever consider the fact that he might want to go out with you? Might want to share a romantic night, as a ‘lover’?” He asked, playing with the line that reminds me that I am nothing but a prisoner in this house. Whether or not I was with Vladimir at this point, it didn’t make a difference, as long as Konstantin was alive, I was indeed under the man’s mercy. 

However, the one thing that he didn’t know was the fact that I was Vladimir’s mate, his significant other, and not only a lover. And even so, I knew that there would come a day where I will be free. I just needed to be patient for it to happen.

“Are you done?” I asked, and he smirked.

“Why? Is the truth a little too harsh for you to take?” He asked coldly. “One minute you believe that you are spoiled, and the next, you know for fact that you are not. However, I am going to let you in on a little detail…”

“And that is?” I asked, shaking my head at the man whose eyes went cold. He knew how to touch a wound and rub it with salt if he had to. And though I never did use that method on him, I knew that he was doing it now out of anger and jealousy. That was something that hurt me more than anything.

“He slept with Claire on the night that he arrived. I don’t know whether or not he’s touched another woman within or outside the house. We don’t even know what happened when he went to the States…”

“Your point is, Batrov? You referring to something that happened long before I became his is something that I find low, even for a man like yourself.” I said, shaking my head in question. “And whether or not he touches one or a thousand other girls, does not mean that they are going to be bound to him like I am.”

“And you believe that you are anything more than a pleasure toy for him to find a release inside at night? I am impressed by the woman who went from not speaking for days, nights, and months to standing in front of me the way that you are. Then again, what should I expect from the same woman who seems to have sold her body for the pleasure of another man to simply free herself from her owner.” He said, and I smiled, shaking my head at him.

“At least when I think about it, I was abused, raped, and beat every night. I cried myself to sleep more times than a woman should. My question lies here,” I said, taking a step toward him. His body towered over mine as he looked me in the eye, waiting for what I was going to tell him, and I took a deep breath. “For a man in your position, why did you help with birth control pills, and even went as far as suggesting that you help me escape.” 

His eyes widened as I shook my head in question. “What is the excuse behind your betrayal…? Can you answer that to Konstantin if asked?”

“Elena…”

“Do not approach me again with your bullshit. I was trying to be kind despite you hurting me. But considering that you chose to want to break me, like your own boss, you can rot in the hell that you put yourself in.” I said, taking a step back. “Have a good day, Batrov…”