Chapter 35 Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Irina's POV

I became difficult to handle on purpose.

Every day, I made Alexei's life a living hell.

I refused to let him touch me. I pushed him away when he came close. I locked my bedroom door at night and pushed furniture against it.

"You are being childish," Alexei said one morning as he tried to enter my room but the door was blocked.

"I do not care," I said from the other side.

Then I started making impossible demands.

I was called for breakfast, but I didn't touch it.

"I will only eat food you cook yourself," I told him at the dining table. "And you must bring it to my room."

Alexei stared at me. I could feel his anger even through his green eyes.

"What?"

"You heard me," I said. "If you do not cook it, I will not eat it. I don't want the maids, nor the chefs. Just you."

"Then starve," Alexei said coldly amd walked away.

So I did not eat.

For two days, I refused all food. The maids brought trays but I sent them away untouched.

My stomach hurt. I felt weak. But I did not give in.

On the third day, Alexei stormed into my room. He had gotten a spare key somehow.

"Eat!" He shouted. His face was red with anger. "You are going to hurt the baby!"

"Then cook for me," I said calmly. I was lying on the bed. Weak but determined. "Like I asked."

His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. His jaw tightened. A vein throbbed in his temple.

Then he left without another word.

An hour later, he returned with a plate of food. Pasta with vegetables. It was simple but it smelled good.

"Here," he said.

He threw the plate on the table so hard some pasta fell off. "I cooked it myself. Now eat."

I smiled. This was a small victory.

He glared at me with pure hatred in his eyes. Then he stormed out.

The pasta was actually good. He knew how to cook. But I would never tell him that.

After that, I made his life miserable every single day.

One morning, he was getting dressed for an important meeting. But I blocked his way.

"I am hungry," I said from the door.

"The maids will bring you food," Alexei said without looking at me. He was fixing his tie in the mirror.

"No," I said. "I want you to cook it. I want scrambled eggs with cheese and toast."

Alexei turned to look at me. His eyes were dark, but I didn't care. "You are joking."

"I am not," I said, stepping closer. "I am pregnant with your child. And I am hungry. So cook for me. Now."

He stood there for a long moment. Just staring at me. His hands were shaking with rage.

Then he took off his jacket slowly and loosened his tie. Then he went downstairs.

I heard him cursing. I heard pots banging. The maids fled from the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, he returned with scrambled eggs and toast.

His hair was messy. His shirt had a stain on it. He looked furious.

"Here," he said. His voice was tight with barely controlled anger. "Eat."

I took a bite of the eggs. Then I made a face. "These are cold."

"What?"

"They are cold," I repeated, pushing the plate away. "I cannot eat cold eggs. Can you warm them up?"

Alexei looked like he wanted to kill me right there.

His face turned red. His hands shook as he took a step towards me.

But he stopped, took a deep breath. Then he grabbed the plate and went back downstairs.

He cursed at the innocent guards.

Later, he returned with warm eggs.

I smiled sweetly. "Thank you."

He did not say anything. He just left, slamming the door hard.

I ate slowly, enjoying every bite.

At night, I woke him up on purpose.

"Alexei," I called loudly, banging on his door.

He came out with messy hair. His eyes were half-closed. He looked furious.

"What?" He demanded.

"I am craving chocolate," I said. "Can you get me some?"

"It is three in the morning," he said through gritted teeth.

"I know," I said innocently. "But the baby wants dark chocolate. The very expensive kind."

He cursed in Russian and glared at me but he left. Because he needed the baby. And the baby needed me healthy.

I was making Alexei miserable. And I enjoyed every single second of it.

It was the only power I had. The only way I could fight back.

One evening, I was walking past Alexei's office. The door was slightly open.

I heard guards talking inside.

"The boss is going out tonight," one said.

"Where?" Another asked.

"To the site where Dimitri Volkov was attacked," the first guard replied.

"He wants to check if there is any evidence that could trace where Dmitri disappeared."

My heart stopped.

The site where Dimitri was attacked?

I have to go.

Maybe I could find out what really happened to him.

Or I could find proof that he might be alive. Either way, I needed to know.

That night, I waited in my room and listened carefully.

I heard Alexei moving around. He was getting ready to leave.

The maids finished dinner preparations. The guards changed shifts.

Then everywhere became quiet.

I opened my door carefully and peeked out. The hallway was empty.

I snuck out of my room. And used the back stairs the servants used.

Alexei's car was parked in the driveway, gleaming under the lights.

I looked around carefully, there were no guards nearby. They were all busy having dinner.

No one would think I would be so foolish to sneak into Alexei's car in the middle of the night.

This was my only chance.

I ran to the car and opened the back door carefully. Thankfully it was not locked.

I climbed in and lay down under the back seat. It was uncomfortable. My pregnant belly made it even harder.

But I managed.

I pulled a blanket I found on the floor over myself and tried to slow my breathing.

My heart was pounding so loud I was sure someone would hear it.

I waited patiently.

Then I heard footsteps approaching. The driver's door opened and someone got in.

I held my breath.

The engine started. We began moving.

I stayed perfectly still, barely breathing. Every bump in the road hurt my cramped body.

The drive felt endless. My back hurt, my legs cramped, my baby kicked. But I did not move. I did not make a sound.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the car stopped.

The engine turned off and the door opened and closed.

I waited for a while. Counting to thirty in my head.

Then I carefully pushed the blanket aside.

I peeked over the seat, through the window, I could see Alexei standing outside. He was a little farther from the car and his back was turned.

He was looking at something… or someone. It was too dark to make it out.

Thankfully, his guards had not come with him. He was alone.

This was my chance. Maybe my only chance.

Then, Alexei turned and started walking towards one of the warehouses.

This was my chance to escape.

I waited till he was far away, then I opened the door carefully and slowly.

I climbed out. My legs were shaking.

I looked around. The street was empty.

I turned and started running in the opposite direction.

Then I bumped into something hard like a wall. It was a man's chest.

The impa
ct knocked the air out of my lungs. I stumbled backward.

His hands immediately reached out and caught my arms to steady me.

“I am sorry,” he said, looking confused and innocent.

I looked up.

And my world stopped.