Chapter 37 Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Irina's POV
My hands were trembling.
I sat in the front seat of Alexei's car.
My whole body was shaking.
Alexei was driving. His grip on the steering wheel was so tight his knuckles were white.
He was driving too fast. Way too fast.
The wind rushed through the open window. It was cold and harsh, making my eyes water.
Or maybe I was already crying, I could not tell anymore.
My stomach was churning. I wanted to throw up.
But I could not think about that.
Because Dimitri was alive.
Dimitri was alive!
I had just seen him, touched him and heard his voice.
He was badly hurt, thin and haggard. His clothes were rags, his beard was overgrown and messy.
But he was alive.
And he did not recognize me.
He looked at me like I was a stranger, like we had never met before.
The pain of that was almost worse than thinking he was dead.
And Alexei had been standing right there, right in front of his own brother and he did not recognize him either.
He called Dimitri a madman, a homeless beggar and threatened to have him arrested.
He did not know. Alexei did not know that was Dimitri.
And I could not tell him. I would never tell him.
Because if Alexei knew Dimitri was alive, he would finish what he started. He would kill him.
"How did you get out?!" Alexei thundered suddenly.
His voice made me jump. I quickly pressed myself against the car door.
"I... I..." My voice was shaking. "I just wanted..."
"You just wanted what?!" Alexei shouted. He took a sharp turn. The car swerved and I grabbed the door handle.
"I wanted to see the place," I lied quickly. "Where the accident happened. I just wanted to see it."
"So you snuck into my car?!" Alexei's face was red with rage. "You hid like a rat?!"
"Yes!" I shouted back. "Because you are keeping me prisoner! Because you never let me leave!"
Alexei laughed. But it was not a happy laugh. It was cold and mean.
"And what did you find, Irina?" He asked. "Did you find anything interesting?"
I said nothing. My lips were pressed together.
"Answer me!" Alexei roared.
"Nothing," I whispered. "I found nothing."
"Then why were you running?" Alexei demanded. "Why were you trying to escape?"
"I was scared," I said. Which was true. "You came back and I panicked. I did not want you to find me. So I ran."
"And you ran straight into that homeless man," Alexei said with disgust. "That filthy beggar."
I wanted to scream at him. To tell him that beggar was his brother. The man he wants to kill.
But I kept quiet. I bit my tongue until I tasted blood.
"Stay away from people like that," Alexei said. "They are dangerous desperate. They would do anything for money."
"He didn’t seem dangerous," I said quietly. "He seemed... lost."
"Lost?" Alexei laughed. "He was probably drunk or on drugs. That is why he looked so confused."
No. Dimitri was not drunk or on drugs. He was hurt. He was suffering from amnesia.
But I could not say that.
"I am sorry," I said instead. "I should not have snuck out. I was foolish."
Alexei glanced at me suspiciously. "Yes. You were."
We drove the rest of the way in silence.
When we reached the house, Alexei parked the car roughly.
He got out and came around to my side. He yanked the door open and pulled me out forcefully.
"Inside," he ordered.
I followed him. I had no choice.
He pulled me up the stairs and down the hall into my room.
He pushed me inside roughly. I stumbled and almost fell onto the bed.
"You will stay in here," Alexei said. His voice was cold and deadly. "No more wandering. No more sneaking around. You stay in this room until I say otherwise."
"Alexei, please..." I started..
"No!" He shouted. "I have had enough of your games, Irina! I cook for you! I bring you food! I get you everything you ask for! And this is how you repay me? By sneaking out? By trying to run away?"
"I was not trying to run away," I said. "I just wanted..."
"I do not care what you wanted!" Alexei interrupted. "You will stay here. You will eat what I bring you. And you will stop fighting me."
He stormed out and locked the door.
I was locked in. Again.
I sat on the bed and cried. I cried for Dimitri, for myself and for the baby growing inside me.
Dimitri was alive, but he did not remember me. He did not remember our love. He did not remember anything.
And Alexei did not know. He did not recognize his own brother.
That was good. That meant Dimitri was safe for now.
But I had to find a way to get to him. I had to help him remember. I had to get us both away from Alexei.
The day passed slowly.
Alexei brought me food. He didn’t speak to me, he just left the tray and locked the door again.
I ate like a ghost because I had to keep my strength up for the baby.
But all I could think about was Dimitri.
The confusion in his eyes when I said his name.
The way he looked at me like I was a stranger.
I remembered how he used to look at me before. With love, warmth and desire.
I remembered the mornings in his estate. How I would help him shave his beard. How I would help him prepare his bath.
"Good morning, Irina," he would say. His voice was always deep and warm.
Those memories felt like another lifetime now.
Now Dimitri was out there somewhere, lost and alone. Not knowing who he was.
He was wearing rags now, looking thin and malnourished.
And I was trapped here unble to help him.
I paced my room endlessly, trying to think of a plan.
But there was no plan. The door was locked. The windows were too high to jump from. And I was pregnant.
That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Does Dmitri even have shelter?
The thought made my heart ache.
The sound of the door lock clicking brought me back.
The door opened and Alexei entered, locking the door behind him.
He looked different tonight. He looked angry. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top. His hair was messy. He smelled like alcohol.
What was he doing in my room this late?
"Alexei?" I said, sitting up quickly. "What are you doing?"
He did not answer. He just walked towards the bed.
"Alexei," I called again. My voice trembled this time. "What are you doing here?"
He climbed onto the bed. His hands grabbed my shoulders roughly.
"What are you doing!" I screamed as the horror of what was about to happen dawned on me.
My heart hammered against my chest.
I tried to push him away, but he was too strong
"You are mine," he said. His voice was rough and full of anger. "You need to understand that. You are mine, Irina."
"No!" I screamed. "Get away from me!"
He grabbed both my wrists and pinned them above my head with one hand.
"Stop fighting me," he growled.
"Please," I begged.
Tears streamed down my face. "Please, Alexei. Do not do this. Please."
But he did not listen.
His other hand started pulling at my nightgown.
"No!" I sobbed. "Please! Stop! Please! Think about the baby!"
"You are carrying my child," Alexei said. His breath was hot on my face. "You are going to be the mother of my baby. You need to accept that you belong to me."
"Please," I whispered. My voice was breaking. "Please do not do this. Please, Alexei. I am begging you.
"
His hand moved to my throat. His grip tightened against it.
"Stop begging," he said coldly. "It will not change anything."
"Alexei, please!" I choked. "Please do not do this! Please!"
But my begging did not matter.
He did not care about my tears.
He only cared about control.
"Please," I whispered one last time. "Please stop."
But he did not stop.
He tore my nightgown and I lay naked in front of him.