Chapter 12
A Question of truth
Katerina turned on the hospital bed, her eyes slowly opening. Ivan sat across the room, dozing. She had a sharp headache which dragged her mind into a flasback.
——-
Earlier at Don, Ivan’s father 68th birthday party, she had slipped away from the crowd to a quiet corner leaning against a railing waiting for someone.
“Come on, hurrry” Katerina said as Slavik walked up close to her.
“Hey princess”
Katerina ignored his flirtatious behavior.
“Look, I think we might have a traitor in our midst”
Katerina started.
“And why would you say so” Slavik said, resting on the rail carelessly.
“What are the odds? During the last attack, someone outside fed information to the authorities, it was a leak. I thought hard, who on the outside would have access to such information considering how discreet the business has been?”
“You think it’s someone from within “ Slavik questioned.
“Absolutely”
“Have you spoken to Ivan yet?”
“Not yet, I don’t want to give him mere assumptions without evidence “
“So why come to me?” Slavik said, touching her arms.
“Because I know that you move the shipment next month, so we set a trap to trace where the leaks come from. It would give me the evidence I need to take to Ivan and it’s a win win for us both”
Slavik lowered his hands, realizing she had a point.
“Slavik, it’s been an ambush. The family business has been hit three times this year, that’s no mere coincidence. I am telling you the authorities don't know a thing about the business or how it’s being carried out. There’s gotta be an insider”
“You’re 100% right. Okay, I’ll get on it” he said, nodding.
“Thank you Slavik. “
“Not even a kiss on the cheek?”
“Get a hold of yourself” They both laughed.
———-
Katerina woke up to reality, it was the next morning. Ivan stood with the doctor who was giving him information about her.
“Ivan” she called out faintly.
Ivan hurried to her, “Katrina, are you okay”
“Uhm hum” she murmured, suddenly remembering the meeting.
“Did I ruin the meeting for you?”
Ivan chuckled.
“No Katerina, you didn't ruin it, I should have listened to you when you tried to tell me that you didn’t feel too well”
“Thank Goodness. Your vitals are back to normal. It’s a good thing Ivan brought you in when he did.” The doctor said after feeling her pulse.
“What was wrong with me?” Katerina asked.
“Did you try to harm yourself?
“Harm myself ? I’d never do such a thing” Katerina said shocked.
“It appears you were poisoned. Your blood work showed traces of digitalis, a toxin from the foxglove plant, it targets the heart, slowing it until it stops. We managed to neutralize it with an antidote. It binds to the poison in your blood and helps your body flush it out. You are fine now but your heart needs to be monitored and He says he can take care of that, so you’d be free to go home this morning”
She nods in affirmation. This was her chance to run, to tell the doctor she no longer wanted to be with Ivan.
But something inside her; loyalty, curiosity or stubbornness urged her to stay to understand it all.
“Thank you Doctor” she said softly.
“The person that did this to you, wanted you dead”
Doctor said and walked out.
Ivan helped Katerina to her feet, then she changed out of the hospital gown into comfortable clothes and they stepped out together.
———
Ivan sat in his study room with thoughts in his mind.
Seeing Katerina lie on the bed, out of reach, got him very scared. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. All through the night before watching her rest, before finally drifting off to sleep, he found himself reconsidering Katerina’s actions.
Her statement on their way to the family meeting echoed in his mind. What if she was really just a victim caught in all of this. And the recent poisoning really made him rethink; someone in the estate had poisoned her food. Someone had tried to kill her.
He thought long and hard, yet this wasn’t enough proof to declare her innocent. A part of him wanted to believe her, but the other part was committed to loyalty and revenge for his father.
Did she do this herself just to make him believe she wasn’t evil? He couldn’t help but wonder.
He picked up his phone. Though unsure of his feelings, he knew one thing, he had to find out who had poisoned her and made sure it never happened again.
“Hello, I want all kitchen staffs summoned to hallway immediately”
Even though he didn’t know or have any clue if Katerina was in on this, he had to ensure that he was the only one who had the chance to get to her.
———-
Katerina had returned to her room to look for clues. From her last flashback, it was clear that she was undergoing an investigation. She had suspected a leak from the inside and only shared it with Slavik, someone Ivan clearly seemed to dislike. Perhaps that was why he tried sending men to abduct her.
But why?
She paced around the room as though looking for clues on the wall.
What did Slavik know? Did he find out who the traitor was?
“What are you doing here?" Ivan asked opening the door behind her.
“I just came to clear my head” she replied softly.
“Isn't my room large enough ?”
“Ivan, I am not running, I am right here. I had another one of those flashbacks and…”
“Enough!” He cut in. “Enough with the flashbacks “
“I am told you want to address the entire kitchen staff” Katerina asked cautiously changing the subject.
“Yes,” Ivan answered.
“Why?”
“Are you really gonna ask me that? You almost died Katerina. I need to ensure nothing of that sort happens again.”
Katerina laughed in disbelief.
“What?” He asked, stepping further into the room.
“For one who claims to know how to find who killed your father, you are awfully short sighted” she started, “You want to walk into the kitchen and tell them ‘you tried to kill my wife, almost succeeded, Congratulations’“ She concluded.
“That is not what I want to do”
“You wanna fire them?”
“Yes”
“Same thing. Give them reason to try other means”
“If you have a better plan why not say it “
“They don’t have to know that I almost died. That's not how to catch a traitor, you set traps, find alternative ways to expose them, not fire the whole staff”
“I would burn the entire estate down if anybody came close to you” he blurted in anger.
His words came with a weight on her shoulder. Figuring out who Ivan really was, felt impossible. One minute he’s protective, the next, he’s only being protective because he wants to be the only one that gets to kill her.
“Why?” she asked.
Ivan turned his back.
“Ivan, look at me, I am speaking to you “
She hurried to him, stopping right in front of him.
“Why do you come running to save me when there’s an attack, why do you sit by my bed all through the night and yet with all that… you still hate me? You hate that I am around you, you hate my very presence. What is this Ivan?”
Silence.
“Talk to me Ivan because I am slowly losing it. Don't you get it?” Her voice as though she was about to tear up. I woke up one morning having no clue who I was, till my mother showed up. 5 years later, I am told I have a husband who doesn’t love me, who thinks I killed his father.”
Ivan could tell she wanted clarity from him but he knew he couldn’t give her that. He had none for himself.
“I’ve tried to remain here because I see you Ivan” she took a step closer to him. Scared that her vulnerability would hurt her but she still reached out anyway.
“I see that you’re hurting, your father and Sasha’s betrayal. I could have left, but I am still here, trying to see if there’s some miracle explanation. But everytime, I try to get across for you to see things from my perspective even for a minute, you don’t. Why can’t you see me Ivan?”
She placed one arm on his face, reaching for him
“Why can’t you see me “ She whispered.
“All I see is a traitor masquerading as innocent”
His voice shattered her little faith. She wiped the tears that had fallen, with the back of her hands.
“You can do as you please to the staff, but you will not lay off Serena”
“You don't get to tell me what to do”
“I am your wife Ivan Morozov. Until it is proven that I betrayed you, you will grant me the rights that I am owed in this home. And when you find out who killed your father; if that happens to be me, then you do whatever you wish with me. But from now on, I will do what a Morozov should and even you, my darling, will not stop me” she said.
Ivan swallowed hard, shocked at her authoritative words.
“Now” she added. “ Be a gentleman and get out of my room”