Chapter 29 29

Chapter 29 29

FISTS AND WORDS

Ivan’s car rolled down the quiet estate, the low hum of the engine the only sound being heard. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he caught sight of them, Katerina and Slavik, standing too close. 
His jaw clenched. He eased his foot off the pedal and guided the car toward the curb as the headlights washed over them.
Ivan turned off the ignition slowly and sat there for a moment, staring, his heart pounding, breath heavy. Then he stepped out.
“I clearly stated,” Ivan’s voice came out low, “that I do not want to see you with Katerina anymore, didn’t I?”

“ Ivan, hello… I was just leaving,” Slavik said, attempting to leave. Ivan stopped him halfway, holding him by his arms.

“You haven’t answered my question,” Ivan asked coldly.
“Come on Ivan, there’s absolutely no need for this. I’m heading out already,” Slavik said.
For a second, Ivan shifted his gaze from Slavik to Katerina.
“Get inside!” Ivan ordered.
“Ivan… I’m sorry, he just wanted to drop something off quickly…” Katerina managed to whisper.
“Do not make this worse than you already have. Get inside, woman,” Ivan said, his voice loud.
“That’s no way to talk to a woman,” Slavik said.
“And who are you to tell me how to talk to my wife?”
Slavik scoffed. “I’m sure you meant to say, your traitor.” He paused.

“Look at her, Ivan. She’s a shadow of herself because you’ve kept her locked up in this big house of yours. You know why? She’s desperate for answers. She’s doing all of this just to prove to you that she’s innocent, and you haven’t even once considered her innocence. Now I’m starting to doubt that you ever loved…”
Ivan’s fist landed right on Slavik’s face. Shocked, Slavik staggered back and sent a punch straight into Ivan’s jaw.
“Guys, please stop!” Katerina shouted, trying to intervene, but she was already too late. They were fully engaged in a brutal fight, each throwing punches without restraint.
“Guys, please stop!” Katerina shouted, trying to intervene, but she was already too late. They were fully engaged in a brutal fight, each throwing punches without restraint.
Ivan charged forward, his fist cutting through the air, barely missing Slavik’s jaw. Slavik ducked, grabbed Ivan by the collar, and shoved. 
“I said stop!” Katerina screamed, rushing between them, but Ivan pushed past her, landing another blow to Slavik’s ribs. Slavik grunted in pain and retaliated, hitting Ivan square in the face.
“You think you can talk about my wife?” Ivan spat, his voice filled with anger.
“She deserves better than this!” Slavik snapped, his lip bleeding.
“Both of you, stop!” Katerina cried again, her voice trembling now. She grabbed Ivan’s arm, but he shook her off, still glaring at Slavik.
For a moment, the two men stood there, breathing hard, fists still clenched, fury radiating between them.
Slavik wiped the blood from his mouth and took a step back. “You’re pathetic, Ivan,” he said quietly. “You can keep pretending you’re in control, but you’re only proving her right.”
“Just go, Slavik,” Katerina said, her voice soft but firm. “Please.”
Slavik looked at her, his eyes softening, and he sighed. “You shouldn’t have to live like this, Katerina,” he muttered before leaving. 
“Don’t come back here again,” Ivan warned.
He stood still, his knuckles bruised and his pride wounded. Katerina slowly turned to him, her heart pounding, a mix of anger and pity written across her face.
“Are you happy now?” Ivan whispered before walking into the house.



Katerina opened the door, carrying a bowl of ice cubes and a sad face. She sat beside Ivan, who was on his bed, bare-chested, his face swollen. 
 She lifted the ice cubes and placed them on the bruises.

Ivan resisted,
He was a stubborn man, Katerina thought.

“Look, you can scold me all you want, but at least let me administer this first aid. Look at yourself, you got beaten up so bad.” Katerina said softly. 

“Well I'm glad Slavik had his own fair share” Ivan replied with a faint smile.

Katerina lifted the ice cubes again, this time holding his face off still, as she pressed them against his bruised skin.

“Ow,” Ivan complained.
“Sorry,” She said softly.

After a few minutes, Katerina lowered the ice cubes, ready to leave, when Ivan caught her arm and gently pulled her back.

“Are you really losing it?” Ivan asked.

Katerina pretended not to hear him, dismissing it as an irrelevant question.

“I really want to know”

Katerina hissed, “Isn’t it obvious? You keep me locked up all the time. Ask me questions, interrogate me,  and point accusing fingers at me all the time. What sane person wouldn’t lose it?” Katerina said.

“You make it seem like I’m a bad person,” Ivan said.

“Are you drunk?” Katerina questioned. She wasn’t having it, his calm talks. She felt way more irritated than she could comprehend him at all.

“I am not drunk Katerina,”

“You are acting like one who is. Look, I'd better leave, you should go to bed. I hope you feel better by tomorrow.”

“I don’t want you to leave,” Ivan said.

There was a hint of compassion in his voice, but she didn’t understand it. Why now? Was this because of Slavik?
Ivan placed his hands over hers. His fingers were ice cold.

What was he doing?

“I am sorry, Katerina, it’s just… a lot on me right now. You can’t possibly understand.” Ivan said.

“I can’t understand, really. “ Katerina got up from the bed, glaring at him. “ Have you ever tried getting me to understand, have you tried talking to me and” She sighed. “Look… Ivan, I’m not going to do this with you. Maybe you had a rough day…You are just stressed… And that’s all that there is you. You’d probably wake up tomorrow and regret all the things that you’re saying right now, so I’ll spare you the regret and I’d leave” Katerina said, prepared to leave.

Ivan got up immediately, holding her waist and dragging her to him.

Katerina turned to go, but Ivan rose swiftly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close.
“Please, don’t leave,” he whispered.
The closeness sent chills through her body, like electricity.
“Ivan, go to bed,” Katerina ordered.

But Ivan didn’t listen, he planted his lips on hers, taking her in him, devouring her lips like one who was starved.
Katerina froze for a heartbeat, then melted into him, her pulse racing. The air between them grew warmer, heavier. Ivan’s hand found the curve of her neck, his touch both gentle and commanding, as if afraid she might disappear if he let go.
Slowly Katerina pulled away, Ivan’s ego crushed.
“Stop, get a hold of yourself Ivan” She picked up the ice cubes and headed toward the door.
“It’s easy to say no to me,” Ivan said bitterly, “and then turn around and fuck Slavik right”
What?
Katerina turned, stunned. Speechless, she stared at him, then turned and left the room, leaving Ivan sitting on the bed, guilt creeping into his chest.

Katerina walked back into her room, and she closed the door behind her. Furious, she paced around, then threw the pack of ice cubes at the wall.
What was it with Ivan? No! What was it with me?
She thought.
Why did she always let him get so close to her, and then turn his back and hurt her? She thought she was strong, strong enough not to be moved by his cruelty, but that was just a lie she told herself.
A part of her saw a glimmer of vulnerability in Ivan, but his bitterness and accusations always crushed it.
Yet beyond the anger, she felt fear. Fear that she had begun to care for him. Fear that her search for answers wasn’t just about clearing her name, but about understanding whether her past self had truly loved Ivan.

But there was something else she was scared of, her flashback. 
Slavik and her in the same hotel room, almost kissing.
Why did the flashback have to end at that point?
She was scared.
She didn’t find Slavik attractive. 
His touch didn’t move her. Did her memory loss twist her emotions into resentment for someone she once cared about?
What if she actually had an affair with Slavik?
What if she actually was a cheat?
Was there even a tiny possibility that she was not a terrible person?
Was there even the slightest chance she wasn’t a terrible person?
Katerina collapsed onto her bed. For the first time in a long while, she wished she could disappear.