Chapter 34 34

Chapter 34 34
The room was quiet, glowing with the morning light. Katerina blinked.
Her eyes widened, the faint ray of light touching her face.

It was a dream!
All of it.

She didn’t know when she heaved a sigh of relief.

Agreeing to anything with that witch would mean she had lost her mind. She rubbed her eyes, the dream replaying in her head.

Her lips curved in a smile.
Even in the dream, Ivan was a prick.

The bloody fool still didn’t want her to leave despite her confession, she thought.

A knock on the door forced her to sit up.
The door opened, and it was Yelena.

“What is she here for?” she whispered.

“I hope you had a good night’s rest,” Yelena said.

“Do you really wanna know, or are you just asking for formalities?” Katerina replied.

“Both.”

“I’m surprised.”

“Oh please, keep the amusement to yourself. I came here to ask only one thing.” Yelena said.

“What is it?” Yelena asked.

“Have you thought about it?”

“What?” Katerina asked.

“Is it something you always like to do? Play dumb all the time and act like you have no idea what I’m talking about?”

Katerina got off the bed.

“Forgive me, I’m just waking up from a dream that felt super real, and I’m trying to recover from it.”

“You’re always recovering from something,” Yelena scoffed in disdain.

“Don’t you wanna know what the dream was about?”

“I’ll pass,” Yelena said, grabbing a seat.

“Oh no, I doubt you’ll wanna pass this one, since it involves your darling Ivan.”

“Fine! Go ahead, spill.” Yelena finally agreed.

Katerina laughed, went back to her bed, folding her legs. “So, I followed along with your proposal, but it all blew up in your face!”

“I’m glad it’s just a dream!”

“A dream that might actually come true.”

“Look, I don’t believe in all that religious stuff.”

“Lucky for you, I don’t either. But what I do believe is that your proposal would only end us all up in a worse situation than this.”

“Look, I didn’t come here to hear you talk about the consequences of the actions that I want you to take for yourself. I came to find out your answer. You told me you wanted to think about it, so what’s up? Are you done thinking?”

“I am. I’m done thinking, Yelena. And my answer remains no.”

“No?” Yelena asked, a bit furious. “I’m shocked, because what you’re being asked to say is actually not far from the truth.”

“Telling Ivan that I came into his life because of his money, that I was responsible for his father’s death? And you say that’s not far from the truth?”

“I’m offering you a chance of a lifetime, and you’re saying no. This is the only way you can get out of here. I thought you’d want this as much as I do.”

“Well, you thought wrong. Do I want out of this estate? Hell yes. But to use a lie to try to get out of several lies? I’ll pass,” Katerina said softly.

“You’re just so selfish, you’ve always been. This has always been about you. And I know that that’s why you came into Ivan’s life.” Yelena said.

“You’re quick to believe your narrative as truth. I never said I came into Ivan’s life for money. That’s your story… your proposal. And don’t get me started on the fact that you came to me with a killer idea, by the way, without even considering the person you’re dealing with. It’s Ivan, for goodness’ sake! Do you think he would ever let me go, knowing that he loved me in the first place?”

“He loved. Past tense. He doesn’t anymore.” Yelena corrected.

“Fine! If that makes you sleep well. But I am sure, Ivan still has a thing for me and it doesn’t look like something that’ll easily fade off. Considering our history and, of course, his deliberate actions to keep me here… locked up. You know, I’m starting to think this is beyond his quest for revenge. He might actually want me here.”

“Oh, don’t fool yourself. The only reason you’re still here is that Ivan, for some reason, is delaying the background check on the guy I recommended. The moment he’s done with it, you’ll be shipped far away from here, to be locked up somewhere else with no access to human interaction. Then we’ll really know if Ivan wants you here for personal reasons or just for his father’s death.” Yelena revealed.

Katerina froze for a minute. She scanned Yelena’s face, she didn’t flinch. It was as if she spoke with utmost certainty. Doubting her at this point would only mean accepting being a fool.

“Ivan is trying to move me away? From this house? From this estate?” Katerina asked, her voice shaking.

“Yes, and I’m in full support of it.”

“Really? So what was the proposal for?” Katerina asked.

“I was trying to save you!” Yelena replied.

“I never said I needed saving.”

“You’re just not thinking straight. You think it’s going to be fun where you’ll be taken? Right now, you have access to a luxury bed, food. You’re practically living a princess life. Of course, you’re locked up here. Over there it’s different. You’ll be tortured, messed with, your mind torn apart and you’re telling me you prefer that to the option I’m giving you? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Get out!” Katerina said.

“What?”

“You heard me! I don’t even know why I accommodated you here in the first place all because I didn’t have a choice. All because Ivan gave you access. You think you can come in here, act like a hero, act like you give a damn about me, when you actually don’t.”

“You’ll regret this!”

“I’ll take the shot.”

Katerina walked to the door, opened it wide, signaling Yelena to leave.

Yelena left, and Katerina banged the door behind her.

“Bitch.” Katerina muttered to herself.

Yelena stood right in front of Katerina’s door, a smile on her face. She tapped her phone screen; the light came on. She stared at the audio recording and tapped play.

Katerina’s voice came out:
“
Yelena adjusted it, and the new recording played:
“I came into his life because of his money, that I was responsible for his father’s death? And you say that’s not far from the truth?”

A wicked smile appeared on Yelena’s face.
“Gotcha,” she whispered.