Chapter 68

AVALINE

It felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest when I got into my car. Earlier, I hadn’t even thought that Czar was in front of me. What mattered to me was finishing the job and making sure the girl returned safely to the club. That’s the professional thing to do. I gave the man a final warning. If he didn’t comply with De Greco’s rules, I would hand him over to our enforcer.

I didn’t know why Czar was here. I suspected he had business with my father, and I was slightly annoyed that he felt the need to rescue me even though I could handle it myself. But I’m not an ungrateful person.

“I don’t know what your business is with my father, but thank you for making time to visit me during work hours,” I said sarcastically.

He remained silent, pinning me with a hard stare as if studying me. I glared back to emphasize that I didn’t need him.

After that, I dropped off the service girl at our club.

Now that I was in the silence of my car, the abandoned feelings were coming back and demanding payment from me. The price for ignoring them was that they made their presence felt even more intensely.

I despised how my heart came alive at the sight of him—like a pet that became hyper at the sight of its owner after such a long time.

A rational part of me opposed my heart’s reaction. Really, Ava? After trying to build a life after him, just one glimpse and you’re back around him?

I was annoyed with myself and decided that it was a good emotion to have at the moment, so I leaned into my anger.

I accelerated my car. It was already five in the afternoon. I just wanted to go home and call it a day. I forced myself not to think about Czar for now; otherwise, I might lose focus while driving. Just a bit more and I'd be at my apartment. I could break down or something on my bed.

In my rush to get into my apartment, I couldn’t get the key in properly. I heard a car door open behind me. Did I not close the car properly?

I turned, and there was Kairos. Fuck! How did he know my new address?

I managed to open the door and quickly entered, pushing it closed behind me. But Czar easily stopped it with one arm.

“I have never known you to cower, wife.”

“I’m not being cowardly. Maybe I just don’t really want you inside my apartment. Ever heard of respecting the owner’s wish not to let someone invade their home?” I gritted my teeth. But deep inside, I was a nervous wreck. What was his deal?

“And it’s EX-wife,” I added hastily.

My arms were tiring from trying to close the door while he calmly held it back, so I knew this effort was pointless. Frustrated, I swung the door open again, and he took that as an invitation to come in even without my verbal confirmation.

Where is Sibley? She’s usually here when I come home to the apartment. That woman never lets me out of her sight. Maybe she got bored? The first day she started guarding me, she killed a thug who tried to attack me. I told her not to meddle at work, and she grudgingly complied.

I narrowed my eyes at the man who had just entered my apartment. Maybe he was the one who sent Sibley away?

He scanned my apartment with his eyes. All the heat accumulated in my cheeks. My apartment is small and has very few furnishings—it's embarrassing compared to his large mansion.

I have a small two-seater dining area next to a mini fridge along with a small stove and sink. There are cabinets above and below for storage. A little further away is a tiny bed.

I didn’t know why I felt somewhat self-conscious about not having a sofa or TV. That could be an advantage; if he wasn’t comfortable here, it might speed up his departure.

“Your father lets you live here?” He looked bothered and glanced at every corner as if it had done something offensive.

I didn’t respond. I decided to just do the normal things I had been doing over the past weeks.

I opened the cabinet and took out canned tuna and eggs. I glanced at the table to see if there was any loaf bread left. I don’t accept an allowance from dad, so I’m saving my salary carefully until I can get a promotion. Canned food isn’t too bad after all. I just had to get used to it since it’s not what I’m accustomed to.

"That's all you'd eat?" He was still in the middle of my apartment, frowning as if he were in pain. "Let's have dinner outside. You won't fill up on that."

His hair was down. It was getting a bit long since he usually has a clean cut, so it felt strange. He still looked handsome like this. He appeared more closed off and dangerous now, as if touching him would lead to regret. Not that he wasn’t like that before, but it was more prominent now.

His nostrils flared. And I realized I was almost undressing him with my eyes. Not liking the direction my mind was going, I turned away from him and dumped the tuna into the pan.

"Why are you here, Czar?" Time to address the elephant in the room. "First, you act like a knight in shining armor and interfere with my work even though I didn’t need help. Then you followed me here and judged my apartment. Now you want me to have dinner with you? Are we going to ignore that we’re separated now?"

He breathed heavily. His mouth opened slightly but then he closed it again. Czar has always been blunt and speaks his mind regardless of how it affects others. He rarely hesitates.

I want him to communicate with me. I never knew what he wanted from our relationship. How can he push me away after holding my hand, bringing me close at night, kissing me, and shielding me from my fears and those who meant to harm me?

"I want to be your husband again," he admitted almost quietly.

My breath caught, and I almost choked. I cleared my throat and cracked the eggs before the tuna burned because I was distracted. I like this combination these days.

Should I ask him if he wants to eat?

Never mind. He's too rich for this kind of meal. I turned off the heat and took a deep breath as if trying to organize my thoughts.

He wants to be my husband again?

"You will marry me again?" I asked blankly.

"Yes."

"You want me to leave Yekaterinburg and live with you in Saint Petersburg?"

"Yes," he responded. "You can work for La Archante if you liked being a soldier here so much."

"And you want to marry me because of what? Who do you want to provoke again through our marriage?"

Before he could utter a word, I quickly added, "Oh, when are we separating again? Please inform me this time."

He let out a sharp curse. In quick strides, he was already only an inch away from me. I could feel his warmth as he towered over me.

"Please face me, carino. I want us to talk. It’s hard if you keep turning your back on me."

"Don't call me that," I said firmly as I turned violently towards him. "But fine, we’ll talk now. After this, get out of my door, and I don’t want any trace of you here in Yekaterinburg. Go back to Saint Petersburg and we'll live our lives separately."

"No, we won't. I'll accept your cold shoulder and your anger. You can even bring the entire De Greco organization in front of me and make them shoot me out of spite. But there’s no life where we’ll live separately."

I shot him a glare. "What makes you think I won’t do it myself?"

I couldn’t do that, but he doesn’t know that.

His expression softened as if it would be an honor to receive my rage—like he’d forgive me for anything I wished to do to him.

"What do you think, Czar? That I'll be swayed by your sweet words? I won’t let you hurt me again. I have a life here in Yekaterinburg—a life without you—and I'm capable!"

He was taken aback, and pain coursed through his eyes. It made my heart ache, but I endured it now.

"I won't hurt you again," he vowed. "Avaline, I'm in lo-"

"No!" My lips quivered. With a trembling voice, I continued, "Do not do this to me. Do not take advantage of my weakness. That word doesn't even deserve to come out of your mouth. What do you know about love, Czar?"