Between a Vengeful Mother-in-Law and the Papers

Between a Vengeful Mother-in-Law and the Papers
Maggie’s Point of View

I held Jamie’s little hand gently as we went down the stairs, step by step, at our own pace. He because his little legs were still too short to keep up with any rush in the world, and I… I because I was carrying a weight that seemed to grow every day. My belly was big, heavy, pulling my body forward, demanding attention with every movement. His bag was slung over my shoulder, slipping down now and then because of the soft fabric of the dress I was wearing. I adjusted it with my elbow, without letting go of his hand, while he placed his little foot on the next step with concentration.

The house was silent.

Dominic spent less and less time there. When he was there, it was only to sleep for a few hours, and even then he seemed distant, as if part of him never really came back. He was completely consumed by the bratva, and I knew that was meant to reduce our contact. Yulia… I didn’t even know where she was, ever since the day I told her everything, she simply… vanished. She was still in the house, I knew that, but not for me. We never really crossed paths again, there was never another conversation. And that absence… hurt more than any harsh words could have.

I had never felt as alone as I was feeling now.

Chiara was the only exception; she had been the only one who could look me in the eye after everything. I could still remember her expression when I told her. The shock, the sadness, the slight, almost silent disappointment… like a shadow passing through her gaze, but in the end, she hugged me and said she was happy for me. That Jamie and I were alive and back in her life. That had been more than I deserved.

“Papá.” Jamie’s voice pulled me back, and I looked at him just as he hopped down the last step with a small triumph etched on his face.

I smiled, even though my heart was heavy. He was already saying his favorite word, as always. I knew he’d seen Dominic earlier; Dominic never failed to stop by his room before leaving in the morning, and at night… even if he got home late, he’d always go check on him while he slept. It was his way of being there, even when he wasn’t.

“Your daddy’s working; you’ll see him later,” I said gently, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear.

“Now,” he insisted, furrowing his little brow, stubborn.

I let out a small sigh through my nose, already familiar with that tone.

“Now we’re going to stay with Aunt Chiara. She has a little puppy.”

I saw the exact moment his attention shifted.

“A puppy?” Interest sparkled in his eyes, and a small warmth filled my chest.

“Yes, you’ll be able to play with him,” I said, smiling genuinely this time.

“Jamie likes puppies.”

“I know that,” I murmured, leaning in a little to get closer to him. “Maybe when we get home, we can get one.”

He smiled, showing his little teeth, completely satisfied, and I smiled back, but my heart… ached. Going home… when did that start to hurt so much?

“Mrs. Volkov.” The voice cut through the moment, and I turned my face toward the front door; my body reacted before my mind did.

Mrs. Volkov was Irina, but Irina didn’t live there anymore, so this… was about me. Dimitri was standing at the entrance; he was one of the men who provided security for the house, and since I was always home, I had already gotten used to him.

“Irina Volkov is at the gate of the property.” I felt my body stiffen immediately. “She wants to speak with you, but Mr. Volkov gave express orders not to let her onto the property, especially if you’re here.”

I blinked, surprised. I knew Dominic had kicked her out, but I didn’t know he’d gone that far.

I nodded slowly.

“All right, Dimitri. I’ll go see her. Can you stay with Jamie?”

“Mrs. Volkov…”

“Just call me Maggie,” I interrupted, a little more firmly than I intended. “I won’t be Mrs. Volkov for much longer… and that title bothers me.” He fell silent, and I held his gaze for a second before continuing. “I’m going out with one of the men. She won’t be coming onto the property.” I paused. “If you want, you can call Dominic and let him know.”

Then I turned and leaned in a little closer to Jamie.

“Sweetie, play with your giraffe. Mommy will be right back so we can go see Aunt Chiara’s puppy.”

He nodded, already distracted, letting go of my hand and running to the floor of the hall, clutching his stuffed giraffe.

I looked at Dimitri.

“It’ll be quick. Keep an eye on him.”

Without waiting for a reply, I turned and headed toward the exit. The air outside was colder, or maybe it was just the feeling growing inside me. Three men in suits stood at the entrance, motionless, alert.

“One of you, come with me to the gates,” I said, without stopping, without looking directly at any of them, then kept walking.

I passed through the covered porch, went down the few steps, and followed the stone path that cut through the garden. I didn’t look back, but I knew one of them was coming. Always a shadow behind me.

“Open the gates,” I said when I arrived, stopping in front of the large iron structure.

“Mrs. Volkov…”

“Don’t call me that,” I cut in, this time with clear irritation in my voice. “Open the gates. I’m ordering you.”

Silence fell for a second. I could feel them exchanging glances. One of them grabbed his phone, typing quickly, and I rolled my eyes—so obvious. But another was already moving to carry out the order, and that was enough for me. The gates began to open slowly, creaking softly.

On the other side, a black SUV was parked. I took a step outside the property, immediately sensing the closer presence of the men behind me. One… and now two.

The SUV’s rear door opened a few seconds later, and she stepped out.

Irina Volkov.

She was impeccable as always. Elegant, untouchable, exuding luxury in every detail, as if she hadn’t been kicked out of her own home just days before. Nothing about her betrayed weakness; nothing about her seemed to have been shaken. I watched her get out of the car calmly, every movement calculated, as if she were stepping onto a stage where she knew exactly what role she needed to play. She walked to the front of the vehicle and stopped, sizing me up from head to toe.

“Are you serious—now I can’t even enter my own house? Girl, you’re showing your greasy claws.”

I let out a sigh, already tired before it even began.

“I didn’t give that order, just as I didn’t make the decision to kick you out of here. That was all your son, because he doesn’t trust you.”

I saw the slight twitch in her jaw, a stifled snort escaping her lips; her eyes slid to the men behind me, assessing, calculating.

“Ask them to take a few steps back. I need to speak with you in private.” I hesitated; my whole body was on high alert, even though my expression remained neutral, and she noticed. “Girl, I don’t have a knife hidden to stab you. I would never soil my hands with your blood.”

God, I hated her.

Still, after a second of indecision, I turned to the two shadows behind me.

“Please, go back to the property and keep an eye on us from there. This is a private conversation.” One of them opened his mouth, clearly ready to argue. “Don’t question my order. If I’m fucking Mrs. Volkov, do as I say when Mr. Volkov isn’t here.”

They exchanged a glance for a moment—that kind of silent communication—then backed off. They moved away, still keeping their eyes fixed on me, alert as predators.

When I was alone with her, I looked her in the eye again.

“Say what you have to say and leave.”

She studied me for a few seconds, as if she were taking me apart layer by layer.

“Always so innocent and sweet… You broke the agreement we had, turned Dominic against me, and now you still have the nerve to play the innocent.”

Her anger was there, hidden beneath that perfect mask.

“Your son found me. It was all him, his effort to seek answers he thought he needed. I didn’t break the agreement… I was ready to die fulfilling what I promised.”

She didn’t even blink.

“I don’t care what happened. I want you to do what we agreed on, and before that, make sure my son reverses his decision. I’m not going to lose everything because of you, girl.”

My chest tightened, but my voice came out steady.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not staying in Russia. Dominic and I are getting a divorce, and I’m going back to the United States, just like you always wanted. But convincing him to forgive you? That’s not something I can do. You cheated on him… just like I did. If I can’t get him to forgive me, how am I going to do that for you?”

I saw something cross that impeccable expression. Surprise… and satisfaction.

“Are you two getting a divorce?”

I nodded, forcing a smile that didn’t even come close to reaching my eyes.

“Just like you always dreamed.”

“It worked…” she murmured, almost to herself.

“What?”

I furrowed my brow, but before I could make sense of it, a smile flashed across her face… and vanished as quickly as it had come. Her eyes returned to me, sharp, and she took two steps forward, closing the distance between us.

“You owe me, Margaret… convince my son to talk to me.”

I let out a snort, crossing my arms instinctively, trying to muster a strength I didn’t feel.

“Or what? Irina, I have nothing left to lose.”

She tilted her head slightly, as if she were genuinely curious.

“Are you sure? The courts don’t look kindly on parents who use their children in their little marital games.”

My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

“What does that mean?”

Her smile was slow.

“It means I’m not the kind of woman who accepts being knocked down. And if I can’t get back up… I’ll drag others down with me.”

The air seemed to vanish from my lungs. She… she was talking about my children, about taking them away from me.

“I’ve already told you… you can do whatever you want to me, but don’t mess with my children. For them, I’m capable of anything.”

My voice came out lower than I would have liked. She didn’t flinch one bit.

“Your threat has no effect on me, girl. Try your best… let’s see who wins custody of your beloved children when we’re in front of a judge.” She took another step, closing the gap between us even further, her voice dropping, growing more venomous. “Especially when I present evidence that you lied, faked your own death… just to kidnap my grandson and flee the country.”

The tears came before I could stop them, and along with them, a fear that took hold of me completely.

God, everything in this world… always found a way to hurt me. Dominic was right; we didn’t fit together, and every time we tried… someone ended up bleeding.

My phone vibrated in my hand like an alert impossible to ignore; when I looked down, Dominic’s name glowed on the screen, pulsing along with my heart. I swallowed hard, feeling my throat tighten, and lifted my chin before turning the phone screen toward Irina.

“Do you really think he’d let you do anything against me… and involve our children, too?”

She smiled—not a kind smile, nor even an angry one; it was cold. As if she already knew exactly how this would end.

“Unfortunately for you, when it comes to justice, Dominic doesn’t have that much power,” she said, leaning slightly toward me, her voice low and venomous. “You know… the mafia and the law don’t mix very well.” My stomach churned. “And me?” she continued, raising an eyebrow with feigned nonchalance. “Dominic already hates me, so I can do whatever I want. I have nothing to lose.”

The call dropped, then the phone started vibrating again. I didn’t answer. I let my arm fall to my side, my fingers still holding the device as it trembled in my hand, as if it were a reflection of what was happening inside me.

“What do you want me to do?” My voice came out lower than I expected. “Dominic hates me just as much as he hates you.”

Irina watched me as if she were analyzing every part of me.

“Even so,” she said slowly, “you’re in my house… giving orders, being listened to, taking a place that was never yours.” How much hatred did this woman harbor toward me? “I heard you attended the dinner with the Japanese alongside my son,” she continued, taking a step forward. “And that you represented my foundation, speaking with such authority… about something I built.”

I sighed, running my tongue over my dry lips. It hadn’t been my choice; he asked me to attend and speak about the projects I’d set up for the foundation, and Irina used that to boost the foundation’s visibility, which worked very well. The Japanese were so impressed with my projects that they made a massive donation and closed deals with Dominic that I didn’t understand.

“So, Margaret,” she said my name like a threat, “you’re going to do as I say… or would you rather test how far I’ll go to protect what’s mine?”

My phone kept vibrating. Every missed call felt like a mistake… but I couldn’t answer it.

“I can try to talk to him,” I said, finally. “But I can’t guarantee he’ll want to talk to you.”

She smiled again.

“I know you can work something out.”

Then she turned away, as if she’d already gotten exactly what she wanted. I watched as she walked toward the car, every step elegant, every movement controlled. When she was close to the door, she stopped and turned back to me.

“Oh, and Margaret… Dominic finding you… that wasn’t his doing.” My whole body froze.

“What?” my voice came out in a whisper.

She smiled slowly.

“It was all me.” The world seemed to tilt. “I always get everything I want,” she added. “Remember that when you try to convince my son to talk to me.” She opened the car door. “It’ll be much better for you… if you’re on my side, and not against me.”

Then she got into the car, and a second later the engine started, and the car drove away… leaving me there, frozen, unable to move. Unable to breathe properly. Was it her? My mind tried to keep up, but everything seemed slow… distant… Then, like a snap, it all made sense.

Alina in Seattle—she knew Dominic would send someone to follow her. She did it on purpose, but why?

“God…” My hand clenched the phone tightly, even as it kept vibrating.

Everything in those people’s lives was a game.

I turned around without realizing exactly when I’d started walking. I walked back to the mansion as if I were outside my own body. As if someone were controlling my steps for me. My visit to Chiara was canceled; I typed a quick message, saying I wasn’t feeling well and that we’d see her puppy another day. Jamie was already running around the room when I walked in, completely distracted by whatever he found along the way; luckily for me, he’d already forgotten all about the puppy.

I walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, feeling my legs give way as if they could no longer support me. I sat there, staring at the garden through the huge glass wall, without really seeing anything.

I don’t know how much time passed. Minutes, maybe hours. Until his voice pulled me back.

“What the hell did Irina tell you?” My body reacted before my mind did. I looked up and Dominic was standing in front of me… with Jamie in his arms. “Maggie…”

I sighed, forcing my mind to snap back.

“She wants… me to convince you to talk to her,” I said.

He let out a sharp snort.

“She can wait forever.”

“Dominic…” I swallowed hard and stood up, facing him. “Talk to her.”

“What?” He frowned immediately. “Did she threaten you?” he asked, his voice lower now, more dangerous.

“No,” I lied. “She’s your mother,” I continued. “You shouldn’t cut ties with the woman who brought you into this world.”

His eyes narrowed, studying me.

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked. “What did she really say to you, Maggie?”

I looked away. If I looked him straight in the eye… I would break down.

“I’m a mother,” I said, holding Jamie’s hand as he began to squirm restlessly in his father’s arms. “I would do anything I thought was best for my children. She just did the same.”

Dominic ran his tongue over his lips, clearly unsatisfied. He took a step back and set Jamie down on the floor, and as soon as his little feet touched the ground, he ran off. Dominic watched for a second… and then turned back to me.

“What she did wasn’t for me,” he said, firmly. “It was for her.”

I knew, but I had to get him to talk to her…

“She’s still your mother,” I insisted. “And she didn’t set anything up against me. I was the one who went after her; I made the proposal. She just accepted.”

I saw his jaw clench and his eyes darken.

“You really want to make it clear that it was all your choice, don’t you?” he asked. “What’s the point, Maggie? Afraid I’ll forgive you and not let you go?” My chest tightened, but I didn’t say anything. I just held his gaze. “Don’t worry,” he said, dryly. “That won’t happen.”

I took a deep breath, then he sighed, as if forcing himself to change the subject.

“I paid off my debt to Marco yesterday.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“Massimo is…”

“He’s in Marco’s hands.”

“You managed to do that…” I murmured, almost in disbelief.

He nodded, emotionless.

“Yes.” He replied, then looked at me. “Come with me.”

I didn’t have time to answer because he was already walking, stopping for just a second to grab Jamie as he ran past, bumping into his legs. I held my breath and followed behind, my heart pounding against my chest. We entered the office, and Dominic went straight to the desk and opened one of the drawers, while I stood in the middle of the room not knowing what to do with myself. He took out a black folder and walked around the desk, then stopped in front of me, holding the folder out toward me.

“W… what is this?” I asked, even though I already knew what it was; my heart ached.

“Our divorce agreement,” he replied coldly, without any visible emotion. “Read it. See if there’s anything you want to change; if not… just sign it.” My breath caught in my throat. “And you’ll be free of me.”

Free.

The word echoed inside me like a sentence; my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my mouth, my stomach churned, and I could very well have vomited everything that was churning inside me.

“Okay,” I murmured, my voice weak. I took a step back, holding the folder as if it weighed a ton. “Dominic…” I took a deep breath. “Talk to your mother.” He didn’t answer. “Find a way to have her in your life,” I continued. “You can’t forgive me, I understand that, but you don’t have to carry that hurt anymore either.” I looked up at him, and what I saw… destroyed me more than any anger.

There was nothing, truly no emotion. Just… emptiness.

“Will you stay with him?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

“Jamie and Daddy,” Jamie answered before I could.

Dominic looked at him immediately, and a small smile appeared. He kissed our son on the cheek.

“Yes, champ. You and me.”

My heart broke completely.

“I… I’m going to the bedroom,” I murmured. “I’m going to read… and sign.”

He didn’t answer, didn’t look at me.

Nothing.

I turned away too quickly, before he could see, and before I could break down. I practically ran out of the office, clutching the folder to my chest, but I couldn’t get far. I stopped on the stairs and there… I broke down. The tears came strong, hot, heavy… streaming uncontrollably as I clutched the folder in my hands.

Feeling… Every piece of my heart… Shatter.