Page 86 of Married to My Sis’s Bratva Fiancé

I stopped with less than a step between us. The scent of orange blossom hit me—so familiar it tightened my throat. One inch closer and I could've had my hand at her waist.

"I didn't sign it," I said, fast. "The recording was fake too."

"I heard it." She looked up. "So what?"

"Come back with me. We talk this out."

She gave a quick laugh—cold as glass. "You still only know how to give orders."

"I am fixing it. You are my wife. That agreement and that recording—none of it was real."

"I signed the divorce papers. And everything you did, all this time, made me have to believe it was real."

I couldn't deny it.

My hesitation was real. The distance was real. Staying at Isabella's side when Elena needed answers was real. The fake papers had only said out loud what she'd already believed was inevitable.

"Give me ten minutes."

"No."

"Five."

"Kiryan... I don't want to see you."

She'd never shut me down that clean before.

That edge—new on her—cut me and held my eyes at the same time.

I'd lived through betrayal, shootouts, family purges. I'd spent my life finding everyone's price across a negotiation table. But I couldn't find a single sentence that made her stay.

Because she'd never asked me for anything money could replace.

"You can't keep living in another man's house."

Her face went flat. "At least that man respects me."

It felt like a punch under my ribs.

Yegor stepped between us. "You let Isabella do all that shit. And now you show up begging forgiveness? Don't you think it is too late?"

"Get out of the way."

"This is my house."

"She is my wife."

"She is a person first."

My fist tightened.

I could've had my men pin Yegor down, shoved Elena into the car, locked the doors, hauled her back to the manor. The old me would've done it. If something belonged to me, I didn't let it leave.

But Elena wasn't something.

She looked at me, and the caution in her eyes was stronger than the iron gate.

I dragged in a breath, forced my hand to unclench, and took a step back. "I'm not taking you today."