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“Your plans?” I question, cocking my head in confusion.
“Aurora, dear…” She licks her lips, looking at me. “I’ve been thinking about how cruel your father was, forcing you into a marriage you never wanted. I think I know how to get you out of Ivanov’s grasp.”
Get me out?
I’m taken aback by her words. My mouth opens and then closes. I’m not sure what to say. She’s right about the fact that my father forced me into becoming Lev’s wife. She’s right about me not wanting it…in the beginning. But now… Eventually, it’s Leila who breaks the silence.
“Look, Aurora,” she says. “I know how you fought against that marriage. I wish I had come earlier. I would have prevented it from happening,” she says.
She may be right, but somehow the thought of escaping Lev doesn’t sound so appealing anymore. I would have jumped at it if she had brought this proposition when my father announced my engagement. Now, I’m unsure. Elena’s words keep echoing in my head.
“I… I have to think about it.” I give her a smile. “Besides, I think it’s too late to undo what happened.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” she says with conviction in her voice.
Really? What power does she have to go up against Lev?
“What do you plan to do?” I ask, my curiosity winning over my resistance.
“Don’t worry about that for now, my dear,” she says. “All I ask is that you cooperate with me when the time comes.” As simple as she’s making it sound, something doesn’t sit well with me.
“You won’t tell me your plans?” I ask.
“It’s best if you don’t know the details yet, Aurora,” she says.
Okay…
An alarm bell goes off in the back of my head. It’s faint and I try brushing it aside, but somehow, it just keeps ringing.
What the hell is she up to?
“You can trust me, dear,” she says, probably noticing my apprehension.
“I don’t want Lev hurt,” I say quickly. The thought of it makes me shudder. Elena’s words about what he’s had to endure keep playing through my mind.
“Aurora, I’m not like that,” she says. “I’m just trying to help you. I know you always wanted a normal life. I might be able to give that to you.”
I muster a smile. Maybe I am being too hard on her. Maybe I am suspicious for no reason. Maybe this is what it feels like when a mother cares about me. I never knew what that felt like. Perhaps the only reason this feels off is because suspicion has been hardwired into me.
But either way, the sensation is confusing. Now that I’m being faced with the prospect of freedom from Lev, I’m not certain that I want it.
CHAPTER THREE
Lev
It’s her.
I rub my temples as I force myself to accept the facts. Two days since it all came to light, and still, I can’t get over it. It hurts like a bitch and I fucking hate that it does.
It’s unbelievable to think how low she’d stoop to get rid of me. I might be dead by now if it wasn’t for Ludis and Sergei.
Deceitful little bitch.
I remember the phone call she received just hours before the attack. Then, she kept me distracted all through the night. I’d thought I’d been in control, but now I can’t help thinking that everything was carefully planned.
I wanted to lock her away immediately and then interrogate her, but I quickly realized it would be a huge mistake. There’s no way she’s working alone. And whoever is pulling the strings, if they get wind of the fact that her cover has been blown, they will flee before I can get to them.
I can’t afford that.
