Page 61 of Tainted Empire

In this moment, I’m more than just his partner; I’m the protector of his legacy, his life. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe and to keep our world from falling apart.

The room falls back into a quiet stillness, only disrupted by the steady beep of the heart monitor. I’m lost in thought, my eyes fixed on Mikhail’s still form, when Lee enters the room.

Her eyes, filled with a depth of sorrow, linger on Mikhail, and I sense there’s more to her emotion than just concern for a friend. The air around her feels heavy with unspoken feelings.

“How is he?” Lee’s voice is strained, barely a whisper as she looks at Mikhail lying motionless on the hospital bed. “I haven’t seen him since he was brought in with you, and this… God, it hurts to see him like this.”

“Still critical,” I responded, watching her closely. “The doctor says the next few days are crucial.”

Lee’s face falls, and she takes a deep breath. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she murmurs, her voice tinged with sadness. “I’m not used to seeing him so… broken.”

I look at her, seeing the pain in her eyes, a pain that seems to mirror mine, and I squeeze Mikhail’s hand tighter.

“We have to stay strong for him,” I say, drawing his hand to my lips and kissing his fingers. “ I’ve spoken to Ivan. We’re increasing security, and no one gets in without my approval.”

Lee moves closer, her gaze never leaving Mikhail. “I like your decision to take charge while Mikhail is... out. It’s brave of you, Gabi, not many women would do that in your position.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “It’s what needs to be done, Lee. I can’t just sit back. He’s always been the one to protect us. Now it’s my turn.”

She places a hand on my shoulder, offering a silent comfort. “Is there anything I can do, anything you need?”

I meet her eyes, noting the mix of respect and something else – something deeper. I think for a moment, then reply, “Just be here, Lee. With me, with him. We need to stick together now more than ever.”

She nods, a look of determination replacing her sorrow. “Anything you need, just ask. Mikhail means a lot to me... to all of us.”

The way she says it, the emotion behind her words, it’s too much for just friendship. A suspicion, one I’ve never voiced before, finds its way to the surface. I’ve seen how she was with Mikhail before, how her eyes lingered on him a touch too long when she thought no one was looking.

“Lee,” I start, hesitant yet needing to know. “Are you... in love with Mikhail?”

The moment the words leave my lips, I see a cascade of emotions cross Lee’s face. Surprise, guilt, pain - each battling for dominance. Her eyes, usually so guarded, now lay bare the depth of her unspoken feelings.

“It’s stupid, I know,” she admits softly, her voice filled with a mixture of pain and apology. “But I am. I’m sorry, Gabi… I don’t know when…I don’t know when it happened.”

I take a moment to process her confession, then shake my head gently. “You don’t need to apologize, I understand. And I know you could’ve easily tried to sabotage my marriage with Mikhail, especially when we were separated. But you didn’t. You helped me instead.”

Lee’s eyes meet mine, a storm of regret and relief swirling in them as she shakes her head. “I couldn’t do something like that. Despite how I feel about Mikhail, I could never betray your trust, or his. His happiness... it’s always mattered more to me.”

Her admission leads me to another realization, one that’s been nagging at me since Mikhail mentioned her being blackmailed. “Is this what you were being blackmailed about? Your feelings for Mikhail?”

Shock is written all over her face and I know I’ve hit the nail right on the head. “How did you...?” She pauses, collecting herself. “Yes, and I have no idea how they found out. They threatened to expose everything, to destroy Mikhail’s trust in me. I couldn’t let them do that.”

I don’t know how to feel about this. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of loyalty before. It’s slightly disarming.

I squeeze her hand, feeling a profound respect for the sacrifices she’s made. “Thank you for protecting us, even at such a cost to yourself. Your secret is safe with me, I promise.”

As she nods, a fragile smile touching her lips, I realize the strength of the bond we share, born not just out of friendship, but out of shared pain and unspoken understanding.

And in this moment, I know that no matter what happens, we have an ally in Lee – one who values our happiness above her own.

After she leaves, I’m left alone with my thoughts, the weight of her confession still lingering in the air. It’s a lot to process, the realization that someone so close to us harbors such deep, unspoken feelings.

Yet, despite everything, Lee chose our happiness over her own. It’s a testament to her character, and it only deepens my respect for her.

My train of thought is interrupted as I see the medical team preparing to move Mikhail to the private ward I had insisted on. Despite my own pain, I push myself to sit up, watching intently as they carefully transfer him onto the stretcher. Every movement they make, every instruction they give, I follow closely, ensuring that Mikhail is given the utmost care.

Once he is settled in the private ward, I ask to be moved to a bed next to him. Lying there, watching his still form, the reality of our situation hits me full force.

The man who has always been an unwavering pillar of strength, who commands respect and fear in equal measure, lies vulnerable and unconscious because of an attack meant for him. The sight of him, so uncharacteristically silent and motionless, is heart-wrenching.

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