Page 144 of Ruthless Lullaby

First things first, I need to call for reinforcements. The event is already heavily guarded, but Shirkov has a goddamn army under his control. I can’t afford to leave anything to chance. I must also increase security back at the mansion as well.

I quickly tap my phone screen and send the emergency instructions to Pavel.

“Pavel, call for backup immediately. We need more men stationed at every entry point to the hotel. We also need more men back at the mansion. Shirkov is coming for us.”

When I finish my message to Pavel, I try calling Maurice again. I’m not even surprised when it goes to voicemail. That fucking idiot. He has no idea of the danger he’s in. I just hope he’s in the building somewhere and not out on the streets waiting for Shirkov to hunt him down.

But it looks like I’ll have to deal with Maurice later. I must go find Mindy and fast. I sprint down the corridor, urgently checking every room and corner I come across. The sense of impending danger grips me tightly, making every missed moment feel like a potentially catastrophic delay. I can't afford to waste any more time.

Each room I barge into reveals startled hotel staff and housekeepers, their wide eyes reflecting their surprise as I barrel past them. My breath comes in ragged bursts, each footfall echoing my growing desperation. I run with relentless urgencyuntil, at the end of a narrow hallway right beside the Silver Room, I come across a closed door. With steely determination, I make my way toward it, pushing it open so forcefully that it almost breaks in the process.

The sight that greets me shakes me to my fucking core, threatening to shatter every fragile illusion I'd clung to until now.

There are two people in the room. Mindy and Maurice.

Maurice lies sprawled across Mindy's lap, completely passed out, his body limp like a discarded rag doll. His face is as pale as a ghost, drained of color, with dark circles under his eyes making his hollow expression even more unsettling. It’s obvious that he drank himself numb again and passed out. Just like he always does. Mindy desperately holds onto him, her arms trembling as she tries to cradle his limp form. Tears stream down her face, leaving red tracks in their wake.

"Oh my God, Maron," she begs, her voice breaking with each word. "Please get help! Maurice needs help!"

My eyes dart frantically between the two as my mind struggles to comprehend the scene before me. Why is Maurice on Mindy’s lap? And what the fuck were they doing in this room alone, away from the event? Were they drinking together and hooking up behind my back?

I don’t fucking know what to make of this all of a sudden, even though the proof is glaringly obvious before me: Maurice and Mindy were in a secret relationship right under my nose.

You should have known, dickhead!

She lied to you all this time!

She spilled your secrets to her sister and fucked your idiotic half-brother.

All behind your back!

I can’t believe the fool I was. I trusted her all along despite all the subtle clues screaming at me. I chose to ignore them because I was too fucking obsessed with her. But no more. I don’t fucking care anymore. This is the last time I let anyone close to me.

Ignoring Mindy and her pathetic plea for help, I step closer and shake Maurice violently. "What the fuck is wrong with you, dickhead? I fucking told you not to drink tonight!" I roar, no longer containing my rage. "Shirkov’s daughter is dead because of you!"

I turn to face Mindy, who is clearly frozen by the sight of my unrestrained fury. I realize she’s never seen me like this before, but I’m beyond caring. I feel nothing but a chilling, unbridled rage that consumes me completely.

"And you? You’re a liar and a traitor." I say to her coldly, "I always knew you were fucking Maurice behind my back. But I chose to ignore it because…"

Because I love you.

I’m unable to finish my own sentence. My jaw clenches at the mere ridiculousness of the thought. I made a complete fool of myself. I can’t believe how easily she screwed me over. Maybe this was her plan from the very beginning. To find out about my deepest darkest secrets and sell them to her journalist sister so that they could both make a shitton of money by exposing me. And in the meantime, she never stopped fucking Maurice. Maybe they never even broke up.

Of course, Korolev.

You’re a rich fucker and she sniffed out an opportunity to make money.

What the fuck did you expect?

That she’ll be the love of your life?

You pathetic son of a bitch.

Mindy winces at my words as tears roll down her cheeks. "It's not what you think, Maron," she whispers through sobs. "Maurice needs help! He’s-"

Maurice stirs, his voice slurred and weak. "Mindy," he mumbles, "I love you."

I stare at Mindy. Her face is buried into her hands as she leans forward with Maurice’s drunk form spread on her lap. Something inside me snaps, the betrayal cutting deeper than any knife. With disgust on my face, I pull my phone out of my pocket. "Pavel, " I say, "get your ass over here, right now."

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