Page 119 of Sinful Betrayal

My blood turns cold as I stare down at Nina.

Her face is completely drained of color, and she looks like she’s on the verge of breaking down.

But I can’t bring myself to comfort her, not after what she’s done, not just to me but to my family.

Was I really that naive to fall for the big blue eyes and comforting touches without bothering to look into who this girl really was?

I should have known better. I knew it was too good to be true and yet, I never once questioned why I felt that way.

Igor must be having the time of his life, having me as such a willing pawn in his twisted game.

“You really think I’m going to fall for that?” I scoff. “You might have played me for a fool, Nina, but that stops now. I’m fucking done.”

Nina flinches at my words, her hands not moving from her stomach as her entire body trembles.

“I-it’s true. Please, you need to hear me out,” she sobs, but I hold up a hand to silence her.

“I’ve heard plenty. I want you gone within the hour. Danika can help pack up your things.”

I stalk from the kitchen without a backward glance.

Yesterday, hearing her tell me she loves me and that she’s carrying my child would have been like a dream come true. But now, it’s like I’ve walked right into my worst nightmare.

27

NINA

When my mother died,my heart broke. I swear I could actually feel the muscle start to shred and my body begin to bleed out internally.

Maybe I was going crazy with grief, but the pain I felt was so real. I remember wondering if it was true… If you could actually die from a broken heart. Because surely, death was inevitable? No one could be in that much pain and not be dying.

Over time, my heart started to stitch itself back together.

It wasn’t perfect. There were still cracks, which sometimes meant I would be hit with a wave of grief when I least expected it. When I heard the music that she used to play on the piano when walking around a store or caught a waft of someone’s perfume as they passed by and realized it was the same one she wore.

I thought grief was something that would eventually pass, but it turns out you just learn to live with it. That is, until something cracks you open once more, and you wonder if this time will be the final time. If this will be the one to finally break you for good.

I keep waiting for Anton to turn around, to tell me he understands, and that he’ll hear me out. But then the front door slams, and all the air leaves my lungs as I realize he’s not coming back.

“Oh god,” I sob, clutching my throat as my legs give out beneath me, and I have to cling to a chair to stop myself from falling.

He’s gone.

If I had told him the truth earlier, would it have made a difference? Or would he still be just as hurt as he is now? Either way, it’s not going to change the fact that he found out, and what makes it worse is that I wasn’t the one to tell him.

He deserves so much better than this.

I don’t know where he got that photo, and I don’t want to know. All I care about is the fact that my own cowardice has just cost me everything.

“Katerina? Why are you crying?”

I freeze at the sound of Maria’s voice. She is the last person I should be speaking to.

“I-I’m not.” I wipe at my cheeks, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, Maria.”

Maria doesn’t look convinced. She has a deep frown between her eyebrows as she looks at me curiously.

“Have you and Anton had a fight?” She puts her hands on her hips, giving me that typical motherly look.

---