Page 56 of Breaking the Annulment

Aurelia shook her head, tears blurring her vision. “I only know that we moved around a lot. Always moving.”

Victor’s smile widened, cold and cruel. “Yes, Nadia thought she could hide you from me. She thought she could steal my daughter and escape my world.” He let out a low chuckle. “She thought she could hide behind Giannopoulos, but she was wrong. I found her. I foundyou.”

Aurelia’s breath hitched as the pieces began to fall into place. “The attack… seven years ago?”

Victor nodded, his tone turning almost gleeful. “I had my men bringing you to me. I was so close to having you back in my arms. But then your husband interfered.”

“Michalis?” she whispered, her heart pounding.

Victor’s smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. “That bastard stole you from me. His men ambushed mine, killing them before they could deliver you to me. Do you know how much blood was spilled that day because of you? How much money you cost me?”

Aurelia’s stomach twisted as the meaning of his words sank in. “I thought… I thought it was because of Michalis’s father.”

Victor let out a sharp laugh. “Chrysanthos Giannopoulos was merely collateral damage. The bloodshed wasn’t about him—it was aboutyouand your mother. Then his son sent you to that boarding school to keep you safe, but I found you there, too, only you ran before I could work out a way to get to you, and then every time you moved, he followed you, let you think you were on your own.”

“What?”

Victor laughed. “Oh, he didn’t tell you? I do believe he was already obsessed with you by then, but you were too young, so he let you grow up. And every time I got close, he was there, fucking everything up. You were always protected. So chivalrous. If you’d come to me still a virgin, I would have thanked him before I gutted him, but he ruined that, too, didn’t he? David was supposed to keep you pure until I had a way to get around your husband’s protective detail, but he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants and went panting after you the moment you came back on your own.”

The realization hit Aurelia like a punch to the gut.All this time… Michalis was protecting me from this psychopath. His world… it’s my world too.Her knees wobbled, and she gripped the edge of the table for support.

She looked up at Victor, her voice trembling. “And my mother? Why did she leave? Why did she run if she loved you?”

Victor’s expression darkened, but his voice remained calm, almost conversational. “Because Nadia didn’t understand. She couldn’t see the opportunity I was giving you.” He leaned closer, his tone dropping to a chilling whisper. “I was going to sell my beautiful virgin daughter to the highest bidder. Millions, Aurelia. Do you know what that kind of money can do?”

Aurelia’s stomach turned, bile rising in her throat. “You… you were going to sell me? I was your daughter.”

Victor straightened, unbothered by her horror. “No. You were a commodity to be traded. And Nadia? She was a fool. She couldn’t accept it, so she ran, stealing you away in the dead of night.” He smiled coldly. “But it didn’t matter. I found you in the end.”

Aurelia clutched her belly protectively, nausea threatening to overwhelm her. “You’re a monster.”

Victor’s smile didn’t waver. “Perhaps. But I’m a patient monster. And now, you’ll finally fulfill your purpose.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You don’t have to do this. If it’s money you want, Michalis can pay you. He has?—”

Victor slammed a hand on the table, silencing her. His smile evaporated, replaced by cold fury. “This isn’t about money anymore. Michalis Giannopoulos has interfered one too many times. He stole you from me seven years ago, and now he’s ruined you. So, I’ll destroy everything he loves.”

Aurelia’s blood turned to ice as he leaned closer, his voice a venomous hiss. “You. Your baby. That happy little life you thought you had. It’s all going to burn.”

Tanya’s laughter echoed from the corner. “See, princess? You thought you could run to your husband for protection. But what’s he going to do when you’re gone? When the Giannopoulos legacy crumbles?”

Aurelia turned to David, desperation in her eyes. “David, please. You don’t have to let this happen. Help me.”

But David’s smirk was cold and unfeeling. “It’s too late, Aurelia. You belong to Victor now.”

Panic surged as Aurelia pushed back from the table, bolting toward the door. She managed to wrench it open, but Tanya was faster, slamming her against the wall.

“Nice try,” Tanya sneered, twisting Aurelia’s arm behind her back. “But you’re not going anywhere.”

Victor gestured dismissively. “Put her in the back room. She needs time to adjust to her new reality.”

Aurelia screamed and kicked as Tanya dragged her down the hall, her strength no match for the woman’s iron grip. The door slammed shut behind her, and she heard the lock click ominously.

The room was dark, the air cold and heavy. Aurelia sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around her legs as sobs wracked her body. Her hands moved instinctively to her belly, clutching the only thing that mattered now.

Through her tears, a single thought burned in her mind.Michalis… I’m so sorry. I never should have left.

Aurelia was shoved into a dark, windowless room. The door slammed shut, the lock clicking ominously. She sank into a corner, wrapping her arms around her legs, her body trembling with fear.

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