I smirked, masking my turmoil. “Hello, Egor.”

“Claire?” he questioned, his bushy brows arching in surprise at my unannounced arrival.

Ivan and I had been showing up at each other’s places for years.

“Tell Ivan I’m here,” I commanded, my voice sharp.

Egor exhaled, hesitant. “Is he expecting you, Claire?”

From inside, laughter pierced the air. “Ivan, play nice,” a woman’s voice trilled, igniting a firestorm of rage within me.

I slammed my fist against the door, fury driving my actions. “Ivan, open the fucking door.”

The door flew open immediately—he wouldn’t want to draw unnecessary attention in his building.

His lifeless blue eyes met mine, void of the warmth I once knew. So this was how he was dealing with moving to Russia without me? By cheating?

“Ivan, do you want me to send her home?” Egor asked.

My jaw dropped.

“I’m his girlfriend,” I hollered, peeking inside.

I pointed at the woman. “Make that bitch leave.”

I couldn’t believe the bitch was fucking naked.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes. How could my life unravel like this?

I stormed inside. My eyes moved between Ivan and the dark-haired chick with porcelain fake boobs and the towel wrapped around his waist.

She didn’t bother covering up.

Behind me, the door clicked shut.

“Everyone says we’re the perfect couple.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Joke’s on me, huh? It’s clear we’re not together anymore. All you had to do was tell me it was over, Ivan.”

His hand shot out, gripping my jaw tightly as he yanked me toward him. “And that would’ve been enough for you?” he growled.

“You think you could just walk away from everything we’ve built over the years?” he roared, his voice an unrecognizable snarl.

Chills clawed up my spine. What happened to my boyfriend, the kind, loving one I knew? Had it all been a lie?

“I’m in love with you, Claire,” he declared, grinning with a madness that sent shivers through me. “I’m fucking obsessed with you.”

His eyes closed momentarily. “I only want to be with you. My life has changed so much in the last year. I can no longer be the nice guy.”

His blue eyes darkened and his jaw twitched. The glimpse of the Ivan I knew was now gone forever. My heart sank to my feet.

He forced me down onto the seat at the black marble kitchen countertop.

A mirror sat in front of me, several neat lines of cocaine waiting.

“Snort a line,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

“No,” I snapped, defiance lacing my words.

His hand pressed against the back of my head, forcing my face toward the mirror.