Page 138 of Bride By Coronation

I take a deep breath, release it, then obey, stating, "I didn't do this to hurt you."

She scoffs. "Yet you knew it would and still went through with it. So, why?"

My heart races faster. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

Her expression turns to anger. "Don't sit there and say nothing. I want answers. How do you end up marrying a Petrov? And not just any Petrov, but one so scarred up it's clear he's into dangerous things!"

"That's not fair," I retort.

"Don't you dare talk to me about fair! How long have you known you were going to marry him?" she questions.

My stomach flips.

"Well?" she pushes.

My mouth turns dry. "A few weeks. Not too long."

"Not too long? You've been dating a Petrov behind my back and knew you were going to marry him for a few weeks yet said nothing to me!" she accuses.

"Why? So you could try to convince me not to marry him?"

"Damn right! How could you do this?" she asks again.

I shut my mouth, realizing I'm only digging a deeper hole. Nothing I have said makes any sense to her, and it shouldn't. I can't tell her the truth, so I don't know how to navigate this.

Minutes pass, and it only makes her more infuriated. She lowers her voice, warning, "You've stepped into a snake pit. You cannot stay in it."

I don't answer. Turning toward the window, I try to figure out what I can and can't say to her so I don't break any Underworld rules.

"You're getting divorced," she insists. "I don't care what you think is between the two of you. This marriage is over."

I snap my head toward her, declaring, "I'm not getting a divorce!"

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

Dante flings the door open, sits next to Mom, and slams the door.

The hairs on my arms rise. I look back out the window, feeling like I can't breathe.

In a disappointed tone, he states, "I never thought you'd do something like this, Fiona."

I don't answer, keeping my focus on the glass, hating the position I'm in.

Fucking Sean. It figures he'd leave me high and dry after causing this situation.

Mom scolds, "Don't you dare ignore Dante!"

I blurt out, "It's none of his business."

"None of my business? You've married the devil, and now his men are pulling recording devices out of our home!" Dante booms.

"And whose fault is that, huh?" I hurl back.

"Fiona!" Mom reprimands.

I cross my arms, asserting, "No. I won't take the blame for this one. You have holes in your security. That's not on me. At least Kirill is telling you about them and fixing it. Maybe you should say thank you to him."

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