Page 156 of Sweet Deception
Anna was lying on the floor, her eyes wide open, lifeless.
“Anna...”
She didn’t move. Didn’t blink.
Her sobs faded into silence. A long, empty silence. Then she laughed, soft, broken. A laugh with no joy left in it. When she finally looked up, her eyes were hollow. Dead. ‘I want a divorce, Gleb.’”
My heart stopped.
“No,” I whispered. “That’s not the answer.”
She laughed, a soft, broken sound. “I can’t stay here. Not with you. Not with your family. I’ll suffocate, Gleb. Every time I close my eyes, I’ll see her. I’ll hear her. I need to go.”
“But leaving me won’t heal you.”
“Not immediately,” she admitted. “But over time, it will.”
She wiped her face. “I need to get away from this life. I’m not cut out for it. My family is evil. Your family is worse. I won’t survive this.”
My chest was caving in. “Anna, I...”
She cut me off. “Bring me divorce papers tomorrow.”
“You can hate me. You can blame me. But I won’t let you leave. Not now. Not like this.”
Her cold, bitter smile cut me deeper than any knife. “You never really wanted her, Gleb.”
I flinched. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it? You weren’t prepared for this baby. You told me to get rid of her. You were afraid she’d be killed, and she was. You were right. And I was stupid.”
Her voice cracked. “I should have listened to you.”
“I swear to you, Anna, they will pay. Every last one of them. But you and I, we’re not over.”
I dropped to my knees in front of her. “Don’t shut me out, Anna. Please. I know I failed you, but let me make it right.”
She cupped my cheek, tears falling freely.
“You’re a good man, Gleb.” Her lips brushed mine, soft and lingering. A goodbye kiss.
“I should have told you before. I should have known before. I love you, Anna. And I won’t let this be the end.”
She laughed bitterly. “You do?”
“I do.”
Her expression turned icy. “I wish that were enough.”
“Do you still love me?” My voice was barely above a whisper.
She scoffed. “Nonsense. I will always love you, Gleb Romanov.” She paused. “And that’s exactly why I need to leave.”
Then she stood and picked up our daughter’s still body.
“Little girl,” she sobbed, cradling her against her chest. “We talked, didn’t we? You promised to stay strong. Why did you leave me?”
Her body trembled with silent sobs, “you should have fought to stay alive...” she squeezed her eyes so bad, tears trickling painfully out of her swollen eyes .
