Page 79 of Twisted Empire: King's Gambit

The hotel ballroom is an explosion of opulence, draped in rich fabrics and lit by chandeliers that twinkle like far-off stars. People mull around, glasses clinking, laughter filling the air.

This should be a night of celebration, of joy and love. But as I scan the lavishly decorated ballroom, filled with people who’ve come to honor Mikhail on his birthday, something feels off. Way off. Mikhail’s been distant, his touches half-hearted, his smiles forced. It’s like he’s in the room, but not really here.

I glance toward the head table where Mikhail is standing, surrounded by his closest allies and family. The laughter and chatter around him seem to bounce off an invisible shield, never quite reaching him.

He’s in a world of his own, a world that doesn’t include me tonight, and that stings. But even as he engages in conversation, laughing and joking like he’s having the time of his life, I can see it—the tension in his jaw, the tightness around his eyes.

Something is wrong.

And then there’s that look in his eyes—a frantic, almost paranoid edge that I’ve never seen before. It’s unsettling, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I try to lock eyes with him, try to send a silent message that whatever it is, we’ll get through it. But he avoids my gaze, and my stomach tightens with unease.

He went out for dinner with Lorenzo last night. What could have happened in that time? I haven’t seen him this cold toward me since our wedding.

Needing a breather, I excuse myself from the table and make my way to where Natalya is standing, her youthful face animated as she talks to some friends. She sees me approach and excuses herself to join me.

“Hey, you okay?” she asks, her eyes scanning my face.

“Do I look that bad?” I try to joke, but it falls flat.

“You look like you lost your best friend,” she says, her eyes narrowing with concern.

“It’s Mikhail. He’s acting... strange. Distant. Have you noticed?”

Natalya hesitates for a moment, her eyes darting toward her brother before meeting mine again. “Yeah, I’ve seen it. Don’t know what’s eating him, though.”

“I thought maybe you might have an idea. You know him better than anyone,” I press, hoping she’d have some answers that could make this night less of a mystery.

Natalya sighs, glancing again toward her brother, concern etching her young face. But before she can offer her own thoughts, Liadan, Mikhail’s best friend and a blonde vision of poise and elegance, approaches us. Her high heels clicking against the floor like a metronome.

Despite her beauty, there’s an undeniable edge to her. She’s built an empire that rivals Mikhail’s, and I’ve seen her be as cold and calculating as he is.

“I couldn’t help but overhear,” she begins, looking apologetic. “You’re right. Mikhail’s off tonight, and I’ve seen him go through every emotion in the book. Tonight’s something different, though. He’s like a coiled spring, wound up too tight.”

“Exactly,” I say, grateful that someone else is acknowledging it. “So what should I do? You’re his best friend. How should I approach this?”

Liadan takes a sip from her glass and contemplates for a moment. “In my experience, the best way to handle Mikhail isn’t to corner him. If you press him now, you’ll just force him further into his shell. Give him a bit of room, and when he’s ready, he’ll come to you. He always does.”

I let her words sink in, mulling them over. It makes sense, but the urgency of tonight makes it a hard pill to swallow. Then, driven by a need to share with someone who understands, I find myself spilling the news.

“I’m going to give him his gift tonight,” I blurt out, suddenly needing to share it with someone. “I found out I’m pregnant. I thought it would be a meaningful present, a symbol of something new, something hopeful.”

Natalya’s eyes go wide, and she envelops me in a tight hug. “That’s amazing news! But,” she pulls back, “make sure the moment is right. Timing is everything with Mikhail.”

Lee’s shocked expression quickly shifts into something softer, warmer. “Well, that’s news that could turn any man’s world upside down—in the best possible way, of course. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” I say, my voice tinged with worry. “I just hope whatever’s going on, we can get past it. I don’t want to start this new chapter on a sour note.”

“Then let’s hope he snaps out of whatever this is,” Natalya says, casting another worried glance toward her brother. “Because news like that deserves all the joy in the world.”

Natalya, still a bit in awe, wraps an arm around me. “Something good in the midst of all this tension. That has to count for something.”

Liadan nods, thoughtful. “Oh, it counts. It counts for a lot. But,” she adds cautiously. “You’re correct, Natalya. Timing is crucial. Make sure the atmosphere is right before you drop a bombshell like that, especially given how he’s been tonight.”

They’re both right, and I feel it in my gut. “Okay, I’ll pick the right moment. I have to believe that this news will be a glimmer of light, no matter how dark his thoughts are right now.”

Natalya grins, her eyes glinting with emotion. “It will, Gabi. It has to be.”

“To new beginnings,” Liadan says, raising her glass for a toast.

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