The Mansion
Belle’s POV
It’s almost midnight and so far Nikolai kept his word that he will stay away from me. I haven’t seen him since we arrived in the mansion. I’m in our room and everything is exactly where it was before I left.
Alexei is stable but he needs to wake up the soonest possible time. The longer he’s unconscious, the smaller the chance that he will be better.
I try not to think of what will happen when I leave after tomorrow given that this is Alexei’s condition. Part of me hates myself for thinking about my freedom knowing fully well that when I leave, Alexei’s condition is still unclear. I want to take care of him but I don’t know how to, if the only thing I want is to leave them.
I sat back and rested on the comfortable chair right next to Alexei’s bed. I cradled my very pregnant belly as the little Volkovs are making it harder and harder for their mother to function normally each day. The doctor’s appointment to know the gender of the twins is overdue. I’m thinking I should do it whilst in New York because I want to share that very special moment with both Nikolai and Alexei. As much as I want to divorce them, when it comes to the twins, they will have their fair share of happiness.
I left my phone in my bag somewhere and so I used Alexei’s that is within my reach. His wallpaper is still the same picture he took back in the brownstone house, the one with the flower headpiece. I can still remember the exact cheeky smile on his face when he called me mother earth asking about the trees in the forest.
Scandalous is the mildest word to describe the contents of this man’s gallery and storage. My goodness, what if someone gets a hold of his phone?
I dialed Nikolai and after two rings he answered.
“Baby.”
“Hmm. How did you know it was me Nikolai?”
“My brother is passed out. You are with him. Takes no genius to deduce really.” He said with the typical Volkov arrogance.
“What am I doing now?” I asked as I test my theory that he might be watching me from somewhere. I removed my bra and adjust my top to show my plunging breasts.
“Oh fuck.” He mumbles. “I mean, you’re calling me right now on the phone. You are asking some weird questions Arabella.” He said as he clears his throat.
Hmm. Suspicious.
“How about now?” This time I reached for Alexei’s hand to hold my left boob.
I heard him whisper in Russian. “What was that Nikolai?” I asked.
“Nothing baby. Again, you are asking some weird questions.”
“Hmm. Okay. So about the twins.” I said adjusting my top and going back to my seat.
“What about the twins?”
“Would you like to hear their heartbeats and find out their gender? You know, before- before we divorce?” I covered my mouth to suppress myself from completely breaking down. I feel bad for the twins. I feel bad that we are giving up on them. And I hate myself for being in this situation.
There’s nothing but silence on the other side of the line. I wiped the tears that are flowing down my face and did not push the suggestion further. Maybe he is not ready to do it so I just let it go.
–
Nikolai downs his liquor and closes his laptop after seeing Belle in the security camera doze off. He leaves the study and went straight to the master bedroom. He removes the phone from Belle’s hand and brushes off the hair from her face. He then checks on his brother and whispered to his ear, “You fucking lucky bastard.”
He puts the warm blanket in place to make sure his brother is good for the night. He then carries Belle in his arms gently, taking his precious time to place her in bed. In Nikolai’s mind, he does not want this night to end. He doesn’t want tomorrow to come.
He covers her with their duvet resisting the unbearable urge to touch her and feel her warmth against his skin. She’s right here beside him and yet she’s so far away.
Nikolai can literally feel his heart hurt as he recalls how Belle is so determined to break off their marriage. How she has completely given up on him.
They have fallen apart, beyond repair. The letter is the only thing left for him to save their relationship, and even with that, he’s not hopeful he can fix her heart to forgive him.
Nikolai rested his back on the headboard of the bed, staring blankly in the dead silence of the night. He looks at the table right next to him and contemplated for a while before finally giving in. He took a few pills from the compartment and downed it with vodka. Since Belle left them, the pills became Nikolai’s solace. The numbness he feels as the effect hits his system became his temporary cure.
–
Scene: Yuri, Dimitri, Boris and Andrey outside of the Master Bedroom, hands in their pockets and looking at the huge door in front of them.
Dimitri: Why is it so quiet?
Andrey: It’s not going to happen.
Boris: –
Yuri: (Clenches his jaw, looking at the door intently) (Turns his back and leaves impatiently.)
Andrey: (Follows his brother) Hey, what’s going on?
Yuri: It’s over.
Dimitri: What do you mean it’s over? They’re there. They are going to patch things up and everything is going to be alright tomorrow.
Yuri: It’s the Boss. The Boss has given up.
–