I love Yelena but not the same as how she felt for me. I loved her as my sister, nothing less and nothing more than that. At first Papa and Matushka thought that it was something that she would outgrow and forget in time but they were wrong.
Her obsession to marry me was the reason why Papa wants to arrange a man to marry her when she comes of age. Yelena hated Papa because of that. Things started to get worst when she to tried to kill herself after Papa sent her to boarding school. She had to stay at home so we can look after her to make sure it never happens again. For years, she let go of herself, doing drugs, drinking alcohol and dating every guy that came her way. We were slowly losing her right before our eyes.
When we found out that Papa had planned to send her off to a rehab facility in Moscow, I knew that she was not going to make it there. I tried to talk to my father but he did not believe that Yelena will change for the better. Alexei and I made a decision to save her from being sent off to Russia by convincing Papa Vyacheslav and Papa Viktor that Yelena and Alexei are having a baby. At that time, Yelena was already pregnant with Aria. As to my brother, he was, at that time, in love with her so he was willing to play the ruse with us to cover up what’s really going on with Yelena. Alexei and Yelena played the part in front of Papa and the people around us. Soon after that, their wedding was planned.
But when Pa Vyacheslav and Pa Viktor died everything came spiraling down quickly. The Mafia was unstable because the elders doubted if I can run and lead the Volkov Mafia at my age. They doubted me from the very beginning but I know that I did not have to prove myself to them. I am my father’s blood. I am a Volkov and they’d have to kill me to overthrow the leadership.
After Yelena gave birth to Aria, she did nothing but to hate me. She came back to her old ways. Yelena tormented herself because she knows that’s the only way that she can get my attention.
And then that unfortunate night happened. I was leaving for Boston. She was begging to come with me but I told her that she should stay home because she’s not well. She went hysterical, ran away, and drove off, crashing her car to her death.
Later on, Matushka found a note in her room leaving Aria to Artan if anything happens to her. She made it clear that the baby girl will grow up in her father’s without interference from the Volkov family. We all respected her wish.
I believed Matushka when she said that the crash could possibly be done by the Mafia’s enemies. We were ready to believe that convenient reason because behind all that was our own denial of our faults and regrets. I regret arguing with her that night. She would not have run away if only I let her come with me to Boston. I could have done more for her.
Now I have done that same mistake again. I could have done better to take care of you and love you as my wife but I did not. You believed that Yelena and I had a romantic relationship because somewhere along the way, I unintentionally made you feel and think that way. What the Albanian did on your birthday was what I should have done as your husband. I broke your heart on your own special day. This one will haunt me to my grave.
That day, I was so occupied with burying my past that I have lost sight of my present which all that should have mattered.
Belle, I have never loved a woman as much as I have loved you. I am in love with you and you alone. Absolutely nothing can change that. Not even that goddam broken heart fucking syndrome shit the doctor diagnosed me of.
Without you, there’s nothing really left for me now.
Forgive me,
Beast
–
Belle’s POV
I begged Devon to drive as fast as he can to the meeting place. I need to be there before it’s too late.
“B. What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Yes, I just need to see Nikolai before the meeting,” I replied while dialing on my phone. It’s just been ringing but he’s not answering.
Thank goodness the building is already right in the corner. My hands are shaking and my heart is pounding inside my ribcage as we pass through the entrance and head our way to the elevator. I am not sure about what’s going to happen but what I am certain is that I want to see Nikolai and tell him that I do not want to lose him.
–
The scene right after Nikolai asked Belle on the phone if she has read the letters.
Nikolai had to compose himself after ending the call. Belle has read the letters but she sounded indifferent and still want to push through with the divorce. He went to Belle’s parents who are now in one corner of the table waiting for their daughter to arrive.
He kisses the mother’s forehead and reached for her hand to pay his respect. He then reaches for the General’s hand and connected it to his forehead.
He then instructed his lawyers to agree to everything that Belle wishes in the divorce, she gets 3/4 of all the wealth of Nikolai with an addendum that should he die, the remaining wealth will redound to the benefit of his ex-wife and the twins.
The conditions were quickly attached in the divorce settlement papers already prepared for by the lawyers of the Galves’. Copies were printed right there and then. The only thing that will complete the agreement is Nikolai’s signatures.
Belle’s mother got teary-eyed seeing how Nikolai looked at the documents in front of him in its final form, waiting for his signature. Even his men surrounding him looked like they were all holding their breaths.
He glanced at his phone one last time before he finally signed the papers. It was swift and systematic as one of his lawyers was pointing to where he was supposed to sign.
–
Belle’s POV
He signed the papers. Nikolai signed our divorce papers.
When we arrived at the conference room, what was left was the divorce documents on the table already signed for by Nikolai.
“B, this is what you want right? Nikolai signed your divorce papers. You are free!”
Amy said, looking at me intently, but so unconvinced and doubtful of my reaction. I looked at her, Devon and my parents pleading for them to understand what I’m about to do at this very moment.
“Papa, Ma, I don’t want to divorce Nikolai.”
The lawyers looked at me like a grew a horn, Amy gasped in surprise, my mother’s jaw dropped in utter shock while Papa and Devon just looks at me with a weary and perhaps disappointed reaction.
I gathered all the papers and shove them all down the shredder in the corner.
I want to run so bad but given my condition, walking alone feels like a friggin sprint for me. I looked over the glass window and saw black SUVs still parked by the building. That means Nikolai is still here.
I hurriedly pulled up my dress so I can walk as fast as I can. Amy and Devon did not have much of a choice but to come with a deranged pregnant woman.
“This is crazy, you’re crazy you know that right?” Amy said with a smile of surrender on her face like she actually gave up on even bothering to counsel me.
I dialed Nikolai once again and this time he answered in two rings as I approach the exit near them.
“Nikolai.”
“Baby? I mean, ex-baby?”
“Nikolai!”
He chuckled.
I was so close to him when all of a sudden there are men who arrived in black cars with blinking lights that quickly surrounded the Russians’ entourage. They made them drop one by one on the ground facing down while pointing guns at them. Our men did not have a choice but to oblige as they were disarmed forcefully.
This time, they surrounded Nikolai while pointing guns at him and screaming at him to be on his knees.
At this point, nothing else really mattered in my mind. Nikolai needs me. My husband needs me. I don’t know where and how I got my strength but I ran to my husband and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Baby, no no no no!” Nikolai begged frantically.
“No Nikolai! I’m coming with you! Wherever they take you, I’m coming with you!”
“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! Don’t fucking shoot at her or I fucking swear to god!” Nikolai warned while his hands are raised behind his head.
“Hold your fire! Stand down!” Someone ordered the other men.
“Baby, go to Devon right now. He’s right there. Look at me, you need to go with him. I got this okay?”
I can see that Devon and another guy are closing in to take me so I took the remaining moments to kiss Nikolai on his lips, which my husband reciprocated with a long and deep kiss.
“I love you Nikolai.”
“Ya lyubyu tebya my baby.”
As I was pulled away from him, Nikolai knelt on the ground as they handcuff and arrest him.