[REBECCA]
“Rebecca, what are you talking about?” Artemy asked. He was panicking, scared about what my words meant, while I was breaking inside.
“I wanted to believe you were different,” I whispered hoarsely, hating how my voice broke over those words. I hated how much power Artemy had over me. He was my peace, my strength, but he was also my weakness. He had the power to break me.
And that was exactly what he did.
After putting my heart together, after giving me hope, he took it all away, leaving me empty and broken again.
“I thought you were different,” I continued in the same small voice. It was true I knew what type of man he was, but with me, he was different.
The Artemy I knew was sweet and gentle. Out there he was a killer and heartless, but with me, he was everything I needed.
But it was all a lie.
Swiping my tears away, I finally turned toward Artemy. Even in the darkness, I could see his tensed body and rigid shoulders. His face was twisted with panic and dread.
“But I was wrong.” I choked on the words.
I didn’t have to say anything else. Realization flashed in his blue eyes. He understood that I knew the truth.
“Why?” I asked, my voice dropping to a mere whisper. He took a step forward but stopped when I shook my head. A sudden surge of anger coursed through my body, prompting me to quickly stand up and face him.
“Rebecca…” he breathed, his voice shaky. I didn’t know why, but his voice made me angrier. It reminded me of when my world fell apart around me, crushing me mercilessly.
—-
“Where are you going?” Lynda asked as I walked up the stairs.
Without stopping, I said over my shoulder, “I’m going to see Artemy.” Since the morning, after Damian and Howard made their appearance, I hadn’t seen Artemy. His missing presence had left an aching hole in my chest, and I just wanted to be near him again, even if it was just for a few minutes.
Smiling, I made my way to his office. I was only a few feet away when I saw the door open, and Tiffany ran out, her face panicked. My eyebrows pulled up in a frown at the sight of her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, walking closer. She gasped at the sight of me, her hands going up to her chest. My eyes widened when I saw what she was holding. A ripped red thong.
My eyes snapped to hers, and she looked away guiltily, biting on her lips nervously.
No. Please.
“Why are you holding your underwear?” I asked curtly after a moment of silence. Before she could answer, Brayden’s loud booming voice came through from Artemy’s office.
Confused, I looked back at Tiffany, but she avoided eye contact with me. Without answering to my question, she walked around me. I was left dumbfounded, as I stood frozen in my spot.
My hands were shaking, and I trembled slightly as Brayden continued yelling. When I heard Artemy’s voice, I finally snapped out of my daze and walked forward until I was standing in front of the door.
I didn’t know what to expect, my mind still lost on what I just saw. But then my heart stuttered to a stop, my chest contracting painfully when I heard his words…Artemy’s words. My legs weakened, and my stomach twisted. I suddenly felt nauseous.
“My plan was to get close to Rebecca to make her reveal her truth. We had to know if she was a traitor. That was the fucking plan.”
I choked back a sob when I understood his meaning. They still thought I was a spy. It was all a lie. They never believed me.
Having heard enough, I pushed away from the door.
Artemy and I…whatever he said, his sweet words, his kisses, his gentle caresses, were they all a lie? Was it just a ploy to get closer to me?
I was paralyzed by just the thought of it. Bringing a shaky hand to my mouth, I tried to control my breathing. But it felt like my world had just ended around me. I could feel myself spiraling down toward the darkness again.
I heard yelling, but none of the words made sense to me. I could only think about what I heard. The same words repeated over and over in my head. My ears were ringing from their painful betrayal.
Giving the door a final glance, I turned around and blindly ran to my room. I needed to escape this harsh reality. I didn’t want to believe it. Not Artemy. Not my Artemy.
The door closed behind me, and I sank down to the floor, holding my knees to my chest as I sobbed.
He wouldn’t do that. He cared…I saw it in his eyes.
But Artemy Loskutov was known to be deceitful. If he thought I was a traitor, he would stop at nothing to find the truth.
Even if it meant breaking me until I had nothing left to give.
—–
When I saw Artemy take another step toward me, I snapped out of the painful memories and took a step back. His eyes flashed with hurt, and he placed a hand out as if to comfort me.
“What did you do with Tiffany?” I asked, my voice almost emotionless, hiding the true turmoil inside of me. Artemy’s face contorted in guilt, and he swallowed nervously. His eyes shifted away for a few seconds, his hands tightening in fists.
At his reaction, I felt my already fragile heart crack further, deepening the holes in it. He didn’t have to say anything. I already got my answer.
“Rebecca, it’s not what you think-” he started, but I quickly cut him off.
“Did you touch her?” He paused at my question, his eyes closing tightly for a second. Artemy paced in front of me, his fingers going to his hair in frustration.
“Did you touch her, Artemy?” I asked again.
“Rebecca…” he growled.
“Did you?” This time my voice was louder.
Turning toward me, he glared. “Damn it, Rebecca. It’s not what you think.”
I let out a small harsh laugh, leaning back into the wall. “So you did.”
Artemy lost his glare, and he shook his head. He moved toward me, but I raised a hand, stopping him again. “Don’t come near me.”
“I heard you talking to Brayden,” I admitted, my voice strangely soft. Artemy flinched, if possible his whole body growing tenser. “Is it true? Do you think I’m a traitor?”