Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
And really, it’s not that Dad hates her. She gave him control over her father’s empire and plays the perfect role of his “traditional” wife. He probably likes her well enough if he didn’t get rid of her after she got sick.
But then again, he probably did it for the sake of traditional values as well, so people wouldn’t bad-mouth him for abandoning his sick wife.
At any rate, he still gets all the mistresses he can handle outside of the marriage, not to mention the two illegitimate children who pose more of a threat to me, Mom, and Alina than anyone else.
They’d kill us.
They’d use Mom and Alya against me because they know I’d do anything to protect them.
Anything.
Mom coughs a few times, her chest quaking.
“Are you okay?” I try to sit up, but she waves me off.
“It’s normal.”
That didn’t sound normal. “What did the doctor say about the results of your latest treatment?”
Her expression remains the same. “We’ll discuss it later after you get better.”
That’s not good news, is it?
My heart constricts. I feel like I’m watching my mother fade right before my eyes, and I can’t do a damn thing.
It’s not like I can seize cancer by its throat and fight it to death.
She’s been battling breast cancer for so long, hanging on for dear life because, as she said, “I’ll be around to watch you grow up properly.” The cancer was initially treated a couple of years ago, but then it soon metastasized to her bones and lungs.
Sometimes, like now, she trembles because her bones hurt too much to sit up straight even if she’s pumped full of meds.
“Rest, Dusha moya. I’ll ask the doctor for painkillers.”
“I’m fine.” The pain in my side dulls upon witnessing her state. “Mama?”
“Yes?”
“How long have I been out?”
“About two days. You lost a lot of blood and had a fever. We were so worried.”
“Did anyone come to visit me? Or maybe try to?”
I don’t believe Vaughn abandoned me. Dad was just saying that to fit his agenda about declaring war on the Morozovs.
There’s no way Vaughn went through all of that to help me just to leave me to die.
Not to mention the whole attack is suspicious as fuck.
“Cyrus came by,” Mom says. “He should be around here somewhere.”
“No one else?”
She pauses, then releases a breath. “No.”
My heart falls, even as I try not to be affected. It’s not like I expect Vaughn to come all the way to a hostile territory in Chicago.
I mean, I would do that if the roles were reversed, but I obviously have some screws loose.
“Dusha moya…” Her voice is low and brittle, and I can barely see her through the blurriness in my eyes. “Cyrus mentioned that you were abandoned with Vaughn before they found you.”
“Yeah.”
So okay, I might have blabbered about Vaughn when I called my mom during the summer camp. I only mentioned him a few times.
Fine, I talked about him every time I called her. Sue me.
She’s my confidant, along with Cyrus. I tell her all about my crushes and sexual adventures, and she just shakes her head at my shenanigans.
Not that there was anything sexual with Vaughn, but still.
Her lips part before she purses them. “What happened in that cave?”
“I kissed him, Mama,” I blurt out. “I kissed a guy for the first time, and I want to do it again. Isn’t that crazy?”
“You can’t do that again.” She raises her voice, something she’s never done before. Ever. I think it’s the fever that’s making it sound heightened. “You simply can’t, Yulian, promise me.”
“But…”
“No buts. We’re a traditional family, and we don’t do any same-sex relationships, do you understand?”
I blink at her, my chest constricting. “It’s not that I want a relationship…”
“Good, because you’re expected to get married to a woman and have kids. Just like your father.”
“And treat my wife and children like shit just like him as well? Leave a trail of bastards who’ll attempt to kill each other while I’m at it, right? Should I torment them all and sleep with every available woman while being proud that I’m a strong man?”
She raises her trembling hand and slaps me. It’s not hard, but it’s the first time she’s ever hit me.
My heart shatters, mouth hanging open as the shock settles in my bones.
Mom seems just as shocked. Her body trembles before she breaks into sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry…”
“Mama…” I try to sit up and reach for her, and she pulls me to her. The strong stench of antiseptic overpowers the floral perfume she wears.
I feel bones beneath my hands as she cries in my neck.
“Please, Dusha moya, please, I’m begging you. Erase that boy from your head, yes? You were fine sleeping around with girls, so just continue to do that. Take it as your mother’s dying wish.”