-Valentina-

Mikhael. He’s put up with so much. He could just leave. But he doesn’t. I don’t understand it. Why? His debt is cancelled. He can go back to his mom. So… Why?

I’ve been mean to him. He puts up with so much.

“Maybe you should be nicer to him. He will be your husband after all,” Uncle Boris told me. I stuck up my nose at that. But now…

Mikhael. He came from the outside. Well, sort of. His dad worked for Daddy. But he wanted out. He escaped and got married. At least that is all I know. Mikhael isn’t part of my world. We dragged him into this to fulfill Daddy’s dying wish. But what happens now?

I rubbed my forehead. He’s been through too much. We could get divorced. Daddy didn’t say how long we had to stay married. But how would this work out? I need to talk to Uncle Boris about that.

Things just keep piling up. Half of my mean are dead. Uncle Boris won’t tell me anything.

“I’ll let you know everything when it’s over,” he tells me. Maybe Mikhael was right.

I shook my head.

That can’t be right. They were Daddy’s men. I’ve known them for years. Why would they want to kill me? It didn’t make sense.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

“Hello?” I asked. I sat down on my bed and listened. More business talk. I forced myself to smile.

“Of course,” I said. Even through all of this, I have to work to do. Work has no time to stop for personal tragedy and feelings. Still, I have to do something for Mikhael.

I have to set things right for him.