Page 135 of Betrayal and Vows

Dearest Anton,

Your mother and I were closer than sisters. Blood never mattered to us. She saved me more times than I can count.

I promised her I would protect her children. I failed her. We always knew our children would be close. She never got to meet my Lena, but she would want you to take care of each other. I’m sorry I failed you, Alexei. You deserved so much more.

Take care of her. Love her. She will love you.

Elena.

My throat closes.

Anton reaches for the letter, reads it beside me in silence.

His breath hitches. Then he laughs—a broken, aching sound.

“She knew,” he whispers. “She always knew.”

I look up. “Knew what?”

“What I was planning.”

“I never told her,” I say with confusion. “She knew I loved you. She gave you this box this morning?”

He nods. “Yes. Before?—”

He looks down.

“Before I told Dmitri I could never see you again.”

He looks into my eyes.

"I'm so sorry," I sob, the words tumbling out between broken breaths. "I'm so sorry I hurt you. I wanted to protect you, but I said such horrible things?—"

"Shh." His voice is gentle as he pulls me closer, careful of my bandaged arm. "I know,solnyshko. I know."

"It's not okay," I cry harder, my tears soaking into his torn shirt. "The things I said to you—about you not being able to give me what I deserve, about only wanting a palace?—"

"I knew you didn't mean it." His hand strokes my hair. "I could feel your pain through every word."

"But how could Mikhail have known?" The question tears from my throat. "How did he know exactly what would hurt you most?"

Anton's jaw tightens. "Because he's been watching us. Photographing us. From the beginning." His voice turns cold, deadly. "Mikhail was the one sending those pictures."

Horror washes over me like ice water. "What?"

"Every moment we thought was private, every touch, every kiss—he was watching. Recording."

I feel sick. Violated in a way that makes my skin crawl. "That's disgusting. Why would he?—"

"Control. Power." Anton's eyes burn with rage. "He wanted me to fall in love with you so he could rip you away. Make it hurt more."

The violation cuts deeper than any physical wound. "He watched us in the chapel?"

"Yes."

"In your room? When we?—"

"Yes."