Page 118 of Queen’s Gambit

“If I find out you’ve been planning on killing yourself to humiliate me, I’ll have you locked up in a padded cell.”

I slapped his finger away.

“Please spare me. Like I give a shit about humiliating you. Even if I did, I wouldn’t kill myself to do it.”

“You’re saying you didn’t do this to yourself?”

I glared at the asshole.

“Of course, I didn’t do this. Maybe have a conversation with the one person, other than you, who wants me out of your life for good. I’ll give you a hint. Her name starts with an A and ends in whore. I told you what she did after the Nutcracker and you didn’t believe me, now here we are.” I shook my head at him. “Get out of my room before I have my guard drag you out.”

He opened his mouth to argue and then rubbed his forehead.

“I’ll speak to her, but remember what I said. You’ll never see daylight again if I find out this was you.”

“Get out,” I growled.

Christov stomped across the room and threw open the door. It banged as it hit the wall, making my heart jump. Either it wasn’t him, or he was a hell of an actor. This was too much, and I imagined it getting a lot worse if something happened to his father.

The only thing that I knew for sure was that I had to be a million times more diligent, and I was sick of being tormented.

Mylo stepped in and didn’t say anything, but I knew he was silently asking if there was anything he could do.

“Close the door,” I said. “I need ideas, Mylo. This can’t happen again.”

“You said no when I brought it up before, but I think you should reconsider the cameras. We can set them up in both rooms and hide a secret stash of cash and a phone. I know you value your privacy, but if he has us removed from the house, or if we’re just not around for any reason, it may be the only way we know you’re in danger or can communicate.”

I nodded. “Okay, do it. At this point, I’m desperate.

“Consider it done.”

Lilya – Four Years and One Month Old

Yulianna

“Get out of my way.”

My eyes fluttered open.

“No, Ms. Mikhailov is sleeping,” Vlad said.

“She’s Mrs. Ivankov,” Christov said as I swung my legs over the side of the bed.

“On paper only,” Vlad answered, and I smirked.

Vlad’s contempt toward Christov had only grown since the poisoning incident. Still, he needed to restrain himself. While I had no worries about his safety—he could pick Christov up and break him over his knee—I couldn’t risk Christov ordering Vlad from the house.

“What did you just say to me, guard?”

Of course, he made a distinction in social status. Rolling my eyes, I pulled on my housecoat and opened the door.

“What do you want, Christov?”

He was in Vlad’s face, but Vlad didn’t blink as he stared back. I snapped my fingers.

“Hello. You wanted me. Here I am. So, tell me what you want, or I’m going back to bed.”

Christov grumbled but stepped back and looked at me.