Page 73 of Married to My Sis’s Bratva Fiancé

"Baby, you're not extra." Her voice turned firm, almost fierce.

I tried to smile. "Thank you."

Her eyes turned red, and she squeezed tighter. "Then stay. This is your home too."

Home. The word nearly shattered me.

I'd never truly had one. My father's house belonged to him and Isabella. After the wedding, this manor belonged to Kiryan. I was just allowed to live here. The second the owner changed his mind, I was supposed to go.

"I can't wait around for him to marry her and toss me out."

Olga closed her eyes for a moment. She looked like she wanted to fight me on it, but in the end she didn't. She stood, walked to the closet, and pulled out a suitcase for me.

"Where are you going to go?"

"I don't know."

My father wouldn't welcome me back. Once he found out I'd been divorced, he'd probably calculate the damage to the family first, then ask why I couldn't hold on to my husband.

But New York is big. I can paint. I have hands, and I have a little money of my own. I can rent a small apartment, find work teaching kids to draw, or take my pieces to galleries.

I can take care of my baby.

I didn't have much. The two of us packed fast.

A few clothes. My art supplies. Sketchbooks. And that hospital report I'd hidden away. Olga tried more than once to shove jewelry into the suitcase, and I pulled it back out every time.

Finally, I sat at the desk and opened the divorce agreement again.

At the bottom of the digital file, the signature line waited.

I printed the whole thing, flipped to the last page, and picked up a pen. When the tip hovered over the paper, my hand shook so badly I could barely hold it.

I thought about the wedding day. The dress hadn't fit right, squeezing the air out of me. The ring had stuck at my knuckle. Kiryan had stood in front of me, his expression cold, like he was signing a contract that meant nothing.

Later, he'd promised to get me a ring that actually fit.

I'd been stupid enough to hope. To wait for the day he slid a ring onto my finger that was truly mine. To wait for him to admit that inside this wrong marriage, something had started to feel less wrong.

But I don't need it anymore.

I signed the divorce papers.

Elena Rossi.

The last stroke fell like a blade through a canvas that would never be repaired.

Olga stood beside me, eyes wet. "You can still change your mind."

I shook my head. Every time I change my mind, it drags me back to the same ending.

This time, I choose myself.

Chapter 19

Kiryan

I sat in my office and stared at the coffee gone cold on my desk. The file stayed open to the same damn page.