Chapter 10
“Aurelle, we’ve been together for seven years. Are you really okay with this?”
“What’s there to get used to? If you were dead, I’d manage just fine.”
His face froze, the weight of my words. sinking in.
“Is there really no possibility for us anymore?”
“None.”
“Then stop bothering me.”
With that, I slammed the door shut with a force that made the walls shake.
Ruslan stood there, his fist clenched so tight I feared he might break something. His eyes, red with frustration, never left the door.
“Aurelle, don’t push me to make a choice.”
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The words hung in the air long after I’d shut him out. The whole incident faded quickly like smoke dissipating in the wind.
Work consumed me, and I nearly forgot it ever happened.
I had hoped that, if Ruslan had any shred of pride left, he would move on, stop pestering me.
But soon, I began receiving anonymous threats, each one more chilling than the
last.
Some came by mail; others were left at my doorstep.
The surveillance cameras in the
neighborhood were oddly out of order, and
when I checked, I found a card stained with blood and a photo of a lifeless baby lying in a pool.
The gravity of it hit me hard, leaving met numb, unsure where to even begin.
Amidst this chaos, the company
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announced new partners for an upcoming project.
Thanks to my efforts, I had been promoted. to Design Director, and this project was now my responsibility. I never expected the partnering company to be Ruslan‘ s.
He strode toward me confidently, flanked by a team of employees as though he owned the place.
Within moments, he was standing directly before me, his face unreadable, a mix of emotions hidden behind a mask.
He reached out his hand, offering a smile that felt more like an invitation to a trap.
“Aurelle, a month without you feels like three autumns. I’ve missed you so much.”
The room was filled with representatives from both companies, and I had to keep
my composure.
With a forced smile, I shook his hand, the gesture cold and mechanical.
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“President Wyatt, I look forward to our
collaboration!”
The higher–ups had emphasized the importance of this partnership, instructing me to handle it with care.
Ruslan, however, seized every opportunity to cling to me, his presence more personal than professional.
Under the guise of business talks, he seldom touched on actual work matters.
Whenever he stepped into my office, I had no choice but to let him in.
He wandered around as though he owned the place, a casual remark slipping from his lips.
“Aurelle, you’d be better off as a housewife. Look at how draining work is for you.”
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I shot him a cold look, and he instantly shut his mouth.
But then, his demeanor shifted, a sudden
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burst of enthusiasm lighting his eyes.
“Aurelle, I came here to share some good news. Once you hear it, I’m sure you‘ II forgive me and take me back!”
Before he could continue, I cut him off sharply.
“Are you the one who’s been sending me those threatening letters?”
Ruslan froze at my question, his face a blank canvas before a flicker of confusion crossed his features.
“What?”
His bewildered expression made it clear- he wasn‘ t behind it. I decided not to waste another second on the matter.
“Forget it. Go on, what’s this good news?”
Ruslan nodded eagerly, leaning in as though sharing a secret.
“Thea lost the baby.”
He said it without a hint of sorrow in his
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voice as if delivering a simple fact.
My pen paused mid–air, the words sinking in like stones in still water.
Calmly, I asked, “How did it happen?”
Ruslan‘ s eyes darted away, his voice lowering almost to a whisper.
“She had an abortion.”
A wave of fury crashed over me. I struggled to contain it, but my voice rose
involuntarily as I confronted him.
