Page 77 of His to Own

I flinch. “So what do we do?”

“We return to our lives. You don’t have to fear me. I’ll leave Alexei alone.”

“So we pretend like nothing happened?”

“You’ll have to accept me for who I am if you want to be happy with me. I won’t push you, Elena. But you know I’m right.”

I hate that he’s right. I hate that I have to be all right with darkness because of who my husband is.

“How did you even find me at Alexei’s?” I ask.

“I went looking for you. I tried everywhere. It was a last resort.” He reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ear. Despite everything, I find myself leaning into his touch. “Just don’t hate me.” He gives me his charming smile but it doesn’t fully reach his eyes.

“I don’t hate you,” I answer honestly. “I just don’t know how I feel. But I know I don’t hate you.”

“No more following me to work. No more listening to Alisa. It’s better this way. Just focus on your studies. Do what makes you happy.”

If only life were that easy.

School the following day is… awkward to say the least. Every time I see Alexei anywhere on campus, he turns around and walks the other way. Even Polina is giving me a wide berth after I snapped at her.

I always thought Polina leaving me alone would be nice but right now, all I feel is more lonely.

So when Professor Romanov storms down the hallway right towards me, I feel like I’m going to pass out again.

“You,” she says, pointing right at me. Unlike her usual put-together outfit, Professor Romonov looks haggard in sweats and a baggy hoodie. “You ruined my life. You got me fired.”

Everyone in the hallway turns to look but no one intervenes.

“No, I didn’t,” I gasp.

“Your husband did. He got me fired. My life is completely ruined thanks to you. I’m sure you asked him to get me fired. You couldn’t handle the pressure I put on you. You’re weak. A pathetic, weak, little girl who could never show up to class on time.”

The urge to duck my chin and hide away hits me. It’s what I did all the years my father scolded me. But in this moment, I don’t want to hide away. I want to stand up for myself and fight.

“I was only a minute late twice and yet, you acted like it was the end of the world. I did nothing wrong.”

“You should have been paying attention in my class and you never did.”

“It was one time,” I snap. “One time I did something other than pay attention. One time. You always had it out for me. I don’t know why. But you did. So stop acting like you’re better than me. You’re the one who’s rude and inconsiderate. Not me.”

“You will not win,” she warns. “I will get my job back.”

“How? You’re not going to win against my husband. No one can.” Not even me. If I even want to win against him. Sometimes, I just want to fall completely into his arms.

“Just wait and see.”

“I’m not afraid of you. Not any longer. You will not bully me. I will not stand for it.”

She huffs. The look she gives me is pure condensation. “You think you’re tough because you can stand behind your husband. But without him, you are nothing. I am getting my job back and I am going to make sure you don’t do well at this school.”

“My husband is not going to stand for that. You need to stop, Professor.”

“Or what?”

Or there’s a good chance he’ll kill you, I want to say. “Just don’t mess with him. That’s the only thing I can offer you.”

She sneers before walking away. I’m worried what Maxim might do to her but that’s out of my hands. I can’t stop the force that is Maxim Morozov.