Chapter 44
Belle''s POV
Niki''s arm held me tight in ce as he guides my chin to look him in the eyes. He knows that this is
my weakness. He very well knows that he is my weakness.
"Baby, please." He begged.
I tried to look down but he held my chin once again. Truth is, I do not want to continue looking at him
because I can actually see and feel his pain. The kind of pain that the eyes can never hide.
This man in front of me is not the Niki that I have always known. This is not the Volkov who always
has everything under control.
"You promised you''d grow old with me. You said the three of us, forever and ever. Why are you giving
up on us?"
It''s as if he is truly bewildered as to why I am giving up on our rtionship. It''s like he doesn''t
understand how he and his brother broke my heart by using me as someone akin to their dead lover.
"What am I going to be fighting for then Niki? Our rtionship was a lie. There is no reason for us to
continue. There is no forever and ever. You do not love me. Your brother did not love me."
"You don''t get to tell me that I do not love you. I''m the only one who gets to decide that. Believe me,
you are wrong! You are the only one that I''m in love with. Whatever it is that you are thinking is wrong!
Baby, did you open the letter I sent you? Did you read what''s in it?"
This time, I forced myself to look away. I don''t see how the letter will change the fact that they see
Yelena in me. The fact that they forgot my birthday because of her.
"Ara, do you want to go?" Said Devon who just arrived in the lounge. He was the one sent by my father
to arrange our return to the Pwian Embassy.
Niki darted a look at my cousin but Devon could not care less. He doesn''t care that we are
practically surrounded by Niki''s men and that he is going against the Mafia Boss himself.
"My wife and I are talking." Said Niki as he holds my wrist firmly after he caught me attempting to
pull away from him.
My cousin was about to step forward to take me but then Boris and Dimitri were already by his side.
Before anything could happen I took the attention of the Mafia Boss. "What do you want Niki?"
"I want you toe home with me. Alexei is in the mansion. He''s still unconscious but we both know
whose face he wants to see when he wakes up."
"Ara." Said my cousin with a hint of warning in his voice.
"I wille with you to the mansion." I said, ignoring Devon. Niki then signals his men to prepare to
leave but I wasn''t finished yet.
"I wille with you to the mansion for one night, just so I can see Alexei but you will stay away from
me."
"Okay." He was quick to answer.
"And you will sign the divorce papers. You will not contest every single provision and I get full custody
of the children. You will have visiting rights anytime you want."
Niki''s adam''s apple moved as if what I just said was too much for him to take. He wasn''t able to say
a word for a good ten seconds. He just looks at me, eyes glistening.
I know that I am in no position to negotiate with him at this very moment because if he wishes, he can
just have me and my whole family dragged back to the mansion. Still, I am taking my chance.
"I will sign- the divorce- in one condition."
I felt like my heart skipped a beat the moment I heard his response. I know that this was against his will
and yet he was able to muster the words. Niki Vyachev Volkov just agreed to divorce.
"What condition?" I asked before he could even change his mind.
"You will read the letter I sent you and the one attached to it."
The letter must be that important to him that he is willing to give up and sign the divorce paper in
exchange for it to be read. "How can I be sure if you will keep your part of this deal Niki?"
"I am a man of my word Arabe. I do as I say. And you know that."
I know that I have struck a nerve when it came out as that I don''t trust him. Truth is, I know him as a
man who keeps his word. He does exactly as he says.
My father and Niki talked for a while before Papa and Mama were escorted back to the embassy.
My father was not persuaded to stay temporarily in the mansion and so tonight they will be staying at
the embassy. Amy and Devon wille with me to the mansion until our meeting with thewyers
tomorrow to finalize our divorce. I made sure everything is nned and discussed with Niki before I
even agreed toe to the mansion with him. My only concern now is surviving the night with Alexei in
dire condition and Niki just around.
-
The Mansion
Belle''s POV
It''s almost midnight and so far Niki kept his word that he will stay away from me. I haven''t seen him
since we arrived in the mansion. I''m in our room and everything is exactly where it was before I left.
Alexei is stable but he needs to wake up the soonest possible time. The longer he''s unconscious, the
smaller the chance that he will be better.
I try not to think of what will happen when I leave after tomorrow given that this is Alexei''s condition.
Part of me hates myself for thinking about my freedom knowing fully well that when I leave, Alexei''s
condition is still unclear. I want to take care of him but I don''t know how to, if the only thing I want is to
leave them.
I sat back and rested on thefortable chair right next to Alexei''s bed. I cradled my very pregnant
belly as the little Volkovs are making it harder and harder for their mother to function normally each day.
The doctor''s appointment to know the gender of the twins is overdue. I''m thinking I should do it whilst in
New York because I want to share that very special moment with both Niki and Alexei. As much as I
want to divorce them, when ites to the twins, they will have their fair share of happiness.
I left my phone in my bag somewhere and so I used Alexei''s that is within my reach. His wallpaper is
still the same picture he took back in the brownstone house, the one with the flower headpiece. I can
still remember the exact cheeky smile on his face when he called me mother earth asking about the
trees in the forest.
Scandalous is the mildest word to describe the contents of this man''s gallery and storage. My
goodness, what if someone gets a hold of his phone?
I dialed Niki and after two rings he answered.
"Baby."
"Hmm. How did you know it was me Niki?"
"My brother is passed out. You are with him. Takes no genius to deduce really." He said with the typical
Volkov arrogance.
"What am I doing now?" I asked as I test my theory that he might be watching me from somewhere. I
removed my bra and adjust my top to show my plunging breasts.
"Oh fuck." He mumbles. "I mean, you''re calling me right now on the phone. You are asking some weird
questions Arabe." He said as he clears his throat.
Hmm. Suspicious.
"How about now?" This time I reached for Alexei''s hand to hold my left boob.
I heard him whisper in Russian. "What was that Niki?" I asked.
"Nothing baby. Again, you are asking some weird questions."
"Hmm. Okay. So about the twins." I said adjusting my top and going back to my seat.
"What about the twins?"
"Would you like to hear their heartbeats and find out their gender? You know, before- before we
divorce?" I covered my mouth to suppress myself frompletely breaking down. I feel bad for the
twins. I feel bad that we are giving up on them. And I hate myself for being in this situation.
There''s nothing but silence on the other side of the line. I wiped the tears that are flowing down my face
and did not push the suggestion further. Maybe he is not ready to do it so I just let it go.
-
Niki downs his liquor and closes hisptop after seeing Belle in the security camera doze off. He
leaves the study and went straight to the master bedroom. He removes the phone from Belle''s hand
and brushes off the hair from her face. He then checks on his brother and whispered to his ear, "You
fucking lucky bastard."
He puts the warm nket in ce to make sure his brother is good for the night. He then carries Belle
in his arms gently, taking his precious time to ce her in bed. In Niki''s mind, he does not want this
night to end. He doesn''t want tomorrow toe.
He covers her with their duvet resisting the unbearable urge to touch her and feel her warmth against
his skin. She''s right here beside him and yet she''s so far away.
Niki can literally feel his heart hurt as he recalls how Belle is so determined to break off their
marriage. How she haspletely given up on him.
They have fallen apart, beyond repair. The letter is the only thing left for him to save their rtionship,
and even with that, he''s not hopeful he can fix her heart to forgive him.
Niki rested his back on the headboard of the bed, staring nkly in the dead silence of the night. He
looks at the table right next to him and contemted for a while before finally giving in. He took a few
pills from thepartment and downed it with vodka. Since Belle left them, the pills became Niki''s
sce. The numbness he feels as the effect hits his system became his temporary cure.
-
Scene: Yuri, Dimitri, Boris and Andrey outside of the Master Bedroom, hands in their pockets and
looking at the huge door in front of them.
Dimitri: Why is it so quiet?
Andrey: It''s not going to happen.
Boris: -
Yuri: (Clenches his jaw, looking at the door intently) (Turns his back and leaves impatiently.)
Andrey: (Follows his brother) Hey, what''s going on?
Yuri: It''s over.
Dimitri: What do you mean it''s over? They''re there. They are going to patch things up and everything is
going to be alright tomorrow.
Yuri: It''s the Boss. The Boss has given up.
-
Belle''s POV
When I woke up the next day, everything looks in ce and no Niki Vyachev Volkov was in sight.
It was silent in the room aside from the slight beeping of some of Alexei''s apparatus.
Dimitri said that his Boss left early for a meeting. I did not ask further as it''s none of my business
anymore. What matters is he has agreed to sign the divorce paperster.
Before anything else, I needed to arrange Alexei''s care before I leave. Amy was able to rmend
four private male nurses who will work in shifts to tend to him aside from the ones sent regrly by the
hospital to check on him.
I held Alexei''s hand tightly and kissed him all over his face as I reckon that this is going to be thest
time that I''m going to see him for a very long time.
"I''m sorry Alexei. I am so sorry if it has to end like this. Please wake up soon? You can visit the twins
anytime you wish. Just please wake up. Your brother needs you. And the twins need you." My heart is
honestly torn between still hating him for what he and his brother did and not wanting to leave because
of his condition.
"Belle, dear, may I speak with you?" Asked Matushka as she enters our room. I quickly wiped the tears
from my eyes and my face because I do not want her to see that even in surrender, I''m still miserable.
To my utter surprise, she slowly knelt in front of me while looking down on the floor.
"Matushka."
"It was my fault."
"Please, don''t do that Matushka. What''s the matter?"
"Princess, I was the one who insisted to your husbands to give Yelena ourst goodbye. I prepared the
memorial. I was the one who arranged that room to look like Yelena''s room without Niki and Alexei''s
knowledge. I ced your wedding gown in that room because I was thinking that Yely would have
looked so beautiful in that dress too."
I did not know what else to say at this moment. I am so confused no words areing out of my
mouth.
"The first time we met that night when Alexei brought you to my house. I became obsessed with the
thought that finally-finally I can make things right with Yelena. That you are our redemption."
I remember that night and as I recall, she indeed calls me Yelena the first time we met. And I also
remember vividly how Alexei disapproved of it. Disapproved of how his mother looked at me and called
me Yelena.
"Please." I pulled her carefully from the floor and helped her sit down on the chair. "Why did you think
that I was your redemption? I don''t understand Matushka."
"For years I refused to ept that Yelena''s death was because she ended her own life. I insisted that
someone out there was responsible for her death when all this time I have known the truth. I
manipted my sons to believe that she did not kill herself but someone did. I made Niki and Alexei
find the person behind her death for years."
The shock and disappointment are making my stomach churn. I could not believe that Matushka could
do that to her own sons.
"You lied to your sons and told them that Yelena was killed by the Mafia''s enemies when in truth, she
killed herself? Shemitted suicide by crashing her car but all this time you made Niki and Alexei
chase someone who does not exist since there was no one responsible for her death but herself!?"
"I wanted to protect-"
"Protect what? Who? Do you know how Niki and Alexei suffered because of that Matushka?!
Everyday of our lives, your sons med themselves for what happened to Yelena. Yours and Yelena''s
selfishness have ruined Niki and Alexei!"
All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.
This time tears are flowing down her face uncontrobly. She covers her mouth with her shaking
hands, she could not even look me in the eyes.
"Did you tell them the truth? Please tell me you told them the truth."
"I told Niki and Alexei the truth. They left the mansion after the church service on the memorial day
because of that- because of what I have done. All of these happened because of me. So please me
me princess, but I beg of you to please talk to Niki."
-
I feel like there''s a lump in my throat that is slowly suffocating me as we head to our first and probably
Niki''s men escort us to the venue.
I''m holding the papers folded together that I was supposed to read as a condition before Niki signs
the divorce papers. I was told that he was on the way to the meeting as well. Momentster my phone
rang and it''s Niki.
"Baby." He said, his voice calm and it almost feels like a soft whisper to my ear.
"Niki."
"Were you able to read the letters?" He asked almost jittery.
I''m holding the folded papers in my hand tightly and to be perfectly honest, I''m so afraid of what I might
find out if I read this. Matushka''s revtion was something I was not prepared to hear, but it was the
inevitable truth.
"Yes. I''ve read it." The words rolled out of my mouth as I resign to my fear and lie to him.
It took him a while to respond, but when he finally did, his voice sounded more like saying goodbye
than what the words actually meant.
"Belle, ya lyublyu tebya."
He ended the call as I was left staring at the folded papers in my hand. My teardrops have blotted the
paper revealing some letters written in beautiful cursive.
There''s an old paper attached to a newer one. It''s Yelena''s letter to Niki.
~
My dearest Niki,
I terribly miss you. They still would not let me visit you and it makes me really sad. The house is not the
same without you and Alex. Papa has again set his eyes to find a man for me to marry. Someone from
Colombia who is a son of Papa''s friend. I believe his name is Sebastian. I don''t like him that much. He
face, it was funny! Papa got upset and told me that he will just marry me off to uncle Artemis'' son
instead. He knows that I don''t like Artan. He is arrogant and thinks of himself as better than you. No
one is better than you.
You are the one I want to marry someday Niki. You told me that you will protect me and love me as
your sister, but why wouldn''t you promise to marry me? I asked you so many times before but you
ignore my questions. Matushka said that I cannot marry you because you are my brother and I should
never say a word about this again especially to Papa Vyachev and Papa Viktor.
Niki, I don''t care what they say, you''re still the one I want to marry. I don''t care if you are my brother.
I will still love you until I die.
I miss you so much. Everyday, I will be waiting for you toe home.
Love,
Yely.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Niki''s Letter to Belle
To my beauty,
By now you would have read one of the letters sent by Yelena when I spent time in the facility. My
rtionship with my sister isplicated. I did not think to talk about it with you in the past because I
did not realize that it will greatly affect my rtionship with you. This was my mistake and I regret not
doing this at the right time.
I love Yelena but not the same as how she felt for me. I loved her as my sister, nothing less and nothing
more than that. At first Papa and Matushka thought that it was something that she would outgrow and
forget in time but they were wrong.
Her obsession to marry me was the reason why Papa wants to arrange a man to marry her when she
herself after Papa sent her to boarding school. She had to stay at home so we can look after her to
make sure it never happens again. For years, she let go of herself, doing drugs, drinking alcohol and
dating every guy that came her way. We were slowly losing her right before our eyes.
When we found out that Papa had nned to send her off to a rehab facility in Moscow, I knew that she
was not going to make it there. I tried to talk to my father but he did not believe that Yelena will change
for the better. Alexei and I made a decision to save her from being sent off to Russia by convincing
Papa Vyachev and Papa Viktor that Yelena and Alexei are having a baby. At that time, Yelena was
already pregnant with Aria. As to my brother, he was, at that time, in love with her so he was willing to
y the ruse with us to cover up what''s really going on with Yelena. Alexei and Yelena yed the part
in front of Papa and the people around us. Soon after that, their wedding was nned.
But when Pa Vyachev and Pa Viktor died everything came spiraling down quickly. The Mafia was
unstable because the elders doubted if I can run and lead the Volkov Mafia at my age. They doubted
me from the very beginning but I know that I did not have to prove myself to them. I am my father''s
blood. I am a Volkov and they''d have to kill me to overthrow the leadership.
After Yelena gave birth to Aria, she did nothing but to hate me. She came back to her old ways. Yelena
tormented herself because she knows that''s the only way that she can get my attention.
And then that unfortunate night happened. I was leaving for Boston. She was begging toe with me
but I told her that she should stay home because she''s not well. She went hysterical, ran away, and
drove off, crashing her car to her death.
Later on, Matushka found a note in her room leaving Aria to Artan if anything happens to her. She
made it clear that the baby girl will grow up in her father''s without interference from the Volkov family.
We all respected her wish.
I believed Matushka when she said that the crash could possibly be done by the Mafia''s enemies. We
were ready to believe that convenient reason because behind all that was our own denial of our faults
and regrets. I regret arguing with her that night. She would not have run away if only I let here with
me to Boston. I could have done more for her.
Now I have done that same mistake again. I could have done better to take care of you and love you as
my wife but I did not. You believed that Yelena and I had a romantic rtionship because somewhere
along the way, I unintentionally made you feel and think that way. What the Albanian did on your
birthday was what I should have done as your husband. I broke your heart on your own special day.
This one will haunt me to my grave.
That day, I was so upied with burying my past that I have lost sight of my present which all that
should have mattered.
Belle, I have never loved a woman as much as I have loved you. I am in love with you and you alone.
Absolutely nothing can change that. Not even that goddam broken heart fucking syndrome shit the
doctor diagnosed me of.
Without you, there''s nothing really left for me now.
Forgive me,
Beast
-
Belle''s POV
I begged Devon to drive as fast as he can to the meeting ce. I need to be there before it''s toote.
"B. What''s going on? Are you okay?"
"Yes, I just need to see Niki before the meeting," I replied while dialing on my phone. It''s just been
ringing but he''s not answering.
Thank goodness the building is already right in the corner. My hands are shaking and my heart is
pounding inside my ribcage as we pass through the entrance and head our way to the elevator. I am
not sure about what''s going to happen but what I am certain is that I want to see Niki and tell him
that I do not want to lose him.
-
The scene right after Niki asked Belle on the phone if she has read the letters.
Niki had topose himself after ending the call. Belle has read the letters but she sounded
indifferent and still want to push through with the divorce. He went to Belle''s parents who are now in
one corner of the table waiting for their daughter to arrive.
He kisses the mother''s forehead and reached for her hand to pay his respect. He then reaches for the
General''s hand and connected it to his forehead.
He then instructed hiswyers to agree to everything that Belle wishes in the divorce, she gets 3/4 of all
the wealth of Niki with an addendum that should he die, the remaining wealth will redound to the
benefit of his ex-wife and the twins.
The conditions were quickly attached in the divorce settlement papers already prepared for by the
agreement is Niki''s signatures.
Belle''s mother got teary-eyed seeing how Niki looked at the documents in front of him in its final
form, waiting for his signature. Even his men surrounding him looked like they were all holding their
breaths.
He nced at his phone onest time before he finally signed the papers. It was swift and systematic
as one of hiswyers was pointing to where he was supposed to sign.
-
Belle''s POV
He signed the papers. Niki signed our divorce papers.
When we arrived at the conference room, what was left was the divorce documents on the table
already signed for by Niki.
"B, this is what you want right? Niki signed your divorce papers. You are free!"
Amy said, looking at me intently, but so unconvinced and doubtful of my reaction. I looked at her,
Devon and my parents pleading for them to understand what I''m about to do at this very moment.
"Papa, Ma, I don''t want to divorce Niki."
Thewyers looked at me like a grew a horn, Amy gasped in surprise, my mother''s jaw dropped in utter
shock while Papa and Devon just looks at me with a weary and perhaps disappointed reaction.
I gathered all the papers and shove them all down the shredder in the corner.
I want to run so bad but given my condition, walking alone feels like a friggin sprint for me. I looked
over the ss window and saw ck SUVs still parked by the building. That means Niki is still here.
I hurriedly pulled up my dress so I can walk as fast as I can. Amy and Devon did not have much of a
choice but toe with a deranged pregnant woman.
"This is crazy, you''re crazy you know that right?" Amy said with a smile of surrender on her face like
she actually gave up on even bothering to counsel me.
I dialed Niki once again and this time he answered in two rings as I approach the exit near them.
"Niki."
"Baby? I mean, ex-baby?"
"Niki!"
He chuckled.
I was so close to him when all of a sudden there are men who arrived in ck cars with blinking lights
that quickly surrounded the Russians'' entourage. They made them drop one by one on the ground
facing down while pointing guns at them. Our men did not have a choice but to oblige as they were
disarmed forcefully.
This time, they surrounded Niki while pointing guns at him and screaming at him to be on his knees.
At this point, nothing else really mattered in my mind. Niki needs me. My husband needs me. I don''t
know where and how I got my strength but I ran to my husband and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Baby, no no no no!" Niki begged frantically.
"No Niki! I''ming with you! Wherever they take you, I''ming with you!"
"Don''t shoot! Don''t shoot! Don''t fucking shoot at her or I fucking swear to god!" Niki warned while his
hands are raised behind his head.
"Hold your fire! Stand down!" Someone ordered the other men.
"Baby, go to Devon right now. He''s right there. Look at me, you need to go with him. I got this okay?"
I can see that Devon and another guy are closing in to take me so I took the remaining moments to kiss
Niki on his lips, which my husband reciprocated with a long and deep kiss.
"I love you Niki."
"Ya lyubyu tebya my baby."
As I was pulled away from him, Niki knelt on the ground as they handcuff and arrest him.