Page 53 of Always Meant To Be

I guess she has a way of making people want to protect her.

"Papa, s-she's lying; I-I would never harm her or a baby, please…" Liliya denies, no one saying a word. I can feel all eyes on me, waiting for what I'm going to do with my wife's accusations, but I ignore them all as my eyes stay on the door my wife went through.

I saw right through her when she accused Liliya of trying to poison her. Guilt consumed her features, and she wouldn't look me in the eyes.

A part of her, even just a small part, believed I was in on Liliya's nasty plans, and my fucking black heart darkens. I pushed her to the point she'd think I'd do that to her, to our child.

"If that were true, Liliya, then why are you stuttering?" Agy questions and I look her way to see she's looking at her niece with horror, though Mikhail and Anastasia are quiet.

My eyes go to the door again. Curt, one of my soldiers, gives me a thumbs-up, stating that she's left safely. I still don't move, though. Instead, I stand staring at the door, waiting for Ray to check the footage.

"I-I…I've just had a knife thrown in between my fingers! Why aren't you punishing her for her actions?" Liliya rages, and I have to fist my hands to stop myself from grabbing her by the throat.

I need to wait for the footage before I act. I know my wife wouldn't make shit up. She hasn't got an evil bone in her body; her elbowing my side and then apologizing with tears in her eyes is proof of that.

That's my wife for you, all heart; that is the only reason I'm not flying off the handle right now.

I won't act without the proof I need so no one can use it againsther.

"Well, we'll soon see, won't we, Liliya? It seems as it's not our men looking into El's accusation but her husband’s, who won't bend to your will when you spread your legs," Maxim sneers from beside me, showing me whose side he's on.

Mikhail has kept quiet, waiting for the proof and preparing himself.

He ensured I kept her safe; he sold his youngest daughter because he was fed up with the shit Liliya kept causing—all for it to turn out this way.

I look at Liliya, and her eyes are on my wife's water. I can see the wheels turning as her eyes go to her cutlery.

"Maxim," I snap, causing Liliya to freeze. "Please keep hold of El's water until Ray returns."

Maxim instantly grabs the glass, and I watch as Liliya pales.

I don't fucking need proof; her actions speak loud as hell, and honestly, all I needed was my wife's words.

It takes Ray ten minutes until he returns, a laptop in his hand, but his face is red when he does.

He points at Liliya and growls, "You’re fucking lucky I respect my Don…."

Mikhail stills, his eyes going hard as Ray turns the laptop around and presses play. Anastasia and Agy gasp as Valerie murmurs, "I'm going to fucking kill her," as we all watch Liliya smirk at her sister before handing a vile to a waiter, the same fucking waiter not even three minutes later replacing my wife's water, the same water Liliya's eyes go straight to now in Maxim’s hold.

"Daddy, I-I, please…. He-he was promised to me first, he-he was supposed to be mine, y-you promised him to m-me." She tries to plead.

Unfortunately for her, she's pleading with the wrong Don.

He knows she's gone too far this time.

She didn't fuck a wife's husband to cause shit; she's tried to kill a Don's wife and child right in front of him.

My fucking wife…my child….

Anger like no other fills me as I turn to Maxim, who hands me the water before I round the table in long strides.

Liliya's eyes widen, and panic takes over her features as she tries to get up from her chair, "Romeo, p-please, please, I-I—please, I'm sorry!"

I ignore her pleas as Agy grips her arm to keep her in place. When close, I grip her cheeks hard, ensuring to bruise her, no one stepping in to save her as she screams, "Please, Romeo, I'm sorry, please, you were mine first, please…."

I place the glass to her lips, keeping them open as I pour the water in. She screams, trying to spit it out, causing it to drip down her face and top, and I shout in her face, "Fucking drink it!"

I hear her gulp, and I smirk. I ensure the glass is empty before throwing it on the floor, smashing it.