Her Volkovs #Book 4 novel Chapter 41

Belle's POV

Devon arrived at the embassy residence and he seemed like he's in no mood for anything. He looks dead serious as he approaches my father who just sat stoically as if already expecting what happened. Nikolai and Alexei just did what they once threatened to do if I file for divorce. The lawyers my father hired withdrew from representing me and no amount of money convinced a single law firm in New York City to handle my case. The building where the divorce papers were filed in Colombia was razed by fire, burning every single record or proof of our filing.

"Call Nikolai, I want to talk to him." Said Papa to Devon.

My heart started to beat at an abnormal pace. My father may look like he's so calm but I know him well enough that I start to feel nervous. The man ran a country for more than twenty years and no single assassination attempt deterred him. He would have been the Governor-General until now hadn't he decided to retire from his office and gave way to a civil government. He had the people's support when he rose to power and he remained so when he stepped down.

This time however, Nikolai is on his way. New York City is the Russian Mafia's playground and as long as we are here or wherever part of the world where Nikolai has some sort of influence, there is no way out for me.

My father stood up from his seat and went to the balcony his back facing us. His demeanor and the way he carries himself with such grace and dignity did not seem to change in time. When he enters a room, his presence alone commands respect with a hint of charm that every great leader naturally possesses.

-

Phone Conversation between Nikolai and General Galves

Nikolai: Papa

General Galves: Nikolai, I would have been more impressed if you had the same dedication in prioritizing your wife. You do not want her to leave you and yet you and Alexei treated her in a way that she was unhappy with your marriage.

Nikolai: I am sorry Papa. I just need to talk to her. I want to make things right but I can't do that if you keep her away from me. All I'm asking is a chance to see her. We've lost our babies Papa. You're a father and I know you understand what I am going through right now.

General Galves: Ara's been making decisions for herself since she emancipated from us. As her Father, it is my job to protect her because the man-or men for that matter-- who ought to do that lost their way.

Nikolai: I take full responsibility for everything that happened Papa. I have hurt my wife and it was entirely my fault but divorce is not the solution. There is no way I am going to let it happen.

General Galves: Arabella is headstrong but once she gives up, that only means one thing--you have hurt her too much. If you are going to ask me, you have ruined your marriage beyond repair. You must let her go. There is no reason for you to fight this.

Nikolai: Would you have given up Mama when this happens to you? With all due respect Pa, I have said this before and I will say it again-- I will fight for her to the death even if that means destroying anyone who gets in my way.

General Galves: I have said this before and I will say it again Nikolai-you are an arrogant motherfucker. Show me what you got. Pa is waiting.

-

Belle's POV

The stillness of the night became an inevitable reminder of the pain I have been trying to ignore. In front of my parents, Devon and Amy, I never shed a tear. I never showed how broken I am inside. I tried my best to not give them a chance to feel bad for me.

But whenever I'm alone in my room, I do not have much choice but to face my reality. I have been through so much because I fell in love with the Boss and the Underboss of the Russian Mafia. I gave my all. And I mean literally, all of me. My heart was broken for far too many times, and yet I held on. Falling in love with Nikolai and Alexei was easy--- fighting for that love however was a whole different story. I thought I knew what I was getting into so I dived in without hesitation, hook line and sinker.

Nikolai was having a relationship with his sister. I have been given clue after clue right from the start and yet I was too blind to see the truth. I am willing to bet, that bastard would not have even noticed me that one faithful day if I hadn't resembled his sister---same with his brother. I did not mind the words that were coming out of Alexei's mouth when we first broke up. He admitted that I reminded him of Yelena but I did not care because I believed him.

I believed when he said that he loves me, for me. I believed when they said that I was their world. I was shamefully and utterly wrong. When the day was about Yelena, I was completely shut out of their lives as if I did not exist. I was expected to wait on the sideline because, in the meantime, they grieve her death. My birthday did not even cross their minds!

It's been weeks of boredom and nursing a heartbreak that doesn't seem to go away. It's just here, trying to friggin kill me inside. Being contained in a room was like magnifying the pain. I can literally feel my heart aching awfully inside my chest.

The doctor's advice was complete bed rest for a week and restricted strenuous physical activity afterward. Although she also encouraged going out after and surrounding myself with people that I love. People who will not give me stress. So basically stay as far away as possible from my past-from Nikolai and Alexei.

The silence coming from the Russian Mafia scares me. After the incident with the process server, it was dead quiet on their end. I should feel relieved that Nikolai and Alexei appear to have given up but at the back of my mind I know there is something going on. I just can't seem to wrap my finger around it.

I was in the middle of my thoughts when I heard a knock on my door. It's already past midnight and I know that Devon is out with Dylan, Amy went back to her brother's house for the night and my parents are, well, they sleep early. Our security-- who by the way look like fierce Viking warriors-- are definitely not allowed to talk to me unless I summon them. I wonder who could this be?

-

St. Michael Hospital

Nikolai: (Forcibly pulls out the heart monitor attached to his chest) What a fucking joke! Just clean the wound so I'm out of here!

Cardiologist: Mr. Volkov, aside from the infected wound on your thigh, you just suffered a heart attack. Your medical history tells me that you were in perfect health and physical state prior to this. May I know what recent events or changes happened?

Nikolai: I would like to be discharged now.

Cardiologist: Mr. Volkov your temperature is very high at the moment. You need to stay at least for the night.

Nikolai: The hell I will! Can someone get me my goddam shirt!

Cardiologist: Mr. Volkov I strongly advise-

Irene: (Interrupts) Drug him.

Cardiologist: I'm sorry?

Irene: (Nods at Boris and Andrey and then signals the Doctor to come with her outside of the room) The only way you can make that man stay against his will is to knock him out cold. Administer the drug or whatever you do to mental patients that make them sleep-- you know like in the movies.

Cardiologist: But- (Got distracted because he just saw Boris and Andrey hold Nikolai down but the latter is fighting back albeit weakly. The hospital apparatus inside the room are now scattered on the floor)

Irene: You don't have much time Doc.

Cardiologist: But this is not a mental institution-and certainly not the movies Mrs. Volkov! This is against the law-we can't hold Mr. Volkov against his will.

Irene: Charge the damages and the bill against his name. Money is of no matter. Treat his infection and do what you need to do for his heart problem.

Cardiologist: His heart problem was not really heart attack per se'. I suspect that Mr. Volkov is suffering from Broken Heart Syndrome. BHS usually mimics the symptoms of a heart attack. Whatever he is going through or has been through recently-- if not resolved-- will worsen his condition.

Irene: Thank you for having the common sense of not telling a very powerful man that he might die because of a broken heart. Good call.

(Her phone rings and it's Dimitri)

Irene: I have been trying to reach you Dimitri! All hell is breaking loose but you're not answering my calls! Where are you?!

Dimitri: Matushka...

Irene: Did you find Alexei? Did you tell him what happened to his brother?

Dimitri: Matushka, are you sitting down?

Irene: (Froze as she felt strongly that something has happened to her son. She once had this exact feeling, the moment before she found out over the phone about what happened to Vyacheslav and Viktor)