Chapter 14
Nikolai stumbled out of the hotel like his soul had been ripped out. He sealed off the ballroom, locking those people inside to endure endless torment every single day.
Until his Veloura forgave them.
Which meant they’d die there.
He drove aimlessly through the city, snowflakes hitting his windshield like tiny knives cutting into what was left of his sanity. Veloura’s desperate
voice echoed in his ears, wouldn’t leave him alone.
“Nik, why didn’t you save our child?”
“Don’t I even have the right to want children in this marriage?”
The pain was eating him alive from the inside out. He’d never imagined things could spiral so far beyond his control. He was supposed to be the one in charge, the one who decided everything.
Now he had nothing.
Losing it completely, he slammed on the brakes in the middle of the street and started beating the steering wheel like a madman, screaming until his throat felt raw.
His sudden stop nearly caused a pile–up. Cars honked furiously behind him, drivers yelling, but it was all just noise. When some guy got out to confront him, Nikolai turned those dead, empty eyes on him and the man literally ran away.
Even the cops who showed up couldn’t deal with him. They just directed traffic around his car, letting other vehicles pass.
Hours went by. Snow covered his entire car roof, and Nikolai still hadn’t moved.
At some point, his body just gave up and he blacked out completely.
Meanwhile, Veloura had flown from Moscow to Germany with four connecting flights, finally settling in a remote little town tucked away in the Bavarian countryside.
After ten years with Nikolai, she knew how his mind worked. He wouldn’t look in the obvious places first–he’d check the big cities, the places they’d been together.
He’d never think to look here.
She could have some peace here, feeling like she could actually breathe for the first time in years.
Veloura bought a small stone villa with cash, no paper trail, and decorated it exactly how she wanted. Soft colors, natural light, books everywhere. She set up a special room for Austin, placing his ashes on the windowsill where morning sun would hit them.
“You’d like it here, Austin. It’s quiet. Safe. No one’s going to hurt us anymore.”
She went shopping for groceries, filled her little refrigerator, made tea in her own kitchen. For the first time since being brought into the Virellic household, everything was finally hers.
For ten years, she’d been Nikolai’s doll, his accessory, his pet. Every choice had been his–what she wore, where she went, who she talked to.
Now she could choose her own life.
She knew the first few years wouldn’t be easy. Her education, her credentials, her entire identity–all of it had disappeared with the old Veloura But she was free.
After settling in, she picked up her violin and ran her fingers along its surface. This was the only thing she’d taken from the penthouse–the one Nikolai had handcrafted for her.
17:16
Go Play Your Duet with Your Mistrace: Mul
Chapter 14
Not because of the sentiment, but because it was hers. The one thing that had always been purely hers.
She began with a melancholy melody that came out dark and broken at first. All that pain, all that rage, pouring through the strings.
But then something shifted. The tune became lighter, more graceful, until every dancing note felt like another chain falling away, another step toward something better.
When she finished, she was crying–but they were good tears. Clean tears.
Clap, clap, clap.
A round of applause made her look down. Outside her garden wall stood a tall, handsome man with striking features and kind eyes, smiling with genuine appreciation.
“Sorry! Didn’t mean to eavesdrop. That was incredible–the most emotionally rich piece I’ve ever heard.” His English was perfect, and he introduced himself with easy confidence. “I’m Marlon Brandt. Live next door. Just wanted to say welcome to the neighborhood.”
Veloura tensed automatically–ten years of being watched, controlled, monitored. But this felt different. He wasn’t demanding anything, wasn’t trying to get closer.
“Thank you.” Her voice came out smaller than she intended.
“I’ll let you get back to settling in. But if you ever need anything–directions, recommendations, whatever–just holler.” He started to walk away, then turned back. “And please, keep playing. The whole street could use more beauty like that.”
Veloura watched him disappear around the corner, then closed her window.
She wasn’t ready for people yet. Wasn’t ready to trust.
But for the first time in forever, she wasn’t afraid either.
Maybe someday, she could have friends. Real ones. People who wanted to know her, not own her.
Maybe someday, she could be happy.
Tonight, that felt like enough.
17:16
