My muscles tighten, and it sends a wave of pain through my chest that has nothing to do with the healing wounds. Bringing my other hand to her face, I take a step closer to her, my eyes locked on hers.

Ariana swallows hard, and her voice trembles as she says, “A relationship between us can never work, Demitri. Our worlds are too far apart.” Her eyes begin to tear up. “I’d appreciate it if you manage the business for me. I’ll leave all the decisions to you.”

Her mouth is saying one thing while her eyes are telling me it’s killing her to lie to me.

“Don’t lie to me, Malyshka.”

Ariana pulls back and puts some space between us. “I’m not.” Waving a hand between us, she continues, “If I got into a relationship with you, I would have to change my entire life. You don’t have to change a thing.”

I feel the first trickle of panic as it begins to sink in – Ariana might really want to leave.

Lifting my hand to my jaw, I brush my thumb over my bottom lip before I move closer to her again. I stare deep into her eyes, searching for the real reason why she’s doing this.

“If you really want to leave, you’re going to have to give me the truth. I see right through your lies.”

She waves around the room, her features tightening. “I can’t live like this. I’m selfish. I want all the attention, and Alexei will always be too important to you.”

This time the words rip right through my heart.

Chapter 30

ARIANA

Demitri closes the distance between us with two quick strides, and then his hands frame my face, and he leans into me.

I see the hurt in his eyes, and it shreds at my already broken heart.

God, this is so hard. Give me the strength to do what’s right for him.

“Don’t do this, Malyshka. I thought you and Alexei were getting along.”

We are. We bonded a hell of a lot when Demitri got shot. That night we sat next to Demitri, fearing for the worst, it changed things between Alexei and me. Since then, he’s treated me like a little sister and not like I’m a threat to Demitri. Even though I am.

“It’s not that I don’t get along with Alexei. I just don’t want to share the man I’m supposed to be in a relationship with.”

If he doesn’t fall for this lie, I don’t know what I’ll do.

Demitri shakes his head, his eyes intense on me. “Stop, Ariana. You’re not a selfish person. Why are you really doing this?”

I close my eyes, unable to feel his breath on my face and look at him, without breaking down and begging him to never let me go.

Pulling back again, I force the words out, “You don’t know me as well as you think you do. I stuck it out with you because Yuri was trying to kill me. I really appreciate all you’ve done, but it’s all over now. There’s no reason for me to be here.”