Page 134 of Vendetta Vows

I find a small sitting room and slam the door behind me, sinking to the floor in a sea of white tulle. My fingers tremble as I claw at the crown still perched on my head, and fling it across the room.

Jamie Fields is dead. But with just a few words, Tamara brought her back to life in the worst possible way.

I don't know how long I sit there, breathing in short, painful gasps, before I hear footsteps approaching. A gentle knock at the door.

When I don't answer, the door opens.

"Aurora?" Ruslan's voice is soft and uncertain.

No, not Aurora. Not anymore.

I look up at Ruslan through tear-blurred eyes as he stands in the doorway. His face shifts between emotions. Concern, confusion, and determination mixing all at once. I press my back against the wall, draw my knees to my chest, and try to will myself to disappear into the fabric of my wedding dress.

"Please go," I whisper, my voice cracking. "You don't want any part of this. You don't want... me."

But Ruslan doesn't leave. Instead, he closes the door softly behind him. My chest tightens as he crosses the room, his expression unreadable.

"Ruslan, please."

He kneels beside me, his imposing frame somehow gentle as he folds down to my level. Without a word, he reaches for me. I flinch, expecting... what? Accusations? Anger? Disgust?

Instead, his strong arms wrap around me, pulling me against his chest. The familiar scent of cedarwood and mahogany envelops me, and something inside me breaks open.

"I'm sorry," I sob, clutching at his jacket. "I'm so sorry. I lied to you. I lied to everyone."

The tears come harder now, unstoppable. Seven years of fear, of looking over my shoulder, of reinventing myself all pours out of me in violent, shuddering sobs. My fingers dig into the expensive fabric of his suit, desperately holding on like he might vanish if I let go.

"I should have told you the truth. I wanted to tell you."

Ruslan doesn't speak. He doesn't push me away or demand explanations. He just holds me, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other a steady pressure on my back. His silence isn't judgment. It's permission.

Permission to fall apart in his arms.

"I'm sorry," I choke out between sobs. "I'm so sorry."

His grip tightens, and I feel his lips press against the top of my head. My wedding veil has long since fallen away, leaving me exposed, vulnerable. But in his arms, I don't feel afraid.

The storm inside me gradually quiets, my sobs softening into hiccupping breaths. Ruslan continues to hold me, rocking slightly, his thumb tracing small circles on my spine.

"It doesn't matter what Tamara says," Ruslan murmurs, brushing tears from my cheeks with his thumb. "It doesn't change how I feel about you."

I pull back, shaking my head violently. "It should! Don't you understand? You married a lie. I'm not Aurora Castellanos. I'm—" My voice falters. I still can't bring myself to say the name that I've discarded for seven years. "I'm not the person you think I am! Maybe I never was."

"Look at me," Ruslan says, gently turning my face toward his. His golden eyes hold mine captive, searching. There's no malice there, no judgment. Just warmth. "I don't care what name you use."

"How can you say that?" My voice cracks with frustration. "You don't even know who I really am!"

"Don't I?" His voice drops lower, tender yet firm. "You're the woman who wasn't afraid to criticize that ridiculous script in the alleyway. The woman who defended my nieces both from me and for me. Who loves espresso and salted caramel cakes because they remind her of a simpler time." His fingers trace my jawline. "The woman who reminded others they're still human even when they married monsters. Who chose to remain with me even after she learned what I failed to protect."

Each word strips away another layer of my defenses. Each truth he sees in me feels like both a gift and a burden.

"I don't deserve this," I whisper, fresh tears welling. "I don't deserve you. I'll only bring danger to your door. To your family."

A humorless laugh escapes him. "Have you forgotten what I am,zarechka?" His hand slides to cup the nape of my neck. "No danger will come to us as long as you're with me."

I nod and collapse against Ruslan, letting his strong arms encircle me completely. I feel safer there than I have any right to feel. His fingers thread through my hair with a gentleness that makes me want to weep all over again.

"Tell me," he whispers against my temple. "Tell me everything."

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