Page 181 of Bride By Coronation

He softens his tone. "Fiona, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to hate me."

I open my eyes and pull his hands off me. I rise, seething, "Hate you? You kept the worst thing that ever happened to my family from me."

"I didn't want you to ever know about this. Nor did I know this video existed," he declares, standing up.

"Well, unfortunately it does, and I'm never getting it out of my mind," I shriek, jabbing him in the chest, a new wave of emotion overpowering me.

"I'm so sorry," he claims. He pulls me into him.

I sob for a moment, but then I push him away, warning, "Get away from me."

Hurt and fear darken his features. He begs, "Fiona, please."

I shake my head, sternly replying, "No." I run to the bedroom, grab a bag from the closet, and begin stuffing it with clothes.

"What are you doing?" he questions, standing in the doorway.

"I'm getting away from you," I state.

He inhales sharply, then pleads, "Please. I'm not my father."

I spin and point at him. "You may not be your father, but you hid this from me. You should have told me."

"Told you what? That my father was the monster who destroyed your father and violated your mother? Did you really want to know that?" he asks.

I don't answer. The air in my lungs is thick and stale. I continue to toss random clothes into the bag, unable to shake the horror of the scenes I witnessed on the video. I zip the bag, then step in front of him, demanding, "Move."

"Fiona—"

"I said to move," I order.

He closes his eyes and then steps back. "Please, stop for a minute."

I brush past him, enter the office, and grab my phone. I return to the main room and toss it in my purse.

Kirill asks, "Where are you going?"

"It's none of your business."

"It is. I'm your husband," he reminds me.

More emotions pummel me. Love, hatred, and disappointment swallow me whole to the point I wonder if death would be a better option than having to find a way through this. I manage to get out, "You told me you'd tell me everything. I thought we didn't have secrets, but you kept the biggest one from me. So what kind of marriage do we have, Kirill?"

He stands taller, asserting, "We have a great marriage, and you know it. Don't let this destroy us. Please. I love you."

A sharp pain tears through my heart. My voice cracks. "I love you too, but I can't do this. Goodbye, Kirill." Tears drip off my chin as I exit the room.

He follows me to the elevator and grabs my arm.

"Don't touch me," I shriek.

He releases me immediately. "You can't leave like this."

The elevator doors open, and I step inside.

He follows me.

I push him, screaming, "Get out!"

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