Arranged To Be|18+✔️

'32

"What?" I backed away from her in sheer horror, every inch of me trembling.

"No, please, Zariah, listen to me!" Annika begged, her voice splintering under the weight of guilt.

But I couldn't. I was already halfway to the door, screaming Czar's name like it was the only thing that could save me. Annika reached for my arm, but I yanked it away and shoved her back.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped, breath shaking.

"I had to, Zariah! Liam—"

"You killed your mother, Annika!" I cried, voice cracking.

Her face contorted in anguish, tears flowing freely. "Liam told me I had to!"

The door burst open. Czar stormed in, his eyes wild. "What's going on?"

I didn't hesitate. "Ask her. Ask your sister."

Annika stared at her hands, unable to meet his gaze. "Czar... I am so sorry."

I swallowed, the words bitter in my mouth. "She killed your mother. She's been the rat all along. She's the reason Liam always knows where we are."

Czar's entire body stilled. "What?"

"I had to, Czar. I owe him my life," Annika whispered.

His face twisted in disbelief, then rage. "Guards!"

"No, wait! Please, let me explain!" Annika sobbed, falling to her knees as the guards rushed in.

It was too late. They grabbed her by the arms, her cries echoing down the hallway as she begged for mercy. Czar's expression didn't waver, cold, wounded, furious.

"Take her to the basement," he ordered quietly.

Lada and Anderi appeared at the top of the stairs, confusion on their faces.

"What the hell is going on?" Lada asked.

Czar's jaw clenched. "Annika was the rat. She killed Mom."

Lada's face crumpled. "No. She would never—"

"It's true," I said. "She did it for Liam."

Anderi looked between us. "But why?"

I hesitated, then forced the words out. "The real reason Liam killed your father... it was because he found out he was abusing Annika. She told him, and Liam snapped. She begged him not to tell anyone, especially Czar. But Liam couldn't let it go."

Silence fell. Czar's face paled, his hands balling into fists.

"She's still in love with him," I added.

He blinked. "How do you know that?"

"Because it's the only thing that makes sense. Why else would she keep helping him, keep protecting him? There had to be something more."

Lada let out a guttural sob and dropped to her knees. "Oh my God..."

Czar and Anderi rushed to her side.

"What's wrong?" Czar asked, kneeling beside her.

She shook her head. "I thought... I thought it was just me. He got to Annika too."

The words hit like a punch to the chest. My breath caught. The room was still, heavy with a silence that felt impossible to break.

Czar wrapped his arms around Lada, who sobbed uncontrollably against him.

Feeling like an intruder, I gently tapped Anderi's arm and motioned for us to leave. He nodded solemnly, and we made our way downstairs to the living room.

I sank into the couch, emotionally drained. Anderi sat beside me, and for a while, we just stared up at the ceiling.

"Do you think Irina knew what was happening to them?" he finally asked.

"Yeah," I whispered. "I do. There are no secrets in this family. She had to know something."

He nodded slowly. "What a day."

"What a week."

We shared a weak laugh, the kind that barely touched our lips. But my mind was spinning. Liam's words in Hawaii, his silence, his choices, they all started clicking together.

Then it hit me.

I sat up, heart racing. "Oh my God."

"What?" Anderi blinked.

"Liam doesn't want revenge on Czar. He's after something else."

"What do you mean?"

"He wants to know where his child is."

Anderi frowned. "But his girlfriend died. She was still pregnant."

I shook my head. "She wasn't the one who was pregnant. It was Annika. I think that was just a cover story, a like they told to throw everyone off."

Anderi's eyes widened as he sat up. 

"You think Czar knows where the kid is?" I asked 

"I think I do too." He answered.

Everything had changed. The truth wasn't just ugly, it was explosive. And if Liam found out what we were starting to suspect...

We might not have much time left.

~*~

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