Hateful obsession

Chapter 30

Melissa
"The Truth and the Gun."

Yes, this is the story I need to tell Roman to explain why these girls will be living in his penthouse. There's nothing more for them to do here, and they want this for themselves.

I knew that if things had turned out differently, I might not have become who I am today. For many, what happened to me would be a reason to run away, but for me? It was a motivation. To prove to everyone around me, but most importantly to myself, that a woman is capable of anything, no matter how broken our hearts are, no matter how much it hurts, and that we have the strength to rise and continue the fight. I was alone, but I learned to live in a way that made everyone need me.

Perhaps all of this was in vain, but some part of me realizes that it was necessary. Yes, I gave it all up 11 months ago. That's right. But just because I almost died. It was then, when my husband no longer played the role of safety, that I realized there was no point in being with him. But if it's necessary for my children, I'm willing to do it because when I remained silent in the past, it ended in disaster. And I don't want that anymore.

Without even looking at Alex, I tightened my grip on the girls' hands, feeling as if I had finally found what I had been searching for so long. What I needed. Even if the air was unbearable, filled with disappointment in my brother, I could no longer stay here. Not now. Not after everything.

The girls looked at me with wide eyes, full of confusion about where we were going, but they followed me without resistance. Their little hands were warm in mine, anchoring me in this moment, reminding me why I had to leave. I had to protect them - from the anger in Alex's voice, from the uncertainty hanging over every conversation we had. This was not the life I envisioned for them when I was pregnant, for myself.

I felt Alex watching us, the weight of his silence pressing down on me, but I refused to acknowledge it. Turning around would mean facing disappointment, irritation written on his face. It would mean admitting that our bond had become something I could no longer bear.

The girls walked beside me, their little feet hurried to keep up as I quickened my pace as if escaping. I thought only about leaving. Leaving the fights, the tension, the suffocating feeling of being trapped in a box where I was constantly lied to. Pretended. Betrayed.

With every step, my resolve grew stronger. I didn't know how to find the right words for Roman, but I knew I had to take them to a safe place - far away from here.

We were almost to the door when I heard a voice behind me in the living room.

"Melissa." I froze, causing the triplets to stop as well.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Lilith's voice - Alex's wife - rang out theatrically softly yet restrained, filling the space between us.

"Where do you think you're going with my children?" I slowly turned, trying to remind myself to keep my composure because the children were nearby. Lilith stood calmly, arms crossed behind her. She always maintained that restrained elegance that made many feel small, even if she didn't raise her voice. But I was no stranger to that dynamic. I did it better. I expected this confrontation to come much later. I just wanted to leave and not come back, but reality was far worse.

"They're not your children." I raised an eyebrow. "And they want me to take them right now, so..."

"They're just little kids." Lilith interrupted me, her voice growing colder, though still restrained. "They just don't understand, so step away from them. And you have no right to take them from me. Not after the favor I did for you."

I squinted my eyes, my gaze sliding to the door behind her and then back to Lilith. I felt a thin voice whispering to me to crush this bitch's throat like an invisible haze tightening around my throat.
"Where are your manners? And by the way, you're not starting a game you can win." Looking at the girls, I calmed down a bit. "I don't owe you anything."