Chapter 62

Mia

I blinked at the woman.

"I am Mia, who are you?"

"Ms. Kulak, is there a reason you're here?" Sasha asked.

"Move aside, Sasha. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I work for Albert, not you. I’m here to make sure Mrs. Warren and her mother are safe. And I'm not going to let you harass the boss' wife."

The woman flushed and glared at me. "Wife."

I flinched at the venom in her voice. My heart lurched. Was this the part when Albert proved me right about all mafia men?

"I don't know who you are, but it seems you know who I am."

She lifted her nose. "I know enough. You’re nothing but a gold digger."

Katie had the nerve to snicker. "So, you don't know who Mia is."

I sighed. "I... really don't know what you're talking about--"

“Save it. I know your type. Some no one in bargain bin jeans?" Her voice was cold and sharp. “It’s clear now that you were after Albert’s money from the start.”

"Are you going to continue to call me names or tell me who you are and why I should care what you're talking about?"

She flushed. "You--"

"You marched in here with your attitude and your accusations like a spoiled, self-righteous brat. I am too tired to deal with this. And this isn't the place for this anyway. So, state what you want and leave."

Sasha chuckled. "You heard the madam, Ms. Kulak."

"I know you've heard of me. Polina. I know Albert would have told you about me."

"Are you saying that to convince yourself for me?"

Katie snickered again.

Sasha stayed between us. "At this point, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Mrs. Warren has had a rough time, and this isn’t helping. Please leave.”

Polina seemed momentarily taken aback, but she quickly regained her composure. “I’m not leaving until Mia signs this post-nuptial agreement. I’m Albert’s lawyer, and it’s my duty to make sure everything is in order.”

A part of me relaxed. So, she wasn't his wife or girlfriend, but probably someone who had an interest in him. Great.

I scoffed at that. "I've already met Albert's lawyer, and I'm not signing another piece of paper today.

"See, I--"

I reached into my bag and pulled out the prenup, throwing at her. The papers hit her in the chest and fluttered around her.

“I don't know what your problem is, and I really don't care. I'm so sick of all of these people showing up and throwing their problems at my feet when I haven't done a damn thing. I signed a prenuptial agreement and a divorce agreement already. Take your issues up with Mikhail and Albert, and leave me alone. Come here again, and we're going to have a problem."

Polina’s face flushed with frustration. "Are you threatening me? Do you know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are, and it's not a threat. It's a promise. Leave."

Sasha grinned. "I'll be sure to pass this little incident on to Albert."

Polina’s eyes narrowed as she turned on her heel and stormed back down the hall, leaving the papers on the floor. Sasha crouched down to gather the pages.

"You are spicier than I first imagined." He stood and offered me the pages. “Are you okay?”

I gave him a tired smile. “I’ll be fine if that's the last person to storm up to me accusing me of stuff I have no hand in."

I took the pages from him, feeling a bit like I shouldn't.

"You really have had a rough day, haven't you?" Katie asked. She sighed. " I will go get something delicious to eat with you. Anything you want? Cake? Doughnuts? A veritable haul of sweets?"

I laughed. "That all sounds good."

She hugged me and headed off with one of Albert's men. Then, I headed back inside my mom's room, only to find her eyes open and filled with concern. She had heard the entire exchange.

“Mia, is it true?” Diane’s voice was weak but filled with worry. “You’re getting divorced?”

I felt a lump form in my throat as I approached her. I closed the door behind me and walked to sink into the chair beside her bed.

“Yes, Mom. It’s true.”

Her eyes were full of pain and confusion. “But... why?" She worried her lip. "Is it... Is it because of you father?"

I frowned at the question. Did she know something> I shook it off. It didn't matter.

"No. It's... all a jumbled mess. I'd rather not talk about it."

"Dear, you can't tell me you've been married for less than six days, and you're going to get divorced after that man has done so much for us and not talk about it."

I sighed, hanging my head. Her eyes were still filled with concern, and my eyes stung. I wanted to explain everything to her, no matter how painful it might be.

“Mom,” I began, my voice trembling slightly, “There's... just so much. I really... I didn't mean for all of this to happen."

“What is it, Mia?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself to tell her everything.

“It's all been a lie."

She blinked. "What?"

"I married him... so he could get a green card in exchange for a lot of money--money to pay off our debts and for your surgery. We met the day we got married." Her eyes widened. "And I just found out that Albert is the head of the Volka bratva. We're getting divorced because someone threatened to kill me today, but our marriage would have ended in a month anyway because the prenuptial agreement.”

I went on explaining everything. with every word. This weight on my chest seemed to grow lighter and heavier too. By the time I got to the end of it, I was wrong out and crying.

"How did it come to this?” She asked, her tone thoughtful.

She reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “I wish I had known sooner. I wish I could have been there for you.”

I squeezed her hand back, trying to offer comfort. “I didn’t want to worry you. I thought I could handle it, but things got out of control with Lorenzo and Elio... Then today...”

We sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of the situation settling between us.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I said finally. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to take care of you, to make a way for us to get out of the debt and everything.”

I sniffled, sobbing as it hit me hard and grew heavier. " I was just so tired I just wanted. A normal life. I never knew that this would happen...."

She sighed, her expression softening. “You’ve done what you thought was best. We’ll get through this together. We just need to take it one step at a time, but... could I ask something of you?”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. "Of course..."

"You’ve been through so much, and I understand you’re tired. But I think you should think carefully before giving up. Albert... He’s different. He’s not like your father or anyone else in that world.”

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “Don't--"

"Listen," she said, squeezing my hand. "I know the Mafia. I grew up here... If I'm honest I knew that your father was a part of that world long before you were conceived... There's an air about them that's undeniable if you know what you're looking for..." She scoffed wryly. "If you aren't dumb enough to turn a blind eye to it... But Albert... Albrt doesn't have that. He might be in the bratva but he's not one of them."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. I’ve been put in so much danger—not just from Lorenzo and Elio, but because of Albert and his connections to the underworld. I can’t take any more of this.”

“I’m just so tired,” I managed between gasps. “I’m tired of the danger, the constant fear. I just want a normal life—a life where I don’t have to look over my shoulder every second or scrape to survive. I am tired. You might have been able to do it all these years, but I can't.”

She hummed. "Admittedly, dear, I haven't been kidnapped or held at actual gunpoint."

A watery laugh escaped me.

"And while I'm certain that Bianca met me no good, she I knew she was much too lazy to come after me as soon as she realized I wasn't a real threat to her position..."

I sighed, leaning over the bed and letting her stroke my hair.

“You don’t have to make any decisions right now. So, what you signed some paperwork? People get divorced and married again all the time. If there's a spark there, if it's a good one it's worth the struggle. Focus on getting through this, on healing. We’ll take it one step at a time. And remember, whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you.”

I nodded, feeling a small sense of relief in her words. It was hard to see beyond the current chaos, but knowing I had my mother’s support gave me a glimmer of hope.