Chapter 22: The Truth

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After yesterday's incident, I didn't want to deal with too much in one day. I came back to the house and tried to figure out who left the note, but I came to nothing. I knew the best way to figure this out was to ask Bri about her past.

It was now the next day, and Bri was making breakfast while I was in my office. I figured that I didn't know how soon this person was going to want to "take back what's his," so I had to figure out who they were as soon as possible.

Brianna and I were enjoying a rare moment of peace at the estate. The sun had just set, casting a warm glow over the sprawling gardens. We sat in the cozy living room, sipping wine and talking about everything and nothing. For the first time in a long while, Brianna felt a sense of calm.

That calm was shattered when my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, my expression turning serious as I read the message. "Brianna, we need to talk," I said, my voice tense.

Brianna's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "Your apartment was broken into and trashed."

Brianna's face went pale. She gripped the edge of her chair, her knuckles turning white. "Oh my god," she whispered, her voice shaking. "He found me. I knew it was only a matter of time before he came looking for me."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Who are you talking about?"

Brianna's mind raced. She had never fully explained her past to me, but now it seemed she had no choice. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "It's Viktor Ivanov," she began, her voice trembling.

My eyes widened slightly at the mention of the name. "Ivanov? The Russian? What's your connection to him?"

Brianna hesitated, but she knew she had to tell me everything. "He's my ex. We were together for two years. At first, he was charming, kind, everything I thought I wanted. But slowly, he started to change. He became controlling, possessive, and then abusive."

My eyes darkened with anger, but I remained silent, letting her continue.

"I endured it for as long as I could, but when I found out I was pregnant with Zara, I thought it might bring us closer. I hoped he would be happy about it. So, I told him."

She paused, her eyes filling with tears at the memory. "But he wasn't happy. He screamed at me, yelled terrible things. He told me that if I didn't get rid of the baby, he would find a way to get rid of it himself. He left the house, saying that if it wasn't done by the time he came back, he'd do it himself."

My jaw clenched, my anger palpable. "What did you do?"

Brianna took a shuddering breath. "As soon as he left, I knew I had to escape. I packed a bag as quickly as I could, stole some cash from him, and bought a ticket to New York. I called a cab and went straight to the airport. I left everything behind. I just needed to save our daughter and myself."

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