Lovely obsession

Chapter 3

                                          Melissa
         "The queen doesn't kneel. But the king does."

My thoughts wandered between loyalty to what had happened in the past and the impending betrayal as I sat in my hospital room, staring blankly out the rainy summer window. The cold, sterile walls of the hospital closed in around me, amplifying the weight of what lay ahead. Every tick of the clock felt like a countdown, each second a reminder that I had only a small amount of time to act before Dean, Misha, and Lynn returned. Lynn was desperate to find out from Misha what was happening, and Dean, seemingly accepting defeat, went to speak to my doctor.

My brother, the man who once protected me from any danger, and my husband, the first person I could trust so deeply, were now my adversaries. My heart ached from the betrayal I hadn't yet come to terms with, the bitter realization that they could no longer stand beside me, threatening everything I had built. But I had to stop these fools.

Outside, flashes of lightning tore through the sky, casting ghostly reflections on the glass. In that moment, I saw myself: pale and possessed, staring back, trapped between two worlds. I considered all my options—some more ruthless than others. The simplest way would be to confront them directly, demand answers, corner them.

Yet that approach felt a bit reckless, leaving too much to chance. I knew Alex's persistence, his unwillingness to yield, and Roman's quiet, calculating nature. If I pushed them, they'd respond even more fiercely. I needed a plan that would disarm them both, force them to confront their own motives, leaving them with no opportunity to retaliate.

But how? Time was short, and the easiest path seemed more tempting with each passing second.

As I pondered my options, memories filled my mind. My brother had always been my protector, standing over me since he first learned about me, scaring off anyone who dared hurt me. To call him out now felt like a betrayal, like breaking the only family I'd ever known. But hadn't it already happened? He betrayed me once and could do so again. My husband was no exception. We had built a life together; I grew in strength and power alongside him, bound by loyalty and ambition. But somewhere along the way, we drifted apart, and only recently did I realize how dangerous his ambitions had become.

I pressed my head against the cold pillow, closing my eyes, feeling the chill seep into my skin. Perhaps the only way was to sever ties completely, let go of family bonds, and embrace the cold reality I'd been avoiding. That was the hardest part. Could I cut them off, push them away without succumbing to the guilt already gnawing at me? Because they were a part of my life. But clearly, only my past life.

But I knew the answer; I knew what I had to do. My brother and husband wouldn't relinquish power easily. I'd have to make them believe it was their choice, lead them to an outcome where I had the upper hand without letting them realize it. A small smile appeared on my lips—bitter but resolute. This was my path. If necessary, I would walk it alone.

I barely noticed the faint creak of the door as Dean entered. My thoughts were still tangled in a web of plans and options. But Dean's presence pulled me from that state; his eyes were full of worry, his mouth set in a hard line.

"You're not going anywhere, Melissa," he said firmly, barely hiding the tremor in his voice. "Do you even understand the state you're in?"

I looked at him, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me, but I refused to show it. Instead, I straightened my back and met his gaze with quiet defiance. "Dean, I don't have time for this. With every minute I stay here, the danger grows. I need to leave. We've already discussed this; why are you reacting like this again?"

"Because I care!" he growled, stepping closer. "And the doctor said if you leave now... those stitches could tear open at any moment!"

I swallowed as Dean took another step closer, his tone growing harsher. "Do you really think you're in any condition to confront them? You can barely stand! You have broken ribs, stitches that could come undone at any moment, not to mention the blood loss. Going out there now is suicide."