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It’s like I’m in a damn movie plot.

“What other secrets?” I ask Sage, still trying to wrap my head around the bombshell Dima dropped.

Endless questions float through my mind.

I fell right into their trap, and now, I need to dig myself out.

Sage shrinks back in her chair, refusing to look at me.

Dima and his man’s attention are glued to us, as if they’re ready for a show.

I shiver, freezing, and jerk my hands, as if I suddenly gained the strength to break free.

“Oh, Sage, don’t be shy now,” Dima taunts.

The man in the corner drops his head back, laughing.

When Sage doesn’t say a word, Dima charges toward her. He grabs the back of her chair, jerking it over so she’s facing me. When she still doesn’t speak, he snatches a fistful of her hair. She hisses in pain when he yanks her head back, forcing her to look at me.

“Tell her everything,” Dima goads, holding her in place. “Tell your dear old sister how you set her up.”

Tears sting my eyes as Sage keeps her mouth shut.

Dima steps between us to smack her across the face. “You don’t start giving my wife answers, I’ll rip your fucking tongue out.”

I bite back the urge to correct that I’m not—nor will I ever be—his wife, but poking the armed bear isn’t the smart way to stay alive.

It’s not justmylife I have to worry about.

It’s also my baby’s.

I need to keep us both alive.

“I set you up,” she bites out toward me.

All the shyness she had at the shelter is gone.

Her real viciousness is coming through.

“That much is obvious,” I snap. “Whydid you do it?”

Sage narrows her eyes at me but turns to peer at Dima over her shoulder when he pulls away from her. She looks at him differently than me.

While I’m staring at him with hatred, her gaze is brimmed with adoration.

“Using the shelter to get to you was Sage, her mother, and stepfather’s idea,” Dima announces to the room, as if we were on a game show and he was giving us all the rules. “Poor Sage has abandonment issues.”

“Why?” I ask Sage again, proud of how strong I’m keeping my voice level. I won’t let these assholes see me break down. “Why’d you do this?”

“Because I hate you,” she screams, attempting to jerk toward me, but the restraints stop her. “Every day, growing up, I wished you’d die, so I could take your place as our father’s favorite daughter. You’re nothing but a rich bitch who got the life I wanted.”

I wince at her cruel words.

“I didn’t even know you existed,” I tell her. “That sounds like an issue you should hate my father for.Not me.”

“You got the mansion, the education, the attention,” she says, mocking my voice. “You know what I got? Nothing. The child support our father did pay went straight into my mother and stepfather’s pockets. I had no choice. To make ends meet, my family and I worked for the Morozovas. They’re the ones who’ve kept us fed and a roof over our heads.” She glances at Dima. “This is my family, and I had no choice.”

“Everyone has a choice in what they do. It might not be the easiest, but there’s always a choice.”