Page 158 of His Forced Bride

Her eyes flick away, fleeting anxiety flashing across her face before her resolve hardens and she stares out the window.

"I meet with her face-to-face. Let her think she's won, that the courthouse drama shook me enough to reconsider. She'll believe she can manipulate me back under her control."

The strategy has merit, but it also puts Inessa directly in danger.

"And then?"

I'm not sure I like this at all, but I won't for any reason let her think I don't believe in her.

"I tell her exactly what's coming. Every crime she's committed, every theft, every betrayal—all of it gets exposed. The forged documents, the bribed judge, the employees she's turned against me. I want her to know that her empire built on lies is about to collapse."

I study her face as she speaks, looking for any trace of doubt or fear.

Instead, I find only cold resilience.

She has walked through hell and stolen the devil's crown, and now she dons it like the queen she is, and I think it's ravishingly beautiful.

"She'll think she's reeling me back in," Inessa continues, "but I'll be destroying her financially and legally.

Strip away everything she stole, everything she built, everything she thinks makes her untouchable.”

I see a few flaws in her plan, but it's nothing I can't handle.

We have to time her meeting with her mother perfectly to allow Oleg and Kirill time to expose the darkness in Viktoria's organization to the right men.

The roaches will scatter at the same time that Viktoria realizes there is a plot in place to take her out, but it will be too late.

Inessa's distraction will be enough to give us wiggle room to work.

"Your mother is skilled at manipulation," I warn.

"She's had years to perfect her techniques, and she knows exactly which emotional triggers to use against you."

Inessa's laugh is cold and bitter.

"Not anymore. Whatever power she had over me died when she poisoned Alina. When she turned my grief over Batya into a weapon against me. And to think she's working with the very men who killed him."

Her head shakes and finally, her eyes meet mine.

"How can you sit back knowing she may very well have gotten Dominic killed?"

A sliver of anger works its way into my chest and I have to look away this time.

"I've considered that, but if I allow myself to take that vengeance, it will rob you of what you have to do,milaya."

When I turn back to look at her, I see compassion in her eyes.

"She's stolen far more from you than she could ever dream of taking from me, and so long as she gets what she deserves, I'm content to allow you to exact that revenge."

"Well, she's going to pay. I'm not letting her get away with this."

The conviction in her voice tells me she's moved past the point where maternal manipulation could sway her.

But I need to be certain, because once this plan is set in motion, there won't be opportunities for second-guessing.

"You're sure you can face her without being swayed? Without letting sentiment cloud your judgment?"

"I'm sure."