Page 10 of Wicked Refusal

There’s no way she was faking that.

“If you’ve got a theory, don’t waste my time with riddles.”

“I don’t have a theory. I have a feeling, that’s all.”

“Lot of fucking good that does me.”

“Hey, I’m not the one who was about to marry her. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, shouldn’t it be the man who put a ring on her finger?”

Nikita’s words hit dead center. I slip my hand into my pocket and feel it: a tiny black box, full again, too-soft velvet against calloused fingers.

Three months ago, she threw it away. The ring, our vows—all of it.

And yet, I can’t stop thinking about what Nikita said a moment ago.

That’s the kind of person she is. Always thinking of others before herself.

All this time, I’ve rejected that image of Mia. I’ve refused to let it back in after it wrecked so much havoc. It’s why I haven’t pursued any “theories,” why I’ve taken her words at face value. Denial is a weakness I can’t afford.

If she betrayed me, I could be angry. I could bring myself to hate her.

If she betrayed me, I could forget her.

But that hasn’t fucking worked, has it?

And if I let myself believe she’s still that person—if I let myselftrust heragain—then there’s only one answer. Only one thing she could be doing this all for.

“Eli.”

Nikita blinks. “What?”

“Her son.” The memory of his Garfield plushie flashes before my eyes. It’s still in my car, stuck under the passenger’s seat. I haven’t been able to bring myself to throw it away.

I didn’t see him that night. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t there. It doesn’t mean there wasn’t something going on behind the scenes, something that made Mia believe she had no other choice.

If Eli was in danger, she’d do whatever it took to protect him. She’d tear the world apart. She’d tearusapart.

But what proof do you have that’s why she did it?

“Fuck this.” I step away from the balustrade and fix my cuffs with two angry yanks. “I’m going back.”

Nikita trails after me. “Going back where?”

I didn’t fight for Mia that night. I trusted her words and left.

That was a mistake.

But I’m not going to make it again. I’m going to demand the truth, and she’s going to give it to me.

Whatever it takes.

“Boss!”

Maksim’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “Not now,” I say with a grimace.

“I’m afraid it must be now.” He’s out of breath from running. “You’ve got to see this, Yulian. You too, Nik.”

He pulls out his phone and shoves it in my face.