Bound by lies Trapped by Desire (Elena and Nikolai) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Elena’s POV:

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“Your mom is ten times smarter than both of us combined. She would have figured it out already. Probably the moment I walked through the door with her car keys in hand. I don’t understand why you’re still trying to hide this, though. She deserves to know the truth, you know? She’s your mother, your biggest supporter.” Fiona said, her voice surprisingly gentle, as she pulled the car away from the gates of Sergei’s

estate.

I turned to the window, watching the landscape blur past, and took in her words. A fresh wave of guilt churned in my gut. She was right. God. I was such a horrible daughter, constantly keeping secrets, constantly putting her through worry and uncertainty.

As we drove in silence, my stomach rumbled loudly. I groaned, shifting back in my seat. Fiona reached for the dashboard with one hand, effortlessly pulling out a pack of vanilla wafers. She offered them to me without a word and I perked up instantly. “Oh, thank goodness. I feel so hungry,” I mumbled, taking the pack and tearing it open with a grateful sigh.

I pulled one out and stuffed it into my mouth. My gaze then paused, drawn to a small, white piece of paper stuck to the windshield, fluttering slightly in the breeze from the vents. “What’s that?” I asked, pointing. Fiona glanced over, narrowing her eyes. “I dunno. Probably just trash. Got stuck on the way here.” She turned on the windshield wiper, but the paper stayed stubbornly stuck.

“Maybe it’s glued on, or something?” I asked. She groaned, obviously annoyed.

“It’s okay, just leave it,” I said, dismissing the oddity. My mind was already preoccupied with the impending conversation with Mom.

We reached home an hour later. The first thing that greeted me as I stepped inside was Mom, standing at the foot of the stairs, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression unreadable.

I paused, my heart sinking. “Mom…” I trailed off, my voice barely a whisper, bracing myself for the inevitable confrontation. Fiona, sensing the tension, gently pushed me inside. “It’s cooolld,” she said, shivering dramatically as she pushed the door closed behind me.

“In the living room, Elena.” Was all Mom said, her voice calm but firm, as she turned and walked into the living area. I followed her, however reluctantly.

Aunt Rose then walked in from the kitchen, carrying a tray laden with steaming bowls of fragrant soup and a basket of freshly baked bread, setting it down on the coffee table. She gave us a knowing look, her eyes twinkling slightly.

“Alright, kiddos. Start slurping your soup and begin explaining yourselves,” Aunt Rose said, taking her seat beside Mom on the sofa.

I pursed my lips, taking a deep breath, and nodded. I took off my coat, draped it over the back of a chair, and settled down onto the plush cushions, preparing to recount the events of the day.

The next hour was spent explaining everything that had transpired during my meeting with Sergei. I omitted any mention of the physical altercation between Lazar and me, or the more intimate, private matters Sergei had revealed about his relationship with Svetlana. And, of course, I deliberately left out the fact that he knew about my pregnancy.

Mom listened in silence, her expression growing increasingly upset with each new revelation about the Vetrovs‘ depravity. Aunt Rose, on the other hand, hummed softly, sipping from her cup of tea.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I went without telling you, and broke my promise,” I said, my voice low, filled with genuine remorse.

“Are you really sorry about that, Elena? Or are you just sorry that you were caught?” She said, her voice calm, but her words cut through me like a knife. I trembled, my head shooting up, my gaze meeting hers. “Ldidn’t plan on hiding it, Mom… I promise. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you.”

She sighed and finally spoke up, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Alright then, Elena.” She said, getting up from the sofa, and I frowned, a

wave of anxiety washing over me. “Are you… are you upset with me, Mom?” I stood up, reaching out a hand towards her.

She turned and smiled, a tired, almost wistful smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “No, honey. I am not upset with you. Not at all. Since you’ve done all this yourself, I’m sure you don’t need my help anymore to guide you, to tell you what’s right and wrong.” Her words, though seemingly supportive, carried an undertone of distance that made my heart ache.

I felt stunned. Was she… serious?

“Mom!” I moved quickly, grabbing her arm, my fingers tightening around her sleeve. “Mom, please. Don’t say that. I still need you.” I pleaded, my voice thick with emotion.

“Elena. I’m truly not upset. You did what you thought was right, what you believed was necessary. You didn’t cower, you didn’t let that man take advantage of you, and now you plan on fighting for justice for your friend. There’s nothing that you did that’s wrong, honey.” Mom said, her voice soft, her gaze unwavering. But even then, despite her reassuring words, why? Why did it feel like sand was slipping through my fingers, like something precious was slowly pulling away from me?

Like something was fundamentally wrong.

“You… you won’t stop me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, needing to hear the explicit confirmation.

She chuckled softly, a gentle, almost melancholic sound. “I won’t, Elena. I know you’ll do the right thing. Just… don’t put yourself in danger,

honey. Since Mr. Morozov offered to help in this, let him. I know you’re smart enough to handle this, and you have many more things to be

careful of now.” She said, her gaze dropping pointedly to my abdomen.

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