A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

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Chapter 76

Matteo

'I know she's with you.'

The message said, leaving me anxious and somehow out of words. I had stared at my phone for five minutes because I didn't know if I was supposed to reply or let it be. It was obvious Alexei knew that Alena was with me but the main question was, how?

The laughters and chatters were loudly heard from downstairs which calmed me down a little bit, knowing they weren't coming upstairs to check up on me.

Then again, I didn't want to hide things from Alena anymore-I did it before for her own sake. Was I supposed to hide about this as well? What type of good was going to come out from it?

Another message came in and I looked down at the sender: Alexei.

'Mikhail doesn't know.'

I read, blinking a few times as another message went through.

'Well, not yet.'

I immediately turned to look at the door before shutting it close and heading out to the balcony, occasionally glancing at the door incase Alena stepped in. I didn't want her to overhear my conversation with Alexei, at least until I heard about the things he wanted to say first. Without wasting anymore time, I pressed the screen to call Alexei.

It took him a couple of rings before he picked up the phone.

"Look who decided to call me back," he said from the other line!

"Are you alone?" I asked, ignoring his sarcasm.

The question was simple. I just needed a confirmation from him if Mikhail was in the room with him or he was alone-it was safer if he was all by himself. I couldn't trust Mikhail and I couldn't trust Alexei either but at least, he was keeping Alena's whereabouts a secret for now.

Maybe, he was finally coming to his senses.

However, it was still too early to judge.

Alexei chuckled from the other line, "You're worried?"

I kept quiet, not wanting to play around. I just wanted an answer and if he didn't want to give me any, there was no use for us to talk anymore. I always had my doubts with the Russians but ever since I had fallen in love with one, I tried to be positive sometimes.

"If it's Mikhail you're worried about, he's not here." He added, giving me the answer I waited for.

I sighed, feeling a little bit better.

"Why did you call me?"

"Just to clear the air between us after what happened."

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07:40 Mon, Nov 4

Chapter 76

help it that I don't feel the same way,"

you think I'm

from last week replayed in my head, when we were stargazing that night

past by rather quickly. One of the reasons why we needed to appreciate everything

have an answer to that. Men

the hard truth but men like us, we didn't deserve anything good in our lives. If another lifetime ever existed, I would've probably chosen a different life where I wasn't the villain. I

earned were given to charities, probably just one of the ways to cover up our money laundering. Then again, our hands were always going to be dirty from the men we

We're condemned to hell, aren't

do you want,

I found out

me if

respond seemed to make him laugh, as if it was

just say I owe my sister a favour. Let's just say I'm trying to

you mean by

when he hit her. As much as I respect and look up to Mikhail, I don't exactly tolerate abuse especially when

you're making

then. I'm trying

scoffed, "I saw the

blame myself for not doing anything after that. I can't hate him, Matteo even if I wanted to." He continued to speak before sighing, as if he was having a hard time to choose the right words-he had

should I

I don't need that.

I trust you that

protect her with my

got hurt when you were

the blame. I really do,"

at my phone for a few minutes before I heard the door being pushed open and I saw Alena stepping in, looking around the room for

She said as she grabbed my

"Hey... you," I replied.

you? You took

about her eyes, I was always drawn to her every time we stared at each other-it could be the colour

if I had her beside me and my body could somehow self destruct if she was

"Your brother."

"Alexei?" Her eyes widened.

frown appeared in between her

you so calm about it? Shouldn't we be worried?" She asked, this time her grip

he won't tell Mikhail. He said

one? Owed me

anything when he hurt

If it were up to me, I would've slammed my fist onto his face and let him bleed on the ground. He said he was capable of protecting my wife as if I had failed, but he raised his hand on her. What kind