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My eyes snapped to hers, and she looked away guiltily, biting on her lips nervously.

No. Please.

“Why are you holding your underwear?” I asked curtly after a moment of silence. Before she could answer, Viktor’s loud booming voice came through from Alessio’s office.

Confused, I looked back at Sasha, but she avoided eye contact with me. Without answering to my question, she walked around me. I was left dumbfounded, as I stood frozen in my spot.

My hands were shaking, and I trembled slightly as Viktor continued yelling. When I heard Alessio’s voice, I finally snapped out of my daze and walked forward until I was standing in front of the door.

I didn’t know what to expect, my mind still lost on what I just saw. But then my heart stuttered to a stop, my chest contracting painfully when I heard his words…Alessio’s words. My legs weakened, and my stomach twisted. I suddenly felt nauseous.

“My plan was to get close to Ayla to make her reveal her truth. We had to know if she was a traitor. That was the fucking plan.”

I choked back a sob when I understood his meaning. They still thought I was a spy. It was all a lie. They never believed me.

Having heard enough, I pushed away from the door.

Alessio and I…whatever he said, his sweet words, his kisses, his gentle caresses, were they all a lie? Was it just a ploy to get closer to me?

I was paralyzed by just the thought of it. Bringing a shaky hand to my mouth, I tried to control my breathing. But it felt like my world had just ended around me. I could feel myself spiraling down toward the darkness again.

I heard yelling, but none of the words made sense to me. I could only think about what I heard. The same words repeated over and over in my head. My ears were ringing from their painful betrayal.

Giving the door a final glance, I turned around and blindly ran to my room. I needed to escape this harsh reality. I didn’t want to believe it. Not Alessio. Not my Alessio.

The door closed behind me, and I sank down to the floor, holding my knees to my chest as I sobbed.

He wouldn’t do that. He cared…I saw it in his eyes.

But Alessio Ivanshov was known to be deceitful. If he thought I was a traitor, he would stop at nothing to find the truth.

Even if it meant breaking me until I had nothing left to give.

When I saw Alessio take another step toward me, I snapped out of the painful memories and took a step back. His eyes flashed with hurt, and he placed a hand out as if to comfort me.

“What did you do with Sasha?” I asked, my voice almost emotionless, hiding the true turmoil inside of me. Alessio’s face contorted in guilt, and he swallowed nervously. His eyes shifted away for a few seconds, his hands tightening in fists.

At his reaction, I felt my already fragile heart crack further, deepening the holes in it. He didn’t have to say anything. I already got my answer.

“Ayla, it’s not what you think—” he started, but I quickly cut him off.

“Did you touch her?” He paused at my question, his eyes closing tightly for a second. Alessio paced in front of me, his fingers going to his hair in frustration.

“Did you touch her, Alessio?” I asked again.

“Ayla…” he growled.

“Did you?” This time my voice was louder.

Turning toward me, he glared. “Damn it, Ayla. It’s not what you think.”

I let out a small harsh laugh, leaning back into the wall. “So you did.”

Alessio lost his glare, and he shook his head. He moved toward me, but I raised a hand, stopping him again. “Don’t come near me.”

“I heard you talking to Viktor,” I admitted, my voice strangely soft. Alessio flinched, if possible his whole body growing tenser. “Is it true? Do you think I’m a traitor?”

Deep inside, I prayed he would say no and that it was all a misunderstanding. “I’m not the spy,” I continued softly, desperately hoping he would believe me.

I saw Alessio visibly swallow hard, and he slightly shook his head. “I know, Ayla.”

He accepted my plea, but I still couldn’t forget those words. It still hurt. I still felt like I was breaking. Under the layers of hurt, deep anger was raging. Never had I felt this way. Not even when I was tortured.

I loathed that Alessio could make me feel this way.

My body vibrated with the force of my anger, and as I stared at Alessio’s guilty face, I snapped. I was holding on tight to the string, desperate not to lose control, but right at the moment, I lost it.

Lurching forward, I slammed into Alessio’s body, holding onto his collar tight. “Why? Why did you do it? Was it all a lie? Tell me!”


Tags: Lylah James Tainted Hearts Erotic