The tension in the courtroom only subsided after the doctors and priests followed Chloe out. Not long ago, Yelena had watched Mikhail confess to another woman, despite his previous whispers of love to her, yet she shed no tears, remaining calm.
Mikhail, on the other hand, stared blankly at the spot where Chloe had stood, lost in thought.
“Your Honor,” Natasha broke the silence like walking on thin ice.
“As you can see… my client is in a very weakened state.”
“…How sick is she? Why did she suddenly cough up blood…?” Mikhail’s interjection was ignored as Natasha continued.
“I ask you to consider the heart of my client, who wishes to spend the rest of her short life in peace.”
“Hmm…” The judge let out a regretful sigh. It was likely the first time he’d seen someone cough up blood and collapse during a trial.
“…The rest of her short life…?”
No one paid attention to Mikhail’s soft muttering.
At that moment, a clerk approached the judge and whispered something quietly. The judge nodded solemnly.
“It seems the diary of a key witness has just been submitted as evidence. Reviewing it will take some time, so I will adjourn the court temporarily.”
Bang, bang, bang. Even as the sound of the gavel echoed crisply, Mikhail remained in a daze, muttering to himself.
***
Just as Natasha was about to leave the courtroom, Mikhail grabbed her.
Smack! The grip on her wrist was so strong it stung. Natasha, forcing her face to stay calm, looked back at him.
“Do you have something to say?”
“What did you mean earlier… about her short life?”
His fingers trembled slightly. What could have made him so desperate?
Natasha wondered. Was it love? A sudden death of someone close?
Or was it a vague fear of losing his family?
“I don’t think it’s my place to explain. If you’re curious, go ask her yourself.”
“Just tell me what you know. Is she… is she really that sick?”
“Do you think someone who coughs up blood could be healthy?”
Despite Natasha’s mocking tone, Mikhail didn’t seem offended. He was just overwhelmed by the new information.
“Where is Chloe now? I have to see her. I’ll call the priest and doctors right away, and make sure she gets treatment…!”
“I think you’re mistaken…” Natasha coldly brought him back to reality.
“You’re no longer her husband, nor anything else to her. For her peace of mind, it would be better if you disappeared from her life for good.”
“Watch your words. No matter how much distance there may have been between us… once you’ve lived as a married couple…”
“You’re not a couple anymore.”
Mikhail froze at her words. Natasha, with nothing more to say, shook off his hand.
As Natasha walked away toward the waiting room, Mikhail’s low voice followed her.
“When you stayed in our house, I thought I did everything I could for you. Ah, was it that painful not to become an adopted daughter? Is that why you’re holding a grudge and pulling these stunts?”
“That’s not even worth a response. Listen, Mikhail Petrov, the reason you’re getting divorced has nothing to do with me. It’s because you were stupid enough to cheat. Understand?”
“You set the trap! You were the one who brought Chloe that day…!”
“Yes, yes. You could’ve had a perfect secret affair, but I exposed you, and now you’re getting divorced because of it. Sure, that’s it.”
Her sarcastic tone made Mikhail clench his fists tightly.
“Wow, scary look. What? Are you going to hit me? Well, if someone like me—a commoner—gets hit by Lord Petrov, I guess I could make a complaint somewhere, right?”
“You should watch your mouth.”
“And if I don’t? What will you do?”
Mikhail trembled with anger, but causing a scene in a sacred courtroom would do him no good.
“Were you like this with my father too?”
“…What?”
“Congratulations, Natasha. First, you divorced Duke Petrov, and now you’re breaking up the young lord too. Are you finally satisfied after tearing the Petrov family apart?”
Her misplaced accusations infuriated her.
What made it worse was that she was reacting to his petty provocations.
“Now I see how you schemed to divorce my mother. Does she even know what kind of person you truly are?”
“I visit her more often than you, so don’t worry. And… if that’s what you want to believe, I won’t stop you. I guess it makes you feel better.”
“Are you saying I’m wrong? Then why don’t you say it yourself—tell me what you did to my mother!”
Mikhail’s shout echoed down the corridor.
His burning gaze was fixed entirely on Natasha. She remained silent for a moment.
Her lips, usually quick to spit out biting remarks, stayed shut. Mikhail let out a short, bitter laugh.
“Of course.”
“……”
“You used such despicable means that you can’t even bring yourself to say it aloud, yet you blame me. I see now—you’re the same person who set a trap in Mosqueche and waited for me.”
“……”
Despite Mikhail’s verbal onslaught, Natasha stood frozen, as if rooted to the spot.
Her gaze drifted past Mikhail to something behind him.
“What are you even looking at…?”
When he followed her gaze and turned around, he came face to face with an unexpected figure.
A fan with feathers swayed gently in an opulent dress. The dazzling heels were as if they could snap an ankle.
“…Mother.”
Olga Petrov—or rather, Olga Dorothea—stood before them.
“Mother… why are you here…?”
“I came because I heard my son was getting divorced. I’ve been watching as part of the audience.”
Though Olga spoke calmly, Mikhail was clearly uncomfortable.
“Mikhail.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“My son. You were always a source of pride. But today… today I’m nothing but ashamed of you.”
“……”
“From when… No, that’s not important…”
At Olga’s reproachful gaze, Mikhail lowered his head like a child.
She approached Mikhail.
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed. Mikhail looked at Olga in shock. It was the first time she had ever laid a hand on her child.
“I raised you wrong.”
“Mother…!”
“Natasha, if you heard this, you should have spoken up sooner instead of enduring it foolishly.”
Olga let out a small sigh.
“…I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t realize my request for secrecy would become a curse.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I asked for the exact reason for the divorce to remain untold. I didn’t want to cause you more pain, knowing you wouldn’t accept it. I planned to bury it forever.”
This was why Natasha had always kept silent, unable to give a proper response.
Mikhail stared blankly at her.
“Like father, like son. You’re just like him.”
“…”
“Mikhail, let the woman you married go.”
“But…!”
“Enough!”
At Olga’s threatening tone, Mikhail took a step back, defeated.
“There’s no point holding on anymore. Her heart has already left. You should have been prepared for this when you became involved with another woman.”
“…”
“I have more to say, but this isn’t the time or place. I’ll invite you to the manor soon, so come by.”
“…Yes, mother.”
Mikhail obediently agreed. Even when Olga was the Duchess of Petrov, she had always ruled the household, both inside and out.
As a result, her three sons, even more than Nikolai, had a strong tendency to yield to her.
“…I’m sorry I raised my hand. I acted without thinking.”
She then gently stroked Mikhail’s cheek.
“My sons have always been indebted to you, Natasha.”
“It’s nothing new. I’ve gotten used to it.”
“If you ever need anything, come to me. I owe you for this.”
“I won’t hesitate.”
Olga’s influence was still well known, and receiving her help would make future matters much easier to handle.
“Though I’ve never met her in person, please pass my apologies to my only daughter-in-law. My foolish son caused her unnecessary suffering.”
“I’ll pass it on.”
Natasha gave a faint smile.
“…I should head to the infirmary. Your cheek is swelling.”
Olga tried to drag Mikhail away in a hurry, but he didn’t move.
“Mikhail?”
“Mother. It’s time I learned the truth.”
“…”
“I’m not a child anymore. If it wasn’t because of Natasha, what was the real reason you and father divorced?”
Mikhail asked with a heart full of anguish.
Their family had seemed harmonious, so the shock hit him even harder.
He had thought his weak father and strong-willed mother made a balanced pair.
But for reasons unknown, they divorced, and since then, they hadn’t crossed paths.
In fact, Nikolai had all but left their lives entirely.
“It’s not a pleasant story to hear.”
“I know. But I believe I have the right to know now.”
Mikhail responded firmly.
“…Even though he wasn’t a good husband to me, I know he was a good father to you. That’s why I left you with him when I left alone. I didn’t want to ruin the relationship between you and your father. It’s better if you don’t know.”
“Father doesn’t even come home anymore!”
Mikhail shouted without realizing it.
“After you two divorced, we were completely neglected.”
“You weren’t at an age where you needed parental care.”
“I had barely just become an adult. And what about my younger siblings? What about the Petrov household? Who do you think had to bear the burden of everything that was left behind?”
After the betrayal that was the divorce, before his wounds had even healed, Mikhail had to take on far too many responsibilities.
With Nikolai and Olga both gone from the Petrov household, Mikhail had to grow up far too soon.
“Now… I want to know too. Mother, why… why did you leave us?”
At the rare sight of her steadfast eldest son showing vulnerability, Olga felt a sharp pain in her chest as she closed her eyes tightly.
“…Mikhail.”
“Yes?”
“You really are just like Kolya.”
For the first time in a while, Nikolai’s nickname passed her lips.
“You’re exactly like him, Mikhail.”
“…What?”
“Kolya… had another woman.”
The revelation was so unexpected that Mikhail blinked in disbelief.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
