I hesitate, and I hate that I do it because Vik notices it.

“That’s what I thought,” she says, resuming packing.

“If you leave, I’ll have to leave with you,” I say.

“Sofiya, no.” Mila grabs my hand. “You belong with your husband.”

I squeeze her hand back. “No. I belong with my sisters. I can’t let you both leave and get in trouble. I can help protect you.”

“How?” Vik asks.

“I’m not sure yet. But I’ll figure it out. Just promise you won’t leave until we discuss this more. I need time to think.”

“We don’t have time. Mila and I are leaving tonight. I’ve already booked us a hotel until our flight tomorrow. Either come with us or don’t. I don’t care. But I’m not going to stay at a house where I was slapped across the face.”

Everything is happening too fast. I have to go with my sisters. I have to make sure they’ll be ok.

But can I leave Mikhail? Do I even want to?

What I do know is I don’t want to be his trophy. I want to be his equal. I’m just not sure Mikhail can ever give me that.

“Ok,” I finally say. “I’ll go with you.”

The door bursts open. For half a second, I’m terrified it’s Mikhail, but when I see it’s only Mary, I relax.

“Mary. Hi,” I say awkwardly.

She glares at me and storms up to me, grabbing my arm and dragging me from the room.

“What are you doing?” I ask, trying to tug free, but Mary is surprisingly strong for her petite stature. Vik and Mila hurriedly follow.

Mary takes me all the way downstairs to the kitchen, where she shoves me against the counter.

“Ow.” I rub my hip. “Mary, what are you doing?”

“I heard you girls talking.” My heart drops. Mary sees the look on my face and smiles smugly. “That’s right. I heard you three talking about leaving. But you can’t leave, missy. You belong to Mr. Ivanov. And I’m going to punish you for having such sinful thoughts.” She grabs the ruler from the cabinet and walks right up to me …

… and smacks me across the arm with it. I cry out, clutching my arm as Mary hits my other arm.

“Stop it!” Mila says, running over. She tries to grab the ruler, but Mary is fast. She keeps whacking me with it.

Vik watches everything with a shocked expression. So much for helping.

Mary pushes Mila away, raises the ruler high, and brings it down right across my cheek. I gasp and curl away from her, clutching my face.

“What is the meaning of this?” Mikhail’s voice is thunderous.

Mary lowers the ruler. “I heard her talking about leaving with her sisters. She needed to be punished, sir.”

Mikhail stares at me hard. “Is that true?”

I don’t respond. I don’t even know how to.

“Is that true?” Mikhail shouts, making me flinch.

“No, it’s not,” Vik says, stepping slightly in front of me. “Mila and I were going to leave. We don’t feel safe here. But Sofiya never agreed to it. She’s going to stay.”

Mikhail breathes heavily as he keeps his eyes on me, not even looking at Vik. “Everybody out,” he says in a calm voice. “Now.”

Vik gives me a questioning look, and I nod. She grabs Mila’s hand, and they hurry out of the kitchen.

Mary hesitates.

“Everybody,” Mikhail growls.

With a glare at me, Mary leaves the room.

The kitchen is a large space, but right now, it feels very, very small.

“Sofiya, you will answer me. Do you plan on leaving with your sisters?”

“I didn’t plan on it. It just … sort of happened.”

He inhales deeply. “You want to leave me?”

I’m not sure I do, but I’m not sure I want to stay either.

“You’re mine, remember?” His voice is the lowest I’ve ever heard it. It’s so low, it could make the ground shake. “You’re not leaving me.” He nods at the counter. “Lean over it.”

“What?”

“Did you just question me?”

I quickly lean over the counter, feeling the coolness and hardness of it pressing against my stomach. Mikhail stands behind me.

“I’m disappointed in you, Sofiya.” His words hurt me straight to my core. “Your sisters can go. I don’t want them here causing issues. Making you want to leave me. But you’re not going anywhere. Now, lift your skirt.”

“Are you going to hurt me? You promised you wouldn’t!”

“And I didn’t think you’d try to leave me. Don’t make me repeat myself, Sofiya.”

My fingers are shaking so badly as I lift my skirt.

“Now, pull your panties down.”

I’m gasping for air. “Please don’t hurt me, Mikhail.”

“Sofiya,” he warns.