Chapter 113

EMILIA

“No.”

It slips out before I can stop it. Loud. Sure. Final.

Even Tessa startles a little, shoulders tensing.

She’s been facing the wall this whole time, like the sight of me is too much, but now she turns. Her face is flat, unreadable.

“Excuse me?”

“I said no.”

She blinks slowly. “You’re going to what, veto my life now?”

“I’m not letting you run. You’re not quitting the job you’ve wanted since we were nineteen. You’re not going back to Russia to be your parents’ obedient little puppet.”

“Oh, now you care about my dreams?” she snaps. “That’s funny, Emilia.”

“I do care,” I push. “I just… I should’ve said something sooner. I lied about Diana. I know that. And I’m guessing she told you everything—about the fan in the bathroom—”

“She did.” Her voice is cold. “She filled in the blanks you never bothered to.”

I flinch. I deserve it.

“I should’ve told you all of it,” I say, quieter now.

Tessa tilts he