Chapter 5 He Can't Get Away With This

Eric threw a wild punch at Alexei, but Alexei caught his wrist like it was nothing. He tightened his grip just enough to make Eric wince. "Let me go!" Eric's face turned red, his voice cracking as he struggled to pull free. Alexei didn't even flinch. "What a trash! You've got the nerve to act like this when all you do is mooch off your family? Twenty-plus years of freeloading and whining. You're the definition of useless." Eric's jaw tightened. "Say that again! Let go if you got some guts—" Before he could finish, Alexei's hand snapped forward, delivering a sharp slap across Eric's face. The sound echoed like a whip cracking, and Eric stumbled backward, clutching his mouth. A tooth flew out, landing with a faint clink on the floor, followed by a trail of blood from his busted lip. "My baby boy!" Hilda shrieked, rushing toward Eric. But when she looked up at Alexei, her eyes filled with fury, she charged at him like a bull. Alexei calmly kicked a vase in her path, shattering it into pieces right in front of her. Hilda stopped dead, the crash freezing her in place. "I tolerated you for Ingrid's sake," Alexei said, his voice as cold and sharp as broken glass. "But we're done now. I don't owe you or your pathetic family anything. If anyone crosses me again, they'll end up like that vase." The menace in his voice silenced the room. Even Frida, who had been ready to call the cops, lowered her trembling hand. "From here on out, stay out of my life. You've got your path, I've got mine." Alexei adjusted the box in his hand and turned to leave, walking out without a single glance back. Without another word, he turned and walked out. His figure disappeared into the evening, quiet but commanding, leaving behind a tense, suffocating silence. Eric sat on the floor, blood trickling from his mouth as he mumbled through swollen lips, "Mom, he can't get away with this... you won't let him, right?" Hilda's face hardened, her lips curling into a scowl. "Of course not. That bastard thinks he's untouchable? He hasn't seen the last of us." She grabbed her phone, her hands trembling with rage. "This isn't over." ***** Ingrid pulled over at the expressway exit, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Her mind was a mess. The memories of her life with Alexei played on a loop, each one cutting deeper than the last. Before she knew it, tears blurred her vision. Her carefully crafted walls were breaking, and with them came the ache she had tried so hard to ignore. She shouldn't have let things get to this point. Alexei didn't deserve it. But life had backed her into a corner, and she made a choice. Was being "equal" in marriage really that important? She wasn't sure anymore, but she'd convinced herself it was. Her phone buzzing snapped her out of it. Ingrid wiped her face quickly and answered, trying to sound calm. "Mom?" "Ingrid! Where are you? Something awful just happened!" Hilda's sharp voice practically pierced her eardrum. "What is it?" Ingrid asked, bracing herself. "Alexei!" Hilda shrieked. "That worthless ex-husband of yours lost it and beat up your brother!" Ingrid froze. "What did you just say?" Hilda didn't miss a beat, launching into a play-by-play of the supposed event, adding her own flair for drama. Then Eric's voice came through, whiny and over-the-top. "Ingrid! He hit me! You've gotta do something! What happens if I'm scarred for life? The Miller family won't have an heir!" Hearing her brother's exaggerated cries twisted something in Ingrid's chest. Eric had been pampered and protected his whole life, this kind of thing wasn't supposed to happen to him. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it," Ingrid said firmly, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "Eric, hand the phone back to Mom." Hilda came back on, her voice dripping with venom. "Do you hear me, Ingrid? Alexei is out of control! If your brother ends up disfigured, how's he supposed to live his life?" "Mom, take Eric to the hospital," Ingrid said, keeping her tone even. "I'll meet you there once I'm done here." "Done here? Your brother's been attacked, and you're too busy to come right away?" Hilda snapped. "I'm meeting with the Rivera family for an important business deal. If it works out, our company will reach a whole new level," Ingrid said. Hilda's tone shifted instantly. "Oh, that's fine then. Take care of business first. No rush." Ingrid had become the family's pride, their best shot at success. The Miller family's future seemed to rest entirely on her shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll handle everything. Eric won't be left hanging," she assured before hanging up, her expression a mix of frustration and doubt. Alexei, she thought, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. He made such a show, signing the divorce papers like he didnt care about anything. Now he's lashing out at my brother? Was all that just a front? Is this the real him? Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, sharp bang that startled her back to reality.