Nikolai slowly broke the kiss, then met my eyes, his fingers gently crawling against my skin. For a long while, neither of us spoke, and I just let my eyes dart between both of his, my chest heaving lightly.
"Why?" I finally found the courage to ask, my eyes filling a little. "Is it... because of the adoption?"
He chuckled. "I see Meghan is babbling again."
"Nikolai."
He pulled away from me, his brow raising. "Why? In the short time I have been here, I can tell that you would give anything to be rid of her. Including jumping from a high window."
"That doesn't mean..."
"I don't blame you," he said, cutting me off. "Your mother is an insufferable b***h who deserves to lose everything. And everyone, including you, Iris."
"Am I a pawn?" I asked, a single tear rolling down my cheek. "Am
