Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Riley
I ran for a long time before I realized I'd left everything behind.
Truth was, most of what sat on that desk had been arranged by Matvey anyway. Except for my sketchbook. That was mine. Every line on those pages soaked through with my dreams, my blood.
Even if no one had ever recognized it, it was mine.
I turned back, planning to grab the sketchbook and get out. But with every step, the scene from earlier became clearer in my mind. Veronica in lingerie—more naked than if she'd worn nothing at all. Her hand on Matvey's belt. Matvey's hand covering hers. Their bodies pressed tight together.
My timing couldn't have been worse. A few minutes later and they probably would've locked the door. Just like that day. What surprised me was that maybe having been through it once, it didn't hurt as much as I'd expected.
By the time I reached the door, I'd braced myself for Veronica's high-pitched moaning.
"Matvey, I knew it. That little girl was just a plaything to you." Her voice dripped with seduction.
Then I heard his answer.
"She is just a plaything."
Matvey's voice was low, calm, matter-of-fact.
Just a plaything? I should've known, right? But until he said it out loud, I could still pretend he cared. This time, I had no excuse to deceive myself with.
I couldn't deny the brutal truth—to him, I was nothing. My heart shattered into a million pieces, the sharp edges slicing me from the inside out. If I stayed any longer, I'd break down sobbing.
I backed away mechanically, turned around. The hallway stretched endlessly. The floor felt like it was sinking beneath my feet, ready to swallow me whole.
I don't know how I made it to the twelfth floor. Whatever strength I had left had been drained. The office area buzzed with its usual noise. But the moment I walked in, the whole world went quiet. Uncomfortable stares shot my way. I could smell the schadenfreude in the air.
"Oh my God, Riley! We thought you weren't coming back!" A female colleague's voice carried exaggerated surprise.
"Why wouldn't I?" I tried to make my voice sound normal. "The project's done. Of course I'm back."
I ended the conversation quickly and headed to my workstation. I just didn't have the energy to deal with these vultures.
"Whose stuff is this?" I pointed at the mess covering my desk, fighting to control my anger.
My once-neat workspace was buried under junk—makeup, trash paper, even a used coffee cup with lipstick smeared on the rim.
My colleagues' eyes unanimously shifted to the workstation farthest from me. Miranda stood up, arms crossed, looking down her nose at everything.
"Oh—that's mine." Miranda dragged out the words, rolling her eyes in disgust. "How was I supposed to know you'd get kicked out?"
I hadn't seen her in a while. She was still just as goddamn unbearable.
"I just left some stuff on your desk. I really don't know what you're getting so worked up about." She sauntered over to me, glancing at the items with her nostrils flared. "Why don't you just throw them away?"
"You dump your crap here and expect me to clean up after you? Not a chance!" I'd had enough. I grabbed the lipstick and trash paper and hurled them at her.
Miranda clearly hadn't expected my reaction. She looked down at the stuff on the floor, her face turning iron-dark.
"Are you insane?" she shrieked, her eyes venomous. "You let Bykov screw you a few times, and suddenly you think you're somebody?"
Her voice grew louder. The whole office could hear.
"Look at you now, pale as a ghost. You got used up and tossed back like garbage, didn't you!"
A few suppressed laughs rippled through the room.
"Miranda." I clenched my jaw. "Shut up."
"Why should I shut up?" She sneered, her eyes raking over me. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking. You thought you were special? You thought climbing into Bykov's bed would change anything?"
Honestly, I didn't care what they thought of me. They could say whatever they wanted—it had nothing to do with me. What really hurt was that with every word they said, Matvey's words echoed in my head again.
The pressure behind my eyes built. That burning, stinging sensation came flooding back.
"And you know what the most pathetic part is? Bykov's wife came to the company this morning. She must've found out something, which is why you got kicked back here." She continued, "You thought you could replace Bykov's wife? You're delusional!"
I never wanted to replace anyone. I just couldn't figure out which Matvey was real.
Yesterday, he forced me to say I loved him.
Today, he said I was just a plaything. I wished someone could tell me why he treated me this way.
He could've just chosen Veronica from the start, but he kept making me think he had feelings for me.
"See, everyone?" Miranda turned to our colleagues, triumphant. "This is what happens when you sleep your way up."
Bitterness rose up my throat. Even my mouth tasted salty and acrid. I didn't even have the strength to argue with her anymore.
"So she really was kicked out by Bykov's wife?" A voice drifted into my ears.
"What else? When the real wife comes back, the mistress has to go." Another voice chimed in.
"What are you all doing?" A stern voice rang out from the doorway.
Everyone turned. Our supervisor stood there with a folder, his face severe.
"You think this is some gossip magazine?"
The voices died.
"Miranda." The supervisor walked up to her. "What did you just say?"
Miranda froze. "I was just—"
"You were just spreading unverified rumors, slandering a colleague, and disrupting the workplace." He cut her off, clearly displeased. "That's a serious violation of company policy."
"But supervisor, what I said is true—"
"True?" His tone grew sharper. "What proof do you have? Or are you a mind reader now?"
Miranda's face went white.
"I... I'm not, but everyone knows—"
"All I know is that Riley was assigned to assist Bykov with an important project. That's normal personnel management. As for why she's back, that's HR's decision, not something for you people to speculate and gossip about."
He looked around, his gaze sharp.
"And I don't want to hear anyone discussing colleagues' private lives in this office again. This is your last warning. Next time I hear it, you're fired."
The supervisor finished and walked into his office.
My ears were finally quiet.
The weight in my body peaked. I just wanted to sleep.
After work, I sat on the familiar chair by the hospital bed, chatting with Evelyn as usual.
"Riley, you're hiding something from me." After one topic ended, Evelyn frowned.
"I..."
Yeah, I knew it. I could never hide my emotions from Evelyn. All these years, she'd always been the first to notice when something was wrong. Even when I snuck midnight snacks at three in the morning, she'd catch on immediately.
I was about to make up some excuse when she continued. "Don't even think about lying to me. Your problems are written all over your face."
"Really, there's nothing..." Even though she'd seen through me, I tried to deflect another way.
If she found out about Matvey, about my deal with him, about his ex-wife, she'd give up on treatment.
But before I could finish, the hospital room door suddenly swung open. It was Veronica! What was she doing here?
"Riley, what's with that look? Am I not welcome?" She stood there, an uncomfortable smile plastered on her face.
I rushed over.
"What are you doing here?" I lowered my voice, blocking the doorway. "This is a hospital. Don't disturb my sister. Please leave."
She glanced at me, then smoothly sidestepped and walked right over to Evelyn's bedside.
"Evelyn, so nice to meet you." She extended her hand to Evelyn. "I'm Riley's friend. I've heard so much about you. Thought I'd come see how you're doing."
Friend? I didn't have friends like her.
"Hi." Evelyn shook Veronica's hand briefly, then immediately turned to me, mouthing an exaggerated "Who is she?"
I had no way to answer Evelyn. I could only move to her side, on guard for whatever Veronica might do to her.
"Riley is such a good sister. Coming here every day after work to keep you company—not everyone could do that." Her tone with Evelyn was overly familiar.
Evelyn smiled.
I didn't respond. I didn't think Veronica came here just to compliment me.
"You've been here for a while now, haven't you?" She didn't wait for my answer, her gaze slowly sweeping over the equipment by the bed. "This hospital isn't cheap. Just a single room like this—most people couldn't afford it even if they worked themselves half to death for a year."
My fingers tightened involuntarily. I knew exactly what she was getting at. The phrasing made me dizzy.
"I heard your condition was critical before." She looked at Evelyn with performative pity. "Bone marrow matches are so hard to find. Finding a suitable donor so quickly—you're really lucky."
"What are you trying to say?" Evelyn clearly sensed Veronica's malice too.
"Ms. Quinn, forgive my bluntness." She finally dropped the fake smile. "Do you know where your medical expenses are coming from?"
Veronica's words nearly froze the air in the room.
Evelyn looked at her, then at me. I knew Evelyn must have guessed something. I couldn't let Veronica stay in this room any longer.
"Veronica, come with me." I grabbed her arm and yanked her up from the chair.
Veronica's arm wasn't much thicker than her wrist. She didn't have much strength. It didn't take much effort to drag her out of the room. This was the first time I felt grateful for being physically strong. At least I could haul annoying people out of places they shouldn't be.
"Tell me, what exactly do you want?" I forced down my rage, speaking low.
I had to make sure Evelyn couldn't hear our conversation.
"Riley, don't get worked up." She smiled coldly. "I'm just here on behalf of my husband to check on your sister's condition."
Husband. When she said that word, it was like she was showing off something that rightfully belonged to her.
"My sister's fine. You don't need to check on her." The words came out almost reflexively. "Our business is none of your concern."
Even I could hear that my tone was explosive. If this weren't a hospital, I'd probably already be chasing her out with a broom.
"Riley, since my husband promised to cover all of your sister's medical expenses, of course I need to share that responsibility. At least... make sure his money is being spent properly."
"You can go look at the bills." I pointed toward the hospital inquiry desk. "Just say the word and they'll hand them right over. After all, Matvey loves you. No one's going to cross you."
As I said this, I had to press my palms together hard to keep from losing control. Peeling open the wound layer by layer felt worse than death.
"Riley, you'd better really think that way." The fake smile finally vanished from her face. "After the deal's over, you'd better stay away from my husband—otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do."
She turned on her heels and left.
I watched her back, cold to my core. She didn't need to come here to warn me. Anyone could see how much Matvey cared about her. Maybe she just wanted to watch me break down? Well, she succeeded. She made me remember the taste of this pain all over again.
When I returned to the room, Evelyn's gaze followed me.
"Riley, what did she mean by all that?" The moment I sat down, she grabbed my hand. "You said my medical bills were—"
"It's nothing. She just meant I work really hard."
Evelyn's expression darkened, clearly unhappy with that evasive answer.
"Tell me the truth, Riley." Her reproachful look made it impossible to lie.
Since we were kids, whenever she looked at me like that, I had no choice but to tell her everything.
"I went to an underground auction to raise money for your surgery." The moment I started, Evelyn's hand tightened suddenly. "I figured my virginity was worth something."
"Luckily, Matvey bought my first night... He's the guy I told you about, my crush at work. My boss."
Evelyn didn't speak, just looked at me with tears in her eyes and nodded.
"Matvey said he'd pay for all your treatment costs. All I had to do was be his mistress for two months."
Honestly, even now I think it was too good a deal. I was just too greedy, always fantasizing about getting something beyond the transaction.
Like Matvey's feelings.
"So that woman just now is..."
"She's Matvey's ex-wife. But they're getting back together soon."
As I said this, Evelyn's face filled with heartache and worry.
"She doesn't look like someone you want to mess with." Evelyn sighed softly. "She didn't bully you, did she?"
"Don't worry. I can handle it." I patted her hand, not wanting to see her cry. "Honestly, making this deal with him was a win for me. He's even better than those movie stars."
"And right now, what I want most is for you to be healthy."
That was my only request now.