CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

ZOEY

The whole day felt like a whirlwind. Yelena stuck by me, acting like a shield, making sure I ate and rested. As I poured out the entire story to Yelena, I could see the shock on her face when she learned about my connection to Mikhail Volkov. I even found myself saying sorry for Mikhail's actions.

Yelena, with her tough exterior, reassured me, "Zoey, none of this is on you. It all went down before you even knew who your real family was."

I sighed, unable to shake off the guilt. "Won't you remember what Mikhail did to your family when you look at me?" I asked her the same question I asked Alexei.

She shot me a glare, her response firm, "Why would I want to think about that asshole when I look at you?"

Her words were a comforting balm, but my guilt lingered. I tried to explain, "He's my so-called grandfather, and he..."

She cut me off with a no-nonsense tone, "I don't give a fuck. Stop beating yourself up, okay?" Her hand patted mine, and I managed a weak smile.

Yelena's streng