Chapter 458: Crying When Nobody Ever Sees Your Tears

[FROLO]

The first lady’s response to her lovers being captured by Sergei was different from that of Boris.

"As long as MY favorite one hasn’t been taken, I don’t mind. They did serve me well, and I feel bad for them, but even I am not stupid enough to try and go after Sergei," she said casually as she lay on the bed with her latest lover.

She didn’t mind, really, and her guard knew better than to ask for more information.

Perhaps it was the spirit, but deep down even the nonchalant first lady knew that Sergei would not stop. That Sergei’s threats were real and that they would trigger a lot of things.

It was already bad enough that she had mothers calling her out for being silent on the Katya Romanov case.

But the first lady knew Katya had already been rescued by Sergei. She had no business parading herself among mothers and pretending to give a shit about the people when she didn’t.

She was married into power.

She never wanted power.

And if Sergei took her power, she would be just fine.

Right??

Well, the city was not waiting anymore.

"Ma’am, Mrs. Romanov is holding a press conference again," her guard said, and the first lady let out an exaggerated sigh. She couldn’t believe this.

Yet even then she sat up and watched the press conference. She needed to be caught up with whatever was going on in this realm, however pathetic it all was at the moment.

Today...

Masha was holding onto her son’s work badge.

Junior researcher, the badge read.

Not heir of the Romanovs.

Not the Romanov chairman.

Not the man who didn’t need to earn because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Researcher.

That was who her son was in the company.

Who her child was in society.

"My Michka always loved research," Masha said, and the first lady couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the woman. Surely, she had to have known that her son was free, right?

But at the same time...

What were the odds that Sergei didn’t tell this poor family that their son was with him?

Gods, the first lady was overthinking.

It couldn’t be right, though, yeah?

"Nate... You’ve studied Sergei for a few years now... What are the chances that the madman didn’t tell this family their son is with him?" the first lady asked her guard.

The one who had just come from the president to give him the news of Sergei’s madness. Perhaps there was more to this.

But the sincerity on Masha’s face was haunting. It was too much for the first lady to understand.

Sergei loved Katya.

Even the dead knew it.

But did love mean isolating the one he cared about from his family?

"Mr. Moskowsky is an unpredictable man, ma’am. We cannot tell what he would do at any point.

"But I do believe there is a possibility that the Romanovs did not know where their son is," Nate said carefully, like he didn’t want to be read wrong. But what was there to be read wrong?

Sergei had taken a stance.

And now the city was taking its stance, even as Masha begged the president again to help her out. To help her relocate her son.

It was dangerous what was happening, but then so many lines had already been crossed.

"Set up a press conference for me. The city wants the first lady; they will get her," the first lady said to Nate, who nodded in understanding.

"If this is a game, then may the best one win," she said and then turned to the man who was on the bed with her:

"The city needs its first lady. You know where the tunnels are, right? I’ll see you later. And don’t worry about Sergei kidnapping you.

"He doesn’t know you exist," she said, kissing the man deeply while Nate stood there stiff, waiting for his next instructions.

With that, the first lady prepared herself for the press con, determined to balance the chaos.

She knew that there wouldn’t be much for her in this, but maybe a little show and politicking would go a long way for her.

Especially now that her husband was on the other side with Zhenya and probably busy figuring out why the hell Sergei had kidnapped their lovers for so long.

"Good afternoon, Frolo. I know a lot has been said and demands have been made for the past few weeks over what has been happening. As you all already know, Mr. Katya was charged with terrorism and was questioned by the authorities.

"He was released the first day as promised. We do not have custody of the Romanov omega, and any accusations toward us are unfair. If the Romanov omega didn’t return home, we cannot be blamed for it.

"Wherever Katya Romanov is hiding, it is imperative that he show up and stop breaking his mother’s heart. That is all from me. I am so sorry, Mrs. Romanov, for the pain you are feeling.

"I would love to invite you over for tea at the grand palace; maybe there will be some comfort?" the first lady said, adding the last bit with a smirk, and the public picked up on it immediately.

This woman was mocking a mother who was experiencing loss. The woman who sat in one of the highest public offices was supposed to empathize, and she wasn’t. What the hell did that make her? A monster?

A mother?

She was wrong for that.

"If any of you have questions, you may ask now.... In order, please," the first lady said, and the journalists stared at each other.

And suddenly phones pinged.

The crowd that was already unsettled suddenly got lively, like they had received one of the things they needed. The First Lady was curious, but of course she couldn’t just make a walk back to the palace.

She was a good distance away from the building, which meant that she had to stand there and wait for judgment on whatever the hell had happened.

"Madam First Lady, you just said the government released Mr. Katya Romanov the same day?" one journalist asked, and the First Lady, despite knowing this was probably a trap for her, nodded.

What the hell was she to do anyway?

"Then why does Senator Aleksandr say this at the press briefing right now, that Katya Romanov has not been returned?

"He has also produced footage of the president’s chief of security torturing the Romanov omega?" one asked, and the first lady staggered.

Aleksandr?

What the fuck was going on?

Why the fuck would he reveal that to the public at this stage?

"The former senator also says that he resigned from the task force meant to help with capturing Sergei because even he has realized that going after the Romanov omega to get to Sergei was a wrong decision.

"He admits to warning the president about it and the president dismissing it. Are there any facts to these claims?" another asked, and this time, the first lady didn’t wait to end the press conference courteously.

"Get me out of here and do not let them follow me. Also, what the fuck is wrong with Boris and Alek?" she asked while walking away.

But the journos...

They heard her.

Hence the start of another fire in the city.