It was a long night. Victoria had been in labor for hours, and I could see the exhaustion on her face. Sweat slicked her forehead, and her grip on my hand tightened with each contraction."Easy... easy..." I whispered, trying to keep her calm, but she wasn’t hearing it. She was too focused on the pain."Push!" the nurse said, her voice sharp and clear. Victoria squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a loud cry of frustration."Push! You’ve got this, Victoria," I said, doing my best to be encouraging. She glared at me between breaths."Yeah, right. You’re the one who put me in this position!" she shot back, her voice strained. I knew better than to argue.The nurse was moving around, adjusting equipment, but I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t about to leave her side. I stood by her, rubbing her back as she gave another push.The nurse gave me a knowing look as she prepared to leave. “We’ll be right outside,” she said, before heading for the door. But I wasn’t going anywhere.“No, I’ll stay
Victoria WashingtonHe wasn't coming.I could feel it in my bones. The hour was late, the candles on the table had burned down to nothing but stubs. My phone was still dead silent. The waitress's eyes lingered on me too long, giving me that sympathetic look, the one reserved for the pathetic girl who had been sitting alone for hours waiting. My fingers hovered over my phone, the screen still blank. No calls, no texts. Nothing.Today of all days—my birthday.I stood up slowly, my legs stiff from sitting too long, my heart heavier with each second that passed. I had dressed up for him. For us. Now I looked like a fool.I stepped out of the restaurant, the air biting against my skin like ice. I couldn’t cry, not here. Not in public. But the tears were close. Too close.Maybe something happened to him. Maybe there’s an explanation.Maybe…I swallowed the lies I was feeding myself, my mind too exhausted to believe them. I just wanted to go home. Sleep. Forget this night ever happened.But
"You can't do that!" I glared at my father, my heart filled with anger. After everything I explained to him, he still chose to side with his precious biological daughter, Marianne. "Why? Why did you even adopt me if you were going to treat me like this?" I shouted, tears streaming down my face."Victoria, you're doing this for the family. Think of it as paying back for all the food, the credit cards, the house—everything we've given you," my father said, his voice cold and indifferent. I gasped in disbelief."Payback? Is that all I am to you? A debt you need to settle? Fine, I'm just an orphan you brought in to clear your conscience. But what about Clifton and Marianne? How long has this been going on? They're getting married tomorrow, and no one—no one told me!""Were you blind?" My mother's voice cut through, and I turned to face her. She was dressed in a sleek red gown, her hair styled perfectly, as if none of this chaos affected her. "How pathetic were you to think Clinton would s
"Keep a straight face and smile, Victoria!" Mother glared at me as I stepped out of the car.We had been on the road for the past hour before arriving at St. Louis Catholic Church, the largest church in Russia. There was something powerful about it."Yes, Ma'am," I replied, walking inside while some maids helped with my gown. Since it was a small family wedding, I didn’t expect many people—just the Washingtons and the Volkovs.As soon as the big doors opened, my heart started racing like it would jump out of my chest. I was trembling with fear, each step feeling heavy and forced.To my right, I noticed men in black suits. They looked dangerous, and something told me I shouldn’t cross them.The church's grand interior was dimly lit, with soft light shining through the stained glass, casting shadows on the pews. I could feel my pulse in my throat, and my breathing became uneven as I kept moving forward.The Washingtons and Volkovs sat on either side of the aisle, their faces unreadable.
VINCENZO VOLKOV ;"Enough of this!" I shouted, pacing back and forth in my father’s office. The one thing I hate about the Volkov family is how they expect you to follow their footsteps, even if you don’t fit."Calm down, Vee," my twin brother Lorenzo said, and I scoffed, running my hands through my hair."Do you have no respect for me? Your father!" Don Roberto, my father, yelled, but I smirked, knowing I had no love left for him after what he did. He made me let go of the only person I ever loved."What is going on here? Have you lost your mind? Tell me!" My older brother, the one I sometimes wished I was as tough as, demanded. He was the perfect son, always following the family rules. My father pretended not to play favorites, but Nikolai always got 70% of everything, including the most powerful mafia organization, the Bravata."Tell him, Don! I don’t want any of this!" I said, frustration boiling inside me. Why couldn’t they just let me be? Why must I follow in their footsteps?"D
VICTORIA WASHINGTON ;We arrived at an expensive villa after Vincenzo had to gather himself. I had never seen anyone as grouchy as him. He smoked for about an hour when we parked in the middle of nowhere. He didn’t seem to care that a woman was with him. I mean, what if something had happened to me?His family was warm to me, which made me wonder why they had said such things to him. I could see from his eyes that he was broken. A part of me hated the fact that I couldn’t do anything for him. I followed him like a lost puppy, never leaving his side."Are you going to stand there and watch me change? And now I’m beginning to wonder if you were sent by my family!" Before I could process what he meant, he was already approaching me, as if he wanted to kill me. The look on his face was familiar—my adopted parents had that look, and Marianne had the same expression whenever she saw me. Hatred—that was the look he had while staring at me."I can leave if you want me to. I just thought I cou
VINCENZO VOLKOV ;By five in the morning, I was already up, going through my usual routine before heading downstairs. What I didn’t expect was to find Victoria sprawled out on the couch, fast asleep. She looked almost childlike, curled into herself as if trying to disappear into the cushions.Her dress, if you could even call it that, had ridden up so high that half of her bare skin was exposed. I paused, narrowing my eyes. What kind of stunt was this?I moved toward her slowly, making sure not to wake her—though I wasn’t sure why I cared. I tugged the dress down, covering her with a blanket. Then I sat down on the nearby couch, watching her. The thought crossed my mind—I could end her right now. Strangle her without a sound, and no one would question it. No one would dare. Except, maybe, Nikolai."Wake up!" I barked, launching a slipper straight at her head. She groaned and stirred, yawning loudly as she stretched out like she didn’t have a care in the world.A small knife tumbled f
VICTORIA WASHINGTON ;I felt a warmth settle inside me, so comforting that a small smile tugged at my lips. The only reason to wake up at all was my growing hunger. I licked my lips, already imagining the taste of a delicious chicken wrap.“Get up!” A sharp kick to my rear sent me tumbling onto the cold floor. I winced as I scrambled to my feet, only to meet Vincenzo’s furious glare.“If you’re going to play housewife, at least try doing something…” His voice was icy as I slowly stood up.This man had a knack for ruining my peace.“Well, it’s not that late, is it? Stop acting like a child,” I retorted with an exaggerated eye roll. He scoffed.“Not that late? It’s past noon. And would you care to explain why I found you passed out on the couch in the villa with a knife under my pillow? What the hell were you thinking, some sort of safety precaution?”"Well, if you were in my shoes, you would have done the same thing. I thought maybe you were part of some kind of cult... you know, killi
It was a long night. Victoria had been in labor for hours, and I could see the exhaustion on her face. Sweat slicked her forehead, and her grip on my hand tightened with each contraction."Easy... easy..." I whispered, trying to keep her calm, but she wasn’t hearing it. She was too focused on the pain."Push!" the nurse said, her voice sharp and clear. Victoria squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a loud cry of frustration."Push! You’ve got this, Victoria," I said, doing my best to be encouraging. She glared at me between breaths."Yeah, right. You’re the one who put me in this position!" she shot back, her voice strained. I knew better than to argue.The nurse was moving around, adjusting equipment, but I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t about to leave her side. I stood by her, rubbing her back as she gave another push.The nurse gave me a knowing look as she prepared to leave. “We’ll be right outside,” she said, before heading for the door. But I wasn’t going anywhere.“No, I’ll stay
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“You! You did this!” the president bellowed, his finger shaking as it pointed at me.I raised my hands, smirking. “Easy now. I didn’t do anything, alright?”“I'm disappointed at the kind of games you've played Mr President. First you tried sabotaging my image, now you plan on killing me?” Nikoali walked in, he took a glass of wine and drank. “Interesting…you wanted to kill my brother? After everything I've done for you!?” I asked, shaking my head. “Indeed, you are a fool. What was running through your head!” Nikolai set the empty glass down with a deliberate clink, his cold eyes never leaving the chaos in the room. "The president’s ambition always outweighed his intelligence. I warned you, didn’t I? But you never listen."I stepped forward, my boots clicking against the marble floor as I faced the dying man on the ground. Blood seeped through his shirt, pooling beneath him, yet his defiance still flickered in his eyes.“You wanted to kill my brother?" I repeat
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:The car pulled over at the grand event hall. I adjusted my suit and stepped out. Nikolai wasn’t answering his calls, and it had been hours.Inside, I searched the room, weaving through the crowd of politicians and officials. Finally, I spotted him on the upper level, speaking to a high-ranking senator.I headed straight for them. Nikolai saw me coming, his expression tightening for a split second before he spoke.“Vince,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d be here this soon.”“Clearly,” I replied.Nikolai excused the senator, and the man left without a word. Once it was just the two of us, I didn’t waste any time. “What the hell are you doing here?”“I’ve been calling you,” I said, my voice sharp. “No answer. I didn’t want to call Dad, Mom, or your wife to tell them your life is in danger.”Nikolai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, ‘my life is in danger’? I’m fine, Vince.”“No, you’re not.” I stepped closer. “Mr. President ordered a one-point-and-shoot strategy
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:"I love how you play these games, Charles. Coming into my house and trying to kill my wife? Really?" I walked toward the man tied to the chair, his face disfigured from repeated punches and his fingers chopped off. He was gagged, of course—I didn’t want to hear his excuses for trying to harm my wife."What was it? The money? How did you even get into my house with all that security, huh?" I watched as he tried to move—was he thinking of running? I couldn’t be sure, but I loved the way fear radiated from his face.He muffled a sound as I gave him a shallow cut across his cheek."Is that a cry?" I muttered, leaning closer, locking eyes with the man tied to the chair. "Alright, just nod. That’s all I need from you. Who sent you?"He thrashed, muffling something behind the gag."Oh, right. The gag." I yanked it off, watching as he gasped, blood trickling from his split lip. "Now, talk. Was it the Senator? Yes? No?"His breath hitched, his words tumbling out in a rus
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:The silence between Little Mouse and me was deafening, weighted with all the things I’d done wrong. Every marriage has its storms, but this—this was a hurricane of my own making. She is my goddess, my entire world, and I’d be a fool to let my thoughtless actions tear apart what we have.I needed to apologize—not just with words but with my soul.I walked to her room and knocked gently. The sound barely broke the air, but I knew she heard it. She turned away, her back now to the door, and my heart sank further.She was angry, hurt. I could feel it radiating from her, and I had no one to blame but myself.I stepped inside, my breath heavy with guilt. As I approached the bed, I spoke, my voice raw and trembling with emotion.“Baby,” I began softly, “I’m sorry. I endangered you and our babies, but most of all, I broke your heart.”The words caught in my throat, but I pushed on, sinking to my knees beside her. “Please, forgive me. I can’t go on like this. It’s tearin
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:Some things never change. I was in my office, going through files and preparing for the next patient. The door opened, and a woman stepped in, followed by a man who looked like he didn’t want to be here.“Good afternoon,” I said, motioning for them to sit. “I’m Dr. Vincenzo. How can I help today?”“My name is Gloria,” the woman said, her voice shaky. “This is my husband, Daniel. We, uh, just came in for some tests.”I nodded, looking at their files. “Alright, I see the test results are in. Let’s go over them.”She sat up a little straighter, her hands folded tightly in her lap. “Is something wrong?”I took a deep breath, keeping my tone calm. “Gloria, one of the tests shows you have an infection—it's a sexually transmitted infection.”Her face went blank for a second, like she didn’t quite understand what I said. “What? No… that can’t be right.”The man, Daniel, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Gloria looked at him, her voice growing a little more anxious. “Da
Victoria Bella Volkov:"Hello, Miss Volkov," Clara mumbled, setting something on the table. She gave a curt nod to Vincenzo before leaving without another word."Well, that was... brisk," Vincenzo said, raising an eyebrow as he opened the container. "Did you bring me food because you wanted an excuse to check on me?"I smirked. "In your dreams! I just thought you might appreciate a meal." I wandered around his office, glancing at a few things. "It smells just like you—warm and inviting." I stopped and turned to him. "Anyway, I'm heading home now. I love you.""Oh, baby, I love you too," he said, pulling me in for a soft kiss.I left the hospital with a smile. Let me tell you, at least two nurses couldn’t stop staring at me.I was sure they thought Vincenzo was single. How dare he look so handsome? A flicker of annoyance bubbled up inside me, though I guess I was just being paranoid.Once in the car, I sighed, wishing he could stop working altogether. I wanted him to myself—only to mys
Victoria Bella Volkov:"I think this little boy wants to come out so fast!" I muttered, rubbing my baby bump. I was in just my underwear, lying on Tiger's lap."Yeah, I can't wait to kiss them," Vincenzo replied, scrolling through his phone. He wasn’t paying much attention to me."Hey, are you looking at or texting a girl? Why are you acting so busy?" I said, pinching his leg."I am busy, and I'm not texting any girls. Why would I text a girl when you're here?" he asked, kissing my head. "Alright... I'm just trying to get some vital information from the President's daughter, Clara.""I knew it!" I half-yelled, sitting up. "I knew that girl was going to be a hard time for me and you...""Easy, easy, cupcakes." He put down his phone. "I'm just trying to set things right. I have nothing to do with that blonde girl.""You sure...?""I’m as sure as my name!"Vincenzo left a few minutes later to take his night bath, while I stayed on the balcony, watching the stars. That seems to be my favo
Vincenzo Dante VolkovThe room was dimly lit, the air thick with smoke and the unshakable scent of betrayal. Power-hungry men sat around the table, their shadows stretching across the walls like predators circling prey."Are you accusing me of ordering the destruction of your properties and goods?" the President asked, his voice steady but his gaze sharp. I exhaled slowly, meeting his eyes with an unreadable expression."If you claim to have left the world of power, shouldn’t the loss of illegal weapons mean nothing to you?" he added, leaning back in his chair, his tone laced with challenge."Ah," I murmured, tilting my head slightly. "I see where this is going. But tread carefully… Don’t forget, I’m the reason—""You’re not the reason, Mr. Volkov," he snapped, cutting me off. "The reason I’m the President isn’t because of you or the power your family handed me. No, it’s because I chose this. I had the zeal, the drive, to become who I am!"I let a small, cold smile creep across my fac