Irina Marchenko’s world shatters when she’s forced into an arranged marriage to save her family’s failing business. On the run from a future she never chose, she finds herself entangled with Lukas Romanov, a powerful Russian billionaire with secrets of his own. Their one-night encounter leads to unexpected consequences—Irina is pregnant with twins, and Lukas is now a part of her life whether she likes it or not. As they navigate the complex web of their newfound connection, both must confront their darkest fears and deepest desires. With her past lurking ominously, Irina must decide whether to embrace a future she never imagined or face the specters of her past alone. In a world where trust is fragile and betrayal is lurking, can love and redemption find a way?
View MoreThe morning light filtered through my curtains, dragging me from a restless sleep. Last night’s confrontation with my mother weighed on me like a leaden cloak, but I barely had time to process it before another ordeal began. The arrival of Mrs. Evelina Loresca, a friend of my mother’s and an esteemed wedding planner, was announced by the sound of hurried footsteps and hushed whispers outside my door.Evelina swept into the room with an air of brisk authority, her presence almost larger than life. She was polished to perfection—her suit a crisp cream color, her hair pinned up neatly, and her sharp gaze taking in every inch of my surroundings, clearly judging everything from the decor to my disheveled appearance. Behind her, my mother followed, already wearing a look that warned me to behave.“Irina,” my mother announced with forced cheerfulness, “Evelina is here to discuss the wedding arrangements. We have much to finalize.”I mustered a polite nod. “Good morning, Mrs. Loresca.”“Good
As I closed the door to my bedroom, I allowed myself a single shaky breath. The formal dinner was finally over. Viktor’s words, his smug glances, his possessive touches—they still clung to me like a second skin, leaving me both exhausted and nauseous. I leaned against the door, pressing a hand to my abdomen, feeling a flicker of strength despite the suffocating tension that had filled the evening.But the peace didn’t last long. I heard footsteps approaching, slow and deliberate, before my mother’s voice cut through the quiet.“Irina,” she said, her tone unnervingly calm. “We need to have a word.”She didn’t wait for an invitation. She simply pushed the door open and strode in, her gaze sharp and probing, her mouth set in a thin line. I straightened, forcing myself to look composed, even as my heart began to pound.“Of course, Mother,” I replied, keeping my tone neutral.She shut the door behind her, crossing her arms as she studied me. There was something different in her eyes tonigh
The door creaked open, and I tensed, already knowing who it would be. My mother slipped in quietly, her expression caught between forced warmth and sternness.“Irina,” she began, her voice coaxing, almost as if I were a reluctant child. “We need to talk.”I clenched my hands in my lap, keeping my voice steady. “What is it, Mother?”Her eyes flickered with irritation at my cold tone, but she masked it quickly, replacing it with a too-sweet smile. “It’s time you and Viktor spend proper time together. The two of you must start bonding if you’re to make this marriage work.”I forced myself to remain calm. “We don’t need a formal dinner for that.”“But we do,” she insisted, her voice firm. “This is about more than just the two of you, Irina. Viktor has given us a way out of our problems. Show some gratitude.” Her expression hardened. “I’ve arranged a formal dinner for tonight. Just the three of us. You’ll sit beside Viktor and start acting like the dutiful fiancée I know you can be.”Anger
The door clicked shut behind me, and for a moment, I just stood there in silence, staring at the cold walls of the bedroom they had locked me in. My heart pounded in my chest, the panic that I had been trying to suppress rising up again. I felt trapped. The room felt smaller with every passing second, its bare walls suffocating me.I sat on the edge of the bed, my thoughts racing. My phone had been taken from me the moment we arrived. Viktor’s men had confiscated it, leaving me completely cut off from the outside world. From Lukas. From any chance of escape.The air in the room felt heavy, weighed down by the tension that hung over me. I knew that I had to be careful. No one here knew about the twins. No one here knew about Lukas. And I had to keep it that way.For now.I couldn’t let them find out. If Viktor knew I was pregnant—if he knew there was someone else—there would be no escape. They would use that against me, leverage it to tie me to this nightmare forever. They were already
The sharp knock on my door jolted me awake at 3 a.m. I squinted at the clock on my nightstand, barely registering the time before the knock came again, more insistent this time. I had barely slept, exhausted from the stress of the day and the preparations for the move. I had finally drifted off, only to be woken by this unexpected disturbance.Groggy and disoriented, I fumbled for my phone on the bedside table. The screen glowed softly in the dim light, revealing a text from Lukas that I had missed. It was a simple message: “Just wanted to remind you that I’ll pick you up in the morning. Everything is set for the move.”Relief washed over me at the thought of Lukas arriving soon. I assumed he must have arrived early, wanting to get a head start on our journey. I quickly threw on a robe and shuffled to the door, my mind racing with anticipation for the morning ahead.I unlocked the door and opened it, expecting to see Lukas standing there with his reassuring smile. Instead, I was met w
After my talk with Sophia, I felt slightly more grounded, but the weight of my situation remained heavy. I needed to discuss everything with Lukas, but I was afraid of what would happen when he learned the full truth. The idea of leaving the state seemed like my only option, and I needed Lukas to understand why.When Lukas showed up at my apartment later that evening, his face was a mix of concern and determination. He greeted me with a gentle kiss on the cheek, and I could see the worry in his eyes.“How are you holding up?” Lukas asked, his voice soft as he guided me inside.“I’m managing,” I said, trying to sound more composed than I felt. “I’ve been thinking about what to do next.”“Good. We need a plan,” Lukas said, looking around my modest apartment. “I’ve been thinking, too.”I led him to the living room and offered him a seat. I sat down opposite him, my heart pounding as I prepared to explain my plan.“I’ve decided that it’s best if I leave the state,” I began, choosing my wo
The moment I stepped out of the alley, my heart was still racing from the encounter with Aaron. I knew I couldn’t just go home and pretend everything was fine. I needed to talk to someone, someone who could help me think clearly. Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone and dialed Sophia’s number. She picked up on the third ring.“Irina? It’s been ages! How are you?” Sophia’s voice was warm and familiar, like a comforting blanket on a cold night.“I’m okay, Sophia,” I lied, my voice trembling. “I really need to see you. Can we meet?”There was a brief pause, and then she said, “Of course. Where are you?”“I’m not far from the old café we used to go to. Can you meet me there?”“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” she replied, her tone serious now. “Don’t move. I’m coming.”I hung up and started walking toward the café. The streets were quieter now, with only a few people milling about. My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened—Lukas, the twins, Aaron’s warning. And no
The conversation with Lukas left me more rattled than I expected. As I walked out of his office, I couldn’t shake the feeling of his gaze lingering on me, as if he was trying to decipher what had just happened. My heart was pounding, and I felt a mix of relief and anxiety. Relief that I’d finally told him the truth, and anxiety over what would come next.I took the elevator down to the lobby, my mind spinning with thoughts of the twins, Lukas, and what this all meant for my future. The weight of the situation felt heavier with each step I took. I could hardly believe that just a few months ago, my life had been so simple, and now I was walking out of my boss’s office after telling him I was pregnant with his children. It all felt surreal.The crisp evening air hit me as I stepped out of the building, and I wrapped my coat tighter around me. The streets were bustling with people heading home from work, and the city was alive with its usual energy. But tonight, I felt detached from it a
The days after my discovery passed in a blur of anxiety and uncertainty. Every morning, I would wake up hoping that the past few weeks had been a nightmare, but the gentle ache in my lower back and the persistent nausea were harsh reminders that this was real. I was pregnant—with twins—and there was no escaping the truth anymore.I knew I had to tell Lukas, but the thought of facing him filled me with dread. How was I supposed to break the news? How would he react? Would he even care, or would he dismiss it as a consequence of a one-night stand? The fear of the unknown gnawed at me, making it hard to focus on anything else.At work, I found myself constantly distracted, my thoughts drifting back to Lukas. It had been months since that night, and I had no idea how to find him. We hadn’t exchanged numbers, and all I knew was his first name. The chances of running into him again seemed impossibly slim, and part of me wondered if that was for the best. Maybe it was better to leave things
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