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 moment dinner ended, I excused myself, murmuring something about needing to gather my belongings. Iris’ triumphant smirk felt like a dagger twisting in my chest. Viktor’s knowing smile was worse, a silent reminder of the agreement I’d made to keep Greta’s job safe. I could feel Aaron’s eyes on me, filled with worry, but he didn’t speak. He couldn’t—not with Iris and Viktor sitting there, basking in their victory.In my room, I grabbed a small overnight bag and began stuffing it with essentials. My hands trembled as I folded clothes, the enormity of what I was about to do sinking in with each passing second. Aaron knocked softly on the door and stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him.“Are you really going through with this?” His voice was low, strained.“I don’t have a choice, Aaron,” I replied, keeping my eyes on the bag. “You know that.”He walked closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You always have a choice, Irina. Don’t let them make you believe otherwise.”I looked u
Descending the stairs with Sophia and Greta by my side, I still couldn’t shake the heaviness in my chest. The pressure, the secrets, the sheer weight of it all—it felt like I was being dragged down, step by step. I stole glances at Sophia, wishing she could stay a little longer. But I knew that was asking too much, especially after that showdown with my mother. Still, her presence was a comfort I wasn’t ready to let go of.When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I turned to her, struggling to keep my composure. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay a little longer? For dinner, perhaps?” I asked, even though I already knew her answer.Sophia gave a light laugh, brushing off the tension from before. “As tempting as that is, I think I’ve caused enough trouble for one day,” she replied with a playful glint in her eye, but I could tell she was still uneasy. The incident with my mother had rattled her, and it only reminded me how dangerous it was to involve anyone in my mess.We hugged tig
I was pacing my room, a heavy weight pressing on my chest as my mind raced. The events of the past day still clung to me like a fog I couldn’t shake. From the pregnancy test debacle with Greta to Dr. Melnikov’s examination, every moment had been a nerve-racking ordeal. I barely had time to catch my breath before the next threat loomed on the horizon.When I heard a knock on the door, my heart skipped a beat, fearing my mother had returned to put me through some other humiliating test. But when I opened it, a familiar face greeted me. Sophia stood there, her warm brown eyes filled with concern.“Irina,” she whispered, pulling me into a tight hug.I felt my shoulders drop as I hugged her back. “Sophia,” I murmured, the relief flooding through me like a cool breeze.“I heard what happened,” she said, pulling back and studying my face. “Aaron called me… He was worried. He said things have gotten out of hand here.”I let out a shaky breath, swallowing the bitter taste of shame and frustrat
The dim light of my room cast long shadows across the walls as I sat rigid on the edge of my bed, fingers twisting nervously in my lap. Iris had come in just minutes ago, announcing that she’d called Dr. Melnikov to perform a thorough check-up on me tonight. Her voice had been calm, almost too calm, and her expression unreadable. She’d watched me closely, her gaze piercing, as though trying to uncover every hidden thought I held inside.“You seem… off, Irina,” she’d said, her tone deceptively soft. “I just want to make sure everything is alright before the wedding. We can’t afford any surprises.”Every nerve in my body was on high alert, adrenaline coursing through me as I processed the gravity of her words. If Dr. Melnikov discovered my pregnancy… I couldn’t bear to think about the consequences. Iris’ reaction would be swift and merciless. She’d do whatever it took to keep me in line, even if it meant forcing me into this marriage with Viktor more quickly than planned.She turned, re
The morning sun streamed through the windows as I sat stiffly in the makeup chair, watching the team my mother had hired flit around me. My face felt caked in powders and creams, and my hair was styled within an inch of its life, fixed in curls that cascaded over my shoulders. I’d barely managed a sip of water since I woke up, but no one seemed to care.Iris, my mother, standing off to the side, scrutinized every detail with a meticulous eye. She wanted this engagement photoshoot to be perfect, something grand enough to secure her alliance with Viktor’s family and put our name back on top. My happiness—my very sanity—had no place in her vision.“Remember, Irina,” she said, her voice cool and distant, “Today isn’t just for you and Viktor. It’s for all of us. Smile like you mean it.”I forced a small nod, keeping my expression blank. She had no idea that each word chipped away at the last of my strength. Four days until the wedding. Four days of being paraded around like a prize to be w
The 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 weight of the world sat heavy on my shoulders as I stared out of the large window of my childhood bedroom. The once-beautiful view of the city below, with its twinkling lights and bustling streets, now looked like a cruel joke. This room, this house—everything in it—had been my prison for as long as I could remember. And now, it seemed like the bars were closing in tighter than ever.The door creaked open behind me, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. My mother’s familiar perfume filled the air, a mix of lilies and something else that I could never quite place. It used to be comforting, but now it only made my stomach churn.“Irina,” she said softly, but there was no warmth in her voice. “You need to start getting ready. The engagement party will begin soon.”I didn’t respond. Instead, I kept my eyes fixed on the cityscape, hoping that if I stared hard enough, I could find a way to escape. But I knew better. There was no escape from the fate they had planned for m
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