Chapter 5

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 now, I was about to confront another part of my past that I had tried so hard to forget.

When I arrived at the café, I slipped into a booth near the back, where we used to sit in our university days. The place hadn’t changed much—same faded wallpaper, same creaky chairs. It felt like stepping back in time, but the weight on my shoulders was far heavier now.

Sophia walked in a few minutes later, her auburn hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. She hurried over, concern etched on her face.

“Irina, what’s going on?” she asked as she slid into the seat across from me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I don’t even know where to start,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia reached across the table and took my hand. “Start from the beginning. I’m here for you.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. “Remember when I told you my family was forcing me into an arranged marriage?”

She nodded, her expression turning grim. “Yeah, but I thought you’d gotten out of that.”

“I did… for a while. But now, it’s all coming back to haunt me. The man they want me to marry… he’s back.”

Sophia’s grip on my hand tightened. “Tell me about him. Who is this guy?”

I hesitated, the memories of that man making my skin crawl. “His name is Viktor Ivanov. He’s in his late sixties, a billionaire with ties to my family’s business. My father… he made a deal with Viktor years ago. When our company started going under, Viktor stepped in to save us. But there was a price.”

Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. “He wants to marry you in exchange for the money?”

I nodded, feeling a wave of nausea at the thought. “Yes. I was barely eighteen when my father told me about the arrangement. I didn’t have a choice—either I agreed, or my family would lose everything. Viktor is a powerful man, Sophia. He’s ruthless, and he gets what he wants.”

“But why now? Why is he after you again?” Sophia asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

“Because I ran,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “I left everything behind—my family, my life. I thought I could start fresh, but they’ve found me. Viktor hasn’t forgotten, and now he’s sending people after me to bring me back.”

Sophia’s face paled as she processed everything. “Irina, this is serious. You can’t go back to him. There has to be another way.”

“I know,” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. “But what can I do? He’s got connections everywhere. My brother Aaron even warned me tonight that Viktor’s people are following me. They’re waiting for the right moment to take me back.”

Sophia leaned in closer, her voice low and urgent. “You can’t let them. We’ll figure something out, okay? You’re not alone in this.”

I nodded, grateful for her support, but deep down, I knew how dangerous Viktor could be. He wasn’t just a rich old man—he was a predator. He thrived on control, on having people bend to his will. The thought of being trapped in a marriage with him made my blood run cold.

“And there’s more,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’m pregnant.”

Sophia’s eyes widened again, but this time with a mixture of surprise and concern. “What? Irina, how…?”

“It’s not Viktor’s,” I quickly added, shaking my head. “It’s Lukas’—the man I told you about. We had a one-night stand months ago, and now… now I’m carrying his twins.”

Sophia stared at me in shock, struggling to take it all in. “Does Lukas know?”

“He does,” I said, wiping a tear from my cheek. “I told him earlier tonight. He was surprised, of course, but he said we’ll figure things out together. I want to believe him, Sophia, but I’m terrified. I don’t know how Viktor’s going to react when he finds out. He won’t care that they’re not his—he’ll see it as another reason to control me, to punish me.”

Sophia looked at me with a fierce determination I hadn’t seen in years. “We’re not going to let that happen, Irina. We’ll find a way to protect you and those babies. Viktor might be powerful, but he’s not invincible.”

I wanted to believe her, to cling to the hope that there was a way out of this nightmare. But Viktor had a long reach, and I knew that he wouldn’t stop until he had me under his thumb. I could only pray that Lukas and I were strong enough to face whatever came next.

For now, all I could do was hold on to the small comfort of having a friend like Sophia by my side. But as I sat there, the weight of my situation pressing down on me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.