Chapter 3

Sophia’s POV 

I felt the stunned silence in the ballroom as we kissed. It was a deep buttery kiss that left me heady and feeling weak in my legs. It had been a long time since I had kissed and I was overwhelmed with the butterflies I was feeling. 

My mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened when it stopped.

Nikolai Volkov had kissed me.

I gazed around and saw the varied expressions of people looking my way. We had really caused a scene. My eyes flickered to Celeste who was staring at me lividly, her carefully painted lips parted in shock. But it was Ethan’s reaction that held me captive.

He was so stunned as though he had been frozen on the spot. There was a mixture of disbelief and rage on his face and I knew that words were going to be exchanged once we were alone. 

I could usually tell when he was very angry by the veins in his neck which now bulged as he tried in vain to appear neutral. I looked away from him quickly.

Nikolai pulled back just slightly, but his arm remained firmly around my waist. He turned to face the crowd, his expression as calm and unbothered as ever. "I’m taking her with me," he announced in his deep voice which easily carried through the hall.

This was clearly too much for Ethan who finally snapped out of his trance. “Like hell you are,” he said, stepping forward.

Nikolai didn’t even flinch but he tilted his head as though he was amused and there was a smirk on his lips. “Why not?” His voice was almost teasing.

“Why not? I heard she's just your adopted sister. Why are you protective when you don't have any claim over her? Your woman is standing right there, and she's carrying your child.” He said, looking over at Celeste who was trying her best to look prim.

Ethan’s nostrils flared as he opened his mouth to defend himself but closed it as he had nothing to say. I saw the exact moment my words from earlier hit him. We were never officially engaged. No one knew.

He had no argument or defense. He had only managed to appear stupid in front of everyone.

He realised it took and backed down and it gave me no small satisfaction to see him stripped of his power in front of his peers. His eyes darted from me to Nikolai, then back to me.

"You wouldn't," he hissed under his breath, low enough that only I could hear.

I smiled at his threat which we both knew to be an empty one. I had already surrendered my place in his life. What more did I have to lose?

“You seem to be flustered, let's go outside to talk,” Nikolai said, bringing my hand to his lips. 

“Lead the way,” I said, trying not to blush once more as my fingers tingled. He nodded once and then led me toward the exit. 

No one stopped us as we went out and I finally heaved a sigh of relief as we stepped out to the cool night air. There was a garden just outside the ballroom and the sound of the party faded behind us, replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves.

His grip on my hand was firm but not forceful, like he was accustomed to getting what he wanted without needing to exert effort. For one, there was just something unnerving about how easily he had taken control of the situation.

He finally stopped near an ornate stone bench and turned to face me. "You must be wondering why I kissed you," he said smoothly.

I let out a short, breathless laugh. "That would be an understatement."

His lips twitched and then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek black envelope. “This is for you.”

I hesitated before taking it. I ran my hand across and was surprised by the weight. It felt heavier than paper normally should and I opened the envelope slowly, my fingers grazing over the crisp documents. My heart raced as I read the content.

A contract.

A marriage contract.

I whipped my head up quickly. "You’re offering to marry me?"

"Yes," He drawled in a bored voice as if we were discussing the weather. “It benefits us both.”

I frowned at him and flipped through the pages. “How, exactly?”

He leaned against the stone bench, crossing his arms. "For one, you get protection. Financial security or power, if you want to put it like that." He tilted his head slightly, a habit I had noticed from him. "And I get something as well."

There it was—the catch.

I took a slow, steadying breath. "What do you get out of this, Nikolai?"

His eyes were steel at this point. "A wife the public will sympathize with."

I stiffened because I knew exactly what he meant.

I was blind. Or, at least, that was what everyone believed. And Nikolai Volkov, a man whose reputation was built on ruthlessness, marrying a blind woman? It would soften his image, make him appear human.

But that wasn’t the worst part.

“You want me to keep pretending,” I whispered. "You want me to act blind."

His expression didn’t change. “Yes.”

I closed my eyes for a moment as I thought about what he just said. I had to keep up a lie I had already been living, but now in an even bigger way. To become the perfect, helpless bride in the eyes of the world.

And yet, the alternative was… what? Staying with Ethan and his new woman to get humiliated? I knew I had to face his wrath when the night was over and it wasn't something I looked forward to.

I wasn’t naïve to think that he would let tonight slide so easily. Despite all he had done himself, he would want to make a big deal out of what I had done and capitalize on it.

I swallowed hard as I was unable to make up my mind on the spot. “I’ll need more time to think about this.”

He suddenly broke into a light laugh which startled me and when I looked up, I saw that his smirk was back showcasing his perfect dentition.

He came closer to me and despite the brief passionate moment we had shared, my alarm bells went off screaming danger. I instinctively took a step back but was met with the cold hard walls.

I opened my mouth to tell him that he was a little too close for comfort but he placed his index finger to my lips, shutting me up.

"This isn't a negotiation, Sophia," he said, his voice in a silky voice, his face now close to mine such that I could smell his cologne. "Pack your things. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

At this point, my eyes were half closed and I was leaning away from him. It felt that the gentleman who radiated charm was gone and in his place was a dangerous man. He wasn't giving me a choice. 

"Nikolai, you're scaring me…" I whimpered 

“My apologies,” He said, stepping back and reverting to his old self. I was still shaken up to reply immediately and he gave a slight bow in my direction.

“We'll see tomorrow,” He said finally in parting and with that he was gone.