Chapter 6- Hate on the surface

I groaned as I opened my eyes, a dull headache crashing over me in waves. As I sat up, I scanned my surroundings and quickly realized I was in an unfamiliar room.

Something felt off, and the first question that popped into my mind was how I had ended up here. Then, like a sudden jolt, the memories flooded back.

The wedding, Ivan’s tragic death right before my eyes, and then there was him. Dominic. The enigmatic stranger who had captivated my attention, filled with an aura of sorrow and countless unanswered questions.

I recalled him injecting something into me—whatever it was that Clarissar had used had definitely knocked me out. As I sat upright, I noticed I was dressed in nightwear, my once beautiful wedding dress now gone.

Clutching the robe tightly around me, I slowly dragged myself out of bed. I opened the door to reveal a long, dimly lit hallway.

A nagging feeling told me I was no longer in Russia, and wherever Clarissar was, it felt like a distant memory. The thought of escaping didn’t seem like a viable option.

I made my way down the corridor, drawn by the voices echoing around me until I stumbled upon him. He was shouting orders to his men from what appeared to be an office.

The moment he spotted me, he waved his men away, and I seized the opportunity to barge into the office.

“When are you going to let me go? I have a life outside of this place; you can’t keep me here!” I shot at him, my frustration evident as a smirk crept across his face.

“Good morning, beautiful. You know I miss watching you sleep, and it seems nothing has changed,” he teased, his playful demeanor only fueling my anger.

“You kidnapped me, and now you’re spying on me while I sleep? How much of a creep can you be?” I retorted, glaring at him.

“A creep just for you,” he flirted, and I had to restrain myself from lashing out. I was furious about everything, and he chose this moment to joke around.

“I don’t care! Let me go! I won’t stay here forever; sooner or later, I will escape,” I threatened, knowing deep down he wouldn’t relent.

He was determined to keep me here, and that infuriated me, especially since he treated me like I was still his ex-wife.

He stepped closer, but I stood my ground, refusing to back down out of fear. As he approached, he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me nearer, his breath brushing against my face.

.I have said this before, and I will say it again: I will not let you go. You are my wife, and we belong together. He spoke slowly, lifting my chin to ensure I met his gaze, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that was hard to ignore.

A sense of familiarity washed over me, as if I had known him from another time or place. He occupied my thoughts, a lingering presence that felt like a piece of a puzzle I couldn't quite fit together.

His gaze was filled with such deep admiration and love that it both comforted and terrified me. He was so convinced of our bond that no matter how much I tried to deny the identity he believed I held, I sensed he would refuse to accept my truth.

As I continued to look into his eyes, a woman entered the office, and I instinctively turned my attention to her.

“Don…” she halted mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock as she took in my presence, her breath quickening as she scanned me from head to toe.

“What is she doing here?” she shouted, her voice so loud that I had to cover my ears from the force of it. She seemed familiar, yet I couldn't quite place her.

“What is the meaning of this, Harper? I told you to keep a low profile,” Dominic snapped at her, his tone sharp as she glared at me with fury.

“No, you don’t get to say that! You promised me you were done with her! You said you would choose me over her, and now you bring her back?” she yelled, her rage directed at Dominic, who met her anger with his own.

“That was a long time ago, Harper. Move on, and watch your tone, or you might find yourself in serious trouble,” he warned, and I could see the weight of his threat settle over her.

I couldn’t ignore the way she glared at me, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and envy. She was visibly shaken, whether from rage or fear, I couldn’t tell.

“I don’t care what’s happening here, but I was taken against my will and brought here. I was just pleading with him to let me go before you arrived.”Harper glared at me, disbelief and anger flickering in her eyes, while Dominic appeared visibly irritated.

“You brought her back after everything Clarissa did to us, to you! You brought this woman back into our lives!” Harper shouted at Dominic, disregarding the warning she had received earlier.

I stood there, bewildered, trying to piece together what had transpired and what they were arguing about. Her words only deepened my confusion.

“She is my wife, and she will stay here until I uncover the truth behind Clarissa’s actions. Someone has been

manipulating all of this, and I intend to find out who.

You have no authority here, so keep your mouth shut and leave,” he replied, visibly restraining his anger. Tears streamed down Harper's face as she looked at him, her expression a mix of betrayal and hurt. I felt lost, dragged into this situation without any understanding of what was happening or why. The woman seemed to have a connection to Dominic, while he clearly didn’t want me around.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?” I asked, glancing back and forth between them.

“What’s happening is that you need to leave—leave and never return!” Harper snapped at me, and I felt a surge of anger; it was as if she blamed me for being here, as if I had chosen this.

“Oh, sure! Tell your man to let me go, and I’ll be out of here in a heartbeat,” I shot back, watching her scowl at me. “

You know something, don’t you? I can see you’re trying to hide it,” Dominic suddenly interjected, causing Harper to freeze, caught in a moment of guilt for something she clearly didn’t want to reveal.

“What are you talking about?”she asked as she looked at Dominic in fear.

“You're more concerned about seeing me with Clarissa, then being happy I just found your missing sister,” Dominic said.