Chapter 10

IVANA'S POV

I was lying more often than usual.

It became a new trait I portrayed ever since I came to Russia to join Mom’s new family. The Orlovs.

Each time my mind drifted back to Roman, I always imagine him fucking Anna on the bed.

Different sounds leaving their lips, with them covered in sweats.

That imagination created by my shallow mind, caused my heart to bleed and made it even harder to move on.

Once the imagination was registered inside my head and imprinted in my mind, it was hard to get it out.

No matter how hard I tried to pull myself together and move on, just the way Roman did, it wasn't working.

I bet he already moved on like nothing happened. He just wanted to clear his guilty conscience or better still, make it known to me incase I find out that he has been fucking Anna behind my back.

If it weren't the case, he wouldn't have broken up with me over the phone, knowing fully well that I was on a different side of the continent and it wouldn't be easy to fly back to New York.

He planned it so well and that alone, came as a big surprise.

Nevertheless, I didn't want a breakup to tie me down from fulfilling my father's dream of being an artist.

So I dragged myself out of bed, made my way into the bathroom to have a quick shower as I had a class at 9am.

It has officially been two weeks since I started attending Hallway College. The best college that Russia has ever produced.

In less than twenty minutes, I was out.

Dressed in a peach off-the-shoulder gown, I let my hair fall freely on my shoulder, applied my lipgloss and grabbed my backpack and also my phone.

Heading downstairs, I met the whole family having breakfast.

“Good morning Mom, Mr Igor and Lara.” I smiled at them, ignoring the dangerous pair of eyes seizing me up.

“Good morning, Princess. Where are you heading to this early?” Mom asked, raising her wristwatch to check the time.

“I have a morning class by 9am, so I won't be having breakfast.” I replied, heading towards the entrance door, ready to leave at once.

I had just fifteen minutes to get to college, so I was bit in a haste.

“Have breakfast before leaving.” Came that dangerous and downright terrifying voice that made dread claw at my inside.

Snapping my head towards him, I forced a smile. That kind of smile that didn't reach my eyes.

Didn't he heard what I just said?

It was already 8:45am and I had just fifteen minutes to get to college, yet he asked me to sit  for breakfast?

“I have just fifteen minutes to get to college. I would rather skip breakfast.” I replied and reached out to the door knob, but his words stopped me once again.

Can't he just let me go in peace?

I seriously have no time to banter words with him.

He is a Bratva who commands many gangsters and mobs, but in college, I am an unknown college student and the lecturer wouldn't because of me stop the class until my arrival.

“Ivana, come sit for breakfast.” This time, my hand trembled against the door knob at his voice.

He just issued a warning.

And his damn warning was like a double edge sword, cutting through the silence that settled in the dining room and commands respect. Authority.

And like always, my hand which was on the door knob dropped to my side and I turned around, heading towards the dining hall like an obedient puppy.

“Arinzo! Set breakfast for Ivana.” His deep voice reverberated inside the dining hall, making Arinzo, the chef to come running from the kitchen with a tray of breakfast.

“Here you go, Ms.” His head hung low as he served me breakfast.

I really had no appetite for breakfast as I'm not a morning person, but only heaven knows what Ruslan would do to me if I dare go against his orders.

Grabbing the cutlery, I picked on my breakfast, taking little bites.

“We don't appreciate wastage here, so you better eat everything in that dish, if you really want to make it to college,” he paused, staring at me.

I could see the danger lurking at the corners of his eyes and it had me swallowing the food which at first, didn't want to go down my throat.

“Alive.”

The latter words carried a weight that sent tension descending in the atmosphere.

I almost choked on my meal, but Lara was quick to pass me a glass of water.

“Stop scaring her, Ruslan. Everyone isn't like you.” Lara, who is twelve years younger than Ruslan, spoke up, breaking the tension.

When I first heard of Ruslan's age from Lara, I was shocked to the core.

He is definitely younger than his age. A greek god like him should be 25 years old not ten years older.

But his personality and brutality ruined it all. I don't see him as a greek god after he showed me the kind of monster he was and could be, if I disobey him or create a mess.

While I'm younger than Lara by two years, Ruslan is older by fourteen years.

An old man trying to ruin the life of a girl almost twice his age, was ridiculous!

I forced the rest of the breakfast down my throat just so I could meet up with time.

Luckily for me, it took just five minutes to stuff everything into my stomach.

Once I was done, I grabbed my backpack and drank a glass of water. “Thank you for the breakfast.”

It wasn't a sincere appreciation and if others couldn't hear the sarcasm behind it, Ruslan, of course did heard it.

“You're welcome, step-sister. You should be grateful you have a brother who cares about you.” He flashed me a lopsided smile and I almost glared at him, but shut my eyes instead.

As if.

He and I know for a fact that he is the worst!

“Mom, see you soon.” I made my way towards where Mom was seated, pecked her cheeks and that of Lara, before rushing out of the house.

Upon getting outside, Felix and Mark, my two bodyguards were already waiting, leaning against the limousine car which was assigned to take me to college or anywhere else.

“Good morning, Boys.” I flashed them a smile as I got into the car while they shut the door behind me.

“Good morning, Ms Ivana.” The greeting was precise, both maintaining a cold demeanour.

They all have the same traits running through them. Coldness and brutality when necessary.

Leaning against the soft sofa in the car, my phone dinged, indicating that I had a text message.

I took it out of my bag, only to find out that it was a message from Ruslan which had me rolling my eyes more than necessary.

“Sent $60,000. Get yourself some good clothes and stop putting on flower dresses like a fucking plant.”

The hold on my phone tightened and it took sheer willpower not to slam the phone against the glass of the limousine.

For Christ sake, why would a thirty-five years old man be on the neck of his step-sister who is twice his age?

It doesn't make any sense, does it?