Chapter 7

IVANA'S POV

My heart instantly scampered off at a crazy beat, not because of anything, but because of the thoughts of having sex with a man I share no mutual feelings or barely know.

The Orlovs be damned. They're all crazy for forcing such rules on a twenty-one year old college student.

I inhaled and exhaled, fidgeting with the hem of my crop top, below the table.

No one must see my weakness, most especially, Ruslan.

He would pry on it, feed on it and leave me vulnerable.

“I'm barely twenty-one years old.” I let out a heavy shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Lara was eighteen when she got engaged.”

Ruslan fucking Orlov always have a word of weapon to counter my attack, no matter how I try to outsmart him or talk my way out.

“She was born and raised in the Vipers Clan, but I wasn't. I joined this family barely three weeks ago.” My gaze shot towards Ruslan, whose face was blank without any form of expression.

“You will learn. You have to.” His words came out as a command, sending shivers down my spine.

Does this really mean I have no say in my life?

I would have to follow each and every command from my step-brother like an obedient puppy?

“This will help us, Ivana. You have to do this for this family. It's a form of appreciation.” My mother's soft voice, made anger simmered into my veins.

I wanted to slam my hands on the table and scream at her.

‘I never wanted to be part of this family anyways! Why make it seems like they are doing me a favour by bringing me under their wings!’

Those were the words that settled at the tip of my tongue. They badly wanted to roll out, but I bit my tongue, stopping them from leaving my mouth.

I might get confined if I don't manoeuvre my way around this tricky fox, whose gaze was fixated on me, waiting patiently.

Waiting patiently for me to fumble so he could make me his prey.

Well, Ruslan fucking Orlov, he can go to hell, because I won't give in to his thirst for dominance. To control my life.

Nodding my head slowly, I turned my gaze to my mother. “So, what about college? I won't give up my dream for a damn marriage. A marriage that would be at the verge of ruin in less than six months.”

“Watch your mouth, Vana.” His sharp and merciless gaze swept over my face.

“What? If you all don't care about my life, I do, because it's my life.” I shifted my gaze back to my mother, whose expression was unreadable, but she was fidgeting with her fingers under the dining table. I could tell.

“Dad wanted me to be an artist, and i must fulfill that wish, even if I have to die while doing it.”

“Enough Vana!” A menacing smirk plastered on Ruslan's face, as his hands slammed on the table.

I could feel the weight of the slam against my skin, causing chills to spread over my body.

“Enough with the emotional talk. Alright?” The last words came out as a dangerous whisper, his gaze narrowed on me.

“Jeremy would be lenient enough to let you attend college. You don't have a problem.” Taking another sip from his wine glass, he said. “The engagement would be in three months, so until then, stay away from the media and trouble.”

With that said, he stood on his feet and walked away like he wasn't in this so-called family meeting in the very beginning.

I can't back down without a fight, at least, for the sake of my dignity, so I did what I thought was right.

Go after him.

Pushing the chair behind me, I stormed out of the dining hall with Mom calling me from behind.

“Ivana! Don't do that! You will regret it!”

Her words fell into deaf ears, because I was already out of the entrance door.

Luckily for me, Ruslan was speaking to Nicko and haven't left yet.

“Ruslan!” I called, my voice loud and clear, enough for him to hear, because he looked at me over his shoulder but didn't turn.

I wasn't that much of an important person for him to give his full attention. Interesting.

With the gentle breeze of the afternoon whipping pass my hair, I strode towards him.

Once I was closer, he dismissed Nicko and turned to face me with a cocked brows.

“Do you have any problem, step-sister?” The way he emphazied on the word, ‘step-sister’ it was inappropriate and I hated the way my stomach twisted because of it.

“I won't let you dictate my life.” I seethed, my voice filled with so much hatred, contempt.

“Well, your life resides in the palm of my hand, I can do whatever I want with you. Got that?” He leaned a bit closer, to close that it felt illegal.

It was illegal to be this close to your stepsister, but it wasn't the top of my priorities at that very moment.

“I won't give you the satisfaction you need. And for that arranged marriage you're planning, I swear on my life, I will do whatever it takes to call it off.” I wasn't exaggerating when I said those words.

I fucking meant every single one of them.

“Even at the expense of your life?” A lopsided smile crawled it's way to his lips. “Even if you have to die?”

I was shaken by the word, ‘death.’

It was the same sentence that took the life of my father, left me fatherless and my mother, a widow, a single mom.

Giving myself away to the same death that took my father's life, would be shameless.

I planned on living. To fulfill every of his dreams.

“See? You aren't that stupid enough to give your life away just because you don't want to get into an arranged marriage.” He took a step closer, while I instinctively took one backward, our gaze searing into each others eyes.

“From the moment I set my eyes on you, the urge to bend you, break you and have you eating from the palm of my hands excites me, and….” He paused, raised his fingers, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear, he continued. “dear, step-sister, not even the devil can stop me from feeling that excitement.”