As I walk down the hallway that leads to my study, I hear footsteps coming from behind. Since I sent Janet to my room, Iam curious about who’s in this part of the house. I turn and take a few steps forward, coming face-to-face with Ana.
She has on a faded blue top and shorts that stop at the hem of the shirt, leaving her legs bare. Her legs draw me in, asking to be wrapped around something. And I can imagine a couple of places where I’d like them to be. While I do things to other partsof her body, to see just how unruly and untamed she can be. And those lips?— How am I just noticing that she has a pale pink upper lip while the bottom one darkens a little around its curves? “Can I help you?” Her curt tone pulls me out of my short reverie. I shake my head, noticing that she’s glaring at me. “No,” I respond. Why was I ogling her? She’s Anastasia Petrov, for goodness sakes. My last name is just an attaché that means nothing but formality. If she were handed a gun and asked to shoot me, she wouldn’t hesitate. “Okay.” She shrugs and turns away. I turn too, but my phone beeps, and I take it out of my pocket. “I just saw Nikolai Petrov with Alexey. They’re sharing a drink. Looks like your alliance is falling apart, big boy.” Lucia. If she was trying to rile me up, she succeeded. I turn on my heels. “Ana.” She takes two steps forward before stopping. She’s not going to give me an audience, I see. “Your father isn’t allowed to step foot in this house, and you’re not allowed to see him from now on.” Ana turns slowly, and I see the confusion on her face, in her raised eyebrows and tilted head. “What do you mean? I’m notallowedto see Papa? That wasn’t the agreement we had. I’ve told you several times, Dmitri.Whatever form of control you have over your men, it’s not going to work for me,” she increases her pitch with the last word. “I’m not your slave or your toy.” Maybe it’s because of the text I just received, the conversation I had with Alexey, or the fact that he went behind my back, but something in me snaps. I march up to her, taking long strides as I keep my eyes fixed on her. We’ve been playing this game for far longer than I like, and it’s time to make her see things the way she should. My way. “You will not see your father again,” I repeat. “The day you do will be the last time you’ll know his whereabouts.” “Are you going to kill him? Is that what you’re saying? Then why haven’t you done it already? It wouldn’t be your first time, would it? Silencing someone who does the same things you do because you have more power,” she challenges me. Don’t let her slip under your skin, Dmitri. “Your father and mine were as close as brothers. He might not have told you, but my father helped him build what he has now and didn’t ask for anything in return. But the second my father died, yours started reaching out to otherpakhans, allying. He used them to start a fight against me.” I swallow hard before continuing, “He thought I’d be too caught up in grief to strike back. Your father,” I jab my finger in the air, “felt that he was entitled to what was mine because he had an agreement with my father. He didn’t even attend his funeral. And you judge me for wanting to take revenge?” The stubborn look on Ana’s face drops, and uncertainty flickers across her expression. Her lips part slightly, and her eyebrows furrow as she stares at me. “You’re fortunate,” I say. “Even though you don’t know it. Other men would do things to you that would make your life in this house a living hell. And I’m not saying I’m better.” I shakemy head because I consider acts like that barbaric. “I’m just telling you that you might as well start seeing things clearly.” “I-I . . .” she stutters. I exhale, regretting already that I so clearly threatened her. “My order stands. Your father isn’t to step anywhere near this house, and you’re not to see him. Until I change my mind.” With that, I leave her standing there and head to my room. I’ve had enough for one night. Hell, I already regret ever proposing this marriage agreement. I should’ve raised hell, crushing and damning all of them.ANAI hesitate to open my eyes, even though the sunlight has already flooded the room, casting long beams of warmth across my face. I’ve been lying here, awake, for what feels like hours, but it’s probably only been fifteen minutes. Still, I don’t want to move. There’s no reason to.In my old life, weekends meant something. I would’ve called my father, maybe spent the day at his house helping him with the legal tedium of his business. Or I’d have gone grocery shopping and stocked up on things I enjoyed. My weekends had a purpose back then.But none of that matters here. Not in this empty, echoing house. Not in this cold, new life where the rooms are too big, silent, and suffocating.I sigh, throwing the covers off and rolling out of bed with the grace of a sloth, letting myself collapse onto the floor with a dull thud. The pain is minimal, just enough to remind me I’m alive. I drag myself upright, rubbing the spot on my arm that hit the ground harder than intended.“Why did I do this?
As I turn, I catch a glimpse of a man standing a few feet away, watching me. He’s dressed in a full suit, which seems wildly out of place on a Saturday. Our eyes meet, and he quickly looks away.What the hell?I frown, glancing around. What’s a guy like him doing here? It doesn’t make sense.But then again, none of this makes sense. My life hasn’t made sense in weeks.I shake my head, trying to brush it off. “None of my business,” I mumble to myself as I turn around, continuing down the aisle.But something about the man lingers in my mind. Maybe it’s the way he looked at me—like he knew something I didn’t, like there was some invisible string tethering him to me. Or maybe I’m just paranoid, which wouldn’t be surprising given the circumstances. After all, I’m living in a nightmare I didn’t choose.I try to shake it off, losing myself in the racks of clothes. Ten minutes go by as I sift through Alice and Olivia pieces, trying to decide whether buying something new is even worth it. A d
She pauses. “Is everything okay?”“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice tight. “He wasn’t answering, and now I can’t even dial his number. Could you call him? Don’t tell him I asked you to.”“Of course. I’ll do it right now.”I hang up, and the wait feels like an eternity. Seconds turn into minutes, and I catch myself biting my cuticles—an old habit I’d kicked, which seems to resurface whenever Dmitri’s involved.My phone rings. The moment I hear it, I snatch it up, pressing it to my ear. “Yes?”“You were right, his phone’s still off,” Daria says, her voice careful. “But I called his second line, and he picked up. He told me to tell you he’s fine.”I freeze, processing her words. Hissecond line? I didn’t even know he had another phone.“Did he say anything else?” I ask, the knot in my stomach tightening.“No, Ana. Just that he’s fine.”My forehead wrinkles in confusion, and anger begins to simmer under my skin. “He didn’t say he’d call me back?”She hesitates. “No.”I’m about to say somet
DMITRI“Dmitri Orlov,” Igor announces as he strides into my office, grinning like the fool he is.I know exactly why he’s smiling. He’s just secured a deal usingmyname, thinking I wouldn’t catch on. But I did. Of course, I did. I let him believe he’s clever, though—it’s far more entertaining to watch him dig his own grave.For now, I play along. I turn off my laptop and close the file on my desk before rising to meet him. “Let’s go to the conference room. The others are waiting.”Igor’s grin falters just slightly. “You don’t look like a happy man, Dmitri. Trouble at home?”I shoot him a sidelong glance, my voice cold. “Would you like trouble inyourhome, Igor?”He chuckles nervously, his bravado faltering. “I didn’t mean to pry. Just concerned.”“You don’t need to be concerned. You’re here for business, nothing else.” My tone leaves no room for argument. “Alexey and Bianchi are already seated, and your business is… lesser, compared to theirs. Let’s not waste more time. Time is money, I
I’ve been staying in my penthouse in the city, keeping my distance to avoid getting tangled up in emotions I never intended to feel. Since the wedding, things have changed. I find myself thinking about her at random moments. The defiance in her eyes when she tells me I have no right to control her life. The stubborn set of her chin when she demands I fight my own battles, leaving her out of it.I shouldn’t be thinking about her, but I do. Too often.The worst part? I wasn’t even angry when she called me a hypocrite for doing exactly what her father did, only with more power. I should’ve been, but all I could think about was how she masked her fear and stood toe to toe with me, unflinching. No one’s ever done that before. Not even Alexey, who came crawlingwith an apology after today’s meeting to avoid the inevitable consequences.But Ana got under my skin. She told me shehatesme. Those three words echoed in my mind all night, twisting and turning until I couldn’t sleep. Why the hell do
ANA“Mr. Benjamin,” I say, rising from my desk as the door opens. He walks in, all smiles and swagger. I know who he is immediately—one of those state-level politicians who once ran for governor and lost spectacularly. His opponent was just more conniving, more willing to play dirty.“Mrs. Orlov,” he greets me, extending his hand with that politician’s grin. It’s wide, practiced. His shake is too firm, borderline painful. I pull away quickly and rub my hand against my skirt, sitting back down and reminding myself this is just another client.“I’ve read through your case, Mr. Benjamin,” I start, trying to keep it professional. “I want to assure you that I’ll do everything in my power to?—”“You’re married to Dmitri Orlov, aren’t you?” he interrupts, leaning in with that same grin.I nod, my stomach tightening. I hate when people bring up my marriage, especially in the office. It’s like they don’t see me anymore—just his name, attached to mine.“Nice,” he says, still smiling, like he’s
“You should go change,” Freya says, completely oblivious to my seething anger. “Everyone’s waiting for you.”Oh, they’re going to get something alright. But it’s not going to be what they expect.Still in my office clothes, tired and annoyed, I storm through the front entrance. If Dmitri wants to make me play hostess, he’s about to regret that decision. I’ll show these guests exactly who I am—no fancy dress, no smiles, no playing the obedient wife.But instead of finding a crowd in the living room, I run straight intomy husband.“What’s going on?” I snap, barely keeping my voice level. “Why did you invite people without telling me? I come home to strangers ogling me like I’m some prized possession.”His expression is infuriatingly calm. “Does it matter?” he says, shrugging. “All you need to do is go upstairs, put on one of your pretty dresses, and play hostess.”“Hostess? What am I, your trophy wife?”His face hardens, and his next words cut deep. “Why do you think I married you? You’
DMITRIEven though it’s been a week, I can’t shake the image of Igor holding Ana’s hand. It’s etched into my mind, like a splinter I can’t dig out. Every detail from that night keeps replaying in my head—her in that emerald dress, her body practically sculpted by the fabric, the way the neckline teased just enough to drive me mad.I remember how I first saw her that night, walking into the garden like she owned the place. The dress clung to her curves, her cleavage perfectly framed, leaving me hard as a rock just from looking at her. The way she carried herself was infuriatingly captivating, each step drawing every eye in the room, mine included.I told myself it was nothing. That I didn’t care. After all, I’d thrown that damn party to show her exactly what she was—a trophy. Nothing more. But when I caught one of the men staring at her too long, a possessive anger surged inside me.Why the hell would I be jealous?I don’t even like her.Or so I keep telling myself.It doesn’t matter,
He nods and leans in again, kissing me deeper this time. There’s no question of patience or subtlety. We both know this is more than a kiss—we know where it will end. I let my towel fall when his hand touches the part where I tucked it in, and he ends the kiss to stare at me, sucking in a deep breath.I feel exposed under his stare, but he looks at me like I’m something unbelievable. It erases my vulnerability. His gaze is pure adoration, and his hands, when they cup my breasts, do so gently.“Dmitri,” I murmur his name, leaning in as his fingers tease my nipples to hardened peaks, awash with need and desire.Dmitri claims my lips again as his muscular arms encircle my body, closing the space between us. He nudges my legs apart, stepping in with a muscled thigh.I pant as his tongue slides into my mouth, and his hand cups my ass, kneading hard. Every part of me screams his name, wanting to be touched and set aflame by his hands.“Bed,” he whispers, lifting me off my feet.I scrub my f
DMITRII wake slowly, blinking against the sunlight spilling through the window. I can feel warmth on my face, the rare sensation of peace wrapped around me. That’s unusual, considering I barely sleep more than five hours on a good night. The weight of endless responsibilities usually keeps me half-awake, always vigilant. But this morning feels different.Something shifts in the bed beside me.I turn my head, and there she is. Ana.I freeze.What is she doing here?And then it hits me—last night. The memories come flooding back as I glance around the room, seeing the telltale signs. The way we tangled together, the heat between us as she clung to me, the feel of her skin under my hands. We fucked, and I let myself fall asleep with her in my arms.I shouldn’t have.I should’ve walked away, should’ve left the room before things got messy. But instead, I stayed, and now I’m lying here like a damn fool, watching her sleep.I try to reason with myself, to dismiss the strange pull in my che
“Oh gosh,” I mutter incoherently.Dmitri smiles. It’s the first time he’s ever smiled at me that way. Warmth touches every inch of his face, making his eyes look brighter and bluer, his cheekbones softer.Unable to stop myself, I reach up and touch his lips with my thumb.His smile drops, and I snatch my hand away as though burned.“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”“For what?”“Uh, I just—” I hesitate. “I haven’t seen you smile at me since we got married. I mean, there was the one time when Yelena was there, but it was because of her...”I don’t finish, and silence follows.We stare at each other, and it feels like an eternity. Something shifts between us, the air now charged with an undercurrent I can’t define but feel all the way down to my bones.What’s going on?I open my mouth to ask what’s changed, what this charged energy means, but the words die on my lips.“I’m going to kiss you now.”Dmitri surprises me by speaking first, his voice low.My heart stutters in my chest. I don’t know w
ANAI drag myself out of the car, my feet heavy as lead as I make my way to the graveyard behind the gated fence. Every step feels like I’m wading through thick mud, weighed down by the endless tears I’ve cried and the hollow ache in my chest. I don’t even know how I made it here, but somehow, I keep moving.I push open the gate with trembling fingers and let my legs carry me to the headstone. The graveyard is quiet, almost untouched, the few bodies buried here belonging to people connected to my family. It’s a private place, away from the world.It’s where my father buried my mother. Every year since I was two, he brought me here to visit her.“Mamochka.” I fall to my knees, letting my body crumble in front of her grave. The tears spill freely now, rolling down my cheeks as my shaking hands brush the dirt off the headstone.Maria Petrov. Mother and Wife. Gone, but never forgotten.I trace the letters with my fingertips, as if touching her name might somehow bring her closer to me.“M
We eat in silence, the clink of silverware the only sound in the room. And yet, despite the quiet, my mind keeps drifting to her, watching the way her lips move as she takes a bite, the way her fingers brush against the edge of her plate.This wasn’t supposed to happen.I wasn’t supposed to want her. But I do. And it’s a problem I can’t afford to have.Because no matter how much I might be drawn to Ana, she’s still Nikolai Petrov’s daughter. And I can never forget that.Yelena’s shoesclick on the hardwood floor as she strides into my office. I follow her, and the second I sit down at my desk, dropping my bag carelessly onto the table, she’s already spinning around like she owns the place.“You didn’t have to come with me, you know,” I mutter, leaning back in my chair, eyeing her with mild irritation.She ignores the tone, planting both hands on my desk with a mischievous grin. “Yeah, but if I’m going to learn how things work, I need to stick with you for a while, right?”I arch a brow
DMITRII’m halfway down the stairs when I hear footsteps behind me. My instinct sharpens, and for a moment, I slow, thinking it’s Ana. The thought makes my mind wander, unbidden, back to last night.Thank you for bringing Yelena home safely.The words still echo in my head. They weren’t what I intended to say. Hell, they felt wrong even as I said them. But there was something in Ana’s expression, that defiant tilt of her chin, like she was waiting for me to tear into her, waiting for the usual criticism. And in that split second, I saw it—how I was missing the bigger picture. She brought Yelena home in one piece. Yelena, who doesn’t stop until she’s blind drunk, was safe because of Ana.I don’t know how the thanks slipped out of my mouth, but they did. And somehow, it felt okay. Almost natural. The look of shock on her face was unexpected, but the real surprise was how light I felt afterward, like I’d broken some unspoken rule between us by not turning it into an argument.Lately, eve
We step in to the elevator in silence, and Yelena lets go of my hand, wrapping her arms around herself as if to ward off the weight of whatever thoughts are pulling her down. I’m no expert in reading people’s emotions, but even I can see that something’s bothering her—something she’s not ready to share.“So, what do you say?” she asks, her voice picking up that false cheerfulness again. “Shall we get a nice drink and some food? You know, in case Dmitri’s written us off for the evening.”I chuckle, taking her up on the offer. “I’m sure if he could avoid eating with us for the rest of his life, he’d be thrilled.”Yelena giggles. “I know, right? But,” she lowers her voice dramatically, “it’s all a facade.”“A facade?” I raise an eyebrow.She leans in closer, her voice conspiratorial. “Between you and me, Dmitri likes to act all tough, but deep down? He’s a cinnamon roll.”I nearly snort in disbelief. Dmitri, a cinnamon roll? The man who threatened my father, who forced me into this sham
ANA“I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d pop in to see my favorite sister-in-law.”I look up from my desk, and my face instantly brightens at the sound of Yelena’s voice. She’s like a breath of fresh air, completely opposite to her stone-cold brother, Dmitri.My husband.“No, no,” I wave her in, shaking my head. “You’re always welcome. What brings you to the city?”Yelena strolls in, dropping onto the chair opposite me with a dramatic sigh, a bag clutched in her hand. I can see the neck of a bottle peeking out, and judging by the size of the bag, there’s more than just champagne in there. This is Yelena, after all.It’s been a week since she moved in with us, and the house has never been livelier. Every time she goes out, she returns with some kind of gift. Dresses, shoes, even random trinkets she thought I’d like. It’s sweet, in a way. A little overwhelming, sure, but sweet.She flashes a mischievous grin. “Okay, so I lied about being in th
Yelena is already racing through the door before I manage to intervene, passing Janet in the doorway. The only thing I can do is stare at the scene, wondering what’ll happen when the two finally meet and I’m not the one making an introduction.But I’m met with a surprise. My stepsister has her arms around Ana, who looks polished and pulled together in her work clothes.But that’s not all.Ana, who’s never once shown any expression other than anger or displeasure toward me, has the biggest smile on her face as she’s hugging Yelena back.“Oh, it’s so good to meet you finally,” I hear Yelena say as she pulls away and cups Ana’s cheek. “I knew the pictures I saw didn’t do you justice.”“Mr. Orlov,” Janet is the first person to notice my presence, and three pairs of eyes turn to me where I stand. “Welcome home.”Yelena rushes over to me, dragging Ana along. “How did you get this sweet, beautiful woman to marry you?” Her tone sounds more like an interrogation than a question, and she stares