Lexi’s POVTHREE YEARS LATER.“Food is ready!” I called out to the men while Camille, Reece and I set the table. I knew they weren’t going to answer me because of the game that they were watching.“I can bet you a hundred dollars that they wouldn’t leave that couch even if they were dying of hunger.” Reece sighed and Camille quickly agreed but I only smiled.“I’ll take that bet from both of you so if I get them to stand up, I get a hundred bucks each from you guys?” I asked and they agreed.Not calling them anymore, I went about setting the table and after a while I decided to lean against the wall, cleaning off the sweat on my forehead and rubbing my belly.“He just kicked! The baby just kicked!” I screamed with a wince as the men flew up from the couch, Camille’s boyfriend inclusive with Ivan leading the army.My eyes lit up and an eyebrow raised, Cassian caught on immediately and told the rest that I was lying, they were about to return to the sitting room when we insisted that the
Lexi’s POV“Let me out!” I yelled, banging on the door with so much intensity and it didn’t take long for the door to swing open and the horrible face that I’d grown up to see revealed itself.“Bang on the door one more time and watch how I make life unbearable for you.” My stepfather snarled and I swallowed down hard.He always does this, he would lock me up in my room anytime I defied him and just like other days, I’d defied him today too. I came home late and lied about partying because he must not know that I was out job hunting.Where on earth is it heard that a 25 year old woman still gets sent to timeout or gets locked up in her room by her step father?I’d tried everything I could to get out of the house but he makes it difficult for me. It seemed as though he’d taken a vow to make sure that I never leave the house that torments me each night I sleep in it.“You don’t get to lock me up like I’m some child, I’m an adult now and I am old enough to do whatever it is I want to do!
Lexi’s POV“You know,” I heard the thick russian accent that made me swoon and I turned to look at him, “I just can’t help but notice how extremely gorgeous you look.” He complimented.I could feel my cheeks get hot and I just knew that they would be red by now. My body tingles from the way he fiddled with his glasses I couldn’t help but wish that I was the one he was holding.“Thank you.” I muttered and I was quite surprised that he could hear me from over the loud music. Turning to face him properly, my breath got stuck in my throat as I took a closer look at him.He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the first two buttons were undone. The open shirt revealed his muscular chest that was covered with crisp brown hair.He wasn’t really close to me but I could perceive the strong masculine scent of his perfume and I knew at that moment that I was drunk and it wasn’t on the tequila shots I’d had earlier.His face looked so smooth and handsome and for a moment he lo
Lexi’s POV“What?” My jaw dropped alongside the shoes I had with me. What does he mean I’m getting married and why am I just getting to know about it?“I’m getting married?” I asked, wanting to be sure if I really heard what he said and it’s not just my ears playing tricks on me.“Yes, you are getting married and it will happen in three days time, you will meet his family and you will be nice to all of them.” He answered, I knew that he’d already said the most that he’s going to say but there’s no way I’m going to agree to this.My eyes were fixated on his face and for once I wanted him to tell me that it was a joke but It doesn’t seem like one because he looked dead serious.“You don’t really have much of a choice,” he started as he turned to face me properly, “you’re already a disappointment to me, your father and I know that your mother also isn’t proud of you.” He finished.He’s back to hurting me with his words, my chest hurt and it felt as though there was a dagger twisting insi
Ivanović POV“That’s her.” I affirmed as I dropped pictures of her on the table so my foster parents would be able to get a proper picture of what she looks like.“What is with you and her?” Charlotte, my foster mother, asked as she took a sip of her wine. I have never involved any of them in my love life and telling them I want to get married was sudden for them too.“That’s not the question, the question is what do you stand to gain,” I responded and I knew that what I’d just said peaked their interest.“What are you talking about?” My foster father, Vladimir asked, raising an eyebrow as he stared at me.Adjusting my tie, I sat in front of them to explain how I knew that Lexi’s father was in a lot of debt and me getting married to his daughter will not only benefit them but they could do whatever they want to her and also use her as some sort of collateral.“What then is in it for us?” He asked, “because I can barely understand everything you say.” My foster dad’s thick Russian acce
Ivanović POVMy phone vibrated in my pocket and frustrated, I pulled it out to stop it from ringing but I couldn’t ignore the call especially since it was from Ansel, my best friend and business partner.Turning to answer the call, “Where on earth are you?” I was expecting to hear Ansel’s voice but I heard Reece’s voice instead.“I know you have a big reputation for turning up late to places but you have a really important meeting today and your clients have been waiting for almost ten minutes now.” I could hear the frustration in her voice as she spoke.Reece, like Ansel, is also my childhood friend and the both of them have remained my family since we were in high school.“Stall them, I’ll be there as soon as possible.” I spoke into the phone before hanging up and rushing out of the house.I’d completely forgotten about the meeting and knowing they’re also an important client I couldn’t possibly ask Reece to reschedule since I’ve been doing that for almost weeks now.Hurriedly, my fe
Lexi’s POVQuickly, I ran into my room and slammed the door shut behind me as I slid down the door in tears. My life had completely turned around from worse to even more worse.Clutching my chest, I let the tears flow freely as I tried to wrap my head around what had just happened downstairs. For a moment I could see his eyes burning with anger as he pulled me closer to him. ‘You’re mine now Lexi Finn until I no longer need you.’His words kept ringing in my head and I’d tried to figure out where I’d heard that voice before because he sounded so familiar but I still couldn’t register it.My life is a total mess and with the way Ivanović had affirmed that I’m his I knew that there was no way out of this for me anymore.He seemed completely different from the stranger I met at the club last night and for a moment I’d thought that that stranger was as nice as he appeared to be. To my utmost surprise and disappointment he does not only turn out to be the mysterious son in the Volkov’s fa
Ivanović POVGroaning, I turned on the bed and my hand hit something, opening my eyes at once. I winced when I saw the naked feature sleeping so peacefully beside me.I was really drunk last night and I’d thought that the girl would’ve left by now. I hated waking up with my one night stand still by my side.“Get the hell up, you should leave,” I tried to be as nice as I could as I nudged her awake but she still didn’t stand up and she’d instead changed her sleeping position.Frustrated, I shook her till I was sure that she was fully awake, “what time is it?” She slurred but I didn’t care about that, all I wanted was for her to get the hell out of my house.“Time for you to leave, I guess,” I answered as I helped her with her bags and clothes, “I had a great time, you can leave now.” I finished as I pushed her out of my bedroom naked.I had no idea if she left already but if she knew what was good for her she would leave before I came back outside. Tired, I walked back to my bed to che
Lexi’s POVTHREE YEARS LATER.“Food is ready!” I called out to the men while Camille, Reece and I set the table. I knew they weren’t going to answer me because of the game that they were watching.“I can bet you a hundred dollars that they wouldn’t leave that couch even if they were dying of hunger.” Reece sighed and Camille quickly agreed but I only smiled.“I’ll take that bet from both of you so if I get them to stand up, I get a hundred bucks each from you guys?” I asked and they agreed.Not calling them anymore, I went about setting the table and after a while I decided to lean against the wall, cleaning off the sweat on my forehead and rubbing my belly.“He just kicked! The baby just kicked!” I screamed with a wince as the men flew up from the couch, Camille’s boyfriend inclusive with Ivan leading the army.My eyes lit up and an eyebrow raised, Cassian caught on immediately and told the rest that I was lying, they were about to return to the sitting room when we insisted that the
Lexi’s POV“You can keep tapping your feet but that wouldn’t stop this wedding from taking place.” Reeces voice jolted me out of my thoughts as I turned to face her.“My offer still stands, I’ll rip this gown apart and take the kids and we’ll run away from here if you’re not sure about this.” Camille blurted but Reece smacked her.“She wants this,” Reece responded, “she’s just nervous and it happens to a lot of people.” She explained but Camille only shrugged.She was right, I was nervous and although there wouldn’t be many people, just a few of Ivan’s clients, people from his work, Camille and her boyfriend, Ansel, Reece and the kids.Those aren’t faces that I haven’t seen before but still the more I think about the fact that today is my wedding day, the more nervous I get.It’s a joyous day of course and I’ve been looking forward to it since Ivan asked me to marry him, I still didn’t know how to feel because I’ve always talked about this day with my parents.My father always spoke a
Ivan’s POV“Hi princess, Hey champ.” Andrei greeted with a smile on his face as he crouched in front of Adeline and Cassian.“I’m sorry it took so long for us to meet but Uhm,” he continued, lifting his gaze to meet “I’m glad we finally got to meet.” He added as he extended his hand for a shake but they hugged him instead.“If you’re brothers, how come you don’t look alike?” Adeline asked, I wasn’t expecting anything less than that from her.Andrei and I laughed before finally explaining to them that we aren’t real brothers but foster brothers. It took a while for it to finally sink in but they soon got it.“But despite that, he’s still family and I love him so much.” I finished with a smile and they both nodded. I could tell Andrei was holding back tears and I wanted to shorten the meeting but he insisted on getting to know them more.Moving away so that I was going to give them the privacy that they needed, I walked over to Lexi who was still admiring her ring. I’ve always wanted th
Lexi’s POVCamille squealed before I could bring myself to say anything, her voice jolted me out of my own thoughts and I turned back to look at Ivan.Excitement washed through me, I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn’t form a coherent word so I just shut it back.Ivan’s eyebrow raised, he was waiting for my answer, “I believe the word you’re looking for is, Yes, Ivan, let’s get married.” Camille whispered behind me and I shoved her away.I wanted to get married too, getting into a real marriage with Ivan would definitely mean my biggest dream had come true but I didn’t want to make the decision alone.I knew that they loved him so much and they’d literally ask if I’m insane to be asking them a question like that but I turned in their direction and knelt in front of them.“So?” I asked, tears welling up in my eyes and I was trying all of my best to not let the tears fall, “do you think your dad is worth marrying?” I asked, laughing.Cassian and Adeline also bursted out laughing bef
Lexi’s POV“I missed you too.” I responded as I hugged him, I didn’t want anything to interrupt this moment and I just wanted to be holding him forever.“Want me to show you how much I missed you?” He asked and I smiled, I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me what he meant by that and my god, do I want it just as much!He took my face in his hand and kissed me, slipping his tongue between my lips, teasing and making me shiver in pleasure.He nibbled at my tongue and I moaned in his mouth, my hands moved to his chest as I felt his heart pounding. He caught my hand and began to move it down until I could feel his hard cock.“You probably already know this,” he whispered into my mouth, “this is what you do to me, you know how hard it was for me to not be able to do things that I want to you?” He asked and I smiled.Leaning against him, my hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they began to unbutton his pants. All I could feel right now was waiting and urgency as I undid his trousers
Ivan’s POVAndrei, Reece, Ansel and the undercover policemen came right in just about the same time that I knocked the gun off Darren’s hands.“What the hell took you so long?!” I snapped as Andrei made a call for paramedics. Cassian and Adeline’s eyes were closed and even Lexi had passed out already.We got into Andrei’s car, leaving the police at the scene of the crime while we followed the ambulance to the hospital.I was in pain but the pain was nothing compared to the kind of relief that I felt knowing that everything was finally over.“Will they be fine?” I asked, my eyes not leaving the ambulance in front of us and Andrei nodded. I never would’ve thought that he was actually going to help me out in all of this.“I just thought you should know that it also took you so long to call for help.” He rolled his eyes as he stepped on the accelerator when he noticed that he was losing the ambulance we were following.Smiling, I rested my back against the chair and closed my eyes. It's f
Lexi’s POV“What? No! Darren, you can’t do that, please.” I begged, wanting to crawl over to my kids but the men’s knives on both their necks and Celine’s gun pointed in the direction of Adeline caused me to stop.“Don’t pull that trigger, Celine, you got what you want and they’re innocent, they’re still too young, they don’t deserve this.” I sniffled, Cassian and Adeline’s eyes closed and they both looked tired.It’s been a week and the only thing they’ve been taking since I joined them was water, my babies were weak and seeing them in that situation caused fear to ripple through me.What if they died now? What if Celine didn’t pull the trigger and they drop dead out of weakness.I shook my head to get the horrible questions that were racing through my mind, an act I regretted almost immediately because my head started pounding.My vision had become blurry and I could barely see or hear anything clearly. My stomach hurt and I tried to apply pressure on it so that it would at-least st
Lexi’s POVI watched as Ivan handed all of the papers he came with to her. I had no idea that this was going to happen, that he was just going to give away his blood and sweat because he wanted to save us.The pain I was feeling was starting to become unbearable and I clutched my stomach as it felt like someone was twisting my insides with a very sharp dagger.“Why?” I finally asked as I lifted my gaze, stopping the exchange that was about to happen between Celine and Ivan.“Why are you both doing this?” I demanded, it all just didn’t make any sense to me that Celine was using the kids and I as leverage to get Ivan.The fact that she asked him to propose to her and threatened to kill us if he doesn’t just to prove that she could get him too.It all just seemed stupid but I also knew that sensible would’ve never really been a part of a psychopath’s dictionary.“If you aren’t going to think about me, Darren, at-least think about the children.” I continued, I have no idea what I think I
Ivan’s POVThe closer I got to the location, the harder my heart pounded and the more difficult it got for me to breathe.Checking my phone to be absolutely sure that I was in the right place, I lifted my gaze to take a good look at the old building in front of me.My phone chimed and I looked at my side mirror to see Andrei’s car and four other cars packed behind me. I recognized Ansel’s car too.No one would have known that they were with me so I summoned all of my strengths, drew in a deep breath and got out of the car to see a man waiting for me right outside the old building.“Your phone?” His voice was husky and slightly intimidating and without any questions, I handed him my phone.I’d already cleared all chats between me, Andrei, Reece and Ansel and I’d already cleared my call logs too just in case they wanted to go through my phone.“Where is my family?” I asked, swallowing the lump that had formed at the back of my throat as I forced it down with saliva.Not saying anything,