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76|But The Flowers
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-13 03:01:17
Bab terkait
Reckless Hearts 77|Throw In The Towel
Traffic to The Empress was a breeze, and Andrei was at the hotel before everyone. He threw his car keys at the valet and headed to the Polo Bar on the second floor. He shrugged off his coat and sat in one of the Wingback chairs facing the masonry fireplace, appreciating the tasteful decor as he thawed out in front of the fire. On a typical day, the space doubled as a conference room for corporates or a wedding reception venue for smaller crowds. Today, it was specially transformed into an intimate setting for the supper with the Petrovs. "Can I get you something to drink, Mr Ivanov?" asked one of the waitstaff assigned to their party, handing Andrei a leather-bound menu. Before he could order his usual bourbon, his father strolled in with Pavel at his side. "Where is the mystery girlfriend?" he asked after they hugged and Pavel helped him out of his coat. Good question, Andrei thought as he pulled out his phone to check if Holly had texted him. "So, where is she?" Nikolai pre
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 78|Paled In Comparison
Clutching several gift bags in one hand, and holding a Kelly bag and a walking cane in the other, Holly was the epitome of beauty and grace in a classic black dress, matching satin pumps and a burgundy coat draped around her shoulders. Her long hair, pulled away from her face in a French twist, and the minimal jewellery she'd chosen, tied her look together beautifully, giving her an air of timelessness.She nervously glanced around the room, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces. Relief and something Andrei wanted to believe was joy flashed in her eyes when her gaze finally settled on him, her big, unrestrained smile warming up the room. As he sat there, unable to believe she was truly there, and not a figment of his imagination, Andrei couldn't help but think how all the peonies he'd sent her over the years—and he reckoned he'd sent her over a thousand since he saw her first show two years ago—paled in comparison with her. Hard as Andrei tried to resist the pull, he couldn't. So, he
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-13Reckless Hearts 79|Reign Supreme
For several seconds following his bombshell announcement, Andrei could swear he could hear a pin drop as a wave of stunned, heavy silence rolled through the room, sweeping them all up in its tense embrace. Then, as if a sorcerer had waved his magic wand and awakened them all from a deep slumber, it was pandemonium. Roman led the charge, bellowing his outrage at Andrei's blatant disrespect. All the English he knew flew out of the window, along with his composure, as he switched to Russian, promising swift retaliation if Nikolai dared to go back on his word. Not one to be outshone, Elena joined the fray and took a page from her husband's book, screaming at Andrei to get his shit together. "Your marriage with Veronika is going ahead as planned, with or without your say-so!" she fumed in her native tongue, pointing her blood-red talon-like fingers at Andrei. Firmly on their parents' side, Vladimir and Zhakariy threatened the Ivanovs with unprecedented violence if they didn't
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 80|All The Broken, Messed-Up Pieces
"You've truly lost your mind," Holly whispered as she spun away from him. "How the hell would that even work? I can't be anything to anyone, and you, more than anyone else in my life, know exactly how fucked up I am in the head, Drei. I cut myself when I can't cope. The only constant in my life is the intrusive thoughts living rent-free in my head. What good would I be to anyone when I'm so damn broken?" "Oh, Baby," Andrei said, reaching for her and kissing her forehead. "Don't you see? None of that matters to me. I want all the broken, messed up pieces of you. I want them all, even the ugly, scary ones—" "No, you have to find someone else," Holly said as she pulled away and began pacing again. "I am not marriage material. I don't want a husband and kids and the mansion!" Baffled by her response, Andrei asked, "Why not?" "Because it's all so mundane, boring, and ordinary. I'm not meant for any of that." "Is that what you think?" he asked, slowly approaching her. "That marriage—n
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 81|Ramp It Up
When Andrei and Holly stepped back into the Polo Bar, Nikolai and the Petrovs were about to dig into their entrées. Unbothered by Roman and Elena's enraged glances following them to their seats, Andrei played the part of a man in love to a tee as he helped Holly settle in. Whispering sweet nothings to her, he removed her coat and held out the chair for her, making sure she was comfortable beside him, before calling a waitress to bring them menus. "Maybe you should tone it down a little," Holly suggested for his ears only as she browsed the selection of entrées. "Everyone looks uncomfortable." "I think we should ramp it up," Andrei disagreed. And ramp it up, he did, as he leaned into her and they browsed the menu together, his arm hanging loosely over her backrest. Hard as he tried to keep his hands to himself, he couldn't resist the urge to run his fingers on her sheer sleeves. The hint of her skin was doing all kinds of things to him— "What are you in the mood for?" Holly aske
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 82|All The Money In The World
"Speaking of decorum," said Elena, crinkling her nose in disgust at Andrei and Holly. "This little thing you have will have to end when you and Veronika tie the knot. We do not approve of mistresses—""I'll say it one last time— I am not marrying Veronika!" Andrei announced calmly. Holding Holly's hand up possessively, just in case he wasn't clear enough, he continued, "This is the woman I intend to build a life with. Nothing you or my father say will make me change my mind.""Let's all enjoy the meal; we can discuss logistics later," Nikolai suggested, trying to take control of a rapidly deteriorating situation."I don't think so," Vladimir pushed back, insisting there was no better time than the present to conclude their marriage negotiations. "There's nothing to negotiate," Andrei growled, staring him down. Seconds stretched into a minute, and then some, with neither Andrei nor Vladimir backing off, the tension in the room growing so thick it was almost suffocating. "Vlad!" Vero
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 83|A Debt Owed Is A Debt Repaid
"What does a girl have to do to get your attention?" Veronika asked, placing her arms over the railing as she paused beside him. Andrei turned slightly to look at her, his eyebrows shooting up, surprised she'd chosen to lead with that, given their relationship."So?" she pressed, beaming at him as if it was the most natural thing in the world.Andrei looked her up and down, taking her in—from her Marilyn Monroe-inspired hairstyle to the classic Hollywood red dress hugging her slim frame to the snow-white fur coat hanging loosely around her shoulders. She was an attractive woman, no doubt. But knowing what he knew about her, her dazzling looks and megawatt smile only made his skin crawl, and he wanted nothing more than to pull out his gun and shoot her dead. Not for Iris this time. But for being a nuisance. He didn't know how else to drill it into her pretty little head that they would never be a thing. The million little fires in his heart burned for one woman, and Veronika wasn't th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-21Reckless Hearts 84|Deeply Misled
They stayed on the balcony for some time, staring at the shadowy outline of the stables and hills in the distance and the clear night sky, the howling wind filling the silence between them. Holly tugged her cashmere coat closer, glad she'd grabbed it before stepping out of the Polo Bar. The temperature had dipped even lower while they were inside. Not totally unexpected. The weatherman had predicted unusual snowfall in some parts of the country tonight. "Brrr!" she squeaked, her teeth chattering loudly when another gust of icy wind slashed her face, snatching flyaway strands of hair from her French twist. She pushed them back behind her ear as she glanced at Andrei, wondering if he had a built-in thermal source. He seemed unfazed by the blistering cold. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this," he said when he caught her looking at him, flicking an unlit cigarette between his fingers. "You must regret coming, and honestly, I won't blame you at all if you want to leave." Holly crossed
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-02
Bab terbaru
Reckless Hearts 105|Holding The Match And Gasoline
"Behind what?" Nikolai looked confused, but Andrei didn't buy his act one bit. After all, he was a master manipulator. "You know damn well what I'm talking about!" Andrei shouted as he backed away, terrified that if he didn't, he wouldn't be able to resist the urge to grab his father by the throat and strangle him to death with his bare hands. Nikolai shut the door and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're crashing out. Pull yourself together." "Don't tell me to pull myself together!" Andrei yelled, steepling his hands as he sat on the edge of his desk. "You were behind Holly's accident—" "What accident?" Nikolai demanded, and when Andrei filled him in, he was adamant he had nothing to do with the shitshow on Church Street. "That's all on you, Son," he said, still leaning on the door. "What the hell did you think would happen when you held Veronika at gunpoint?" "No," Andrei shook his head in denial, but deep down, he knew his old man was right. He'd put
Reckless Hearts 104|By Any Means Necessary
All eight photos of Holly, taken at various nightclubs in Rock Castle, including Crush, painted her in a terrible light. But the most disturbing was the one of her snogging Cooper at the Institute just a few weeks back. "Why do you have these?" Andrei stammered, seeing the future he'd envisioned slip through his fingers. "How do you even have these photos?" "Does it matter?" Nikolai replied as he draped his hands behind his head and crossed his legs. "All that matters is your jig is up." "It wasn't an act." "Yes, it was," said Nikolai. "I knew you were both up to shit last night when the Anderson lass showed up with her gift bags like Freddie Krueger handing out candy on Halloween. And I admit, all that jazz about loving you since she was sixteen and wanting to protect you was touching. But I knew there was no shred of truth in her words. Not with that photo of her and her lover floating all over the internet." "They broke up," Andrei explained. "They are not together anymore."
Reckless Hearts 103|The Trouble With Masks
"Right!" Andrei nodded, his shoulders drooping in defeat. The quick five-minute chat he'd hoped for would be much longer, it seemed. So he buzzed Monique and asked her to bring refreshments and the Nexus file. "Yes, Mr Ivanov," she said before strutting out of the room. She was back before Andrei had even settled down in his office chair, making small talk with Nikolai while she poured him a cup of coffee and handed him the Nexus folder. When she was done, she excused herself, reminding Andrei she was a phone call away if he needed something. With a bitter smile, Andrei waved her off. The only thing he needed was an update on Holly. So, while his father browsed the Nexus file, Andrei texted Lev, demanding an update. 'Still nothing,' came Lev's response, and Andrei had to dig deep inside himself for every ounce of self-control to not hurl his phone across the room, the knot in his stomach growing bigger the longer the waiting game continued. "Is everything okay?" Nikolai looke
Reckless Hearts 102|Difference Between Life And Death
With the situation well beyond his control, Andrei had no choice but to sit and patiently wait for Lev's call. But, ten minutes in, and his head of security still hadn't called, Andrei tried Holly again. Her phone didn't ring this time, the dead tone thrusting him into utter despair. He was always an optimist, a glass-full kind of guy. He had to be. His role as the number two of the family required him to always present a confident facade. How else would he negotiate high-stakes deals and run one of the country's most powerful crime families if he weren't? But the mess with Holly and Veronika was forcing him to put aside his rose-tinted glasses and see it for exactly what it was: a catastrophic failure on his part and his first real test at keeping his word to Liam. Two nights ago, he'd thrown down the gauntlet to Liam and swore he'd do a far better job of protecting Holly than the Andersons had ever done. If he failed… If Holly didn't make it out of the disaster unfolding on Ch
Reckless Hearts 101|Bring Him To His Knees
Sometime during his morning commute to work, Andrei came to the firm conclusion that he was an asshole. But, it wasn't something he would have readily admitted to if it weren't for his long chat with Ivan. His lieutenant had rightly pointed out that his shock at finding Juan's drugs in Holly's possession was perfectly understandable. His reaction, though, was over the top. He could have handled their 'talk' with far more grace and owed Holly an apology. Of course, even before chatting with Ivan, Andrei had already planned to surprise Holly with a bunch of peonies later, kiss the hell out of her and whisk her off to lunch at her favourite restaurant where he'd beg for forgiveness. So, as soon as he settled down in his office, he called the florist to order the flowers. But Diane soured his mood, telling him he'd have to wait at least two weeks since peonies were no longer in season and would have to be imported. "Can I interest you in roses instead?" she asked. "No, Diane. Roses
Reckless Hearts 100|Just Getting Started
You know how in movies, just before you die, time seems to slow down, and your life flashes in front of your eyes, making you question every decision, every choice you've ever made leading up to that moment? Sometimes, some long-dead relative, shrouded by a halo of light, is waiting for you at the end of a long, narrow tunnel to help you crossover. And other times, it's just the light. All you have to do is walk towards it. Holly didn't get any of that. No long-dead relative was waiting for her. No bright light to walk towards. No memories of her life flashed by. And time definitely didn't slow down. In fact, she was aware of every excruciating second as the car hit a traffic light and spun around several times before, ironically, crashing into a luxury car dealership on the corner of Church Street, missing a shiny Range Rover by mere inches. When the car salesmen—going about their mundane morning just moments before disaster struck— screamed and jumped out of the way, du
Reckless Hearts 99|Larger Than Life
A mournful sigh slipped through Holly's lips as she pushed the laptop away and picked up her now-cold coffee. As much as she wanted to look away, her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. They remained glued to a Polaroid photo of Isabella taken in one of the studios at the Institute while she was in croisé devant, a pose in which the dancer stands facing a corner at an angle to the audience.Knowing what Holly knew now about the circumstances leading up to Isabella's tragic end, it wasn't hard to figure out who had taken the photo. Her own socials were littered with such images, and she always joked that if dancing didn't work out for Cooper, he could always go into photography. Of course, he didn't have the technical know-how. But there was something special about how he captured his subjects...He had a way of making them appear larger than life, like they were the centre of the universe and everything around them existed purely for them. Looking at the photos, at the fragments
Reckless Hearts 98|Parallels
After Andrei insisted on driving her to The Castle, Holly had planned to jump straight into bed and pass out. But, agitated and heartbroken, hours later, when the sun finally came up, she was still tossing and turning, going over their fight. Never in her wildest dreams would Holly have imagined that her first-ever argument with Andrei would be over some stupid snuff bullet that wasn't even hers. At the heart of it, though, she wasn't all cut up because Andrei had insinuated she was a junkie. Everything he said was true. She was a cokehead and owned her addiction. What really messed her up was that he didn't believe a word she said about the capsule not being hers. After everything they'd been through, hearing her out was the least he could have done. But the distrust in his eyes, like she wasn't worthy of being given the benefit of the doubt simply because she was a drug user, had damn near killed her. In that moment, with his unfounded accusations smashing down on her like a to
Reckless Hearts 97|Bad For Business
"You know the rules," Igor stepped in. If there was ever a time when Andrei wanted to throttle him, it was then. He not only knew the rules, but also enforced them diligently by subjecting the family's top management to random drug testing and running background checks on potential girlfriends. So, Igor playing the rules card felt like a fucking slap in the face."Holly is compromised," insisted Ivan, siding with Igor. "She's bad for business!""Watch yourself!" Andrei growled. "That's my future wife you're talking about!""Oh, for fuck's sake! After everything we've just said, you can't still be thinking about going through with this marriage. Your father will not allow it!""After the shit he pulled with Veronika, I'm done with my father. Holly and I will still get married as planned!""So what exactly did Papa Ivanov do?" asked Ivan, picking up his cutlery again."What didn't he do?" said Andrei, linking his hands behind his head. Without further prompting from his lieutenants, he
