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CHAPTER 6
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-18 20:52:39
Bab terkait
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 7
Alessia Moretti The iron gates creaked open with slow, mechanical menace, revealing the full magnitude of the Volkov estate.It wasn’t just a house—it was a fortress. A looming mansion of obsidian stone and gilded windows, surrounded by tall hedges, surveillance cameras, and guards dressed like corporate assassins. Every inch of it screamed power, danger, and wealth—the perfect home for a man like Nikolai Volkov.The car rolled up to the entrance, and the driver stepped out before I could even reach for the handle. He opened the door for me without a word, and I stepped out, heels clicking against the pristine marble steps.A butler was already waiting by the door—gray-haired, sharp-eyed, and impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit.“Miss Moretti,” he said with a respectful nod. “Welcome.”I swallowed hard. *Miss Moretti… not for long.* That name would soon be replaced with something else—something I hadn’t chosen.“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.The butler moti
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-19SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 8
Alessia Moretti It had been four days since I’d moved into Nikolai Volkov’s lair. Four days of cold glares, clipped conversations, and endless attempts to provoke him.I couldn’t help myself. Pushing his buttons was the only way I could reclaim some kind of power in this twisted arrangement.And God, was he easy to rile.This morning, it started with the simplest thing: tea.I knew he preferred his kitchen spotless. So I’d deliberately left the teabag in the sink instead of throwing it away. It was petty, sure, but I wanted a reaction. A crack in that marble-cold exterior.And I got it.He walked into the kitchen just as I was casually sipping my tea, barefoot, wearing a silk robe he’d so generously provided—another reminder of how thoroughly he’d tried to dress me like a doll in his world.His eyes immediately darted to the sink, then back to me.“Really?” he said, tone flat.I looked up, feigning innocence. “Something wrong?”“The sink.”“Oh,” I said sweetly. “You mean the teabag?”
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-20SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 9
Alessia MorettiFor the first time in days, I could breathe.I stepped out of Nikolai’s penthouse that morning with an urgency I hadn’t realized I’d been holding in. The cold morning air of Los Angeles kissed my skin, a far cry from the suffocating silence and tension inside those marble walls.University.It was strange to even think the word after everything that had happened. But here I was, clutching my psychology textbooks like nothing had changed—except everything had.The car Nikolai had assigned to me waited just outside. Black, tinted, sleek. A driver in a sharp suit nodded as I slid into the back seat.“You don’t have to do this,” I’d told Nikolai last night when he insisted I’d have a driver. “I’m not a prisoner.”“No,” he’d said, his eyes unreadable. “But you’re mine now. And I protect what’s mine.”I’d rolled my eyes and turned away, but a part of me had shivered at the quiet possessiveness in his voice.The university came into view twenty minutes later—tall columns, pal
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 10
Nikolai VolkovThe skyline of Los Angeles glittered in the distance like a carefully crafted illusion—pretty, hollow, and deceiving. I stood by the window in my office on the top floor of Volkov Industries, sipping my coffee while the city sprawled beneath me like a submissive servant, unaware of the wars waged in silence within its heart.It was barely nine in the morning, and I had already handled a customs delay in Bulgaria, shut down a laundering scheme gone rogue in Prague, and responded to two encrypted messages from my ukranian contacts regarding a potential arms deal.But my mind wasn’t on any of that.It was on HER.Alessia.Even now, as I stood surrounded by glass, steel, and power, a part of me itched to know if she’d woken up yet. If she’d pushed the duvet off like she did every morning. If she’d found the black velvet box I’d left on her vanity, containing the sapphire necklace that once belonged to my mother. A silent gift. A peace offering. A chain, maybe.I didn’t know
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 11
Nikolai Volkov The mind has a cruel way of preserving certain memories — not the ones you try to keep, but the ones that never quite let you go.It was supposed to be an ordinary day. Another formal gathering, another evening of calculated smiles and under-the-table threats between two rival families pretending to coexist. But it wasn’t ordinary. It was the day everything changed. The day she appeared — and nothing in my world was ever the same again.I didn’t know then that I was witnessing the beginning of an obsession.I was only nine.***My father’s voice boomed in the corridor of the Moretti estate as we arrived. I still remember the sound of my polished shoes clicking against their marble floor, the heavy scent of aged wine and tobacco in the air, and the way my mother’s gloved hand tightened around mine before we entered the dining room.The place was grand, suffocatingly ornate — all golden chandeliers and velvet chairs, portraits of dead men staring from the walls like sile
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 12
Alessia Moretti The soft clinking of porcelain cups and the subtle scent of vanilla-scented candles should have made the ambiance feel warm and inviting. But there was nothing warm about this room. Nothing inviting either—except maybe the way the wedding planner kept batting her overly mascaraed lashes at Nikolai Volkov.I hated her already.Her name was *Sienna Delacroix*, an award-winning wedding coordinator from Beverly Hills, apparently famous for orchestrating weddings so perfect they made Pinterest boards weep. According to her website, she believed in “creating fairytales, one vow at a time.”I had never believed in fairytales.And certainly not when mine began with blackmail, a forced engagement, and a fiancé who looked like he belonged in a mafia-themed Calvin Klein ad.“Alessia, darling,” Sienna purred, her voice sickly sweet. “You haven’t picked a wedding mood board yet. Romantic coastal or opulent vintage? I brought swatches.”“I pick neither,” I replied flatly, flipping
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 13
Alessia Moretti The sun was beginning its slow descent behind the towering buildings of Los Angeles, painting the sky in a mix of gold and crimson. The day had been unbearably long, filled with lectures I barely paid attention to. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the suffocating reality of my new life. Even thinking about his name sent a mix of unease and frustration coursing through me. I had spent the past few days trying to navigate my new reality, living under the same roof as him, feeling his presence shadowing my every move. I exhaled as I pushed through the university doors, gripping my bag tightly. Today, for just a few hours, I had managed to slip into the illusion of normalcy. Attending my classes, sitting beside Stassie, laughing at her ridiculous jokes. Pretending, even if only for a short while, that my life was still my own. But that illusion shattered the moment I stepped into the parking lot. I froze. Leaning against my car, his arms crossed over his broa
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-25SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 14
Alessia Moretti The drive from the university to Nikolai’s penthouse was a blur. My thoughts had been consumed by Marcello’s words, each one cutting deeper than the last. I hadn’t realized how much pain I had been hiding—how much I had been pretending to ignore. The way Marcello had looked at me, that desperation, that pleading… it was a reminder of a life I couldn’t escape, a past I couldn’t seem to shake.I’d never wanted to hurt Marcello. I cared for him, once. But the man I was now engaged to—Nikolai Volkov—had made it clear that there was no room for any other man in my life. And yet, here I was, still haunted by the ghost of the past.I barely even registered the tall, imposing building in front of me as the car came to a stop. I hadn’t even realized we’d reached the penthouse. All I could think about was the conversation with Marcello, how I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my choices. Before I could gather my thoughts, the door opened, and there he stood—Nikol
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26
Bab terbaru
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 35
The warehouse was quiet. Just the hum of the overhead lights and the soft scrape of my shoes on the concrete floor. Zayn stood near one of the worktables, rolling a coin between his fingers. That little tic always meant something was bothering him. I didn’t need to ask.Still, I waited.He didn’t make me wait long.“Alessia’s stalker isn’t just a shadow anymore,” he said, voice low but certain. “We’ve got something. Not enough to strike, but enough to feel the heat.”My jaw tightened. “Talk.”Zayn flicked the coin up and caught it again. “Surveillance footage. Cross-referenced timestamps from the gala, her usual haunts, even that little bookstore she likes.”“She hasn’t mentioned the bookstore to me.”“Because she doesn’t trust you yet.” He raised a brow. “Can you blame her?”I ignored the jab. “What else?”“One guy shows up three times in three different places. Always on the edge of frame. Never close enough to raise alarms. But too consistent to be coincidence.”I nodded slowly, pi
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 34
Alessia Volkov The air felt heavier than usual. Like something thick and unspoken had settled over the city, clinging to the windows and walls of the penthouse. I stood at the edge of the balcony, wrapped in a robe, hair twisted into a loose bun, fingers curled around a cold glass of water I hadn’t touched in ten minutes.Behind me, the doorbell echoed faintly. Once. Twice.I didn’t move. Didn’t turn.I knew who it was.Nikolai had stepped out earlier for meetings—of what nature, I didn’t care to ask—but his absence made it easier for my father to come slithering back in. Roman had called to let me know Dante was downstairs, waiting.I should have said no.I didn’t.When the door opened, I didn’t need to look to feel him enter. The presence of Dante Russo always came with the scent of expensive cologne, finely tailored disappointment, and shadows.“You look thin,” he said casually. “Is he feeding you?”“Not now, Papa.”I turned to face him slowly. He looked older. Or maybe just more
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 33
Nikolai Volkov The morning sun had no right to shine as brightly as it did.It poured into the penthouse like liquid gold, draping the marble floors and high ceilings in warmth that I didn’t feel. Alessia sat by the window, wrapped in a silk robe that was too pristine for how sharp her mood had been since she woke. Her hair was a cascade of dark waves over her shoulder, untouched since last night.She didn’t look at me.Coffee brewed in the background. The scent filled the room, but it didn’t mask the chill that had settled between us.“You didn’t sleep,” I said, my voice low.Alessia raised her cup to her lips without turning. “Didn’t know I had to report my sleep schedule to you now.”The sarcasm was immediate. Cutting. Familiar, yet more pointed than usual.I approached slowly, as if one wrong move would cause her to shatter.“Was it the bed?” I asked. “Or the idea of waking up next to me?”She glanced over her shoulder finally, eyes gleaming with something I didn’t like. “It was
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 32
Alessia Volkov The applause faded into the clinking of crystal flutes and the soft hum of a string quartet. The ceremony was over. The vows had been said. The trap had been set. Now came the performance. The reception was held in the same estate, only this time, the gardens had been transformed into a dreamscape of lights and flowers. Twinkling chandeliers hung from towering trees, casting golden reflections across white roses and marble statues. It was beautiful—disgustingly so. I stood at the edge of it all, glass of champagne in hand, veil removed, heels sinking slightly into the manicured lawn. Guests mingled and laughed, wine flowed like water, and everyone pretended like this was a celebration. But I knew better. "Smile," Nikolai murmured beside me, not looking at me but at the crowd. "They’re watching." I forced my lips into something resembling joy. "Don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of your criminal board of directors." His mouth twitched at the
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 31
Alessia Moretti The morning light streamed through the sheer curtains of the bridal suite, but there was nothing soft or romantic about it. It felt intrusive, like it was daring me to forget what today really was. My wedding day.I stood in front of the vanity, motionless as Stassie pinned the last delicate strand of my hair into place. Her fingers were steady, her reflection calm, but I knew her well enough to see the storm behind her eyes."You look like a goddess," she said softly, her voice a rare note of warmth in the cold quiet of the room.I met her gaze in the mirror and forced a smile. "A sacrificial one."She sighed. "You still have time to run.""And where would I go, Stass? There’s nowhere far enough from Nikolai Volkov. Or the consequences."Her eyes dropped to her hands, and the silence between us stretched. She didn’t argue. She knew me too well. Knew Luca was worth it. Knew I’d already made peace with my own destruction.I stared at my reflection, trying to reconcile
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 30
Alessia MorettiThe night air was heavy with warmth, laced with the distant sounds of a city that never truly slept. From the terrace of the penthouse, Los Angeles sprawled beneath me like a sea of molten stars—bright, endless, deceptive. I lay on the lounge chair, a thin silk robe draped over my legs, my hair cascading over my shoulder like a veil. The wind was gentle, caressing my skin, offering no comfort.Tomorrow, I would become Mrs. Volkov.My throat tightened at the thought. Not out of love. Not out of joy. But because I had no other choice.I tilted my head toward the sky, searching for something—clarity, maybe. A sign. Anything. But the stars didn’t care, and the moon remained silent.A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. A year. Just one year. That was the deal. One year bound to Nikolai Volkov. One year wearing his ring, sleeping in his bed, smiling for cameras, and pretending I wasn’t drowning inside.All for Luca.The thought of my little brother made my chest
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 29
Nikolai Volkov The meeting with the wedding planner had barely ended when I found myself pacing the hallway outside my office, jaw clenched and fingers twitching with anticipation. Alessia’s sarcasm still lingered in my mind like the remnants of an irritating perfume—sharp, invasive, and impossible to ignore. And yet, underneath all the aggravation, I could still see the glint in her eyes when she challenged me, the fire she tried so hard to conceal. It was a maddening dance we performed, this back-and-forth of cold barbs and reluctant magnetism. But there were more pressing matters than navigating the battlefield that was my relationship with my fiancée. Zayn leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his usual smirk absent from his face for once. He knew what today meant. This wasn’t about sending a message. It was about making a statement. “You sure you don’t want to send Roman or Sergei?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with caution. “You know they’d take care of it wit
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 28
The penthouse was unusually quiet for a morning that promised chaos. Two days. Two days before Alessia and I were bound by a contract neither of us asked for—but both agreed to. A necessary alliance. Strategic. Ruthless. Like me.And yet, nothing about this wedding felt predictable. Especially not her.I stood in the open space of the living room, watching the sun slant through the large windows. My black dress shirt was rolled at the sleeves, a cup of Turkish coffee in one hand. I needed the caffeine if I was going to survive this morning. The wedding planner was set to arrive any minute, and Alessia—true to form—was still in her room, likely choosing the most dramatic outfit she could find just to irritate me.Footsteps echoed lightly from the hallway. Speak of the devil.She entered, dressed in an oversized black button-down shirt that looked suspiciously like mine. Her hair was twisted up messily, and she wore no makeup. Still, she looked like chaos incarnate—controlled, curated c
SHADOW OF VOW'S CHAPTER 27
The car ride was suffocating.The silence between Nikolai and me wasn't peaceful or empty—it buzzed with unspoken words, with tension so sharp it could slice the air in two. I sat rigidly against the leather seat of his sleek black SUV, arms folded tightly across my chest as the city lights blurred past the window. He didn’t say a word. Typical. Always the silent brooding type when he knew he was in the wrong.Not that he'd ever admit it.My phone buzzed. A message from Stassie: *"Zayn is too much. This man is dangerous in all the worst ways. Wish me luck."*I smirked and quickly replied: *"If he kisses you, bite him."* Then I tucked the phone back into my clutch and stared straight ahead. My body was still humming from the adrenaline, from the nightclub confrontation, from *him* stepping in again like some overbearing shadow looming over my life.He turned the wheel with practiced ease, eyes fixed on the road, jaw clenched. The tension radiating from him was palpable, matching mine n
