It felt like we had been fighting for so long, like the weight of the world had been pressing down on us for years. But now, for the first time in so long, the dust had settled. The war was over. Alexander was gone, the threat to Damian and everything we had fought for finally extinguished. And yet, there was an uneasy silence that hung between us, like the calm before another storm. We had faced everything together, each battle drawing us closer, each challenge leaving us more intertwined in a way that nothing could ever pull apart. But now, the world around us had shifted. The pieces had fallen into place, and we stood on the edge of something new. The future was ours, but it felt more uncertain than anything we had ever known. Damian, always the pillar of strength, was quiet in a way I had never seen before. The fire in his eyes was still there, but it was dimmed, like something important had shifted inside him. The man I had come to know and love had always been defined by power
The first few weeks after everything settled felt like a dream. I was no longer waking up to the harsh, cold reality that had been my life for so long. The weight of the violence, the bloodshed, the constant threat of betrayal—it was all gone. At least, for the moment. We had made it through the storm, and now, Damian and I stood at the beginning of something entirely new. Something we had never imagined for ourselves. A life free of fear, of control, and of the ties that had once bound us to a world of darkness. But as we began to rebuild, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything around us was still changing. Damian had always been strong, always the unshakeable leader, but now there was a softness in him. A change that I couldn’t put into words, but that I felt in every interaction, every quiet moment between us. He wasn’t just the head of the Volkov family anymore—he was something more. And so was I. When I first met Damian, I had felt like an outsider. I had been brought int
The sun had set, leaving a soft golden hue that seemed to linger in the air. The kind of light that made everything feel still, almost suspended in time. Damian and I sat side by side, the soft rustling of the leaves around us the only sound that filled the silence between us. We didn’t need words; we didn’t need anything except the quiet moment we had earned. We were both lost in our thoughts, but there was a sense of peace between us, one that felt unfamiliar, yet comforting.I leaned back against the stone bench, looking up at the sky, trying to soak in the serenity of the moment. For the first time in a long while, the weight that had once pressed on my chest—on both of us—felt lighter. The tension, the constant fear that had shaped our every decision for so long, was gone. The world still turned, and the problems that came with it would always be there, but for now, in this very moment, everything was perfect.We had been through so much together. Our lives had started as enemies
The air was thick with the weight of the past, yet there was a sense of finality to the silence between us. Damian stood beside me, his presence as steady as the ground beneath us, and for a brief moment, I wondered if we had truly come this far. How had we, two people bound by duty and circumstance, ended up here, in this place of peace, knowing that the chaos we had lived through would always be part of us? How had we managed to find each other in the midst of all that blood and fire?I had always known that our love wasn’t going to be easy. From the first moment I met Damian, I could feel it—a pull, an undeniable connection. But I never imagined that it would be this complicated, this destructive. Love in our world, in the world we had come from, was dangerous. It wasn’t something you could simply hope for. It wasn’t something you could expect to be returned, and certainly not something that would be easy to keep.But here we were. Still standing. Still together.I let out a breath
Wedding Preparations It was a strange feeling, this moment. After everything we had been through, after the bloodshed, the battles, the secrets, and the pain, we were finally here. Together. And now we were planning a wedding. Our wedding. The thought still felt surreal, as if I were living in some fairy tale, one that felt too good to be true. But no, it was real. This was happening. And it was happening because we had fought for it. Every step of the way, we had fought—for our love, for each other, and for this moment. Damian was beside me now, his hand resting on my back as we walked into the bridal shop. I could feel the warmth of his touch through my dress, and I smiled. There was no longer any distance between us. No more walls. Just him and me, walking through this journey together. It had taken time for us to get to this point, and even now, with the wedding day fast approaching, it felt as though we had barely scratched the surface of what this new chapter in our lives woul
The morning was a flurry of excitement, nerves, and an undercurrent of anticipation. The wedding was growing nearer with each passing day, and today was dedicated to picking the dresses for my bridesmaids. Damian had been apologetic this morning when he couldn’t join me for the day. His workload was overwhelming as always, and while I understood the importance of his commitments, I couldn’t deny the slight sting in my heart. But there was a silver lining. He had asked his sister, Nadia, to come with me instead. I couldn't have asked for a better companion for the day. Nadia was someone I’d always gotten along with. She had a way of making everything feel a little less heavy, even when life seemed overwhelming. I adjusted the straps of my dress in front of the mirror and tried to push aside any lingering nerves. Today was important, but it wasn’t about perfection. It was about choosing the right people to stand beside me on one of the most meaningful days of my life. “Are you ready?
It had been a whirlwind of emotions these past few months—wedding preparations, life changes, and the overwhelming shift in my heart as I had finally accepted the love Damian and I shared. But even amidst all the excitement, there was something unresolved. Something that had been lingering in the back of my mind for a long time now—my parents. I hadn’t spoken to them much since everything had unfolded. They had always kept their distance after the deal with the Volkov family had been struck. But now that my wedding was just around the corner, I felt like I needed to face them. Not as their obedient daughter, but as someone who had been wronged and yet, someone who had learned to forgive. I owed it to myself, to them, and to the life I had built with Damian. Damian understood. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy for me, but he promised he’d be there for me no matter what. The love I had for him had become something that felt unshakable, and I had learned to lean on him in ways I ne
Wedding Day. The morning of the wedding was nothing like I had imagined. In all the hours I spent dreaming about this day, I had envisioned the excitement, the butterflies in my stomach, the overwhelming feeling of love. What I hadn’t expected, though, was the stillness. The calm before the storm. I stood in front of the mirror, gazing at myself. The woman staring back at me wasn’t the girl who had been forced into a marriage for power. She wasn’t the same person who had been manipulated by her parents or the woman who had walked into the Volkov family’s world, frightened and uncertain of her place. The woman in the mirror was someone entirely different. Stronger. More confident. Someone who had fought for what she wanted. Someone who was ready to step into her future with a man who had shown her love and respect in ways she never thought possible. I ran my fingers over the fabric of my wedding dress, the delicate lace soft against my fingertips. The dress had been chosen with D
Five years had passed since that first time we’d visited the Carnaval. Time had flown by in a way that both amazed and overwhelmed me. Nathan was now a little boy, five years old and full of energy. His laughter was contagious, and every day with him felt like a new adventure. As a family, we had our ups and downs, but there was something about the way our little world had come together that made everything worth it. The idea of going to the Carnaval again was something Damian had suggested a few weeks ago. I had almost forgotten about the tradition we started with Nathan when he was a baby. Now, with him being five, I knew this would be a different experience. Nathan was old enough to appreciate the colors, the music, the rides, and, of course, the games. We were no longer a young couple trying to figure out parenthood. We were a family—stronger, closer, and so much more in tune with each other. I watched as Damian helped Nathan into his little outfit. It was cute and casual, perfe
The day had finally arrived. Isabella had been feeling the first signs of labor for a few hours, and the excitement—and nerves—were palpable. She had been waiting for this moment, but now that it was here, she felt a whirlwind of emotions. Damian, however, was the one who seemed to be caught up in a storm of anxiety. His hands were shaking slightly as he paced the floor beside Isabella’s bed, watching her as she breathed through the contractions. Nadia, ever the supportive sister-in-law, stood nearby, doing her best to keep things calm. But even she couldn’t help but laugh a little at the sight of Damian, who looked as though he was about to faint. His face was pale, and he kept running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Damian, take a breath," Nadia said, trying to hold back a giggle. "You’re going to pass out if you keep pacing like that." Damian gave her a nervous glance. "I don’t know how you’re so calm. This is—" He stopped himself, realizing how ridiculous he sounded
I’ve always heard about the strange cravings and unpredictable moods that come with pregnancy, but nothing really prepares you for experiencing it yourself. When I first found out I was pregnant, everything seemed so surreal—like it was happening to someone else. But then, as the days went on, the reality of it began to sink in, and with that came a whole new world of experiences. The first change I noticed was my cravings. And let me tell you, they were... unexpected, to say the least. At first, it was subtle. I’d crave a little extra chocolate here, a strange combination of pickles and ice cream there. But then, one evening, I found myself standing in front of the fridge, staring at a jar of mustard like it was the most precious thing in the world. I couldn’t explain it, but I had to have it. Damian was on the phone, talking business when I grabbed the jar, and when he saw me sitting on the kitchen counter, spooning mustard straight into my mouth, he nearly dropped his phone. “Isa
As Damian and I continued to bask in the warmth of the moment, I noticed a soft sound coming from the door. My heart skipped a beat before I realized who it was. Nadia. She had probably been watching the whole thing through the hidden camera, waiting for the perfect moment to join us. Her timing was impeccable, as always. I barely had time to process her arrival before the door creaked open and she stepped inside, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, well, well,” she said, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smirk on her face. “It seems someone’s getting a little too comfortable in their new role as ‘Daddy.’” Damian, still sitting on the edge of the bed, shot her a surprised look before a sheepish grin spread across his face. He looked between Nadia and me, clearly caught off guard. “Nadia, you were watching the whole thing?” Nadia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, her playful expression never faltering. “I may have had a front-row seat to the most beautiful mo
It had been a week since Nadia, the maid, and I discovered the surprising news. A week since I saw the small, positive pregnancy test in my hand and realized that my life was about to change in ways I could never have anticipated. The excitement and fear still bubbled inside me every time I thought about it. But it wasn’t just me who was going to be affected by this news—it was Damian, too. And that’s why I wanted to do something special for him. Something that would surprise him, something that would be ours to share, even if it was just for a moment. I had an idea in my head ever since Nadia and I had looked at that little pink line. Damian had no idea yet, and I wanted to give him a surprise—an unforgettable moment when he would find out. Nadia, as usual, was all for it. She supported me in whatever I wanted to do. “This is for both of you,” she said when I told her my plan. “I’ll just set up a hidden camera in the bedroom, and then it’s all you. I think he’ll love it. You both w
It had been four weeks since our honeymoon in the Maldives, and something felt different. At first, I dismissed the strange feeling, brushing it off as just the weight of all the changes in my life. But the dizziness that came and went, the lack of energy, and the growing sense of exhaustion couldn’t be ignored. There were days when I simply didn’t want to do anything—days when getting out of bed felt like an impossible task. I wasn’t sick, not really. But I felt off. At first, I thought it was just the stress from adjusting to this new life with Damian. There was still so much to figure out—our relationship, the balance between work and life, everything. But as the days went by, I began to notice something else: my appetite had changed. I was eating more than usual, craving things I wouldn’t normally want. I could feel my body demanding food at strange hours. It wasn’t like me, at all. Nadia, my ever-watchful sister-in-law, seemed to notice too. One afternoon, as we sat together in
Honeymoon in the Maldives.I never thought I’d get here, standing in the Maldives with Damian, of all people, by my side. It had been a long road to this moment. The wedding was everything I had hoped for, but the thought of a honeymoon—a trip where we could finally relax, away from all the chaos of our lives—felt surreal.The first day was everything I had expected and more. The sun hung lazily in the sky, its golden rays reflecting off the crystal-clear waters that stretched as far as the eye could see. The soft sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the warm breeze brushing against my skin—it all felt like a dream. Damian and I had been taken on a guided tour of the island. We swam in lagoons, explored lush green paths lined with flowers, and even fed tropical fish by the water. It was a perfect day. The kind of day I had always imagined, where nothing mattered except the beauty of the world around me and the person by my side.I could see the joy in Damian’s eyes as we exp
Wedding Day. The morning of the wedding was nothing like I had imagined. In all the hours I spent dreaming about this day, I had envisioned the excitement, the butterflies in my stomach, the overwhelming feeling of love. What I hadn’t expected, though, was the stillness. The calm before the storm. I stood in front of the mirror, gazing at myself. The woman staring back at me wasn’t the girl who had been forced into a marriage for power. She wasn’t the same person who had been manipulated by her parents or the woman who had walked into the Volkov family’s world, frightened and uncertain of her place. The woman in the mirror was someone entirely different. Stronger. More confident. Someone who had fought for what she wanted. Someone who was ready to step into her future with a man who had shown her love and respect in ways she never thought possible. I ran my fingers over the fabric of my wedding dress, the delicate lace soft against my fingertips. The dress had been chosen with D
It had been a whirlwind of emotions these past few months—wedding preparations, life changes, and the overwhelming shift in my heart as I had finally accepted the love Damian and I shared. But even amidst all the excitement, there was something unresolved. Something that had been lingering in the back of my mind for a long time now—my parents. I hadn’t spoken to them much since everything had unfolded. They had always kept their distance after the deal with the Volkov family had been struck. But now that my wedding was just around the corner, I felt like I needed to face them. Not as their obedient daughter, but as someone who had been wronged and yet, someone who had learned to forgive. I owed it to myself, to them, and to the life I had built with Damian. Damian understood. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy for me, but he promised he’d be there for me no matter what. The love I had for him had become something that felt unshakable, and I had learned to lean on him in ways I ne