ANASTASIA’S POV“I don’t care what the issue is, Felix!” I yelled into the phone, holding it to my ear with one hand while struggling to put on my jacket with the other. My voice echoed off the marble floors as I stomped down the hallway. “The shipment was supposed to be in the factory last month! What’s the excuse this time? Logistics? Customs? Or some other nonsense?”Felix’s nervous reply buzzed at the other end of the line. “Ma’am, it’s… it’s a customs hold. They’re… checking for irregularities. We’re working on—”“Working on it?!” I cut him off, reaching the bottom of the staircase. “You’ve had weeks to ‘work on it’! I don’t want your fucking excuses, Felix. I want results. That shipment is very important for production, and if I don’t get the release confirmation by noon, I’ll personally come down there and handle it myself. I’m sure you know what that means for you?”“Yes, ma’am,” he stammered.I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. “And what about the revised invoices
NOLAN’S POVI stepped out of my car as it came to a stop outside Anastasia’s office building. I walked straight to the elevator, passing by the receptionist without sparing her a glance. As the elevator took me to her floor, my jaw tightened. One week. She’d been gone for one week without a single word.The elevator doors slid open, and I walked past her secretary, who was shocked to see me and jumped to her feet.“Mr. Russo, you can’t just—”I didn’t pay her any mind as I pushed open the door to Anastasia’s office, and I stepped inside without hesitation.Anastasia was sitting at the head of the table, dressed in her usual suit and her hair sleeked back in a bun. Sitting opposite her was a man in his mid-forties, dressed in an expensive suit, with a woman who looked like his assistant seated beside him. Anastasia’s eyes widened in surprise when she saw me storm in.“Nolan?” she said in a sharp tone, “What are you doing here?”I ignored her question and turned to the man seated across
ANASTASIA’S POVI parked my car in the driveway beside Nolan’s car which was parked neatly as always. I could see another car parked right beside his, but I didn’t pay it any mind. I reached for my bag and stepped out of the car. My heels clicked softly against the pavement as I made my way to the front door.As I unlocked the door and stepped inside, the muffled sound of voices reached my ears. One was Nolan’s while the other belonged to a female I wasn’t familiar with.My brow furrowed slightly as I slipped off my shoes and carried them in my hand. The voices grew clearer as I got closer to the living room. I stopped at the doorway as I took in the scene in front of me.Nolan stood rigid at the center of the room looking irritated. Across from him was a woman with blonde hair, dressed in a slutty short gown. Her arms were crossed and she looked like she was almost in tears.“What’s going on here?” I asked, my voice calm but sharp.I watched as they both turned toward me. The lady na
NOLAN’S POVI watched as Anastasia turned back at Mr. Petrov and said, “I don’t take threats lightly, Mr. Petrov.” Anastasia said in a low voice, “I suggest you choose your next moves very carefully.” She delivered the threat in a calm yet cold manner. She’s more dangerous and sharp-witted than I had given her credit for. I watched as she walked ahead of me confidently, her heels clicking softly on the tiled floor as we made our way outside. When we reached our cars, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw my assistant's name, Leo on the screen. I had sent him out of the country to do some undercover work for me and he can only be calling to either tell me he has been caught of that he’s back in the country. “What is it?” I asked, keeping my voice low as I answered.“Sir, the assignment you sent me is complete. I’ve gathered all the information and I’m back in the country” He said in a hushed tone. “Good work, Leo. I’ll see you in the office soon,” I replied, endin
ANASTASIA’S POVThe drive back home was uneventful, but the thoughts of Nolan churned in my head. How he took charge today when we were dealing with Petrov in the morning, and how he easily banters with me. For the first time, I found myself admitting that I found him intriguing.The house came into view as I turned into the estate gates. The guards nodded as I passed through the gate, their expressions neutral as always. I parked in the driveway and stepped out, the familiar scent of freshly cut grass breezing through the evening air.The house was awfully quiet when I entered, the soft hum of the air conditioning was the only sound in the house. Nolan’s absence was noticeable, although I couldn’t quite point out why it bothered me. He had stayed back at the office, probably poring over work or meetings.I kicked off my heels and made my way to the kitchen. A glass of wine sounded like a good idea right now. But as I entered, I froze. Sitting at the counter was none other than Nolan
NOLAN’S POVThe house was quiet when I woke up with light creeping in through the curtains. I sat up, rubbing a hand over my face before reaching for my phone. I had a few missed calls from my father’s assistant, a couple of messages from Leo, and one from an unknown number that made my brow scrunch up.Ignoring it for now, I threw the covers off and headed for the shower. Today was going to be long between the meeting with Glinda, the briefing for the gala, and whatever new problem was bound to arise.As I stepped under the warm water, my thoughts drifted to last night. Anastasia had been different—less guarded, more... real. The way she had laughed, the way she had argued, even the way she had rolled her eyes at me felt less forced. It was unsettling how natural it had been, how much I had caught myself enjoying it.By the time I was dressed and headed downstairs, I found Anastasia already in the kitchen, her back turned as she reached for a mug. She was dressed in a fitted white bl
ANASTASIA’S POVThe moment the elevator doors slid shut, I exhaled sharply, gripping my car keys tightly. My heart was still beating too fast, my skin tingling from where Nolan had held my hand. Stupid. I should be used to his antics by now. He was always pushing, always teasing, as if waiting for me to slip up and reveal something—what exactly, I wasn’t sure.The drive to my office felt longer than usual, my mind replaying the morning over and over. I hated how easily he got under my skin. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. This marriage was a necessity, nothing more. But Nolan had a way of making things feel… different. More complicated than they should be.As I stepped into my office, the familiar scent of jasmine and vanilla greeted me. The space was exactly as I had left it—neat, organized, efficient. But what I hadn’t expected was the figure lounging comfortably in the chair opposite my desk, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone as if she owned the place.“Athena?” I blink
ANASTASIA’S POV “Wait… my car. It’s still at the office.” I said as the sudden realization hit me as Nolan drove us home. Nolan barely spared me a glance as he said. “Leo will get it.”I frowned. “I can just go back and—”“I said Leo will get it.” He said as he pulled out his phone and dialed Leo’s number before I could argue further.“Pick the keys to my wife’s car from the receptionist at her office and bring the car to the house,” Nolan said to Leo in a firm tone. Whatever response he got must have been an agreement because he ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket.“Bossy much? You didn’t have to show off like that” I said with a huff. He smirked. “It’s efficient.”“Yeah, whatever”“Why don’t you have a driver or a PA?” Nolan asked with his brows furrowed a bit. “You shouldn't be doing these petty tasks yourself”I shrugged “I just like my things done precisely, so I’d rather get things done myself” “Okay, but why?”“It’s efficient,” I said blankly. Nolan
IVAN’S POVI stood frozen at the reception desk with my fists clenched as the wheels squeaking down the hallway echoed in my head. The memories of Anna screaming and the heavy bleeding flashed in my head. Was she going to be okay? Was my baby going to make it? The thought of losing my baby made me furious.The doctor came back out not long after. He looked around and then asked, “Where’s her husband?”Nolan’s mom stepped forward quickly. “He’s not around. Is everything okay with Anna and the baby?”The doctor looked down at the chart in his hands and sighed. “She’s 32 weeks along, which means the baby isn’t fully developed. But, the real issue is that she’s experiencing a placental abruption, which means the placenta is separating from the uterine wall before delivery. That’s what caused the bleeding and the pain.”Nolan’s mother gasped, stunned into silence."Is that... dangerous?" Anna’s mother asked.“It can be. That’s why we have to perform an emergency C-section immediately. The
NOLAN’S POVI felt a dull throbbing pain in my head as I slowly gained consciousness. My throat was dry, and the metallic taste of blood sat stubbornly on my tongue.I turned my head slowly to look around the dimly lit room I was in. My wrists were tied behind my back, the rope biting into my skin. Dimitri was slumped unconscious beside me, dried blood staining his temple. Our men were tied up across the room, still unconscious. Where the hell were we?I sat up slowly, trying to piece together the last thing I remembered. We were closing in on the location of Raul’s sponsor. Months of intel had led to that warehouse. As we circled the perimeter, we got grenades thrown at us scattering our formation.And then toxic gas got thrown at us that turned everything black.Dimitri stirred beside me.“Dimitri,” I called.He sat up looking confused. "What the...?" He asked with a grunt as he pulled on the ropes.I kicked him in the shin.“Damn it, Nolan,” he said, flinching. “What the hell was
ANASTASIA’S POV“This drawer should be for onesies only,” I said, gesturing toward the top section of the white-painted dresser. “Socks and mittens go in the drawer beneath it. Bottles and bibs can go in the basket next to the changing station.”Nolan’s mother gave a hum of approval, folding a tiny yellow onesie with smiling ducks printed on it and tucking it neatly into place. “You've got an eye for this thing,” she said, smiling over her shoulder at me.“I’m nesting,” I replied with a laugh, rubbing my belly. “It’s apparently a thing.”“Mm-hmm. I remember this phase. With Nolan, I was scrubbing the kitchen tiles with a toothbrush.”“That explains a lot,” I teased, making her laugh.Across the room, Nolan was on his knees, trying to assemble the crib. He frowned at the instruction sheet, then looked at the half-assembled frame.“This thing has thirty screws and no soul,” he muttered.I smiled. “Do you want me to take over?”“I’d rather wrestle a bear,” he replied, not looking up. “I
NOLAN’S POV“I can take a walk down the fucking street by myself, Nolan!” Anna snapped, already halfway to the door, her hand pressed against the arch of her back.I followed, stopping just behind her. “I can't let you go alone. You know that.”She turned slightly, her eyes a familiar blend of fire and frustration that had made me fall for her in the first place. “Nolan, I’m pregnant, not disabled.”“You know what? Maybe when my mother gets back from the store with Ivan, she can follow you for the walk. How does that sound?” I asked. She turned fully, with one hand dramatically pointing to her belly. “Nolan, if you don't let me go for this walk, I swear, I will fall face-first to the floor right here in this house. Your choice.”I stared at her, my lips parted slightly. I folded my arms, trying to gauge whether she was just venting or genuinely serious. She sounded exhausted.“Okay,” I said finally, raising my hands in surrender. “Okay. You can go. Just... be careful.”She gave me a
INTERLUDE(ANASTASIA’S POV)Pregnancy was supposed to come with strange cravings, mood swings, and a lot of hormonal crying. What I didn’t expect was for Nolan to turn into a full-time caregiver. It has been thirty weeks of pampering that bordered on suffocating. Since the doctor announced that I was pregnant, Nolan has barely left my side.He rubbed my feet even when I insisted I didn’t need it. He read pregnancy books and argued with my mother about prenatal supplements as if he was a professional. At first, it was sweet. But now? It is borderline suffocating.Just yesterday, he said I was walking too fast because I walked to the couch. And what was his response? “You should pace yourself. That’s... eight whole steps.”On most days, I didn’t know whether to kiss him or strangle him.And if Nolan was the overwhelming doting partner, Dimitri had become the chaotic uncle that no one asked for but somehow couldn’t get rid of. He was always around. I suspected he’d unofficially moved i
NOLAN’S POV“Anna!” I heard Ivan call out behind me. I turned around to see what was going on. I watched Anna drop and Ivan caught her. The second Anna’s body went limp, my heart nearly stopped.I ran up to check on her.“I’ve got her,” Ivan said, holding her.“No. Give her to me,” I snapped, snatching her out of his arms and cradling her against my chest. “Get the fucking car running. Now!”Ivan ran out the door without another word.I looked down at her pale skin as I carried her out of the warehouse. “Stay with me, Princess. You’re gonna be okay.”She didn’t respond.“Dimitri,” I snapped as I ran out. “Meet us at the clinic. Now.”He nodded, already pulling out his phone.The second I got to the car, Ivan had the back door open. I climbed in with her still in my arms. She wasn’t moving. My fingers stroked her clammy cheek as I whispered her name over and over again. “Anna. Baby, come on, wake up.”She didn’t move.My mind spiraled. This must be the fever she claimed was gone.“Dam
ANASTASIA’S POVI zipped up my suitcase and leaned against it, pressing my palm against my forehead for the third time this morning. The fever I woke up with had dulled, but I was still feeling the fatigue in my bones.Nolan walked in with a towel slung over his shoulder, eyes dropping to where I sat at the edge of the bed zipping up my suitcase. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked, coming to crouch in front of me, lifting his hand to check my forehead.I brushed him off gently. “I’m fine, really. The fever's gone.He frowned. “You sure?”“I’m sure, Nolan,” I said, giving him a small smile. “I swear the temperature’s gone.”He gave me a long, assessing look before standing. “Okay… but I’m keeping an eye on you.”He didn’t look convinced but didn’t argue. Instead, he crouched to grab the handle of my suitcase, zipped it up completely, and rolled it beside his. As I stood and adjusted the strap on my purse, he watched me quietly. I felt the weight of his gaze and glanced up.“What?” I ask
ANASTASIA’S POVI opened the door, still in mid-conversation with Ivan. My words halted on my tongue.Nolan was standing at the entrance of the kitchen with his phone in hand. His eyes locked on me the moment I stepped into the house.My breath caught in my throat.“You’re home,” I said, unable to mask the surprise in my voice.He slowly slipped his phone into his pocket and began walking toward me.Ivan stepped forward instinctively, brushing past me to bring my box into the house. Our shoulders touched and suddenly, I wasn’t in the foyer anymore, I was tangled in sheets, lips tingling from kisses that weren’t my husband’s. I blinked the memory away and focused on Nolan who was now standing in front of me.His face was unreadable. “I asked Maria where you were,” he said quietly. “She said you haven’t been home in a week.”I straightened. “I went out of town for work,” I said, clearing my throat.His eyes searched my face for something. “Why didn’t you tell me?”I scoffed, not even b
NOLAN’S POVThe operations were finally over. It was time to head home.We were stationed in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, waiting for the chopper to fuel up and take us home. Camila leaned against a steel pillar, her arms crossed, boots clicking softly as she shifted her weight. She looked too at ease for someone who had carried out dangerous operations back to back for one month.“Are you always this quiet or I broke you?” she asked, sizing me up with her eyes.“Just waiting to get the hell out of here,” I muttered, watching Dimitri scroll through messages on a secured tablet nearby. She smirked and pushed off the pillar, walking towards me.“Hmm, I guess you don't really have the stomach for it,” she said, moving closer. “If you asked me, I’d say otherwise. You’re a natural.”I glanced at her, unamused. “I don’t think that's a compliment I’d like to take.”She gave a dramatic sigh, brushing imaginary dust off my jacket. “You’re still thinking about Raul’s sp