Page 16

For some reason, I’m nervous. I’m going to visit the place I’ve always called home, but this time around, the fact that I’m married makes it feel different.

I sit in the middle of the backseat and look right ahead as Nikolai and Anoushka’s mansion comes into view. I’m happy to see all my cousins, I truly am, and yet there’s a strange anxiety crawling through me.

I think it’s because I know they’ll have so many questions about married life, and on some level, I’m afraid they might come from a place of judgment.

It’s no secret that none of them are fond of my husband.

Heck, they even tried to convince me to call off the marriage until the day of the wedding itself.

I fear that today they will raise questions with their assumptions about him. I guess it’s good I’m here. Perhaps I can soothe things over.

The car comes to a stop, and before I can reach for the door, one of Agafon’s men from the convoy up front has already opened it for me.

“Thank you.” I smile and head for the house. I half-expect to be followed, but when I throw a look over my shoulder, I notice the men waiting by the cars. Agafon is trying to give me privacy and independence, and for that I’m grateful.

We've been married only four weeks, but we’re already starting to understand one another. When I said I wanted to meet my cousins, all he asked was when and handled the rest. It feels nice not having to plot and sneak around to do the things I want.

I don’t need to ring the bell since Nikolai’s guards have noted my arrival, and I’m barely up the stairs to the door when it swings wide open.

“Beth!” Nikolai rushes and sweeps me into a hug that lifts my feet off the ground. “You're here!”

I laugh as he sets me down. “Where else would I be? I promised I'd come.”

Behind him, his wife Anoushka smiles warmly as her eyes flicker behind her. “You came alone?” she asks as she leans in for a hug.

“I wanted to catch up with the family,” I explain. “Why? It’s not a formal thing, is it?”

“No, no,” she says and waves me off as she ushers me in. She then exchanges a look with Nikolai. “It’s just that we weren't sure if Agafon would let you visit without him,” she says, her eyes searching mine for signs of unhappiness.

And there it is, the judgment I prepared myself for. I know my cousins mean no harm, but hearing him thought of in this manner mildly annoys me.

“Agafon doesn’t care where I go as long as I’m safe,” I explain, which isn’t exactly a lie…now. “He sent me with drivers, though.”

“Of course he did,” Dima is standing by the doorway to the sitting room, his arm around his wife Lara. “Can't have his precious new bride driving herself like a normal person.”

“Besides,” Nikolai grins. “He might be a smart man not to trust her at the wheel.”

I laugh and spin to face Nikolai. “Once! I banged your car once!”

“And mine thrice, remember?” Dima recalls as he walks up to grab me into a bear hug.

I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. It feels good to be teased and treated normally after weeks of feeling like the mistress of a very serious house at Agafon’s.

I only have the staff there for the company most of the day, and none of them are friendly, especially not since Agafon fired that guard.

I’m ushered into the living room where the others wait. Fedor immediately jumps off the couch, and Sofia and Natalia break off their little gossip session to see what has caught Fedor’s eye. On seeing me, both sisters squeal and rush over.

Suddenly, I’m surrounded, being hugged and kissed.

“Come on!” Artyom says as he links his arm through mine. “Let’s get you a drink!”

“It’s noon,” I say flatly, but when he shrugs and I notice my other siblings get excited about this day drinking situation, I roll my eyes and play along. I accept whatever cocktail concoction Artyom and Fedor put together and take a sip.

I wince. “Strong.”

“We thought you might need it after the hell you’ve been through,” Fedor jokes.

I frown, and for some reason, the joke doesn’t land well. Lara notices my expression, and I watch as her face becomes gentle.

“I’m sure married life is treating you well,” she says kindly. Everyone watches me, waiting for an answer.

“It has its challenges,” I say with honesty. “But what marriage doesn’t? Overall, I’m adjusting.”

“How is it, really?” Natalia asks, her expression serious. She's always been the most direct of my cousins. “Are you okay? Because if you're not—”

“I'm fine,” I interrupt, surprised by how much I mean it. “Really. Agafon is... not what I expected.”

“What do you mean?” Dima asks, his face neutral in expression, but I know he’s forcing himself not to look judgmental.

I sit down on the sofa, and they all find a spot to sit or stand.

“He was distant at first. But he listened when I put my foot down about certain things.” I don't elaborate on those things.

They don't need to know about our personal affairs in depth.

“He's respectful. And his family has been welcoming.”

“So, what—you're happy?” Nikolai asks, skepticism clear in his voice.

“I’m finding my way,” I admit. “But I'm okay. Better than I thought I'd be when this arrangement was first made.”

I glance around at their concerned faces and feel a surge of affection. “Don't look so worried. He truly is treating me well.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” says Sofia, twirling her ice around in her glass.

“Any idea when Lion might be back?” I ask, changing the subject to my eldest brother.

Nikolai shakes his head. “Your brothers are all deep in something big. Spoke to Benedikt and Sergey just last night, and they were thrilled to hear you’re visiting today. Samuil is back in Dubai. They miss you terribly so.”

“I miss them too,” I say, and I do. The Orlov business doesn't run itself, and my brothers are working hard to prove themselves. “Lion called two weeks ago to check on me and said he’d be going out of network soon. He feels bad about missing the wedding.”

The conversation shifts as lunch is served in Nikolai's sunlit dining room. We talk about everything under the sun—the kids, summer plans, and a bit about Agafon’s house and the redecoration I want to undertake.

I don’t know why I was nervous coming here today.

It feels normal, and I realize how much I've missed this easy familiarity.

As dessert is being served, my phone buzzes with a text. I check it discreetly under the table, expecting it to be Agafon asking when I'll be home.

Instead, it's from Tatiana, Agafon's younger sister:

Family gathering at Bogdan's right now. Pool party. You should come! Agafon's here with everyone. Address attached.

I stare at the screen, confusion washing over me. Agafon had said nothing about a family gathering today. Why wouldn't he mention it? Was it perhaps because he didn’t want to dampen my plans?

“Everything okay?” Anoushka asks, noticing my expression.

“Yes,” I say slowly. “It's just... Agafon's sister. There’s a party at Bogdan’s.”

“Are you going to go?” Nikolai asks.

I consider for a moment. If I decline, I'll always wonder what happens at these family gatherings.

And if Agafon deliberately didn't mention it... Well, that makes me even more curious. It means he didn’t let me sacrifice my family gathering for his.

That simple act, in itself, makes me want to show up for him.

“I think I will,” I decide.

After hugs and promises to visit again soon, I'm back in Agafon's car, heading to the address Tatiana sent.

I stare out the window, watching the neighborhoods change from the old money elegance of my family's area to gated communities bought up by newer money.

Bogdan's villa is enormous—all modern glass and steel. As we pull up the long driveway, I see cars parked everywhere and hear the distant sound of music and laughter. This is clearly a huge party.

My stomach tightens with nerves. Agafon and I may be married, but we're still learning each other's boundaries. Will he be angry that I came? Or worse, embarrassed? Especially considering he didn’t invite me?

Too late to turn back now. I smooth my hair and adjust my dress, stepping out of the car into the warm afternoon sun.

One of the guards directs me to the back lawn. When I walk into the garden through the archway, I realize just how big the party is. There must be sixty people out here!

I stand there, looking around, and then I notice Tatiana catch my gaze. She waves and bounces over in her flowing yellow sundress. Her dark hair, so much like Agafon's, is piled loosely on top of her head.

“Lilibeth! You came!” She pulls me into a hug. “I wasn't sure if you would.”

“You invited me,” I say simply. “Of course I came.”

“Come on, everyone's here.”

She links her arm through mine and leads me past the massive infinity pool that stretches toward carefully landscaped gardens where at least another fifty people I hadn’t noticed before mill about in summer dresses and polos.

“Agafon didn't mention this party at all!” I say, trying to sound casual.

Tatiana waves a dismissive hand. “My brother is terrible at social niceties.” She leans closer, lowering her voice. “Or he didn't want to pressure you to come. He finds these parties overwhelming and probably didn’t want to put you through that.”

So he was being considerate the whole time. How…unexpected. He knew I might come if asked, and to prevent me from derailing my own plans, he simply kept it from me. His kindness touches my heart.

We step out onto the terrace, and I scan the crowd for my husband's tall figure. Instead, Katya spots us and hurries over.

“You brought her! Good job, Tati.” Katya gives me a quick hug. “We were just saying you should be here.”

“We?” I ask.

“Family,” Katya says with a shrug. “Well, except Agafon. He's been distracted all afternoon.”