Page 27

The private villa sat atop the rugged cliffside, its terrace overlooking the vast ocean with waves crashing against the rocky shore. Seagulls squealed overhead as the evening breeze mingled with the faint scent of salt, citrus, and fresh flowers from the garden underneath.

Across the horizon was a breathtaking view: the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky with streaks of amber and rose. The gentle overlapping of waves below created a soothing melody, puncturing the serenity of the environment.

We stood on the balcony, the warm, golden lights caressing our features. I curled up against my husband, wrapped in a silk robe that barely clung to my shoulders, revealing way too much skin. He loved it when I was dressed almost half-naked, teasing his eyes.

The fabric of my robe seemed to simmer in the dimming lights, whispering against my body as I leaned into his rigid frame. I felt safe, secure, and at peace with his possessive yet protective hands around my waist. The rich scent of his cologne invaded my senses, his warmth wrapping me like a shield.

I shut my eyes, basking in the comfort his embrace provided, my arms tightened around him. A soft exhale escaped my lips, my heartbeat slow and steady, a sense of calm washing over me. In my mind, I thought I was the luckiest woman in the whole world, considering the wonderful turn that my life had taken.

Who would have thought that I, Scarlett O’Sullivan, now Scarlett Tarasov, would feel so much comfort around Daniel Tarasov, the man who had kidnapped me on my wedding day? I’d yet to fathom this gradual change—how I moved from hating his guts to loving him unconditionally.

Funny how what started out as a curse turned out to be a blessing in disguise. What would my life have been like if I’d married Liam Callahan? I would have found out that he wasn’t the man he claimed to be, that he was actually guilty of the accusations against him. But then, it would have been too late, and I would’ve been trapped with him for life.

Daniel had saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life, even though it wasn’t his intention at first. However, I was glad that he did invade my wedding, that he took Liam’s place at the altar and kidnapped me afterward.

This situation with Daniel made me realize that the world wasn’t black and white, and not every “misfortune” was actually a misfortune. Some were a blessing. I understood that sometimes, we could find love even in the most unlikely situations.

There were incidents in our lives that were supposed to happen to get us out of where we were and catapult us to where we were meant to be. More often than not, these incidents masqueraded as bad luck, but with time, their true purpose would be revealed.

Now that I’d come to this understanding, I wouldn’t change a thing, even if I had the chance. Not a single thing. Because everything that happened to me was to bring me to this moment—the moment where all I felt was love, peace, and happiness. Nothing in my life happened by chance. Nothing was a mistake.

Every decision and every step was perfectly orchestrated to help me find the man for me. Some might call it fate or destiny; some might say it was the hand of God or the intervention of the universe. But whatever it was, it most certainly was not a coincidence, nor was it random—an accident.

I was grateful for the way my life turned out in the end, and I would do anything to keep it that way. What I found was rare, very rare, so it would be wise of me to protect it dearly.

My manicured fingers traced the patterns of his bare chest, my smile broadening as I listened to the steady beat of his heart.

The strength of our union—mine and my husband’s—was the driving force behind our families’ alliance. The Tarasovs and the O’Sullivans had finally set aside their differences and now were working hand in hand. Together, both families had become a force to be reckoned with, and everyone in the underground criminal world knew that to wage war against one was to wage war against both families.

Liam Callahan, on the other hand, had fled the country after his plan to assassinate Daniel and get me back failed woefully. His family was scattered across the globe, each member living in fear for their lives. They knew that if a Tarasov should come for them, it would be game over for the Callahans.

Sadly, the puppet in this little game was Ilya. His death was uncalled for, and his folly was as surprising as it was disastrous. I couldn’t fathom how he moved from being Daniel’s most trusted enforcer to being the one to betray him. Perhaps the saying was true: In every twelve, there’s always going to be a Judas.

Daniel put up a front like he was unaffected by the incident, but I knew better; I saw right through him. Ilya’s betrayal cut deeper than he’d ever admit. And although Dmitry—the one who saved me from being returned to Liam—was the perfect man to take Ilya’s place as lieutenant, it would take years before he’d gain a fraction of my husband’s trust.

In this game, betrayal was unforgivable. Loyalty was non-negotiable. I learned that, and I learned it well. In the same way, I learned that underneath Daniel’s cold and ruthless exterior, there was a man who, when he chose to, could protect with the same intensity as when he destroyed.

I was so proud to be his wife, to spend the rest of my life with a man who’d do anything, go any length, to save me. He was the ideal father for our unborn children, the perfect role model, a representation of ruthlessness with a touch of compassion.

His strong hands caressed the back of my neck, fingers digging into my muscles with a soothing gesture. He smoothed my hair backward, lips pressing against my forehead. “Can I ask you something?” His voice, a low whisper, was soft and tender.

I raised my head, my eyes sparkling with curiosity as I held his gaze, wondering what was running through his mind. “Sure,” came my response with the same tone.

He brushed the back of his fingers over my face, his strokes gentle and delicate. “I’ve been thinking about the incident with Ilya,” he began smoothly, his eyes locked on mine. “You heard the plan to eliminate me, and instead of saving yourself, you chose to warn me. Why?”

I heaved a sigh, my pulse gradually starting to quicken, anticipation and a hint of anxiety setting in. This was the part where I was supposed to come clean and explain the real reason I’d done what I did. I could so easily give an answer that would sound like the truth just to avoid facing it. But to what end? There was no reason to keep lying to myself, no reason to keep this feeling bottled up when my actions had already betrayed my composure.

“If you’re not comfortable answering, then—” he began before I cut him off.

“No, no, no….” The words tumbled out of my mouth in a frantic rush, a nervous chuckle escaping me. I looked away from him, my eyes dropping to the floor. I pushed some stray strands of hair behind my ear, clearing my throat in readiness for my confession.

His gaze lingered on me. I could feel it; I could feel the weight. Softly, I let out an exhale and then raised my head and looked into his eyes. “I warned you that day because…” my words caught in my throat for an instant before continuing, “because I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you.”

His eyes narrowed with a subtle motion, his expression softening ever so slightly.

“I couldn’t imagine living without you, and as crazy as that sounds, I promise you, it’s the truth,” I continued, my heart racing in my chest.

“You said you couldn’t imagine living without me. What about now? Can you imagine living without me?” he asked, his voice smooth and easy, fingers brushing over my skin.

His touch ignited a fire within me, leaving me breathless and nervous, my body shuddering at the shivers running down my spine.

I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his face. “No. I can’t. I can’t live without you, Daniel. You’ve snuck your way into my heart. You’ve pulled down my high walls and broken all of my defenses.” I paused, letting the words sink in as I took a moment to revel in the smile on his lips. “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m glad that you did.”

He stared into my eyes, passion dancing in the depths of his. “Do you know what Ilya said about you?”

I squinted, tilting my head to the side, unsure of where this was going.

Daniel continued, “He believed that you changed me. In his opinion, you made me weak.”

“That’s not true,” I interrupted, shaking my head.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” he said, his fingers working their magic on my neck. “But the truth is, printsessa …you unlocked something in me, an emotion I never thought that I was capable of feeling.” He paused, his eyes never leaving mine. Daniel’s voice dropped to a low whisper when he said, “I love you, Scarlett.”

My heart sank into my belly, my breath hitching for a moment as my eyes widened.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but I am now,” he added, his voice dripping with sincerity. “It’s a strange feeling—an unfamiliar one—but…I like it. I like how you make me feel.” His thumb brushed over the tears streaming down my cheeks.

My heart swelled with emotion, my lips trembling subtly at the big reveal. Daniel was not the type to talk about his feelings—hell, he wasn’t even the type to feel anything other than hate and lust. Hearing him say those words—those three little words—meant the world to me.

His confession left me numb, speechless, with tears of joy simmering in my eyes. I wasn’t ready for this. Maybe that was the reason why I was so emotional about the whole thing. I knew he’d developed a liking for me over time, but I was too scared to think that it was actually love. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to have them bashed to the ground.

Daniel’s grip tightened around my waist, and he pulled me closer to himself. “You’re my wife, and as your husband, I vow to adore you, protect you, and love you in every sense of the word.”

Fuck, that’s so sweet .

My heart raced with joy, shock, and surprise, the mix of emotions threatening to consume me. My brain went blank for a moment, my lips parting, but no sound came forth. No words. Just warm breaths.

“This is the part where you make your own vow,” he teased, a soft chuckle falling from his mouth.

I drew a deep breath, stuttering. “Sorry, I, uh…you—you sorta caught me off guard.” I wiped my tears, sniffling, clearing my throat as I got a grip on myself. “You’re my husband, and as your wife, I vow to respect you, honor you, submit to you, and love you in every sense of the word.”

His lips twitched at the corners, eyes sparkling with pride and mirth. “Till death do us part?”

I nodded, holding back my tears. “Till death do us part.”

Daniel leaned forward, his lips claiming mine in a soft, tender kiss that sealed our vows. A rare warmth spread through my body as I melted into his grip, savoring the moment like this was our first kiss on the altar.

As far as I was concerned, today was the day I officially married Daniel Tarasov, and I would hold on to this moment until my last breath.

Lucky me.