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Scarlett

The sound of machinery and the rhythmic clang of metal against metal fills the air as Viktor and I step into the construction site. His hand rests firmly on the small of my back, guiding me through the entrance like a guardian steering me through uncharted territory. The energy here is palpable—workers in neon vests scurry about with purpose, cranes loom over skeletal structures, and the smell of freshly cut wood mingles with the dust hanging in the air.

“This is it,” Viktor says, his deep voice cutting through the cacophony around us. His tone holds a rare blend of pride and purpose that instantly catches my attention.

I glance around, taking in the scale of the project. It’s massive. Steel beams reach toward the sky like arms, and glass panels glint in the sunlight, hinting at the grandeur this place will hold once it’s finished.

Viktor’s confidence is infectious. “You’re building this entire thing?” I ask, my voice tinged with awe.

His face turns serious. “The Bratva will know no limits under my reign.” His words resonate with the weight of someone committed to pushing every boundary until they no longer exist.

As we weave through the site, he greets the workers with nods, his presence commanding yet approachable. I notice how they look at him—with respect, almost reverence. And yet, when he glances my way, there’s a softness in his gaze reserved solely for me.

We enter what will one day be the hotel lobby, and Viktor slows his pace, gesturing around us. “This will be the reception area,” he says, pointing to where polished marble floors and chandeliers will likely take center stage. “Over there, a grand staircase. And here ...” He motions to a corner that’s nothing but open framework, “a bar overlooking the garden.”

I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “It sounds like something out of a movie.”

He grins, pleased by my reaction. “That’s the point. I want people to walk in and feel like they’ve stepped into a dream. Every detail matters.”

As he speaks, I’m struck by how much he invests in his vision—not just financially but emotionally too. It’s as though every steel beam and every glass pane are a piece of himself.

The ride up is smoother than I expect for a building still under construction. Viktor presses the button for the top floor, his expression unreadable. The hum of the elevator fills the space, and I find myself stealing glances at him.

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” he asks without turning his head.

I snap my gaze forward, caught. “I was just ... thinking.”

“About?”

“How someone like you ends up building luxury hotels. I thought you only destroyed things,” I tease lightly.

His smirk is wolfish. “Sometimes you have to build something worth destroying.”

The words are cryptic, but his tone is playful enough to ease my nerves.

The doors slide open, and Viktor gestures for me to step out first. My breath catches the moment I do.

The view is nothing short of spectacular. The city stretches out in all directions, glittering under the fading light of day. Skyscrapers stand like sentinels, their reflections shimmering in the water below, while the horizon glows with hues of orange and pink.

“Wow,” I whisper, stepping closer to the edge where the railing offers a safe boundary between us and the dizzying drop below.

Viktor steps beside me, his presence grounding me. “You like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” I admit, turning to face him.

The silence between us is heavy but not uncomfortable. When I glance at Viktor, I notice his jaw tightening slightly, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

“Why are we here?” I finally ask, breaking the spell.

He exhales deeply, his broad shoulders rising and falling. “Because this is where I see my future.”

There’s something in his voice—an unspoken truth that sends a flutter of anticipation through me.

Viktor turns to face me fully, his expression uncharacteristically vulnerable. “Scarlett,” he begins, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. “I’ve spent my life building things, controlling things. But with you ...” He pauses, searching for the right words. “With you, I don’t want control. I just want us.”

His words hit me like a gentle wave, both soothing and overwhelming. My heart races as I realize where this might be heading.

Viktor reaches into his pocket, and my breath hitches. When he pulls out a small velvet box, I can hardly believe my eyes.

Inside is the most stunning ring I’ve ever seen—a marquise cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds, each one catching the fading sunlight like tiny stars.

“Scarlett,” he says, dropping to one knee. His eyes meet mine, steady and sincere. “Marry me.”

For a moment, I’m too stunned to speak. But then, my trademark sass kicks in. “Didn’t you already order me to marry you?” I ask, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.

Viktor chuckles, the sound warm and unguarded. “Yes, but this is me asking. Properly.”

His bashful smile takes me by surprise. For a man so used to commanding a room, this softer side is disarming. “So?” he prompts, his voice light but his eyes betraying a hint of nervousness.

I let out a soft laugh, my heart full. “Yes,” I say simply, the word carrying all the weight of my feelings for him.

Viktor slides the ring onto my finger, and for a moment, I can’t speak—I can’t even breathe. The ring is stunning, otherworldly in its beauty. The marquise-cut diamond at the center is massive, refracting the light into a kaleidoscope of rainbows. Surrounding it are smaller, perfectly cut diamonds, each one catching the fading sunlight like glittering stars in a velvet sky. The band is delicate yet sturdy, a perfect balance of elegance and strength—much like Viktor himself.

I stare at the ring, my jaw slack. “This ... This is ... Viktor, this is insane.” My voice comes out barely above a whisper as I twist my hand to catch the full brilliance of the diamonds.

Viktor smirks, clearly amused by my reaction. “You don’t like it?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I look at him, my heart racing. “How much did this cost?”

His smirk grows into a full, mischievous grin. “A million dollars.”

I freeze. My eyes widen, and for a moment, I think I might actually faint. “What? Are you serious? A million?”

“Absolutely,” he says, his voice calm and matter-of-fact as if he’d just told me the sky is blue.

I shake my head, struggling to process. “Viktor, I don’t even know what that kind of money looks like. And now you expect me to wear it on my finger?”

He cups my face with both hands, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks. “Scarlett, you’re worth far more than A million dollars. This ring is just the beginning. As my wife, I will give you everything—anything you desire. Money means nothing to me. But you? You mean everything.”

His words are spoken with such conviction that I feel my chest tighten. Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I blink them away, overwhelmed by the intensity of his love and the life he’s offering me.

Before I can respond, Viktor pulls me close, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that feels like both a declaration and a promise. It’s slow and deliberate, each movement filled with the weight of what we’ve just agreed to. My hands find their way to his chest, the hard muscle beneath reminding me of the man who protects me, who cherishes me.

The world around us fades away—the bustling cityscape below, the wind tugging at my hair, even the faint hum of construction noise. All I can feel is Viktor. His warmth, his strength, his unyielding presence.

And then it happens—a gentle flutter beneath my skin, followed by another, more pronounced kick. I pull back slightly, startled, my hands instinctively flying to my belly.

“What’s wrong?” Viktor asks, his brows knitting together in concern.

“They’re kicking,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “The babies—they’re kicking.”

A slow smile spreads across his face, and he drops to his knees, placing his large hands over my growing belly. “They know,” he murmurs, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard it. “They know their parents are promising them a future together.”

His words make my heart swell, and I laugh softly, brushing my fingers through his hair. “It’s like they’re celebrating with us.”

Viktor presses a kiss to my stomach, his tenderness a stark contrast to the fierce man I know him to be. When he stands, his eyes lock onto mine, and for the first time in my life, I feel completely and utterly safe.

“Together,” he says, his voice resolute.

“Together,” I echo, leaning into his embrace as the city lights begin to twinkle in the distance, bearing witness to the first steps of our future as a family.