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Lara and I arrive at the third alliance meeting, and this time, our entrance goes largely unnoticed. I smile, noting the contrast from our previous visits. Unlike before, there are no disapproving looks or whispers—just a few subtle nods of acknowledgment.

There is only one way to interpret this. They accept her as one of us. That thought gives me peace.

We sit among the members as Boris chairs the meeting. It starts with a discussion about the rising popularity of sustainable hotels and whether our establishments should consider this trend. A murmur of agreement suggests genuine curiosity among the attendees.

Boris halts the discussion, saying, “We’ve recently invested in redecorating. All your wise suggestions seem costly, and unless we find affordable ways to show our environmental commitment, we’ll have to delay these plans for now.”

Abram stands, ready to speak, when Lara clears her throat. Her brother pauses, eyeing her with interest. To my surprise, he sinks back into his seat, giving her a nod. "Lara may have insight into this."

Lara glances at me, surprised, as Abram hands her the floor. At this moment, she’s probably got the same question running through her head, which runs through mine—have her brothers finally accepted her? At the least, Abram’s gesture suggests forgiveness. Lara takes a deep breath, and I quickly squeeze her hand beneath the table in support before she stands.

“Thank you, Abram,” Lara says, her voice steady despite her surprise. He nods back in response. Denis, on the other hand, smiles warmly and gives her a thumbs-up.

"First off, I'd like to acknowledge that what Boris says is correct," she starts, her confidence growing with each word. "To be truly sustainable is an investment at the forefront. Perhaps, someday, we can get architects to design buildings that are capable of naturally circulating air, reducing our dependency on air conditioners. Perhaps, someday, we can have our own water treatment plants and use the waste created by our guests to tend to our gardens. Perhaps, someday, we could have all our furniture and doors made of eco-friendly material and reclaimed wood. But,” she says, dramatically pounding her fist on the table. “That day is not today.”

I watch as she keeps her audience captivated from the get-go, with some members slapping their hands on the table in agreement. Lara gives them a smile with a flair before continuing.

“And yet we cannot deny that sustainable practices are not only beneficial for the environment but also for our businesses. In this day and age, customers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious, and our hotels should reflect that. But…how?"

I watch as her brothers exchange glances, their expressions softening with a newfound admiration for their sister at how elegantly she makes an argument.

"We can start with simple, affordable changes, like banning single-use plastics in our chain. We'll replace toothbrushes with biodegradable bamboo ones and switch from single-use shampoo and body wash bottles to large, refillable containers. Each room will have up to eight glass bottles of water, which will be cleaned and replaced every morning. No more plastic bottles, and our guests will appreciate the free water,” she explains, gesturing emphatically. “Additionally, installing solar panels on our properties will reduce energy consumption and benefit the environment. Now—” she raises a hand as Boris looks ready to object, prompting him to settle back into his chair cautiously.

Her brothers' eyes widen at the mention of solar panels, clearly impressed by the practicality of this solution. I can see that they are beginning to consider Lara's proposals seriously.

"I understand that solar panels are a significant investment, but they offer long-term benefits. During low seasons, when we have fewer guests, the excess electricity generated can be sold to the government grid. This not only eliminates our electric bills but could also lead to payments from the government for the electricity we produce. Many of our properties have unused land. Instead of letting it sit idle, we can use it to generate power."

"Here's what I propose," she continues. "I can provide projections for the solar panels. Based on my calculations, our initial investment will become profitable within five years. After that, we won't have to pay electricity bills for any hotel equipped with solar panels."

The murmur of agreement ripples through the room, and I notice Abram nodding thoughtfully while Vladimir, Denis, and Mark exchange glances, their expressions revealing their growing intrigue as though wondering—can that really be our sister?

"Every small change we make will add up over time," Lara concludes, her voice filled with conviction. "Together, we have the power to create a more sustainable future for our family's businesses—and our planet."

As she finishes her speech, a moment of silence fills the room before a round of applause erupts. It's apparent that Lara's passion and well-thought-out solutions have struck a chord with everyone present, especially her brothers.

Inwardly, I congratulate her on a job well done but am unable to reach out to her personally since she’s surrounded by Boris, Nikolai, and Mikhail—all of whom are impatiently fighting to ask her questions and listening to her opinions with enraptured attention. As her husband, I've never been prouder of her than I am in this moment.

I stand there a while, watching her with pride, when I feel like I’m not alone. I turn to see Lara's brothers approach me, their expressions unreadable. "Dima, could we have a word with you outside, in private?" Abram asks, his tone cautious yet firm.

"Of course," I reply, glancing at Lara, who gives me an inquiring look. I shrug, as in the dark as she is, and follow them out, wondering what they want to discuss. We haven’t spoken since our argument at Anoushka’s.

Once alone, I notice their lingering reservations in their body language and expressions, but their presence indicates progress.

"Look, Dima," Vladimir begins, hesitating. "We wanted to apologize for our misunderstanding. It was wrong of us to assume Lara sneaked out under your roof."

I raise an eyebrow, surprised by their sudden humility, a trait I have yet to see in any one of these men. "Thank you," I respond, keeping my tone neutral.

Their guarded demeanor seems to be softening, revealing their concern for Lara. It's a start, but rebuilding trust will take time.

"Seeing how well Lara did today and how passionately she presented her ideas," Mark adds, "we realize she’s grown stronger under your care. We're grateful for that."

I nod, accepting their apologies with a stoic smile. "Apology accepted. As long as we all have Lara's best interests at heart, we can work together and find common ground."

"Agreed," Abram says, extending his hand. The others follow suit. As they leave, I sense a subtle shift in our dynamic—it's not perfect, but it's progress.

***

Later that evening, laughter and clinking glasses fill the air as the family gathers for drinks and dinner at our house. The room for entertaining is bathed in warm hues from the fireplace, and this time, when her brothers walk in, there’s no pending tension.

I watch as Lara rushes to greet them, not a single bone of malice or pent-up rage in her. And I realize suddenly, just how big my wife’s heart is.

Which means I have to protect it rather fiercely—for she’s the kind of woman who could let anyone break her heart and then still forgive.

Never, a voice roars in my head. I’ll never hurt her.

I turn to find her and see her now standing between my sisters, Sofia and Natalia. The three of them are reading something on Natalia’s phone, and from their squeals and gasps, it looks like a rather hot piece of gossip.

I smile to myself, utterly captivated by how easily she fits into my family now. On a certain level, I forget what life was like before Lara came into mine.

"Come, Dima, try this vodka," Vladimir beckons me over, pouring a shot into a small glass. "You won't find anything like it anywhere else. We brought it over from Russia, and it is Lara’s favorite."

"Thank you, Vladimir," I reply, taking the glass from him and raising it in a toast. "To new beginnings and stronger bonds," I say, earning nods of approval from those around me. As the fiery liquid slides down my throat, I can't help but feel a sense of camaraderie forming between us somewhere in the future.

"Did you see how well Lara did today?" Boris asks me, joining in on the shots, genuine pride in his voice. "She really held her own up there and, honestly, convinced me against my own beliefs. Next week, I’m thinking of putting her in charge of the solar panel project."

Her brothers look at each other with disbelief and pride. It is a great honor to have the Boris Zolotov put Lara in charge of a project this large.

My eyes trail over to my wife’s, heart pounding with joy for her.

“Excuse me,” I say, unable to stay away from her a moment longer.

Lara now stands with my sisters and some cousins, head thrown back in delight. The warmth of their camaraderie radiates throughout the room.

"Come on, Dima!" Lara calls out to me when she notices me nearing, her eyes glowing with happiness. "Join us!"

I can't help but smile at the sight of her so relaxed and carefree. The way she turns her neck to me, her hand outstretched, the light from the fireplace dazzling on her face makes me feel like I’m seeing her for the first time.

Dazzling, radiant, gorgeous.

With Lara, there’s always something new.

"Alright, what am I missing?" I ask, settling into an empty seat beside Lara.

"Genevieve was just telling us about her disastrous attempt at making borscht last week," Lara explains, chuckling at the memory. "Apparently, it turned out more like beet-flavored water."

"Hey, it wasn't that bad!" Genevieve protests, feigning offense before dissolving into laughter again.

As the conversation continues, I watch Lara interact with my family—her family now—with such ease and genuine affection that I find my heart hers. When she laughs, I soar. When she needs a drink, I pour. When she’s been called away to the kitchen, I follow.

The realization hits me like a freight train: I've been deeply in love with this woman for quite some time. For whatever she needs, I wish to provide. To see her hurt, pained, or struggling is a thought I can’t fathom.

I love her for her intelligence, her resilience, and her stubborn determination to prove herself despite the odds stacked against her. I love her for the way she's managed to break through my defenses and become an equal in every way that matters.

She goes out of sight, turning a corner, and I follow. Tonight, I want her by my side. My emotions are far too overwhelming, and I need her to tether me down.

I find her on the terrace, gazing up at the stars. She leans into my embrace with a contented sigh. "Today was wonderful, wasn’t it?" she asks. Something in her tone tells me she’s not talking about the meeting.

“I'm glad they could finally see what I've always known. How special you are," I blurt out without thinking.

She tilts her head up, eyes glinting in the darkness. "And what exactly have you always known?"

I brush a stray lock of hair from her face, my touch reverent. "That you're the only woman for me. The one I want to share all my tomorrows with."

Her lips curve into a soft smile as she rises on her tiptoes to kiss me. When she pulls away, I'm left breathless. Dazed. And I know with absolute certainty that I will spend the rest of my life loving Lara Zolotov.