Page 21
Sarah
The long, flowing dress hugs my body in all the right places, but as I stand in front of the mirror, my eyes keep drifting to the slight curve of my stomach. It’s barely noticeable, just a gentle swell that only I can seem to obsess over. I smooth my hand over the fabric, trying to push away the flicker of insecurity that nags at me. I’ve never been one to worry about my appearance, but this… this is different. I’m not just me anymore. I’m carrying Ivan’s child.
The thought sends a shiver through me, a mixture of fear and something else—something warmer, more hopeful. I’m lost in my thoughts when I feel a familiar presence behind me. Ivan’s hands slide around my waist, his touch firm and possessive as he pulls me back against him.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs against my ear, his voice low and rough. His hands glide over the curve of my stomach, then lower, tracing the line of my hips with a slow, deliberate caress. “I want to take you right now.”
His words send a thrill through me, the intensity of his desire pulling me out of my insecurities, but I glance at the clock on the wall and feel a jolt of panic. “We’re getting late,” I protest, quickly stepping out of his embrace. My heart races as I put some distance between us, trying to regain my composure. “We don’t want to keep your associates waiting.”
Ivan’s eyes darken with frustration, but he lets me go, his gaze lingering on me with a look that promises he won’t forget this. “We’ll finish this later,” he says, his voice thick with unspoken intent.
I nod, trying to shake off the lingering tension between us as we leave for the event. The car ride is quiet, the city’s lights flashing by outside the window as I sit beside Ivan, my thoughts drifting. It’s a relief when we finally arrive at the grand venue, the sight of the bustling crowd giving me something else to focus on.
Inside, the atmosphere is lively, filled with the low hum of conversation, clinking glasses, and the soft strains of music. Ivan quickly falls into conversation with his business associates, his demeanor shifting into that of a powerful man in control of his empire. I watch him for a moment, taking in the way he commands the room with ease before I decide to wander off on my own.
As I make my way through the crowd, I’m lost in thought when I suddenly bump into someone. I look up, and my breath catches in my throat. It’s Sophia.
She looks different—paler, more fragile than I remember. Her eyes meet mine, and for a brief moment, there’s a flicker of something in them—surprise, maybe even relief. Then it’s gone, replaced by a wave of hurt and betrayal that cuts through me like a knife.
“Sarah,” she says, her voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
I swallow hard, guilt gnawing at me as I take in the sight of her, my heart twisting at the pain in her eyes. “Sophia… I—”
She cuts me off, her voice rising in pitch as she struggles to keep her composure. “How could you?” she whispers, her eyes brimming with tears. “I considered you my sister, Sarah. You tricked me, betrayed me. How could you do that to us?”
Her words hit me like a blow, the weight of her accusations pressing down on my chest. I open my mouth to respond, but the words stick in my throat. How do I explain? How do I tell her that I never wanted to betray her, that I was forced into a situation I couldn’t escape?
Sophia’s hands tremble as she wipes away the tears that spill over, her gaze searching mine for answers I’m not sure I can give. “I trusted you,” she continues, her voice breaking. “We’re family. I would have done anything for you.”
The depth of her pain is clear, and it nearly tears me apart. “Sophia,” I start, my voice thick with emotion, “I… I never meant to hurt you. You have to believe me.”
She shakes her head, the tears falling freely now. “Then why? Why did you do it?”
I take a deep breath, my heart aching for the girl who once called me her sister. “I had no choice,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “There were things I couldn’t tell you. Things that—”
“Things that were more important than our friendship?” she interrupts, her voice laced with bitterness. “More important than the bond we shared?”
“No!” I quickly say, stepping closer to her, desperate to make her understand. “It wasn’t like that, Sophia. I was trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?” she scoffs, her tone dripping with disbelief. “From what, Sarah? From the fact that you were working against us the whole time?”
I can see the hurt in her eyes, the confusion, and I know that she doesn’t understand. How could she? She doesn’t know the full story—doesn’t know about the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices that tore me apart.
“Sophia,” I say softly, reaching out to touch her arm, but she flinches away from me, the rejection stinging more than I expected. “Please, just listen to me—”
She hesitates, her gaze flickering with a mix of anger and confusion. “Why should I?” she snaps, but there’s a crack in her voice that tells me she’s wavering, that she wants to believe there’s more to this than betrayal.
“Because you deserve to know the truth,” I reply, taking a deep breath, steeling myself for what I’m about to reveal. “Sophia, your father… Kace… he ordered my death.”
Her eyes widen in shock, her breath catching in her throat. “No,” she whispers, shaking her head as if she can’t comprehend what I’m saying. “That’s not possible. My father wouldn’t… he couldn’t—”
“He did,” I insist, my voice firm but not unkind. “I was loyal to him, Sophia. I did everything he asked of me. When he thought I might be a liability, when he thought I knew too much, he ordered me to be killed. I barely escaped.”
Sophia stares at me, her disbelief evident, but I can see the seeds of doubt beginning to take root. “You’re lying,” she says, but there’s no conviction in her words. She’s grasping at straws, trying to hold on to the image of her father as the man she’s always believed him to be.
“Ask him yourself,” I say quietly, my heart pounding as I spot Kace approaching us through the crowd. He walks with his usual confident stride, his expression unreadable, but I can see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes narrow as he sees me standing with his daughter.
Sophia turns to face her father, her eyes wide with confusion and hurt. “Dad,” she begins, her voice trembling. “Is it true? Did you order Sarah’s death?”
Kace’s expression falters for just a moment, a brief flicker of something that might be regret or guilt, but he quickly masks it with a cool, detached demeanor. “Sophia, I did what was necessary,” he says, his voice smooth but lacking warmth. “You don’t understand the complexities of our world. I was only doing what was best for our family, for you.”
Sophia’s face crumples, the betrayal hitting her like a physical blow. “Best for me?” she echoes, her voice breaking. “How could you think that killing her was what’s best? She was like a sister to me!”
Kace reaches out to her, but Sophia recoils, stepping back as if the very thought of touching him repulses her. “Sophia, listen to me—”
“No,” she interrupts, her voice filled with anguish. “I can’t… I can’t even look at you right now.”
With that, she turns and rushes out of the venue, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floor as she pushes past the crowd. I watch her go, a heavy sense of loss settling in my chest. I wanted to protect her, to spare her from the truth, but I know that she needed to hear it. Even if it breaks her heart.
Kace turns his gaze back to me, his eyes cold and calculating. “You’ve caused enough damage for one night, Sarah,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “What were you hoping to accomplish by turning her against me?”
“I was telling her the truth,” I reply, standing my ground even as my heart races. “She deserves to know what kind of man her father really is.”
His expression darkens, and he steps closer, towering over me. The atmosphere shifts, the air thick with tension. “You should’ve stayed in your place, Sarah,” he hisses. “Do you really think Ivan will protect you forever? The Bratva can’t shield you from everything.”
A shiver of fear runs through me, but I refuse to back down. “I’m not afraid of you anymore, Kace,” I say, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. “I know what you’re capable of, and I’m done being your pawn.”
Kace’s eyes narrow, and he leans in, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “You think you’re safe now? You think Ivan can keep you safe from me? You’re playing a dangerous game, Sarah.”
Before I can respond, a familiar presence looms beside me. I feel Ivan’s hand on my arm, his grip firm and reassuring. He steps forward, positioning himself between me and Kace, his cold gaze locked on to the man who once held my life in his hands.
“Kace,” Ivan says, his voice like ice, his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation. “I suggest you reconsider your threats.”
Kace’s eyes flicker with recognition of the danger he’s in, but he doesn’t back down. “Ivan,” he says, forcing a tight smile. “This isn’t your concern. It’s a family matter.”
Ivan’s grip on my arm tightens slightly, his presence solid and unwavering. “Sarah is my wife,” he says, his voice low and deadly. “That makes it my concern. If you so much as look at her the wrong way, I’ll personally ensure you regret it.”
The weight of Ivan’s threat hangs in the air, and I see the shift in Kace’s expression, a mix of anger and realization that he’s outmatched. For the first time in a long time, I feel truly protected, a sense of safety wrapping around me like a warm blanket. It’s an unfamiliar feeling, one that takes me by surprise, but I don’t fight it. I let it sink in, let myself feel the strength in Ivan’s words and the way he stands between me and the man who once held so much power over me.
Kace’s mouth twitches with suppressed rage, but he knows he’s lost this round. Without another word, he turns and stalks off, leaving Ivan and me standing in the aftermath of the confrontation.
I look up at Ivan, my heart still racing, and for a moment, we just stand there, the noise of the crowd around us fading into the background. I never imagined I’d feel this way—safe, protected, standing beside a man who’s both my captor and my protector. As I meet Ivan’s gaze, I realize how much things have changed. He’s become something I never expected—someone I can trust, someone who truly cares about me, even if neither of us fully understands why.