She shakes her head slowly, like she’s still trying to process it all. “Marrying Timofey Rusnak….”
Her voice trails off.
I don’t fill the silence.
Because there’s nothing simple to say.
Sofia reaches for my hand again, gripping it tightly.
“You’re sure this is the only way?” she asks.
I hesitate.
Just for a second.
Then I nod.
“It’s the only way I can keep everything from disappearing completely,” I answer. “I must take back my father’s throne, even if it’s the last thing I do.”
Chapter 8 – Timofey
The Rusnak wedding isn’t a quiet event.
Even though the ceremony is held privately in the estate, it still carries the weight of something far bigger than intimacy or tradition. It isn’t just a marriage. It’s an agreement being sealed in real time, under watchful eyes and silent understanding.
Members of the Rusnak organization arrive from across the city, moving through the estate with controlled precision. Their presence alone shifts the atmosphere—men and women who don’t speak loudly, who don’t linger unnecessarily, who understand exactly what this day represents.
Power consolidating.
Lines being redrawn.
I stand on the stage at the front of the hall, waiting while music plays in the background.
Waiting for Valeria to enter.
Around the hall, conversations remain low and measured. Glasses clink softly. Chairs are adjusted. Security stands at intervals along the perimeter, their eyes constantly scanning. Everything is controlled. Everything is intentional.
Except for the part I haven’t fully controlled.
Valeria.
My jaw tightens slightly at the thought of her name.
I’ve faced negotiations that decided territory. I’ve stared down men who would rather die than concede an inch. I’ve survived betrayals that should have ended me.
And yet—
None of it carries the same weight as what is about to happen in this room.
Because this is not just business anymore.
It hasn’t been since the moment she walked into my life and refused to break.
I haven’t seen much of her since the last time we had sex. Since everything shifted in a way I didn’t plan for and haven’t fully corrected since.
And it irritates me more than it should.
Not because she’s gone.
