Page 45 of The Bratva Enforcer and His Virgin Bride

“I don’t want this,” I say, voice cracking. “I don’t want any of this, Val. I don’t want to marry him. I don’t even know him. I don’t—I don’t understand what’s happening.” My words spill out between broken breaths. “I was at home and then—and then men came in, and now I’m here, and he’s talking about marriage like it’s normal and I—I can’t—”

My voice breaks completely.

Valeria holds me firmly, grounding me without letting me fall apart further.

“I know,” she murmurs.

That’s what makes me pause.

I pull back slightly, searching her face through tears.

“You know?” I whisper.

She exhales slowly, like she’s been carrying something heavy and finally decided she can’t hold it back anymore.

“Yes,” she admits.

My stomach drops.

She brushes my hair back gently from my face, her expression soft but serious.

“Lukyan told me to come,” she says.

My brows pull together. “Why?”

“Maybe he knew you’d need comfort.”

I let out a shaky breath, wiping at my face with my sleeve.

“I don’t trust any of this,” I say. “I don’t trust him. I don’t want this marriage, Valeria. I don’t care what he thinks he’s protecting me from; I don’t want it.”

Her expression tightens at that, but she doesn’t interrupt.

She just listens.

Then, carefully: “I know what it feels like,” she says quietly. “You already know that, Sofi.” She continues before I can respond. “To have your life changed without being asked. To wake up and realize you don’t really get a choice in what happens next.”

My throat tightens again, but I stay quiet this time.

Valeria sighs softly. “But Sofia… this world you’re in now—it doesn’t work the way ours does.”

I swallow.

My grip on her arm tightens.

“I don’t belong in this,” I whisper.

“I know,” she says. “But you’re already inside it.”

She guides me back toward the couch, sitting beside me without letting go of my hand.

“I’m not going to lie to you,” she says. “This situation is bad. You didn’t choose it. And Lukyan isn’t doing this because he suddenly believes in fairytales.”

My breath catches at his name.

“But,” she continues, “he also doesn’t make decisions like this lightly. If he brought you into this, then in his mind, there’s a reason he can justify.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” I say.