๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ๐.
580 Words
The drive back to the Volkov mansion was silent.
Rain tapped against the windows of the black Rolls-Royce as Moscow's lights blurred into streaks of gold and white.
Aria sat with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes fixed on the passing city.
Beside her, Nikolai watched her without saying a word.
His silence was always more frightening than his anger.
The gates of the estate opened.
The car rolled to a stop beneath the grand entrance.
A line of staff waited to welcome them home, each lowering their gaze as the couple stepped inside.
The heavy doors closed behind them.
The mansion fell quiet.
"Everyone may leave," Nikolai ordered.
Within seconds, the servants disappeared.
Only Aria and Nikolai remained in the vast entrance hall.
He slowly removed his gloves.
"You embarrassed me tonight."
Aria's heartbeat quickened.
"I don't understand."
"You hugged him."
"He was my friend."
"He looked at you as though you belonged to him."
"He didn't."
Nikolai stepped closer.
"You smiled at him."
"I smiled at everyone."
"But yours was real."
His words struck harder than a slap.
For years, she had perfected a smile that fooled the world.
She hadn't realized it had failed tonight.
"I wasn't thinking."
"No."
He reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"You were."
His voice remained calm.
Almost affectionate.
That frightened her even more.
"You are my wife, Aria."
"I know."
"There will never be another man."
She lowered her eyes.
"Yes."
He studied her face for several long moments before finally stepping back.
"Go to bed."
Relief washed over her.
"Thank you."
As she turned toward the staircase, his voice stopped her.
"And tomorrow..."
She froze.
"...you'll cancel every private meeting with Lior Voss."
Her shoulders stiffened.
"He may be doing business with Sunset Beauty."
"My answer is still no."
She nodded without looking back.
"Understood."
...
Sleep never came.
Long after midnight, Aria stood on the balcony outside her bedroom.
The cold air stung her skin.
Sometimes she imagined simply walking away.
Leaving everything behind.
But she knew Nikolai would find her.
He always found what belonged to him.
Inside, her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown Number.
I hope you're okay. โ Lior
Her breath caught.
She stared at the screen for nearly a minute before typing.
I'm fine.
She erased it.
Typed again.
Thank you for asking.
Deleted that too.
Finally, she wrote only two words.
Good night.
She pressed send.
Almost immediately, another message appeared.
If you ever need a friend, call me. Any hour.
Tears filled her eyes.
No one had asked if she needed help in years.
She held the phone against her chest.
For the first time in a long time...
She didn't feel completely alone.
...
Across the city, Lior stood in his hotel suite overlooking Moscow.
His bodyguard, Marco, entered quietly.
"Everything is ready, Boss."
Lior nodded.
Then he asked the question that had been on his mind all evening.
"Find out everything you can about Nikolai Volkov."
Marco frowned.
"Business?"
"No."
Lior looked out at the city lights.
"His marriage."
Marco understood immediately.
"I'll start tonight."
Lior's gaze remained fixed on the skyline.
He couldn't explain it.
But something in Aria's eyes haunted him.
She smiled with her lips.
Her eyes begged for someone to notice.
And he had.
Whatever secret she was hiding...
He intended to uncover it.
Even if it meant standing against one of the most feared men in Russia.
- Writer
