Alyona stared at his retreating figure until he was no longer in sight. She broke down completely, crumbling to the ground as she held her blood-stained gown against her naked body. Tears were seen glistering in her eyes, but she couldn’t find the strength to let it stroll.
“Alyona…..”
“No Father, I know what you are going to say, you are going to lecture me about being selfless and making a decision that won’t only benefit me, but the people around me as well. You are going to let me know how important it's to always think about people’s well-being before I make a decision so as not to be rash, but not this time, Father, I’m not going to get married to him. I won’t get married to that monster. That man is a psychopath who only derives joy from other people's pain. You saw what he did to me. I can’t father. I won’t.” Her voice was frail, filled with stuttering, as it shook profusely. Her voice trembled as traces of saliva could be seen on her lips down to her jaw.
Mr Igor looked at his daughter and couldn’t help but let a tear stroll down his cheeks. This was his child. As a father, he was meant to protect her, but instead he was going to take her to her death. He wasn’t a good husband to his wife, neither was he a good father. He couldn’t protect what was his. This thought broke him.
“Alyona, you have to get married to him. We don’t have a choice. You don’t have a choice. Kara escaped from him, we tried to do the same, and look at the situation we ended up in. You have to get married to him, not for us Alyona, but for your sake. Do you think he will let this slide if you follow in your sister’s footsteps? He will have the entire organization look for you just the same way he has his men looking for Kara.”
“But father… I can’t get married to him. I’m not cut out for marriage, I’m only eighteen, I haven’t achieved my dreams. My bucket list hasn’t been completed…”
“f**k all that Alyona. We’re in a life and death situation, and all you care about are your dreams, the things you haven’t achieved on your bucket list. Well I’m sorry to state nothing but the facts. I don’t think you’ll have the opportunity to do that if you’re dead. He is going to kill you if you go against him, Alyona,” Mrs Daphne scowled after she let out a scoff.
The door came open, revealing two ladies. One seemed to be a makeup artist with the makeup tools she was holding onto, while the other had the gown in which Alyona was compelled to dress in as a bride to Mikhail Leo toy stoy. Alyona had a gaze to the gown, taking in the colour, which wasn’t the normal white of a bridal gown, no it was black, pitch black to be precise. Her hands subconsciously went to her hair, ruffling it. She screamed, taking her family and that of the two ladies by surprise.
“I don’t know what’s happening here, and I don’t care to know, but young lady, what I do know is that if you don’t get your curvy body into this dress, and if you don’t let me do your makeup, Mikhail is going to blow this place up, he is going to blow it to nothing but shreds.” The Makeup artist that went by the name Mila responded.
“What do you mean?” Mr Igor asked, confused at the term she used by blow it to nothing but shreds.
“Mikhail Leo toy stoy told me to inform you that he had bombs placed around this place and also on you both..” She pointed at Mr Igor and his wife, Daphne. “He is only giving you thirty minutes to get ready… I do not want my life to end, not in the hands of Mikhail so you have to let me do my work, or I force you to comply with whatever I say.”
Alyona only let a chuckle out of her trembly lips as she was shocked at the strategies he deployed to ensure she wouldn’t run away like her sister, Kara did. He is truly a psychopath, as he is described by the people who had come in encounter with him. And unluckily for her, she was one of his victims.
She stood up, and wiped her face with the gown she had used to cover her naked body.
“If he wants a wedding, I’ll give him one.” She muttered to no one but herself. She had her gaze fixed on her parents, who were shocked and devastated to hear that they were live bombs and at anytime would be dead, their bodies would be blown apart.“
Father, mother… You do not need to worry, I’m going to get married to him, you’ll not die. I promise you.” These words came as an assurance to them as they nodded. “You’ll need a change of dress and also tend to your injury. We do not want the parent of the bride looking all haggard.”
“I'm sorry that I wasn’t able to protect you as a father should. I can not dim myself worthy to look you in the face knowing the fact that I couldn't do anything as I watched him harass you, Alyona. I’m ashamed of myself.”
“Father, you do not need to be remorseful. You do not need to be ashamed… You did your best as a father could, it wasn’t your fault that you only wanted nothing but good for this family. It wasn’t your fault that Kara had eloped with her boyfriend and I do not blame her either. I would have done the same if I was in her situation. That man doesn’t deserve to be loved by anyone, he is a lunatic, and he is shameless… I hate him for every humiliation that he made me a go through. You aren’t at fault, father. Now we should leave, we have kept the seated guest waiting.”
Mr Igor, who couldn’t help but smile at his daughter’s level of understanding, stood up, along with Mrs. Daphne and left for their trunk. Alyona turned her gaze to Mila. “You can do what you have to do, I’m all yours.”
********
Standing at the altar with a priest before the two couples, Alyona couldn’t help it but gazed at Mikhail, who was clad in an expensive, elegant, white tuxedo suit that suited his physique. He had well had a change of clothes as she remembered that he was dressed in loose pants and a tank top that revealed his biceps and muscles along with the imprints of his abs against the soft fabric. If she had found herself in a situation other than this, she would have agreed to the rumors confirming his great physique and handsome features.
Her gaze diverted from his to the seated guest after a smirk formed on his lips at the fact that his dear beloved wife to be was caught ogling at him. She couldn’t help but gave a roll of eyes. She noticed the way the guest had a surprise look on their face, or rather a confused look. They wanted to ask questions regarding what had happened but couldn’t since it wasn’t anyone’s wedding, but Mikhail Leo's toy stoy. Alyona couldn’t help but sigh.
‘Why won’t they be shocked? If I was also a guest I would have had the urge to ask questions. One minute I told them I was the bride’s sister and the next minute I was the bride myself…. What a great fate it is for me. I’m getting married to the most powerful, ruthless, vengeful and dangerous man in Russia… In less than a few minutes, I’m going to say I do to him, What a great twist of fate.’ The thought came lingering across her mind, her gaze never leaving the gaze. She met with the lady whom she had an exchange of words with. The lady had a frown on her face, her eyes were filled with rage as it looked like if given an opportunity, she would end her life for good.
That scared Alyona as she earned a gulp of nothing, but saliva from her end. She diverted her gaze to her parents who were sitting on the chair. They had a smile as though everything was alright. Meanwhile, it wasn’t. She smiled at them and they returned it. She turned her focus to Mikhail, who held out a platinum ring that had a diamond as it decoration. The priest nodded at him and prompted the question.
“Do you, Miss Alyona Petrova take Mr. Mikhail Leo toy stoy as your lawful wedded husband, to hold and to cherish, to love and to be possessed by him alone, to be own and to be ruin, to be submissive and obedient to his every word, to attend to his every needs and be respectful till death do you apart?”
Alyona couldn’t help but think about the words that came out of the priest's mouth. She found it absorbed, but only sighed as the thought of her parents being killed flashed in her head, and she let her lips curve to a smile.
“I do.” The cold metal, but beautiful ring slipped into her fingers, the diamond stone glittered from where it was being placed. She took the platinum ring from the little girl that stood beside her. She hadn’t noticed her as she was to preoccupied with trying to face the reality of her life rather than remain in the past.
“Do you, Mr. Mikhail Leo, toy take Miss Alyona Petrova as your lawful wedded wife? To love and to hold, to cherish and to possess, to claim and to own, to ruin and to domain, in sickness and in health, in riches and in wealth, till death do you apart?”
“I do.” Alyona took this as the initiative, and slipped the ring onto his finger while Mikhail’s gaze lingered on his wife to be admiring her facial features as he had dimmed her worthy to be gazed upon. Alyona caught him, and had expected him to react or rather throw his face away like she had done. But he did none of that as his eyes remained on her. She gulped down nothing, taking in her lower lips in a bid to bite it nervously.
.“I now pronounce you man and wife!” There was a standing ovation the moment the priest declared. “You may now kiss your bride.”
He came closer, brushing his thumb against her lower lip, her eyes fluttered closed as she felt his warm breath on her skin as he leaned closer, the desire to taste his lips rushed down her spine. A soft moan left her lips as his lips melded with hers, his touch both tender and demanding as he stroked her tongue with his. The world around them seemed to fade away, they were lost in the moment. It was as though they were completely consumed by their desire for each other….
Alyona suddenly jolted, pulling back as she regretted the way her body had desired and responded to his kiss while a smirk lingered on Mikhail’s lips.
1945