Chapter 4
Elena’s POV.
As expected, Nikolai Vetrov went rigid.
His sharp, composed expression didn’t falter, but something in his posture shifted. His dark eyes locked onto mine, piercing, calculating–assessing
Then, he stood up. Slowly.
“You really are something, you know that?” His voice was smooth, almost amused, but there was an underlying challenge in his tone
“Fine then” He leaned against his desk, arms crossed. “But tell me, Elena–what else are you willing to give! Because making Dmitri a laughingstock? That’s not difficult for me.
He smirked. “I could do that without marrying you.”
He was right. He truly didn’t need me for that.
But I needed him
My wedding with Dmitri was set for three months from now. If I didn’t get married, I would be the one people laughed at. My friends, my classmates, the very people who had seen me flaunt my relationship on social media for years.
The image of Dmitri’s betrayal and his pathetic excuses burned in my mind.
My stomach twisted. I wanted him to suffer.
That’s when I realized–this wasn’t just about saving my mother. If I only needed money for that I could just borrow it from him. Not just him, I could go back to the loan sharks and take more inoney from them.
They wouldn’t decline me, in fact they would only be happy to see me paying back my debts for the rest of my life.
So yes, I wanted to destroy Dmitri.
Iwanted to rip him apart from the inside.
Make him feel even a fraction of what I had felt when I walked in on him with someone else.
I inhaled deeply, staring at Nikolai
If he wasn’t going to marry me, he was useless to me.
*11 give you a wife on paper and nothing more,” I said firmly. “I have nothing else to give.
That was the truth or so thought.
Silence stretched between us
Then Nikolai got up, his movements slow, deliberate. 1
His eyes narrowed as he approached, his steps measured, predatory. The air between us grew heavy, thick with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for.
I forced my body to stay still, my heart pounding loudly in my chest
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke
You want to marry me and have my name, Elena!”
His breath grazed my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Then you’ll take everything that comes with it.”
My eyes widened slightly. “What do you mean?”
He smiled, his fingers gripping the arms of my chair as he turned it to face him completely
Our noses almost touched. Our breaths almost intertwined.
“Everything” he murmured. “My money. My fame. And even my body.”
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8:24 PM
Chapter 4
My breath hitched.
But I shook my head. No. No, I couldn’t do that.
“I want a strictly contractial marriage. With a time limit,” I said, my voice steady, but my hands clenched into fists.
His lips curled into a smirk. “And a contract marriage is what you’ll get. No feelings. No strings attached. One year.”
1 narrowed my eyes, “I won’t sleep with you.” I truly didn’t trust myself around a man like him. If I actually slept with him, what if I developed feelings? No..not again. Especially not a Vetrov.
His next words however knocked the air right out of my lungs.
“Oh, no, I need you to understand this, Malishka. There will be no sleeping. Only fucking”
entire body stiffened.
He leaned closer, his voice smooth, leasing, “I will fuck you. If you can accept that then I will make sure Dmitri grovels at your feet. I’ll ensure your mother’s surgery is done by the world’s best surgeon.
He straightened, studying my reaction before he delivered the final blow.
And I’ll make sure you never have to work a part–time job again. You’ll have all the time in the world to study to build your dream of making
My pulse thundered-
He listed everything I needed. Everything I ever wanted
If my mother fully recovered, she wouldn’t be upset with this decision. I could focus on my studies. Graduate without worrying about money.
And all I had to do was give myself to a man built like a Greek god!
worse than Nikolait
What other choice did I have? The loan sharks? Dmitri Any other rich old guy, someone way worse
It would be stupid to decline.
But my body was frozen.
My mind was racing.
Could I really do this? Could I really sell my body to this man for a year!
I but my lip, his unwavering stare making my heart pound.
After what felt like forever, inhaled deeply, forcing my thoughts to clear.
Finally, I met his gaze head–on.
“Fine. I accept your conditions”
I squared my shoulders. “But if you go back on your word, Nikolai–I will ruin you.”
I didn’t know how I would do it.
But I would find a way.
I believed in myself.
At least, in my follicular phase.
Nikolai chuckled, his smirk widening,
“You have my permission to do so
Finally, he pulled away, straightening his suit as he glanced at his watch. Then, his gaze flickered back to me.
“Shall we go then?”
I frowned. “Go where?”
“Well, there’s much to be done if we’re getting married today.
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8:34 PM
Chapter 4
My eyes widened. “You mean, right now? Today!”
He smirked. “You know what they say, malishka. The early bird-”
“I need to go
to the hospital, I cut his nonsense off.
His smirk faded.
I took a deep breath. “I need to be with my mom. I can’t just leave her like this”
He sighed, studying me for a long moment.
“Are you going to perform the surg
I blinked. “What‘
“No?” He raised an eyebrow “Then why do you need to be there!
I clenched my jaw. “Because she’s my mother. I’m her only immediate family. I need to be there for her”
Nikolai rubbed his temple, exhaling sharply. “Fine. We’ll take care of her first. Give me a moment.
Then, right in front of me, he pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker.
“Prepare the operating room,” he ordered,
My breath caught
There was a pause, then a voice responded. “Sir?”
“I’m sending you a patient. Her name is Beatrix Kovalyova. Make sure you’re prepared to perform a bypass procedure. You are to treat her as a patient. Nothing but the best”
I stared at him, stunned.
The person on the line hesitated, then cleared their throat,
“Understood, sir. May I ask who the patient is to you?”
Nikolai’s gaze flickered to me
Then, smoothly, he said, “My mother–in–law.”
My breath hitched.
The doctor on the line hesitated–then let out a soft chuckle.
“Congratulations on the marriage, Mr. Vetrov
Nikolai smiled. “Thank you”
I looked at him, completely dumbfounded.
What
The.
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