<b>Chapter </b>4
Elena’s POV<b>. </b>
As expected<b>, </b>Niki Vetrov went rigid.
His <b>sharp</b><b>, </bposed expression didn’t falter, but something in his posture shifted. His dark eyes locked onto mine, piercing, calcting–assessing
Then, he stood up. Slowly.
“You really are something, you <b>know </b>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<b>–</b><b>what </b>else are you <b>willing </b>to give! Because making Dmitri aughingstock? That’s not difficult for me.
He smirked. “I could do <b>that </b>without marrying you.”
He was right. He truly didn’t need me for that.
<b>But </b>I needed him
My wedding with Dmitri <b>was </b>set for three months from now. If I didn’t get married, I would be the one peopleughed <b>at</b><b>. </b>My friends, my ssmates, the very <b>people </b>who had seen me unt my rtionship 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 <b>could </b>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 <b>to </b><b>see </b>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 Niki
If he wasn’t going to marry me, he was useless to me.
*11 give you a wife on paper and <b>nothing </b><b>more</b>,” <b>I </b>said firmly. “I have nothing else to give.
<b>That </b>was the truth or so thought.
Silence stretched between us
Then Niki got up, his movements slow, deliberate. 1
<b>His </b>eyes <b>narrowed </b>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 <b>like </b>an eternity, he finally spoke
<b>You </b>want to marry <b>me </b>and have my name, Elena!”
His breath grazed my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Then you’ll take everything <b>that </bes with it.”
My eyes widened slightly. “What do you mean?”
He smiled, his fingers gripping the arms of my chair <b>as </b>he turned it to <b>face </b><b>him </bpletely
Our noses almost touched. Our breaths almost intertwined.
“Everything” he murmured. “My money. <b>My </b>fame. And even my body.”
8:24 PM
My breath hitched.
But I shook my head. No. No, I couldn’t do that.
“I <b>want </b><b>a </b><b>strictly </b>contractial marriage. With a time limit,” <b>I </b><b>said</b>, my <b>voice </b>steady, but my hands clenched into fists.
His lips curled into a <b>smirk</b>. “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 <b>I </b>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, <b>Malishka</b>. There will be no sleeping. Only fucking”
entire body stiffened.
He leaned closer, his voice smooth, leasing, “I will fuck you. If you can ept <b>that </b>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 <b>my </b>reaction before he delivered the final blow.
And I’ll make sure you never <b>have </b>to work a part–time job again. You’ll have all the <b>time </b>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 <b>a </b>man <b>built </b>like a Greek god!
worse than Nikit
What other <b>choice </b>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.
<b>“</b>Fine. I ept your conditions”
<b>I </b>squared my shoulders. “But if you <b>go </b>back on your word, Niki–I will ruin you.”
I didn’t know how I would do it.
But I would find <b>a </b><b>way</b><b>. </b>
I believed in myself.
At <b>least</b>, in my follicr phase.
<b>Niki </b>chuckled, his <b>smirk </b>widening,
“You have my permission to do so
Finally, he pulled away, straightening his suit as he nced at his watch. Then, his gaze flickered <b>back </b>to me.
“Shall we go then?”
I frowned. <b>“</b><b>Go </b>where?”
“Well, there’s much to be done if we’re getting married today.
<b>2/3 </b>
8:34 PM
My eyes widened. “You mean, right now? Today<b>!</b>”
<b>He </b><b>smirked</b><b>. </b>“You know what they say, malishka. The early bird-”
“I need to go
to the <b>hospital</b>, 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<b>. </b>I’m her only immediate family. I need to be there for her”
Niki 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<b>, </b>and put it <b>on </b>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. <b>Make </b>sure you’re prepared to perform a bypass procedure. You are to treat her as a patient. Nothing <b>but </b>the best”
I stared at him, stunned.
The person on the line hesitated, then cleared their throat,
“Understood<b>, </b>sir. May I ask who the patient is to you?”
Niki’s gaze flickered to me
Then, smoothly, he said, “My mother–<b>in</b>w.”
<b>My </b>breath hitched.
The <b>doctor </b>on the line hesitated–then let out a soft chuckle.
“Congrattions on the marriage, Mr. <b>Vetrov </b>
Niki smiled. “Thank you”
I <b>looked </b>at him,pletely dumbfounded.
What
The.