Chapter <b>26 </b>
Elena’s POV
I <b>had </b>taken my ce in front of Niki at the altar.
The hall went silent as the priest raised his voice, the echo bouncing slightly off the marble arches above us. “If there <b>is </b>anyone present who has just cause why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The silence that followed was short–lived,
<b>A </b>chair scraped back. Harsh. Unforgiving. And my blood ran cold.
“This wedding is a goddamn <b>joke</b>!”
The voice tore through the calm like a <b>de</b>, <b>sharp </b>and venom–Laced. I didn’t even have to turn to know who it was. My <b>body </b><b>already </b>recognized the voice, the disruption–the disaster.
Dmur.
He stormed down towards the altar like a man possessed, ignoring the gasps, the stunned <b>whispers</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>the priest who stood frozen <b>mid</b>–blessing.
You can’t be serious, Niki! You’re going to marry her? The woman I was supposed to marry?” he snarled, flinging an usatory finger in my direction
The tension mapped across the room like an electric current. I flinched as every eye turned on. ne. My chest burned, throat dry. I couldn’t breathe.
Niki stepped forward, his voice sharp but calm. “<b>Dmitri</b>, leave,”
But Dmitri didn’t. Of course he didn’t and my Bits clenched
“You stole her, she was mine- He paused then, his eyes narrowing, “Or, did you actually go to <b>him</b><b>? </b>Because he’s rich isn’t he? Did you sell yourself to him like a whore–”
Niki’s <b>jaw </b>clenched. “Watch your mouth!”
I was tongue tied for the first time in my life.
“Why should I We all know what <b>this </b>is! Everyone here is pretending this isn’t an embarrassment, a sham. That she’s not just selling herself to the highest bidder”
I couldn’t move. My hands trembled as I held the bouquet tighter, trying to steady my breathing. My mother looked frozen, pale. The insult dug in deep, and even though this wasn’t the first time I had been insulted, it cut worseing from the person who <b>had </b>once pretended to protect me. It felt horrible and worse, hearing it now, in front of everyone in front of my mother….
But then—
“That’s enough!” my mother’s voice rang out, sharp andmanding, slicing through the chaos like a krufe.
The entire hall sulled.
She pushed herself forward in her wheelchair, her expression furious <b>and </b>full of unrelenting fire. Her gaze locked on Dmitri with pure disgust. “Don’t you dare stand here and pretend you were ever worthy of my daughter. You were the one who cheated. You betrayed her. Lied to her. Humiliated her
‘M–Mrs. Kovalyova Dmitri stammered, clearly caught off <b>guard</b>.
“You don‘ get to speak. <b>You </b>don’t get to pretend like you were <b>some </b>sort of victim. You were the one who destroyed what you had with her. Her voice cracked, but she didn’t waver. <b>“</b>And now youe here, on her wedding day, spewing filth? Trying to shame her in front of the world! If anyone here should feel humiliated—it’s you.”
A collective murmur spread through the crowd. I could barely breathe. I stared at her, the woman who had just yesterday doubted me, now defending me like a lioness.
Niki didn’t waver. He <b>took </b>a step forward. “That’s enough. Guard!”
Two suited men stepped out from the line up next to the altar, heading toward Dmitri. He stumbled back, eyes <b>wide</b>, but too angry to look scared.
“This <b>isn’t </b>over,” he <b>spat</b>, twisting <b>out </b>of their grip. “You’re going to regret this. Both of you
His parents stood up, <b>faces </b>pale with a mix of shame and <b>fury</b>. They followed after him without a word.
8:40 <b>PM </b>
And then silence <b>again</b>.
Niki didn’t look at me. He turned back to the priest and said, calmly, coldly, “Continue. Like what happened never happened and I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to speak.
The priest stuttered butplied. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Elena Kovalyova and Niki Vetrov…”
I heard none of it. My heart was still hammering from the scene, my thoughts racing. But then the priest turned to me.
“Do you. Elena Kovalyova, take this man to be yourwfully wedded husband…
I swallowed
I nced at <b>my </b>mother,
Her eyes were unreadable. She didn’t nod, She didn’t shake her head. She <b>just</b>… <b>watched </b>Tired Distant. Maybe even disappointed. I didn’t know.
1 knew she might never forgive me. Not when the truth came out, Not when she realized why I really agreed to this marriage. I <b>could </b>only pray that I took this secret to my grave,
But I would still do this again. Again and again, if it <b>meant </b>she would live. If it <b>meant </b>I wouldn’t lose the only family I had left.
de
do.” I whispered.
“Louder, please,” the priest prompted.
I lifted my chin and repeated, steady this time, “I do<b>.” </b>
<b>The </b>priest turned to Niki. “Do you, Niki Vetrov, take this woman to be yourwfully wedded wife…
Hi
7 do
answer was immediate
You may now kiss the bride.”
Niki stepped forward and gently lifted the veil. His eyes locked onto <b>mine</b>, burning with something berce. Then he leaned in and kissed me.
Soft Firm. Final
The rest of the ceremony <b>passed </b>like a dream. I smiled when I had to. epted congrattions. Posed for pictures. But all of it felt muted.
I couldn’t stop ncing at the door<b>. </b>
At the empty seat where Dmitri had <b>sat </b>
Where the explosion had darted.
Where it ended.
The limousine was cold when <b>I </b>slipped into it, my dress folding <b>around </b>me inyers of white. The ss windows blurred the outside world as we pulled away.
My mother had already gone. Fiona had promised to stay the night with her. I should have felt better. I didn’t.
I sighed
hat’s wrong. Malishka?“ <b>Niki </b><b>asked</b>, settling beside me with casual elegance.
Tirt out <b>a </b>scoff “Everything! Don’t you already know that? Why do you need to ask!”
– He didn’t respond immediately, and I felt gult coil inside ine. But I wasn’t done.
“Niki how exactly are we going to break the news to my mom when we divorce one <b>year </bter!”
He turned to me, theer of his mouth lifting in a soft smile. “You don’t need to worry about that, I’ll take responsibility. I don’t mind being the viin in her eyes”
His <b>gaze </b>held mine. There was something too tender in it, and it made my <b>chest </b>ache. The atmosphere seemed to <b>change </b>as our eyes locked in a stare<b>. </b>Far too long for my ownfort. I swallowed looking away.
8:40 PM
Damn it. Elena Stop.
“You’re like a celebrity, though. If rumors start-
He cut me off by swooping in. His mouth crashed into mine, and <b>I </b>lost the thread of thought instantly. His <b>hand </b>cupped my jaw, guiding me <b>closer </b>as my body instinctively leaned into the <b>kiss</b>,
My eyes widened. The driver—”
He reached up and <b>hit </b>a button. The divider slid into ce with a soft hum, sealing us into privacy.
And then his hands were on me.
The white silk of my dress rustled as he pulled me into hisp, his mouth never leaving mine.
The <b>tension </b>from earlier–the <b>shame</b>, the guilt, the fear–it all bled out of me as his touch reced it with heat.
His tongue explored my mouth with fervent heat making me unable to even breathe, as my toes curled and once again I couldn’t help but think. Damn he’s <b>a </b>good kisser
My heart jumped <b>as </b><b>I </b>also let the idea sink in <b>that </b>today was going <b>to </b>be my wedding night, and unlike how we did in the office this would be different. Our rtionship had changed. This man was now my husband, Even if just <b>for </b><b>a </b>year. He was my husband-
<b>“</b>Stop thinking. Tonight you’ll focus only on me, and the pleasure I give you,” A shiver ran up my spine as he whispered those words into my cars.
Oh god.
色