<b>Chapter 69 </b>


    Elena’s POV:


    Niki gave me his hand and I slid mine into his, letting him help me out of the SUV. The moment my feet touched the ground, a barrage of camera shes exploded all around us. Like literal fireworks made of light. It was like being dropped into the center of a supernova. For a second, all I could see were white bursts and the outlines of raised hands holding shing cameras.


    Ah. So that’s why he’d stopped me from stepping out right away.


    He’d known the chaos that would follow the moment the doors opened.


    I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the overwhelming light and noise, but the more I tried, the harder it became to focus. The harsh camera shes left burning ghost–images behind my eyelids. It was all too loud–too much.


    And then there it was. Warmth. Solid andforting.


    A wall of it pressed against my back as an arm curled gently around my waist and another came up in front of my face, shielding my vision. Niki.


    I nced up and saw his jaw tightened in irritation, his frame angled like a human shield in front of me.


    “Thank you,” I murmured, my voice drowned out by the shouting paparazzi.


    “Ms. Kovalyova, is it true you cheated on your ex–fiancé with his brother?”


    “Elena! Are you pregnant?”


    <b>“</b>Are you in it for the money?!”


    “Niki, did you really steal your brother’s woman?“.


    I almostughed.


    I don’t know why–maybe because it was so absurd. I had gotten used to all of it by now. Hearing it all in university so often. The same questions, the same scandalous tone, just rearranged each time. It was like these people had a temte titled “Gold Digger Questions 101” they dusted off anytime a woman was seen near wealth.


    We ignored them.


    Niki’s grip around my waist stayed firm as we walked, leading me into the glowing ss doors of the venue, the frantic questions fading as they were sealed behind thick panes.


    And then we entered the ballroom.


    I stopped breathing for a second.


    It wasn’t a ballroom in the traditional sense. There were no crystal chandeliers or sweeping staircases. This ce looked like it had been carved from a vision of the future and dipped in dreams.


    The venue had the air of an avant–garde art exhibition. Sculpted light instations hung from the vaulted ceiling like alien satellites, casting iridescent shadows that moved with the crowd. Each piece of decor was modern–yet somehow still evoked that fairytale quality. The theme was clear. Luxury. Velocity. Power. The centralhall disyed concept cars under pools of light like jewels in a museum, each one more impossible than thest. The marble floors reflected everything, including the fluttering hem of my dress, and the entire room pulsed with muted bass from the ssical–electronic fusion music being yed live by a string quartet.


    Niki’s hand tightened around mine.


    <b>I </b>followed his gaze–and saw what he’d noticed.


    carved out of smugness, stood Lazar Morozov.


    What the hell was he doing here?


    I instinctively leaned closer into Niki’s side. He didn’t acknowledge his father. Didn’t even spare a nce toward Dmitri, who stood nearby pretending to be in deep conversation with some old man. Niki’s jaw was clenched. He simply adjusted our path and guided me toward the stage area, where a spotlight gleamed gently on a tall woman with her back to us.


    Her dark auburn hair was swept into a sleek updo, and her silhouette in that form–fitting maroon gown shimmered beneath the lights. Silver ents traced across the bodice like vines, curling up the sheer sleeves and around the neckline, stopping at a structured metallic cor that looked like it had been sculpted onto her.


    She radiated presence.


    I knew who she was before she even turned.


    “Oh my god,” I whispered, the words escaping me in a breathless rush.


    A smile bloomed on my lips, excitement making my chest feel like it was lit from within. I turned my head toward Niki, eyes wide.


    He smirked. “That excited? You really like her, don’t you?”


    “Like her?” repeated incredulously. “Niki, I love that woman.”


    His brows lifted, amused.


    “I’ve been obsessed with Seraphina Legacy since the day I knew what a drive shaft was,” I confessed, barely able to tear my eyes from the stage. “Her designs, her aesthetic, herpany–everything she touches turns to art. She’s iconic. I mean, I wish I could be even a fraction of what she is.”


    He leaned in and whispered near my ear, “Personally? I think you’ll do even better in the future.”


    Before I could respond, a new voice spoke from behind us.


    “Oh wow. I can’t remember thest time someoneplimented my sister like that.”


    I jolted–literally. A small, barely visible flinch, but I felt it and I hoped no one noticed.


    I turned to find a man standing just behind us. He looked like a younger, male mirror of Seraphina. Sharply tailored, model–level attractive, Chiseled cheekbones. Tousled dark–blonde hair with the same sleek bone structure as his sister. His suit was bold–deep blue velvet, daring and yet perfect for this event.


    “Mkai?” I asked, stunned. My eyes widened a fraction.


    He gave a charismatic smile and extended his hand. “d to know you recognize me. Elena Kovalyova, right?”


    I shook his hand, taken aback. “Yes, of course I know you. You’re Seraphina’s younger brother… but how do you know me?”


    I mean maybe it was a dumb question. Everyone who knew Niki now knew who I was. But that’s not what I was surprised about. How did he know my full name?


    Most people–even press–had just started calling me ‘Vetrov. My legal name was still Kovalyova. The name on my degree, on my ID, on the contract Niki and I had signed.


    “Let’s just say your reputation precedes you,” he said, voice smooth. “In the design circuit, you’re somewhat of a whisper.”


    When <b>the </b>handshake lingered a second too long, I felt a slight chill in the air.


    <b>And </b>then<b>, </b><b>a </b>very familiar throat cleared.


    <i>2/3 </i>


    58%


    Niki.


    His hand snaked around my waist again, his presence louder than any words. His face was neutral, but I could sense the tension.


    “How’ve you been?” he asked Mkai, tone perfectly polite but tight around the edges.


    Mkai smiled as if he hadn’t noticed the shift. “Oh, wonderful. I’m sure you’ve been having your fair share of excitement as well. Congrattions on the wedding, by the way. Your wife is quite the beautiful and talented individual.”


    He turned his eyes to me again, and this time I was the one blushing.


    “Yeah,” Niki said smoothly. “She’s wonderful. That’s why I fell for her at first sight.”


    I looked at him then, startled by the raw honesty in his tone.


    “Who do we have here?” a velvet voice asked, cutting through the noise like silk through water.


    My heart jolted.


    I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. The air changed when she spoke. The people around us subtly shifted, creating space.


    Seraphina.


    The Seraphina Legacy.


    I turned my head slowly, feeling like my entire skeleton had stiffened. She was walking toward us with the kind of graceful stride that seemed choreographed. The lights made her gown sparkle like fire beneath moonlight. Her gaze locked <i>on </i>mine, her expression curious but warm.


    My fingers dug into Niki’s hand. Tightly.


    I turned back toward him, panic rising.


    “She’sing here! What do I do?!” I whispered like a lunatic.


    ?????


    Niki chuckled under his breath. “I didn’t see you this nervous even on our wedding night.”


    I red at him. “That’s different! You weren’t Seraphina.”


    He blinked. Then frowned. “Uh… Elena… do <i>you </i>maybe like women?”


    I stared at him. “Isn’t it obvious?”


    He looked lost.


    “Who doesn’t like women?” I added, as if it were the most obvious truth in the world.


    373