Chapter 19

Chapter

Nineteen

"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend."

― William Blake

Caia

The car parked outside the restaurant, and as I stepped into the freezing night air, my breath puffed out like a ghostly wisp. I pulled my coat tight, bracing against the cold, and counted to three before heading for the entrance.

Inside, a piano played softly, and the smell of herbs filled the air. But the dining area was eerily empty as I took off my coat and hung it on the rack.

"Miss Mankiev, this way," a waiter called, breaking the silence as he gestured to a dark corner. He led me down a dimly lit hallway to a hidden room where my father usually did his shady deals .

As my heels clicked on the wooden floor, the waiter opened the door, releasing a cloud of cigar smoke that made me cough. I covered my mouth and hesitated, my heart sinking as I walked in to see my father's raucous laughter—something that made me cringe.

The room was set up with a long wooden table, dark napkins, ivory dinnerware, and an assortment of spirits—vodka, champagne, and wine—alongside plates of cheese, olives, figs, dried fruits, and almonds.

My father was sitting next to Igor, and Alexsei was across from him, munching on almonds. Their laughter stopped when they saw me.

My father jumped up with a grin and clapped his hands. "Here's the star of the night! Come, moya printsessa, take a seat." He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward Alexsei.

I glanced around, confused and uneasy.

Igor was busy with a piece of cheese, avoiding my gaze, while my father sank back into his chair, looking pleased with himself.

Feeling Alexsei's intense stare, I discreetly moved my chair, trying to distance myself—not just from his gaze, but from the heat of his body and his dangerously tempting scent.

"I didn't realize this was a business meeting," I said, standing up. "I can come back later if you want."

"Sit back down," my father said, handing me a glass of champagne. "We need to celebrate, Caia!"

"And what are we celebrating?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The room fell into a thick, uncomfortable silence. My heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else.

"Your marriage to Alexsei, of course."

His words hit me like a sledgehammer. I felt my grip slacken, and the glass slipped from my hand, shattering on the floor with a crash that seemed to reverberate through the room.

I jumped up so fast my chair toppled over with a loud clatter. "What?!"

My father's stare could have frozen lava. "You heard me. Sit down."

I turned to Romaniev, who seemed completely unfazed, casually munching on almonds as if we were discussing the weather instead of my impending nightmare. He took a slow sip of his vodka, his face blank and detached.

No.

No, please.

No!

"Are you all out of your freaking minds?!" I shouted, my voice trembling.

My father's expression hardened. "Caia, this is not a negotiation. The contract is signed."

WHAT?!

"No way! I'm not doing this!" I yelled, charging toward the door.

I yanked the door open, only to face Drayi, blocking the way like an unmovable wall. His presence was a brutal reminder that there was no easy exit. I staggered back, realizing that this wasn't just an obstacle—it was a calculated move in a game where I was nothing more than a pawn.

My father shot up, his face twisted with rage. "You fucking brat! How dare you!" His voice roared through the room, venom dripping from each word. "After ruining my reputation! We saw the picture—marriage is the only way to fix what you've done!"

Shock swept over me. "What picture?" I breathed out.

Without a word, my father pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and tossed it onto the table near me.

I approached it, my legs trembling with dread. My hands shook as I picked up the phone, my heart racing.

The screen showed a photo of me, asleep, curled up against Alexsei. My arm was around him, my bare chest partially visible. The image was a violation, a betrayal. The sly smirk on Alexsei's face, his eyes seemingly aware of the camera, only added to the fury building inside me.

This wasn't just an innocent photo; it was a weapon, designed to manipulate and control me.

"We didn't—" I started, but my father cut me off.

"Don't lie to me," he growled, his voice a dangerous snarl. "Don't you fucking dare."

Rage exploded inside me. "You're the one who?—"

Before I could finish, his hand struck me hard, sending me crashing to the floor. Blood filled my mouth, and pain radiated from my cheek. I touched the sore spot, struggling to steady myself.

A thunderous crash shattered the silence. I looked up to see Alexsei, his usual calm replaced by a deadly glare. He had my father's throat in a vise-like grip, his gun pressed hard against my father's temple.

My father's face twisted in horror.

"Touch her again, and I'll bury you six feet under before you even have time to blink."

The room was frozen, everyone too stunned to move.

"Stop," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

As if my words were a command, Alexsei immediately released him. He moved toward me, reaching out to help, but I pushed him away.

I struggled to stand, wobbling unsteadily on my heels. Just as I was about to fall, Alexsei caught me by the arm, preventing me from hitting the floor.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped, shoving him back.

Alexsei stepped away, his expression unreadable as he smoothly holstered his gun.

Igor's voice cut through the room. "We're leaving. Mankiev, drop your daughter at the Manor by 2 PM tomorrow. If she's not there, our deal is off, and I'll feed your corpse to my dogs."

Igor nodded at me, then walked out. Alexsei shot a last look at my father before delivering a solid punch to his face.

"You better be on time," Alexsei warned, then left without another word.

Once they were gone, my father chuckled, testing his jaw.

He then sat down, casually inviting Drayi to join him. "Come on, sit and eat, Caia. Your dinner's getting cold."

I stood there, stunned, my mind spinning. "You… you sold me."

He bit into a piece of salami. "Don't be dramatic. I just made our future more convenient."

Tears of frustration stung my eyes, but I forced my voice to stay steady. "I didn't sleep with Romaniev. This is all a huge misunderstanding."

He shrugged, his indifference chilling. "I don't give a damn if you did or didn't. The only thing that matters is that he was in your bed. That's enough to make us both very rich, so let's celebrate that."

"I won't marry him," I breathed out.

His laughter was dark and merciless. "Oh, but you will. Alexsei made this deal, and when the Silas men decide they want something, they don't just ask for it—they take it, no matter how unfair it seems."