LOGINTwo months later. The wedding was in two hours and Kyrian couldn't breathe.He stood in front of the mirror in his room.His mother was behind him. Adjusting his collar for the third time."Mama. It's fine," Kyrian said."It's not fine. It needs to be perfect." Arina stepped back.Looked at him. Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh solnyshkko. You look so handsome.""Don't cry. You'll make me cry.""I can't help it. My baby is getting married.""I'm already married."This is different. This is real. This is choice. She touched his face.I'm so proud of you.Kyrian's throat was tight. "I'm nervous."Good. That means it matters.""What if I mess up the vows?""You won't.""What if I trip walking down the aisle?""You won't.""What if—""Kyrian." Svetlana took his hands. "Stop. You love him. He loves you. That's all that matters. Everything else is just. Details."Kyrian nodded. Tried to breathe.There was a knock on the door."Come in," Arina called.The door opened. Ivan stuck his head in.
Kyrian woke up alone.The bed was cold on Lorenzo's side. Like he'd been gone for a while...Kyrian sat up. Looked around. Empty room. Lorenzo was gone.There was a note on the pillow. Small. White paper. Lorenzo's handwriting.Urgent work at office. Had to leave early. Sorry. - L.That was it. Just that.Kyrian crumpled the note. Threw it across the room..Last night had been. Everything. And this morning Lorenzo just left. Didn't wake him. Didn't say goodbye. Just a stupid note.Kyrian got out of bed. Angry. Hurt.He went to the bathroom. Turned the shower on too hot. Got in anyway..Let the water burn his skin.He was being stupid. Lorenzo had work. That's how it was. He knew that.But still. After last night. After everything. A note felt. Wrong.Kyrian got out. Got dressed. Went downstairs.The kitchen was emptyNothing. Just silence.There was food on the counter though. Covered plates. Still warm.A note from Isabella. Out for the day. Food is ready. Eat. - Great. Everyone was
Breakfast was almost over when Raphael's phone rang.He looked at the screen. His face changed. Went pale. "Excuse me," he said. Stood up. Left the room. Everyone looked at each other. "Should someone—" Matteo started. "Give him a minute," Lorenzo said. They waited. Five minutes. Ten. Raphael came back. He looked stressed. Worried. "I need to leave," Raphael said. "Today. Now actually." "What happened?" Vincenzo asked. "My girlfriend. She's sick. In the hospital. She just called. I need to get back to Paris." "Is she okay?" Isabella's voice was concerned. "I don't know. She sounded. Bad. I need to be there." Raphael looked at Lorenzo. "I'm sorry. I know I just got here but—" "Don't apologize," Lorenzo cut him off. "Go. Be with her." "Are you sure?" "Yes. Family emergency. I understand." Raphael nodded. "I'll be back. As soon as she's better. And I'll bring her. So you can all meet her." "We'll be here," Vincenzo said. "Go take care of her." Raphael ran upstairs. Packed
The living room was too quiet.Everyone stood frozen. Staring.Lorenzo. Kyrian. And the man who looked exactly like Lorenzo.Matteo spoke first. "What the hell.""Language," Isabella said automatically. But her eyes never left Raphael. Her hand was at her throat. "Vincenzo. Are you seeing this?"Vincenzo hadn't moved. He was staring at Raphael like he'd seen a ghost. His face had gone completely white. His hands were shaking."Sit down," Lorenzo said. His voice was hard. Enigma's voice "Everyone. Now."They moved slowly. Like they were underwater. Isabella sat on the couch. Matteo next to her. Vincenzo stayed standing. Couldn't seem to make his legs work.Lorenzo stood in the center. Raphael next to him. Kyrian hung back near the doorway.."I need to tell you something," Lorenzo started. His voice was shaking slightly. "And I need you to listen. All the way through. Before anyone says anything."."Lorenzo what is this?" Matteo was staring at RaphEael. "Who is he? Why does he look exac
Kyrian sat in his hotel room for two hours after Lorenzo walked away.Just sat there. On the bed. Staring at the wall. His phone kept buzzing. Raphael. Asking if he was okay. Asking about Lorenzo. Kyrian ignored it. At midnight he couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed his jacket and left. Thomas was in the hallway. Always there. "Mr. Moretti?" "I need air." "I'll accompany you." "Fine. Whatever." Kyrian walked. No destination. Just movement. Through Paris streets that were too quiet. Too cold. He ended up at the Seine. Stood on a bridge. Watched the water. His phone rang. Lorenzo. Kyrian answered. "Hello." "Where are you?" Lorenzo's voice was rough. Like he'd been crying. "At the river. Near Notre Dame." "Stay there. I'm coming." "Lorenzo you said you needed space—" "I changed my mind. Don't move." He hung up. Kyrian stayed on the bridge. Waiting. The wind was cold. Cut through his jacket. Fifteen minutes later he heard footsteps. Lorenzo appeared. No coat. Just his
Kyrian woke up in Paris and felt Lorenzo was upset. Kyrian could feel it even across the distance.He got up. Showered. Tried to pretend everything was normal.Thomas knocked on his door at eight. "Mr. Volkov. What's the plan for today?""I don't know. Walk around. See the city.""I'l arrange the car.""No car. I want to walk."Thomas looked uncomfortable. "Don Moretti specifically said—"I know what he said. But I'm walking. You can follow me if you want. But I'm not sitting in a car all day."Thomas sighed. "Understood.Luca and I will accompany you."Kyrian walked Paris for hours. The Louvre. Notre Dame. Random streets with no destination.Thomas and Luca followed ten feet behind. Silent. Professional. Suffocating.Kyrian's phone rang constantly.Isabella. Asking how he was. If he was eating properly..Matteo. Complaining that Lorenzo was unbearable without him.His mother. Wanting to know when he was coming home.Lorenzo didn't call until evening.Kyrian answered on the third rin
THE PLAN Kyrian didn't come down for dinner that night. Or breakfast the next morning. He stayed in his room. Door locked. Thinking. Lorenzo wanted control? Fine. But control only worked if Kyrian played by the rules. And he was done playing. He pulled out his phone. Called Ivan. "I
THREE DAYS OF SILENCE For three days, silence filled the estate. Kyrian hadn’t spoken a single word to Lorenzo since their argument. He didn’t speak at breakfast. He didn’t speak at dinner. When Lorenzo tried to start a conversation, Kyrian simply walked away. When Lorenzo knocked on his bedroom
The Morning After Kyrian woke up confused. Different ceiling. Different room. Different everything. Then he remembered. The wedding. The Moretti Estate. The trap. He checked his phone. 9:47 AM. There were messages from his family, but he ignored them. He wasn't ready to talk yet. A knock on
Everything felt like it was happening through a fog. Kyrian stood beside Lorenzo. People came up to them. Said things. Congratulations probably. He nodded. Smiled when he thought he should. But he wasn't really there. His body was present but his mind had gone somewhere else. Somewhere safer.







