로그인Arielle’s POVThe gunshots were still echoing through the underground corridor. The stranger staggered backward, with one hand flying to his shoulder as blood spread rapidly through his coat. He hadn’t been killed because the sniper had intended to slow him down.The sealed envelope slipped from his grasp and hit the marble floor with its contents scattering in every direction.Before I could check out a single page, Viktor lunged forward and in one swift movement, he swept the documents under a nearby steel cabinet.At the same instant, Roman came rushing in from the opposite corridor.“Sir! We need to leave, "he called out.“Collect everything,” Viktor ordered without taking his eyes off the stranger.Roman didn’t hesitate. Two guards immediately dropped to one knee, gathering the papers before I could read more than a single line.But my name on one of the papers caught my attention, it was neatly typed across the top of a page.“What was that?” I demanded as my heart lurched but
Arielle's POV"Run now." The command barely left Viktor's mouth before another explosion came ripping through the front gates.The force of it shook the entire estate as glass were bursting from the mansion windows behind us and raining across the stone courtyard.I ran but Viktor never released my hand instead he was pulling me through the chaos with astonishing speed, weaving between guards who were already taking defensive positions. Controlled gunfire was erupting from beyond the walls."They're inside!" someone shouted as one of Viktor’s gaurd came crashing against one of the parked vehicles beside us with blood spreading rapidly across his black suit.I froze on the spot but Viktor didn't rather he stepped in front of me so naturally that I barely realized what he had done. His pistol appeared in his hand almost as if it had always been there.Three sharp shots cane echoing through the courtyard as three attackers dropped dead before I even located them."Keep moving." Viktor
Arielle’s POVThe crash of the vase came echoing through the mansion like a gunshot.And for one suspended heartbeat, nobody moved.Then Viktor’s cold eyes found mine. Roman’s hand stopped halfway to the pistol under his jacket before Viktor lifted one finger.“Leave us.” Viktor ordered.“But Sir” Roman muttered hesitating for a while.“I said leave!.” Viktor thundered.The room became empty within seconds as all the men obeyed without another word, the heavy office door came closing behind them until only Viktor and I remained. Silence settled between us and I wished it didn’t affect me the way it did.Viktor walked deliberately towards me as every step seemed calculated. When he finally stopped in front of me, he looked down at the shattered porcelain scattered across the marble floor before lifting his gaze back to mine.“You were eavesdropping to our conversation.” He said looking directly at me.“I was listening because I heard my name.” I replied.“You should’ve stayed upstairs.
Arielle’s POVThe silence inside the penthouse was louder than the gunfire from the warehouse and for three days, Viktor had barely spoken to me not because he was angry which would have been easier to understand but he has just kept his distance.He still made sure that there were guards outside my room, asked the house staff if I had eaten and still arranged for the doctor to check my shoulder every morning.But every time our eyes met, he looked away first which was quite infuriating and I never liked noticing that myself.The doctor had already cleared me to move around the house, but Viktor had forbidden me from leaving the estate until the current situation is settled.So the library has become my favorite place in the mansion, it was quite enormous, stretching across an entire wing and lined with dark shelves that reached the ceiling. Thousands of books filled every inch, yet somehow the room always feels cold but perfectly organized.I was running my fingers across the shel
Arielle’s POVThe scream upstairs cut through the darkness like a blade as every light inside the mansion had gone out completely, plunging the entire house into chaos. For one disorienting second, nobody moved.Then footsteps started thundering across the halls as voices were shouting over each other and somewhere nearby, glass shattered violently.Instinctively, I stepped backward, but Viktor’s hand closed around my wrist immediately.“Stay behind me,” he ordered. The darkness somehow made his voice more terrifying.“Sir the backup generator is down,” One of the guards announced, rushing towards us with his already drawn flashlight.“How is that possible?” Viktor snapped.“We don’t know yet.” The guard answered.Another scream started echoing upstairs that it made my stomach tighten painfully.Viktor released my wrist only to pull a gun from his jacket in one smooth movement. The sight of the gun sent a cold wave through my chest because of how natural it looked in his hand like viol
Arielle’s POVThe sound of rain hitting the windows woke me before dawn.I woke up to the sound of the rain, and for a few seconds the memory of last night came back in fragments, from the gunfire to the stranger and Viktor’s expression when he saw the symbol carved into that man’s wrist coupled with the way he refused to explain anything afterward.I pushed myself upright slowly, wincing when pain shot through my shoulder. My muscles still ached from everything that had happened over the past few days. It was insane how quickly chaos had become normal around him.The bedroom was quiet except for the storm outside. Pale morning light was filtering through the dark curtains, casting shadows across the expensive furniture.I climbed out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, on opening the bedroom door, I saw two armed guards standing outside immediately straightened.“Good morning, Miss Arielle.” One of them greeted lowering his head respectfully.“Why are you guarding the door?” I as
Arielle’s POVAlora was smiling like the bodies behind her meant nothing. Blood spread slowly beneath the two guards lying motionless across the hallway floor while the lights above us were flickering faintly. One of the men was still stretching his hand towards his weapon like he never even got th
Arielle’s POVThe gunshot came exploding beside my ear and for a second, I could not hear anything except the violent ringing inside my head. My body froze completely as terror was ripping through my chest.Blood came splashing across my cheek and a body hit the concrete floor behind me with a hea
Arielle’s POVPain was the first thing I felt when I woke up with a sharp throb at the back of my head pulsing against my skull like something alive. My eyelids were so heavy and my throat was dry. My body was weak in a way that immediately sent panic crawling through my chest.I tried to move bu
Arielle’s POVI knew for a fact that something was wrong the moment Viktor called my name because it was not soft and casual like before but more like a command.“Arielle.”He calledI looked up from my phone slowly. “What is it?” I asked“You’re coming with me for a dinner party.” He ordered while







