Get out

_Serafina’s POV_

It was morning when the news came.

I had been practicing my crying technique all through the night, I needed to perfect the wail and tears.

And when Dimitri walked through that door, I knew I had to make it believable.

His eyes roamed over the room before they met mine on the bed.

“Your brother and father are both dead. They got into a car crash,” Dimitri said as he tossed a letter on the bed right next to me.

His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

One would think he was simply talking about the weather and not the death of his in-laws.

I hadn’t expected him to come give the news himself, Thank God I practiced hard.

My hands shook as I reached for the letter and then came the tears.

“I don’t believe it,” I whispered as I shook my head, the tears rolling down my cheek.

“I had nothing to do with their deaths,” he added like I, or rather, like Celestine was meant to find that comforting.

I wanted to add that I knew he had nothing to do with it, after all I knew who killed them.

But I only sniffled as I buried my face in my hands.

Dimitri stood at a spot as he watched me cry and I wondered how long he was going to watch me for.

I was tired of forcing out tears and feelimg compassion for people when I was happy for their deaths.

His wife just lost her only family and he didn't even find the need to comfort her.

How truly heartless he was.

“When you are done shedding unnecessary tears, you head down for breakfast.” His said coldly and my head snapped up in shock.

I was so close to shaking my head and clapping in awe.

He truly was as heartless as they said.

The door closed behind him and silence filled the room again.

I wiped the last of my fake tears and laughed under my breath. “Unnecessary tears, he said”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

I glanced at the letter he had thrown my way, pushing it off the bed with my fingertips.

Now that all the viable have been taken care of, it is time I show these people who I truly am.

I got dressed quietly, smoothing down the simple robe I found in the closet.

It had finally occurred to me that no maid had come to knock on my door this morning. Neither is there food waiting for me on the table.

That was strange.

In every other household, a new bride is treated like a queen, at least till her husband gets tired of her.

But here, it was as if I didn’t exist.

Someone has to teach these peasants a lesson.

I made my way downstairs, following the faint sound of chatter until I reached the dining room.

And I stopped.

There was no food.

No steaming breakfast, no laid table, no coffee. Just an empty, polished surface staring at me.

At the far end, three maids stood by the wall. They were whispering and giggling like schoolgirls, their heads close together.

When they noticed me, they didn’t curtsy.

They didn’t even pretend to.

The audacity of these girls.

Good thing I was always open to treating people with manners when they needed it.

One of them, who was tall with dark curls, folded her arms and smiled.

“Oh, you're awake,” she said, with her voice dripping with mockery.

“We weren’t sure if you would be joining us this morning, Mrs. Volkov,”

The way the name rolled off her tongue made something flicker in me.

“I assume breakfast would be served soon,” I said quietly, stepping towards the table.

My tone was polite, but the silence that followed fueled my anger.

The second maid, shorter, younger, with a face only a mother would love, laughed under her breath.

“I suppose she thinks we wait on her,” she whispered, not even bothering to lower her voice.

The third one who had been silent until now, lifted her gaze. Her eyes were filled with disdain. “We only take orders from our boss,”

The other two snickered again.

I watched them for a long time.

These girls really thought they could walk all over me just because.

I took a slow step forward, the sound of my slippers soft against the floor.

“What did you just say?”

Surely, I had heard wrong.

The one who had just spoken straightened her back, as if she were proud of her insolence.

“I said,” she repeated, “You would have to get used to how things work around her. Dimitri doesn't keep us to babysit anyone,”

The name Dimitri from her lips made something tighten in my chest.

I gave a small smile, the corners of my lips twitching “I see.”

Then, without warning, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

The sound cracked through the room, her head snapping to the side.

Without waiting for a reaction, my hand came up the second time, landing across her face.

The other two gasped, frozen in place.

I didn’t move. I didn’t even raise my voice. I simply glanced at her coldly, my palm still warm.

“It seems you forgot who you were speaking to,” I said softly. “I may be new here, but I am still Dimitri’s wife. And the next time you say his name or speak to me that way, I won’t hesitate to cut off your tongue and feed it to you,”

The room went silent.

Her eyes watered as she glared at me, it seems I have bruised her pride more than her skin. “You can’t—“

“Try. Me.” I said coldly, cutting her off.

If they thought Dimitri married a doll, they were mistaken.

I turned slightly, letting my fingers trail across the table's surface.

“Now,” I said. Bring breakfast for me,”

They didn’t move at first. Then the youngest hurried off towards the kitchen, tripping over her skirt.

It didn’t take long before I had food in front of me and I then started eating.

“Where is Dimitri?” I asked suddenly, turning to one of the girls.

“he had gone out earlier. He usually returns in the evening,” she stuttered out, trying her best to maintain control.

I felt my lips twitch as I fought back a smile, she should be afraid of me.

And Dimitri was out? That was good, now I can start searching for information.

The sooner I get all I need, the earlier I can kill him.

After I had finished with my meal, I decided to take a stroll around the house.

I had gone from corridor to corridor, testing all the doors and rooms.

Dimitri didn’t have many guards around, I thought to myself as I tried another door.

This might be easier than I thought.

Either he was too cocky or he thought he had nothing to hide.

I had wandered until I had gotten ‘lost’.

I looked down the hallway, squinting my eyes as I tried to peer through the darkness.

Turning the other way, I realized it was all the same and I had no idea where I had just come from.

I was truly lost.

I should try and find my way back.

I had just taken a step forward when a door caught my eye.

Maybe, I should check what was behind that door.

Slowly, I tiptoed to the door, biting my lips as I grabbed the door handle.

I hoped it was locked…

With a click, the door creaked open and a scent I was starting to get familiar with hit me.

Hard.

Something told me that I was in the right room this time.

And so I took a step in.

His scent lingered in the room—sharp, expensive, unmistakably male. The air was colder here, darker.

Papers. Files. A gun resting on the desk beside an empty glass.

His office.

I was in his office.

I gently closed the door as I made my way to his table.

I picked up a folder, scanning through names, shipments, coded numbers—proof that this man had his hands in every blood-soaked deal across Europe.

And then—

“Curiosity doesn’t suit you, Celestine.”

The voice was quiet. Too quiet.

“Fuck.” I jumped, startled.

The folder slipped from my fingers, scattering papers on the floor.

When did he get here? I hadn’t heard the door open.

Has he always been in here?

Slowly, I turned around to look at him.

Before I could speak, his hand wrapped around my throat.

Partially cutting off my airflow.

His thumb pressed lightly beneath my jaw, tilting my face toward his.

“Next time you decide to snoop in my office,” he murmured, his tone frighteningly calm, “make sure you’re not standing where I can catch you.”

My pulse hammered under his fingers.

“Are you really that eager to die, wife?” his voice dropped lower.

I should have felt fear, and I did. But beneath it, something else twisted inside me.

Something I shouldn’t be feeling in a situation like this.

He must have seen it in my eyes because his grip tightened slightly. “You are enjoying this?” he asked, slightly confused.

I tried to speak, but only a small sound escaped my lips.

Dimitri’s thumb pressed against my throat, tracing down slowly.

His gaze lingered where my robe had come loose.

“Careful,” he murmured.

Heat pooled in my stomach.

I hated it. I hated him.

And yet, I didn’t move.

He leaned in, his breath fanning over my ear.

“I am so close to fucking your defiance out of you right now,”

Then he released me.

I stumbled back, gasping for air.

My pulse was wild and unsteady and I knew for a fact it had nothing to do with almost getting killed now.

Dimitri straightened his clothes, looking calm as if choking me had been nothing but a conversation.

“Get out,”

I didn’t have to be told twice. I rushed out of his office with shaky legs.

I needed to be more careful from now on. I thought as I brought my fingers to my throat.

And the worst part was, I had been so close to throwing myself at him and demanding he fucked me over his table.

Grabbing my hair, I let out a silent scream,

I knew I was going to dream of that touch tonight.