Semua Bab THE VENDETTA BRIDE: When the Devil says ‘I Do’ : Bab 41 - Bab 50

The sun had dipped low by the time Vera descended the stairs. The house was quiet, holding that expectant kind of stillness that always came before guests arrived.She made her way to the kitchen, ignoring the slight ache in her chest. The staff had already laid everything out—starters, main dishes, even desserts were arranged with polished precision—but Vera hovered near the countertop, inspecting each dish.She couldn’t help herself. Cooking gave her a sense of control. So she rolled up her sleeves and made a few last-minute touches: a garnish of fresh herbs here, a light brush of olive oil there. She adjusted the lemon slices around the grilled fish and added a pinch more cinnamon to the warm pudding cooling near the window.A maid watched from the doorway. “Ma’am,” she said gently, “you should get ready now.”Vera blinked, as if pulled out of a trance, and gave a small nod. “Right.”Upstairs, she chose a dress—something simple, but elegant. A muted shade of olive green that brushe

Vera stood in the middle of her room, frowning at the open suitcase sprawled across her bed. Her fingers hovered over a sarong, then moved to a white summer dress, then to a folded bikini top—only to drop them all back in frustration.What do you even pack when you’re going to the beach with a man who barely tolerates you, and two people who are in love? she thought bitterly.The soft crash of ocean waves played in her mind, taunting her with a serenity she hadn’t earned yet. She sighed, pushing a few sundresses, a scarf, sandals, and a book into the suitcase. She added the bikini and a thin wrap in a moment of last-minute decision, then zipped the bag shut, hoping she hadn’t forgotten something important.Just as she lowered the suitcase beside the bed, the door creaked open without a knock. Roman stepped in, dressed in a simple black shirt with sleeves rolled up, his watch glinting against his wrist.“We’re leaving in five,” he said plainly.Vera straightened. “Okay,” she said softl

The sand was cool beneath their feet as Roman and Dimitry stepped down onto the beach. The sky had deepened with the blush of sunset fading along the horizon. Waves lapped gently at the shore making the evening feel almost surreal—like the world had slowed down just for them. Leila spotted them first.“Dimitry!” she called. He barely had a chance to respond before she was at his side, slipping her fingers through his and tugging gently. “Take off your shoes,” she said with a playful grin. “You’re on a beach, not in a boardroom.”Dimitry raised an amused brow, but he let her pull him closer to the water’s edge. She crouched, helping him unlace his shoes, laughing when he rolled his eyes but didn’t protest. A moment later, he was barefoot beside her, the surf kissing their toes as they walked along the wet sand. From a few steps behind, Vera watched them with a thin smile. The affection between her friend and Dimitry was so unguarded, so natural. For once, Leila looked genuinely at pea

"Make a drink for me," Roman’s command hung in the air like a challenge, and Vera froze. Her heart pounded so loudly that she was certain he could hear it. She quietly walked towards the station, looked over her shoulder, and saw him still seated in the dim lamplight, watching her every move.Shock flashed across her face. He had sounded so calm, and casual, but the quiet force behind his words was unmistakable. She could feel his gaze drilling into her back, drawing out her uncertainty and amplifying it until she was painfully aware of every tremble in her limbs.He rose, and the distance between them closed in two long strides. He stood inches from her now; she could see the fine hairs on his forearm, the slow rise and fall of his chest. His presence filled the room entirely.Without saying anything, Roman stepped forward and took the whiskey bottle from her hand. His fingers brushed against hers—just for a second—but it was enough to make her breath hitch. Her eyes lifted to his fa

She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. Why was he asking about this—about a man who’d rescued her—when he himself hadn’t been there? She looked up at him, confusion warring with exhaustion. “I… I didn’t see his face,” she whispered, her eyelids fluttering shut for a moment, as if to chase away the memory.Roman’s thumb stroked the fabric of her nightie, “What would you do if you saw him again?” His question was soft but insistent.Vera blinked heavily, every part of her wanted to close her eyes and drift back into sleep, “I… I would thank him,” she said.His free hand cradled the nape of her neck, pulling her close, until their head rested against each other, lips inches apart, breath mixing, her lashes brushing against his, their cheeks almost touched. The warmth of him was both soothing and unsettling.“Would you… fall in love with a man like him?” he murmured.Her heart lurched. She didn’t have the strength to answer. She stayed silent, pressing back into him in a plea to le