Lahat ng Kabanata ng Blood And Vows : Kabanata 121 - Kabanata 130

LilianaThe morning light streaming through our bedroom window felt different somehow. Warmer, and more hopeful. After the intensity of last night and the peaceful way we'd made love this morning, I felt like we were finally finding our balance in this dangerous world. Making love in the morning was almost becoming a routine.But Anastasia's words at breakfast kept echoing in my mind: "When can I expect to hear the patter of little feet?"Children. The word sent a complex mix of emotions through me. A sense of longing, fear, hope, and terror all tangled together like threads in an expensive tapestry.I stood in front of my vanity mirror, studying my reflection. My body had healed completely from the surgery months ago. There were no visible scars, no lasting damage. Physically, I was ready to carry a child.Emotionally? That was far more complicated."Mrs. Volkov?" A soft voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see Clara, one of the younger housemaids, standing in the doorway with

LilianaMy hands were shaking as I stared at the message on Anastasia's pillow. Mikhail's father's name, written in handwriting I didn't recognize, but somehow felt familiar."This is impossible," Mikhail said, his voice barely controlled. "My father is dead. I watched him die.""Maybe someone is using his name to get to you," I suggested, though I could hear the uncertainty in my own voice."No one would dare. In our world, impersonating the dead is..." He paused, running his hands through his hair. "It's the kind of insult that starts blood feuds lasting generations.""Then what does it mean?"Before he could answer, my phone buzzed with a text message. Unknown number."Mrs. Volkov, your husband looks very handsome when he's angry. Almost as handsome as when he's sleeping beside you."I dropped the phone like it was on fire."They're watching us right now," I whispered.Mikhail picked up my phone and read the message. His face went completely white, then flushed with rage."Everyone

LilianaI stared at Viktor in disbelief, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. He was supposed to be dead. We'd been to his funeral. I'd watched Mikhail grieve for his uncle."How?" Mikhail whispered, his face pale with shock."How am I alive?" Viktor laughed. "It's amazing what a little planning can accomplish. The body you buried was a homeless man from the docks, cleaned up and dressed in my clothes. A few bribes to the coroner, with some careful staging, and everyone believed Viktor Volkov was dead.""But why?" I asked. "Why fake your own death?""Oh, dear Liliana. I never faked my own death. Someone here did try to kill me, but I was smart enough to see ahead of the person's plan." Viktor's eyes were cold, and calculating. "You see, I've been watching Mikhail build this empire for years, waiting for my chance to take what should have been mine."Someone here? I looked around. There were only family members. My jaw dropped as the realization dawned on me. Someone here t

LilianaThe woman with the syringe looked completely calm, as if threatening to murder my husband was just another day at the office. But I could see the calculation in her eyes, the way she was measuring distances and angles.I had woken up few minutes ago and decided to come check on Mikhail. My injuries were minimal compared to the rest.As I stepped out of my ward, I noticed a woman in a nurse outfit heading towards Mikhail's ward. I didn't notice anything odd about her until I caught her look left and right before entering Mikhail's ward. Them I knew she was up to no good.I stepped back into my ward, brought out the pistol Mikhail had given me back at the manor."I said step away from him," I repeated, keeping the gun trained on her center mass the way Mikhail had taught me."Such a devoted wife," the woman said. "Tell me, do you know how many people your husband has killed? How many families he's destroyed? How many lives he has ruined?""I know exactly who he is," I said. "And

LilianaThe grand dining hall looked like stepping into a fairy tale. Candles flickered on the massive mahogany table, casting warm light over the crystal glasses and silver cutlery. The smell of roasted lamb and fresh bread filled the air, mixing with the scent of pine from the Christmas decorations.For a moment, I let myself pretend this was normal. That we were just a regular family celebrating Christmas together, without enemies or threats or the constant fear of death."Liliana, dear, you look beautiful," Anastasia said as she hugged me. She smelled like expensive perfume and old roses. "That dress is perfect on you.""Thank you. You look wonderful too." I smiled.Around the table, conversations flowed in Russian and English. Boris's children were excited about the presents, asking if Santa had found the manor okay. Oleg was already drinking heavily, his cheeks red with vodka and laughter.Mikhail sat at the head of the table in his wheelchair, trying to hide how much pain he wa