Chapter 66

Albert

I set my jaw at the sound of the knock. It might be the whiskey, but I really wanted to kiss her. I was almost sure that she'd let me. I turned to answer the door. It was one of my subordinates with a report from Ivan.

Definitely more important than almost kissing my soon-to-be ex-wife.

Mia stepped back and cleared her throat. Her face red.

“I’m heading out,” she said. “Thank you for everything. I hope soon I'll be able to pay you back for everything.”

I wanted to hold her back, to say more, but I just nodded.

"Don't feel pressured to. I... would rather you be perfectly at peace."

Our gazes me.

"That would be worth more to me than anything."

She tore her gaze away and scurried away. I watched from the office window as she reappeared with Sasha downstairs. Emma was brought to them along and they headed out. I turned away, not wanting to see her leave. A pang of regret struck me.

My subordinate handed over the report and left. When the door finally closed, I turned sharply and headed back to my desk. My mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions, and I needed to channel that energy into something concrete. I flipped through the file from Ivan and set it aside before pulling out the file on Ethan’s debts, flipping through the records with a growing sense of anger. The sheer scale of his financial irresponsibility and deceit was staggering.

Emma deserved better than this. I was in the middle of scrutinizing the figures when Polina walked in. Her presence set me onto edge.

"Close the door," I said.

She did. I lifted my gaze to look up at her, my frustration bubbling just below the surface.

“Why were you at the hospital? How did you even know how to find her?”

She raised an eyebrow. "What? Who are you talking about?"

“Mia mentioned a post-nuptial agreement you wanted her to sign,” I said, my tone sharper than I intended. “Can you explain what that’s about?”

Polina’s expression shifted her facade of composure momentarily faltering. “It’s standard practice where there’s significant financial or legal entanglements when a prenuptial agreement isn't in place of sufficient. Given the nature of your wealth and her standing, it was meant to protect you."

I stared at her. She had never been a very good liar, especially not to me. Her eyes screamed as she wanted me to believe her. But I knew better.

"Try not to go around pretending to be my lawyer again. Mikhail has it well in hand."

She set her jaw. "I was just looking after you."

"Were you?" I cocked an eyebrow. "Or looking after Dimitri's interests?"

She went still. Then, she flushed with anger. She snarled and I dropped my gaze back to Ethan's records. Polina's anger was palpable as heard her start huffing.

“I can’t believe you’d marry someone like her,” Polina spat. “She's so obviously a gold digger. She's just some lowlife. I couldn't believe you'd make such a colossal mistake, so what does she have on you? I wouldn't have had to go after her if you'd told me about her. I thought I was on your team.”

I leaned back in my chair, trying to keep my voice calm despite my own rising anger. “Polina, you don’t know Mia. You jumped to conclusions. There's more to the situation that you're aware of, and I shouldn't need to keep you informed of my personal decisions."

Polina’s face hardened. “More to it? From what I’ve seen, she’s nothing but trouble. She showed up at the casino, connected to some philandering spendthrift's wife, and--"

"Mia was here to help that woman, who happens to be the daughter of a large client of mine. And interesting that you think me so incapable to not thing of a prenuptial or that Mikhail is so bad at his job to not think of one."

Polina crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “Last I checked, I had more experience with marriages and divorces than Mikhail. You should have called me. Did you even have a clause about children? I saw the prenuptial agreement. That's a lot of money."

I sighed, sitting back. "It's not enough for what's happened to her because I involved her in my problems. She’s been through more than you know. And clearly more than you care to think about.”

Polina’s anger only seemed to deepen. “So, you’re saying she’s completely innocent? That she didn’t seduce you into this? I don't want to believe you're that kind of man, but what else am I supposed to think?"

I shook my head. "I don't have to explain myself to you."

She set her jaw. "Because you can't."

"Because it's none of your business. My relationship with Mia, whatever it is or was, has nothing to do with you. Leave her alone, Polina. I mean it."

Polina’s face twisted with a mixture of hurt and disbelief. She turned away. “You've made a mistake, and I care enough about you to make sure it doesn't ruin you."

I watched her leave, turning over the conversation. The situation with Mia was already complicated enough without adding Polina’s anger into the mix. And no matter how well she thought she hid her feelings about it, I could tell that she was fuming not about me supposedly making a mistake but about Mia in general.

Damn... I thought she'd grown out of that ridiculous crush. We weren't compatible in any way.

Polina had always had the worst temper. Her father was a chauvinist, sure, but it was better to have a level-headed idiot who knew he was an idiot at the helm of a criminal organization than a hot-headed, educated idiot who was prone to impulsive acts at the least provocation.

As I returned to the paperwork, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was slipping further out of control. I just hoped Polina wouldn't throw away the chance to be free of her father and the criminal underground over her misplaced feelings for me.

Polina

I stormed out of Albert’s office, my mind reeling from the revelation. The thought of Albert being in love with Mia was unbearable, but it was true. It had been written all over the situation. How could he be so blind? How could he let himself be swept away by someone like her? The anger inside me burned hotter with each step I took. I needed to channel my fury into something productive—something that would help me regain control.

Something that would make Albert see that I was the one for him, not that bitch.

I arrived at Dimitri’s townhouse. He was already there, drinking from tumble with an air of smug satisfaction. I approached him, determined to confront him about what I’d just learned.

“Dimitri,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “I need to talk to you about Albert and Mia.”

Dimitri’s gaze sharpened. “I’m aware of the situation, but it will not matter much longer."

My anger flared. “You knew? You know he's in love with her?"

"Yes. Amusing, isn't it?" Dimitri chuckled. "It doesn't matter. She'll be dead soon enough and their divorce is nearly finalized.”

My heart skipped a beat.

"You're my first pick to be at his side. The Kulak and Volka have always cooperated. It's been time to make it official. I’ve already discussed it with your father. We’ll announce the arrangements at the celebration tomorrow and hold the ceremony at the same time. You’ll be Albert’s new wife as soon as the ink has dried.”

He lifted his glass. "I expected at least two grandsons, just so you know."

The shock hit me like a wave, but beneath it was a surge of triumph. The chance to finally claim what was rightfully mine was almost too good to be true. The prospect of becoming Albert’s wife, of finally taking my rightful place, filled me with fierce satisfaction.

The Kulak-Volka would be the largest, most wide-reaching criminal merger in history. as soon as our fathers were locked away in jail for the rest of their natural lives, Albert and I would rule over the criminal underground.

“I was told that your mother picked out your dresses for the affair. You should hurry home and make sure they look appropriate."

"Thank you, father-in-law. You won't be disappointed."

I took a deep breath, my mind already racing with the possibilities. The path ahead was clear now, and the prospect of becoming Albert’s wife was more than just an opportunity—it was the culmination of everything I had worked for. I practically skipped away and out the door.

As I left Dimitri’s townhouse, I squealed with joy. I threw my car into gear and rushed back to the house, eager to see what my mother had picked out.

I'd be Albert's wife just as I had always dreamed.

Finally, everything was falling into place.