Chapter 3

Guilia My eyes blurred with fury, my face tightening as I fought to school my expression into calmness. The murmurs had heightened and I could see Father jolting to his feet while mother tried to prevent him from coming over to us. Tsk. As if that would work. Vladimir made his way to us in confident and cocky strides. It was two years already, but his irksome ego hadn't diminished one bit. How dare he disrupt my wedding with his lies? After hurting me over and over again, he just had to barge in here and cause a ruckus. Raising Dalian alone in a strange country where I didn't have anyone was very hard, but I scaled through and had already adjusted to my new schedule until my cousin found me by chance at the market and told my parents about my situation. They'd suggested I get married to Alessio who was more than willing to get married to me. I wasn't happy because I'd never be able to love him, but at least, I was assured of protection for my son. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my tone sharpening. He shrugged, whipping a glance from me to Alessio. "I'm here to take what's mine," He said it so casually like he was here to pick up an order. "Then you must be the most popular clown in town because I was never yours to begin with. God help whoever told you about this wedding," I told him as quietly as I could. He clicked his tongue and folded his arms, his eyes narrowing on Alessio’s bewildered face before switching back to mine. "What are you going to do, Guilia? It's not even like you can hurt an ant," He taunted me. Father had already gotten to us, his tie hanging askew. I tried to hold my breath, to force out air from my nose in a loud exhale. "Mr Mikhailov, you don't want us to do this the hard way, right?" The tension stirring in the air was hot enough to cause a combustion in the hall and I couldn't allow any more disaster to happen. Giving in to the only idea that danced in my mind, I snagged his hand and dragged him through the aisle and like a sheep on its way to the slaughter while he followed quietly which stirred an unsettling feeling within me. "You must be crazy to think that Dalian is yours," My nose flared as I glared furiously at him. "How did you even know that I was getting married today?" I flung my hands in the air in exasperation. "That's my business, baby. Listen, Guilia, arguing with me will only make this worse. You have always been mine and I'm not going to let that pussy take you away from me..." My palm landed on his cheek, cutting him off from completing whatever he'd wanted to say. "You must be out of your mind, Vladimir Mikhailov. Who the fuck do you think you are to determine the trajectory of my life? You messed with me and just when I got pregnant, you abandoned me for Marian. I didn't object because we weren't even an item and I was an idiot for falling for your charms, but that's the height of it, Vladimir." I growled. "As long as I'm concerned, I'm the only parent Dalian has. If you need a child, go fuck a whore.” How dare he breeze back in like a mosquito into my life? His face was reddening and his gaze remained indelibly fixed on me while I trotted back into the hall. As far as I was concerned, Alessio and I would wed today. All eyes were on me as I matched through the aisle to Alessio and my parents. My insides were quivering with a rollercoaster of emotions whirling in my head, but this wasn't the time to ride on the waves of my feelings. A lot of things were at stake and I was responsible for fixing them. "We're going on with the wedding, Sir," I informed the priest who nodded and flipped open a file. The murmurs had barely quieted when I caught sight of Vladimir's tall frame in my peripheral vision. He didn't look impressed one bit, and it delighted me to know my stubbornness was upsetting him. "Well, I still maintain that the wedding is not going to hold, and I won't leave this place without my fiancée and my son," The grin had disappeared from his face as he peered down at my father in a stoic, steady gaze. The tension between the both of them was too scary, but I had the assurance that they wouldn't start a fight. Even though Vladimir was reckless, my father cared too much about his reputation to start a war with the Russians—one the Famiglia wasn't prepared for. A tired sigh cracked from the priest and he steered away from us, closing the file containing the vows. "When you're ready to be wed, let me know," He shook his head and walked away. ******** "What is the meaning of that stunt you pulled out there, Mr Mikhailov?" Father's voice was loudly gruff as everyone: my mother who didn't bother to spare me a glance, Alessio and Vladimir, the reason for this meeting, gathered in his study. Vladimir leaned against the doorframe and shrugged. "I came back to claim what's mine. How's that a stunt?" My dad glanced at me with a glare that made me want to bolt away, but I wasn't ready to cower before anyone. "You never cease to stop bringing shame to this family, Guilia. How did you get to be my daughter?" My chest constricted painfully, his words reopening the old wounds that were yet to scar. Hot tears threatened to drop down my cheeks, but I blinked hard, willing them not to fall. "Anyway, you have a decision to make right now, but you should know that choosing to marry this man would automatically erase you from being a member of our family.” I glanced at Alessio, whose eyes were pleading silently that I choose him. A knot tightened in my stomach as I slanted a glance at Vladimir who mocked me with his gaze as if he was daring me to pick someone else apart from him. My fingers brushed against the silver stones on the lace fabric of my dress with shudders rolling out of me, anxiety resting on my shoulders like a cloak. "I….I choose..." The sound of gunshots rang in the air and everyone instantly took cover as the power supply was cut off. My heart pounded in unsteady beats while footsteps marched loudly outside the study. Strings of curses and orders burst out of my father's lips and the door was slammed shut as he and Alessio went out to check out the situation. "Protect the women," Was all that echoed from the hallway and then I felt a light grip on my waist, pulling me towards the adjoining door and even without looking, I knew who was holding me. "Don't be scared, Tinkerbell, I'm going to protect you and our son," He sounded so sure, so certain and in control of the situation. It annoyed me how it was so easy for him to switch pet names as if I was his woman. Fury blasted within me as I shoved him aside and said, "Dalian is not your son!" He chuckled lightly and even though the room was grossly dark, I could make out his disbelieving smirk. "You said that earlier and I ignored it because I felt you were simply angry, but trust me, honey, I know Dalian is mine.” "What makes you think so?" My voice was quite calm which I was grateful for. "Don't play games with me, Guilia. I was your first.” I tried not to cringe at that. "That's exactly what it is. You left me heartbroken after toying with my heart and then I traveled to Paris to begin my education. What makes you think that I didn't entertain other men while I was there? What makes you think I'd have kept myself exclusively for you?" I sneered. "Because you're in love with me and you have never stopped loving me. Even now, I can rock your world by a mere kiss. Just one touch and you'll be wet for me," He retorted cockily. My body flared immediately and I struggled against a shiver. "That's…..that is a lie. I….I never loved you.” I lifted my chin in defiance even as I was sure it was dark for him to take notice of it. At this point, I was more than grateful for the darkness. How could he still have so much control over me after how much pain I'd gone through in his hands? I felt him move closer, our bodies almost touching. "Do you want me to prove it?" His lips teased mine, brushing against the corner of my lips. My chest rose and fell slowly, my core clenching in want. I balled my fingers into tight fists, willing myself not to fall for his games. He would never be able to mess with me again if I didn't give him the power to, and I couldn't afford to hurt Alessio whom I was looking forward to building a future with. Acting on impulse, I dragged my dress up to my mid-thigh, giving me the liberty to flex my legs against his balls. He groaned and I quickly grasped the opportunity to dash towards the door. It was too late for me to realize that I'd made a grave mistake as I felt a painful grip on my arm, dragging me toward the exit of the hallway. Since we were on the down floor, it wouldn't be difficult for my captor to drag me out of the house. Instantly, I regretted leaving Vladimir in there. Kissing him would have been ten times better than having to deal with whoever my captor was. "Vladimir!" His name had barely burst out of my lips when he slapped a palm over my mouth, his other hand jerking me back against his taut body. One thing was clear now: whoever this was, it wasn't Vladimir. "One more word from you and I'll make sure you don't see the light of the day," The coarse words and fearful words left a trail of shivers down my spine. Ignoring the threat, I tried to scream again and then the unthinkable happened. I felt a needle-sharp sensation prick my neck and even though the whole space was dark already, it seemed to darken the more and everything blurred into one maelstrom of black and oblivion. It felt like I was being dragged into an abyss of unconsciousness. With every second that passed, my energy depleted and just before I sank below the surface, I prayed that Dalian was safe and that Vladimir would find me.