Chapter 46/Kira, I’m in Trouble

Chapter 46: 46/Kira, I’m in Trouble

Chapter 46

Stephanie’s Point of View

Mr. Victor, with his usual dignity, moved toward the sofa and sat down. My father followed suit, and I sat as well, my body as rigid as wood from the sheer tension. Mr. Victor placed his hands on his knees and said in a decisive tone:

"The wedding will be in two days."

I felt as if the earth were swaying beneath me. I gripped the edge of the sofa so hard my knuckles turned white to keep from falling. In two days? This fast? I felt a sharp tightness in my chest, and no one gave me a chance to catch my breath or process this madness. I turned toward my father, whose face showed no sign of pity; instead, he nodded with relief and said:

"That is excellent."

Mr. Victor turned to me, fixing his gray eyes on mine. "Your father told you that you will marry my second grandson, Alexander, because Cedric is engaged."

I shook my head bitterly, a lump catching in my throat as I tried to prevent my tears from falling. Mr. Victor continued with practical coldness:

"This is the best solution. You will be my grandson’s wife, and your children will take the Volkov name. I don’t want anyone to know that you have any connection to Cedric."

I felt a stab in my heart. Yes, no one must know so that his fiancée, "Isabella," doesn’t get angry! And what about me? Will I be forced to lie to my children? Will I tell them that Alexander is their father while they call their real father "Uncle"?

"Isn’t this too fast, Mr. Victor?" I asked in a trembling, hoarse voice.

My father jolted in his seat and shouted at me sharply, making me flinch:

"Fast? What is growing inside your womb is what’s fast! Are you waiting for your belly to grow so people can point their fingers at us?"

Mr. Victor spoke calmly to absorb my father’s rage:

"Yes, Mr. Edward, you are right. We will hold a small, quiet ceremony at my palace, for the family only."

I closed my eyes in oppression; yes, they were even thinking about the details of the ceremony as if I were just a doll they were moving. My father asked with interest:

"Won’t people know that my daughter married your grandson?"

Mr. Victor replied with dignity:

"They will know. The news of Alexander’s marriage will be published in the newspapers, but after the wedding. I don’t want anyone to know about this now."

My father nodded and said in a firm tone: "Fine, I agree."

Mr. Victor turned to me again with a mysterious smile and said:

"I will speak with Alexander. He will come in the evening so you can get to know each other."

I wanted to laugh with loud irony. Really? Get to know each other? I’ve known him for six years I know him better than he knows himself! But I settled for nodding in absolute silence.

Mr. Victor rose from his seat, adjusted his suit with dignity, and said as he headed toward the door:

"Mr. Edward, do not worry yourself about anything regarding the wedding. I will take care of everything."

I remained in my place, watching him depart, feeling the walls of the lounge closing in on me and a hidden noose slowly tightening around my neck.

I turned toward my father, who was looking at me with dry sternness. He said in a commanding tone:

"Go to your room and prepare yourself for the evening. I don’t want his grandson to refuse to marry you too."

My body stiffened, and I felt a stab at my dignity. Was he hinting at Cedric? Did he mean that I am a cheap commodity who was rejected once and he fears I’ll be rejected a second time? I didn’t utter a word, but Valentina approached me with quick steps. She grabbed my arm so hard her nails dug into my skin, saying as she painted a fake smile for my father:

"I will help you get ready, dear Stephanie."

She dragged me behind her toward the upper floor with a violence my father didn’t notice. As soon as we disappeared from his sight in the upstairs hallway, she pushed me against the wall with all her strength. My back hit the solid wood, and I groaned in pain as she leaned close to my face and said in a terrifying hiss:

"You will make Alexander reject you... do you understand?"

I looked into her eyes, which were burning with spite, and said in a voice trembling with anger: "Since when have you two been together?"

"None of your business," she replied coldly, narrowing her eyes.

"Then it’s none of your business to interfere in my affairs," I said, trying to push her hand away.

She squeezed my arm harder and said with an explicit threat: "Don’t force me to use violence with you, Stephanie."

I raised my head defiantly despite the pain gripping my shoulder. "Do you expect me to be afraid?"

"Yes, you should be," she said, leaning toward my ear in a spine-chilling tone, "because you don’t know me yet."

"Fine," I replied, clenching my teeth. "I want to know you."

She suddenly let go of my arm and shouted at me, pointing her finger at my chest: "You will stay away from Alex! You will tell him that you don’t want this marriage."

"I don’t even want this marriage anyway, Valentina," I said bitterly, looking away.

"Good," she said in a commanding tone. "You will tell him that."

"His grandfather is the one who decides," I answered in despair.

She turned to leave, but stopped and said in a tone as sharp as a sword: "Alex is mine, and he will always be mine... get that through your head."

She left me standing there, breathing with difficulty. I continued climbing the stairs with heavy steps until I entered my room and closed the door behind me. I found my bag lying on the bed surely my father had brought it from Cedric’s house.

I pulled out my phone quickly; it was off, so I turned it on, waiting impatiently until it started. I called Kira immediately, and as soon as her voice came through, I felt a lump choking me.

"Steph! I was worried about you! Where are you, girl?"

I threw myself onto the bed, and my tears finally poured without stopping. I said in a wavering voice:

"Kira... I’m in big trouble."