I took a step inside, and my breathing turned shallow. Savina trailed behind, fussing with the train, but it felt like only me and the little hope I had.
Three steps in, and my chest ached. Where was the signal? What was he waiting for? Was I meant to go this far?
The slow music swelled, sweet to everyone else but grating in my ears, twisting into noise. The aisle stretched, yet every step made it shrink, pulling me closer and closer to the wrong man waiting at the end.
Why hadn’t the lights gone out? Wasn’t Dmitri here? Had he lied to me?
My heart broke as the podium drew closer. Tears welled and blurred my vision. The lights stayed on while they weren’t supposed to. There was supposed to be a blackout, confusion would ripple through the room, and I would faint. That’s when a medic team would show up, Dmitri being one of them. That was the plan. That was my escape.
A tear rolled hot down my cheek as I reached the stage. The officiant already stood behind the podium. I lowered my face, letting the tears fall. I had failed. Hope shattered into pain inside me. There was no other way. I was only deceiving myself, thinking Dmitri would stick to our plan.
“Let us start,” the officiant began.
What if I faint now and pretend to be dying? They would rush me to the hospital, and I would find a way to escape from there.
“I’m curious,” a deep voice drew me back from my silly thought. The voice didn’t belong to Vincenzo. Or maybe I was too broken to tell anymore. “What was your plan? Crying?”
I froze as the words landed. Slowly, I lifted my face and looked at him. My world shrank to the man standing beside me.Rodion.
He turned his whole body to me, his eyes locking on mine. I opened my mouth, then shut it again without a word. He reached forward and lifted the veil from my face.
“Excuse me, we are not yet at that part—” the officiant began, but Rodion silenced him with a single raised hand, his gaze never leaving me.
“R…Rodion?” I whispered, my voice trembling. Please, God, don’t let this be another dream.
He touched my face and wiped away my tears. “The plan, Little Gem.”
He was here. This was real.
Chapter Fifty-two
Alessia
What was the plan again?My mind blanked, as if someone had yanked the plug out of my brain. Every fear and heartbeat of panic drained the second I sawhim.
A minute ago, I was sure I would walk out of here legally married to Vincenzo, sealed into a life I could never escape. But Rodion was here, dressed in a black tuxedo, and carrying the kind of control that made the room fall silent. He looked healthier than when I had last seen him. If anyone had asked whether I had expected this, I would have laughed.
His eyes locked on mine, waiting for me to tell him about a plan that didn’t work.
“It failed,” I whispered, my voice splintering. “Dmitri lied to me. But you’re here. I didn’t expect this.” My smile widened as I leaned into the warmth of his hand against my cheek. “Youalways show up.”
He stepped closer, shadows carving his face in his usual control. “The next time you decide to make plans, I will get to know it first! You involve me in every fucking plan you have.” He was angry.
“You’re mad.”
His jaw ticked. “What did you think? That I would find you, congratulate you, and kiss you?”
I swallowed, unsure whether to smile or fear that he was mad. “Kiss. Yes.”
Rodion’s lips curved into a smirk, his eyes flicking to my lips. “You’ll beg for that.” He turned toward the officiant. “Continue.”
“Rodion, you can’t be—”
“Now,” the officiant resumed. “We are gathered here as witnesses—” He stopped when Rodion’s attention swung back to me. He wasn’t done.
“You hated that deal. Didn’t you think for a second that I regretted it too?” His tone softened, but not enough to comfort. My throat locked, and I blinked, lost for words. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Was he furious, or just pretending?
