"It's not ridiculous. It's reality." Old Volkov leaned back, his tone carrying condescending arrogance. "You're just an ordinary novelist, Ms. Cole. You don't understand underworld rules, don't understand power games. Staying beside Nikolai, you can't help him—you'll only become his weak spot, a target for enemies to attack."
He paused, his tone growing more aggressive.
"If you truly care about him, you should leave voluntarily. It's the best choice for him."
I stared at old Volkov, fury burning hotter inside me.
"You know what, old man?" I spoke slowly, voice cold as ice. "What you just said—it's identical to what Nikolai told me. You two are exactly alike—both love doing the most hurtful things under the banner of 'for your good.'"
Old Volkov's expression shifted slightly.
"Nikolai said he monitored me to protect me. You say I should leave for his good." I laughed coldly and stood. "But neither of you asked what I want. Neither of you treated me like someone capable of independent thought."
I looked directly into old Volkov's eyes.
"Whether I'm dead weight, whether I'm a weakness—that's not for you to judge. My relationship with Nikolai isn't yours to interfere with. As for your money—"
I picked up the teacup and threw it in his face without mercy.
"Keep it yourself."
Old Volkov's face went livid, tea dripping down his carefully groomed hair. He looked utterly wretched.
"You—"
"Sasha, we're leaving." I turned and strode toward the door without looking back.
Sasha immediately followed, using his body to shield me from old Volkov in case he lashed out.
"Ms. Cole!" Old Volkov roared behind me. "You'll regret this! You'll get Nikolai killed!"
I stopped, turned my head, and looked at him coldly.
"If he really dies because of me, at least it was his choice. At least he died for someone he cared about—not like you, sacrificing even your own son for power and profit."
With that, I walked out of the tea room without another glance.
On the drive back, the car was oppressively silent. Outside, darkness had fallen, and fine cold rain began to fall.
Just as our convoy entered a deserted street lined with tall plane trees, a terrible disaster struck without warning!
Behind us came a savage roar of engines! Two unlicensed black heavy-duty pickups charged from behind like mad bulls.
"Speed up! Dodge!" Sasha yanked his Glock from his waist and roared at the driver.
Too late.
Before the driver could wrench the wheel, a heavyarmored truck burst from the intersection ahead, stopping brutally across the road, completely blocking our escape!
Deafening gunfire tore through the rainy night!
Large-caliber automatic rifle bullets poured down on our vehicle like a torrential storm. The bulletproof glass shattered under the terrifying impact, spiderweb cracks instantly spreading across the entire window.
"Fuck!"
Their firepower was too fierce, too sudden! Though Nikolai's men were professional, they were immediately outmatched in this ambush. The lead car ahead had been riddled with bullets, its driver slumped over the wheel, blood staining the windshield.
"Ms. Cole, get down!"
