Page 56 of The Pakhan’s Unwanted Bride

By the time I head back to the manor, the sun is fully up and I'm running on caffeine and frustration. I expect to find the house quiet, Ana still asleep after the long night. Instead, I walk into complete chaos.

Workers are carrying furniture through the main hall. Priceless artwork that's hung on these walls for generations is being removed and stacked carefully against the far wall. Decorators are measuring windows for new draperies. The sitting room I passed through last night is completely empty, every piece of furniture gone.

What the fuck?

"You." I point at the nearest worker, a young man struggling with an antique chair. "Who authorized this?"

He looks terrified. "The mistress, sir. Princess Anastasia gave the orders this morning."

Of course she did. I find Ana in what used to be the formal sitting room, now stripped bare except for paint samples spread across the floor. She's wearing casual clothes, her hair pulled back, looking entirely too pleased with herself as she discusses color options with an interior designer.

"Everyone out." My voice cuts through the conversation like a blade.

The designer takes one look at my face and practically runs from the room. The workers follow quickly, leaving Ana and me alone in the empty space.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I keep my voice level, but the anger is clear.

Ana straightens, lifting her chin with that familiar royal defiance. "I'm improving our home. The decor is outdated and too masculine. It needs a woman's touch."

"This is my house."

"It's our house now." She crosses her arms. "I'm your wife and the last Bratva princess. I have every right to make changes."

"You have no right to do anything without my permission." I step closer, my patience wearing thin. "I don't care what title you carry. This is my estate, built by my family, and nothing changes without my approval."

"That's ridiculous." Her eyes flash with anger. "You expect me to live here and have no say in my own home? To just accept everything exactly as you've arranged it?"

"I expect you to show some fucking respect." My voice drops lower, more dangerous. "You've been here less than a month, and you're already tearing the place apart like you own it."

"I do own it. Or half of it, at least. That's how marriage works, Samuil."

"Not in my world." I invade her space, forcing her to look up at me. "In my world, the Pakhan makes the decisions. Everyone else follows orders. Including you."

"I'm not one of your soldiers." She doesn't back down, meeting my anger with her own. "I'm your wife. Your equal. And I won't be treated like some subordinate who needs permission to choose paint colors."

"You're not my equal." My tone is harsh, but I don't take back the words. "You're a princess who's never had to work for anything in her life. You don't understand how power works or what it takes to maintain it."

Her face goes pale, then flushes with anger. "How dare you?"

"I dare because it's the truth." I gesture at the empty room around us. "You think making cosmetic changes gives you control? You think rearranging furniture makes you mistress of this house? You're playing at power while I'm actually wielding it."

"Get out." Her voice shakes with fury. "Get out of this room right now."

"This is my house. I don't take orders from you."

"Then I'll leave." She moves toward the door, but I block her path.

"We're not done talking."

"Yes, we are." She tries to push past me but I catch her wrist. "Let me go."

"Not until you understand something." I pull her closer, forcing her to meet my eyes. "I don't care how many titles you have or how royal your bloodline is. In this house, I'm in charge. You want to make changes? You ask me first. You want to hire decorators? You get my approval. You want to spend my money redecorating? You'd better have a damn good reason."

"Your money?" She laughs, the sound bitter. "My family has more wealth than yours ever will. I don't need your permission or your money to improve this place."

"Then go back to your family's estate and redecorate that." I release her wrist and step back.

"You're a real bastard, you know that?"