The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Viktor's penthouse, casting a soft glow over the sleek, modern furniture. Liza was seated at the breakfast bar, absentmindedly stirring her coffee, her thoughts wandering to the phone call with Christoph the previous day. His desperate tone, the way he tried to manipulate her emotions—it was all too familiar. But for the first time, it didn't affect her the way it used to.
She was stronger now, grounded in the life she was building with Viktor. He had shown her what it meant to truly care for someone, not through empty words but through actions, through his unwavering support and protection.
Viktor entered the room, his presence commanding even in the early hours of the day. His blue eyes locked onto her, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Morning," he said, his voice deep and husky. He walked over to her, his hand sliding around her waist as he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "How are you feeling?"
Liza smiled up at him, warmth blooming in her chest. "Better. More clear-headed."
He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms as he studied her with that intense gaze of his. "Christoph is desperate. He knows he's losing, and he's trying to get into your head."
She nodded, sipping her coffee. "I know. But he won't win this time."
Viktor's expression softened, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. "I'm proud of you, Liza. You've come a long way since that first night we met."
Her heart fluttered at his words, and she couldn't help but smile. There was something about the way Viktor looked at her now, something more than just lust or desire. It was deeper—respect, admiration, maybe even love.
"I couldn't have done any of this without you," she said softly.
Viktor's thumb brushed over her bottom lip, his gaze darkening slightly. "You've always had that strength inside you, Liza. I just helped you see it."
The tension between them crackled, the air thick with unspoken emotion. Viktor leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, heated kiss that left her breathless. His hand tangled in her hair, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened, more passionate and consuming.
Every touch, every movement of his lips against hers, felt like a promise—a promise that no matter what came their way, they would face it together.
When they finally broke apart, Liza's cheeks were flushed, her heart racing in her chest. Viktor rested his forehead against hers, his breath coming in shallow bursts.
"We should get going," he murmured, his voice laced with desire. "We have a lot to prepare for today."
Liza nodded, though part of her wanted nothing more than to stay here, wrapped in Viktor's arms, safe from the world outside. But they couldn't afford to be complacent—not with Christoph still out there, plotting his next move.
As they got ready for the day, Viktor filled her in on the plan. They had the information Marco had given them—offshore accounts, shell companies, and details of an upcoming arms deal—but now they needed to act on it. The goal was to dismantle Christoph's network piece by piece, hitting him where it hurt the most.
"We'll start with the accounts," Viktor said as they headed out of the penthouse. "If we can freeze his assets, we'll cripple his operations. He won't have the money to fund his deals or pay off his associates."
Liza nodded, her mind sharp and focused. Christoph's empire had been built on lies, corruption, and blood money. If they could take that away from him, he'd be left with nothing.
But she couldn't ignore the part of her that still ached when she thought of Christoph. He had been her fiancé once, the man she thought she would spend her life with. Despite everything he had done, there was still a small, lingering piece of her that wondered how things had gone so wrong.
Later that day, as they sat in Viktor's office, going over the details of their next move, Liza couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was a tension in the air, a sense of foreboding that had settled over her like a heavy weight.
"Viktor," she said quietly, glancing up at him. "Do you think Christoph will try to come after me?"
Viktor's eyes flickered with something dark and dangerous. "He'd be a fool to try. But if he does, I'll make sure he regrets it."
Liza bit her lip, her mind racing. Christoph had already proven that he was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted. She couldn't let her guard down—not now.
---
That evening, they returned to the penthouse, both of them exhausted from the day's work. Viktor had been on edge the entire time, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a cold, calculating focus. Liza knew that he was thinking about Christoph too, about the threat he posed to their newfound peace.
They ate dinner in relative silence, the weight of their plan pressing down on them both. But as the night wore on, Viktor's tension seemed to ease, and by the time they were in bed, the storm clouds had lifted.
Liza curled up against him, her head resting on his chest as his arm wrapped around her protectively. She felt safe in his embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat soothing her racing thoughts.
"I don't know what's going to happen with Christoph," Liza whispered, her voice barely audible in the darkness. "But I know one thing—I'm not afraid anymore."
Viktor's hand stroked her hair, his touch gentle. "You have nothing to fear, Liza. Not as long as I'm with you."
There was a quiet intensity to his words, a promise that sent a shiver down her spine. She knew that Viktor would protect her with his life, that he would stop at nothing to keep her safe.
And for the first time in a long time, Liza allowed herself to believe it.
---
But as the moon hung high in the sky and sleep pulled her under, Liza's phone buzzed again on the nightstand. She ignored it at first, but something in her gut told her to check.
She slipped out of Viktor's arms, careful not to wake him, and glanced at the screen. It was a message from an unknown number, but the content made her blood run cold.
*I haven't forgotten about you, Liza. You're still mine.*
It was Christoph.
Her heart pounded in her chest, fear clawing at her insides. She glanced over at Viktor, who was still sleeping peacefully, his face relaxed in the dim light. She didn't want to wake him—not yet.
But she knew that Christoph wasn't done with her.
And this time, he was playing a much more dangerous game.