Five years ago, I was a happy man. My wife, Jane, was beautiful—she was perfect. She was the love of my life. But five years ago, I lost her, and with her, a part of myself.
Jane passed away suddenly. I should have known. I should have seen the signs, but I didn't. She suffered from cardiomyopathy, and despite all the resources at my disposal, no doctor could save her.
No one could. And now, Jane is gone.
I kept telling myself she would pull through, that a miracle would come. But the day arrived, and she was no longer here.
"Alex!" A sharp voice broke through my thoughts. A man in his mid-70s pounded the table in front of me.
Felix, my father. Age had softened his features, but not his temper. "Did you hear me?"
Shit. I hadn't been listening. "Sorry, can you repeat that?"
My answer only seemed to piss him off more.
Felix groaned, his jaw tightening as his dark eyes locked onto mine. "I was talking about the Sokolovs. You know, the family whose deal you almost ruined six years ago? Ring a bell?"
Sokolov? Ah, yes—the Sokolovs. The family that runs those casinos, the ones my father desperately sought favors from. It's almost laughable now. I never thought the Romanovs would be on their knees for anyone.
"Yes, I remember."
"And the arranged marriage you called off?"
I didn't like where this was heading. "Yes."
His lips curled into a hard smile. "We're doing it again."
No. Did I hear that right? My father had clearly lost his mind. "What?"
Felix leaned back in his chair, his office a sea of black, matching the suffocating weight of his words.
"You heard me, son."
"No, I didn't. What I heard is bullshit!" I snapped, my temper flaring. "I just lost Jane!"
"That was five years ago."
Five years ago. It didn't matter if it was five years or a century—losing Jane was a wound that would never heal. But he knew that. He just chose to ignore it.
"No, Father. The answer is no. Absolutely no!"
"Yes," he said, unflinching.
"No, I—"
"I didn't ask for your opinion, Alexei," he cut me off, his voice cold and sharp. "I'm not here for a discussion. I'm informing you. We are proceeding with the second arranged marriage to Anastasia Sokolov."
I felt like I was losing my mind. What kind of bullshit was I hearing now? I had canceled the engagement with Anastasia six years ago. I didn't love her, and back then, she was just 17 while I was 24—definitely not my type.
But six years have passed. She must be 23 now, still too young. This can't be happening.
I loved Jane long before I ever met Anastasia, and I still do. The only reason I called off the engagement was because I couldn't marry someone I didn't love.
I don't care if my life is all black and red. Being the son of the most powerful mafia family has its dirt, and I've chosen that path. But love was something I still held on to.
My gaze fixed on Felix, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words. He was too old for me to fight physically—though even if he were younger, I couldn't bring myself to do it because he's my damn father.
This is beyond frustrating.
"I can't do it, Father." I shook my head, my fists clenched tightly. I hated the way my voice trembled with emotion.
I hated it so much, so much that I felt on the verge of tears. The woman I had always wanted was gone, and the thought of marrying someone else was unbearable.
Felix seemed to scrutinize my face, his expression unreadable. I knew better than to expect understanding from him, especially not from my tears.
"You'll do it, Alexei. No exceptions. Listen to me. I won't be here forever. You are my heir, and before I die, I want to ensure our legacy endures."
I clenched my fists, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "That's not the way."
"And what?" His voice dripped with disdain. "You'll stay widowed for the rest of your life?"
"Yes!" I shouted, my voice cracking with emotion. Jane was the only one I would ever love.
Felix's expression darkened, and before I could react, he snatched the gun from his desk and hurled it at me. The impact sent a sharp pain through my skull, and I felt the warm trickle of blood down my cheek. I didn't flinch.
"I've shown you patience because you're my eldest son, but you've disappointed me time and again!" His voice was a low growl. "I let it slide when you canceled the engagement years ago! I should have killed you for that, but I didn't! Now, do it!"
I was fed up. Without a word, I stormed out of the room, Felix's shouts echoing behind me, reminding me of the meeting next week. Fuck it.
As I walked down the hallway, I wiped the blood from my forehead and entered my private room, greeted only by the oppressive silence and solitude.
"Darling, you're back!" Jane's voice, always warm and welcoming, seemed to echo in my mind. I sank onto the couch, my head heavy with grief.
Why her? Why was she taken? If I could ask, I would, but no one has answers.
I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts drifting to Anastasia Sokolov. I remembered her long blonde hair and the pouty look she gave me when we first met. It was strange that I still remembered it. Maybe because she had been so... insolent, glaring at me as if I were the villain.
At least she didn't want the marriage either; that's one less problem to worry about. I wondered how she would react to the news of the engagement being reinstated. I sighed.
"I bet she'll throw a tantrum," I muttered to myself. Anastasia was not an easy woman to handle—something I learned during our six months of engagement.