The night was cold in Moscow, colder than Evelyn had anticipated. As she wrapped her coat tighter around her, she looked out at the sprawling estate, the vastness of her family's empire spread out before her. Despite the walls of security, the wealth, and the power her family held, Evelyn couldn't shake the unease that had settled deep inside her. Nickolas was coming. She felt it in her bones, the way one can sense a storm before it arrives.
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, the small bump now beginning to show. The child she carried was a constant reminder of those heated nights on the island, symbolizing the twisted connection she shared with Nickolas. But it was also her desire, the reason she couldn't afford to let him take control of her life again—not now, not ever.
Inside the estate, Dmitry paced the halls. His mind was racing, calculating their next moves. He knew Nickolas's influence stretched far beyond the borders of Italy, and while the Maxwell family had resources or people, Dmitry was no fool. Nickolas wouldn't come unprepared.
"What's the plan, brother?" one of the younger siblings, Sergei, asked as he entered the room. His tone was casual, but an edge of tension was beneath the surface. The entire family was on high alert.
"We keep the estate safe at the top. No one gets in or out without my say," Dmitry replied, his voice firm. "I've already informed our men. Nickolas can't touch her as long as she's here."
Sergei nodded, though he wasn't entirely convinced. "He's not going to give up, you know that. Nickolas is obsessed. He'll find a way."
Dmitry's jaw tightened. "He won't get near her. Not while I'm alive."
Meanwhile, far from the estate, Nickolas's private car sliced through the Moscow streets like a knife. The city's cold air didn't bother him; it only made him feel more focused and sharper. His eyes flicked at the ring he held between his fingers—a simple band, elegant but meaningful. He had brought it with him as a promise to Evelyn, a symbol of the life he envisioned for them. Marriage, family, a future that only he could offer her.
She would see. Once she realized what they could have together, she would understand once their child was born. She belonged to him. She always had.
Back at the estate, Evelyn sat with Zie Xin in the study. The fireplace crackled, casting a warm glow over the room, but Evelyn felt anything but warm. She sipped her tea, trying to calm her nerves, but the tension became unbearable.
"Miss Evelyn," Zie Xin began softly, "you should rest. You haven't slept well in days."
Evelyn shook her head. "I can't sleep. Not with him coming. I know he's close."
Zie Xin's expression softened. "You're safe here. Your brothers have made sure of that."
"Safe?" Evelyn repeated, her voice barely a whisper. "I haven't felt safe since the day I left the island. Nickolas always finds a way. No matter how far I run, he's always right behind me."
Zie Xin placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Then we won't let him reach you. You're not alone in this fight."
Evelyn nodded, but deep down, she knew that her battle with Nickolas was one she had to face on her own. It wasn't just about physical safety—it was about his hold on her mind, emotions, and soul. As much as she wanted to deny it, a part of her had been drawn to him, to the darkness in him that mirrored the hidden parts of herself.
That night, as the wind howled outside the estate, Nickolas stood just outside the perimeter of the Maxwell family's stronghold. His men were scattered, hidden in the shadows, waiting for his command. But Nickolas wasn't interested in a full assault. Not yet. He wanted to see her first, to remind Evelyn of what they had shared.
His eyes scanned the building until they found the faint glow of a room in the far corner—her room. He could feel her presence even from that distance. He had watched her long enough to know her routines and movements. He knew Evelyn better than she realized.
Pulling his coat tighter, Nickolas turned to Edward, who stood silently at his side. "Make sure the distraction is ready. I want them focused on the perimeter."
Edward bowed slightly. "Yes, sir. And what about the girl?"
Nickolas smiled a dark, dangerous smile. "She's mine. I'll handle her."
Inside, Evelyn couldn't sleep. She had tried, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw him—Nickolas, with his piercing eyes and relentless words, pulling her back to that week on the island. The way his touch had made her body betray her mind, the way his possessive love had drowned her in confusion and desire.
Suddenly, a noise broke the quiet of the night. It was initially subtle, but Evelyn's sharp instincts picked up on it. She sat up in bed, her heart racing. Footsteps. Too close. Too deliberate.
Without thinking, she slipped out of bed, her mind running through every possible scenario. Was it Nickolas? Had he already made his way inside the estate?
She grabbed the small phone Zie Xin had given her for emergencies, her fingers shaking as she dialed Dmitry's number.
"Dmitry," she whispered urgently. "Something's wrong. I heard footsteps outside my door."
"Stay where you are," Dmitry's voice came through the line, sharp and commanding. "I'm on my way."
But before she could respond, the door to her room creaked open, and a figure stepped inside.
Evelyn's heart stopped.
It was Nickolas.
He stood there, calm, composed, and terrifyingly familiar. His dark eyes locked onto hers, and the world around them seemed to freeze for a moment.
"Hello, Evelyn," he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of every broken promise. "Did you really think you could hide from me?"
Evelyn's breath caught in her throat when she saw him standing in the doorway. Nickolas. The man she had tried so hard to escape. His presence was suffocating, the air in the room thickening as if every ounce of control she'd fought for was slipping away.
He didn't move; he just stood there staring at her, his eyes dark and unreadable. That same intensity, the one that had drawn her to him in moments of weakness, still burned in his gaze. But now, it terrified her more than ever. This wasn't just a man who loved her. This man was willing to break her up to keep her.
"How did you get in?" Evelyn managed to whisper, her voice shaking despite the strength she tried to summon.
Nickolas didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took slow, deliberate steps toward her as if savoring the moment. "You should know by now, Evelyn," he said softly, his voice unnervingly calm. "There's nowhere you can go where I won't find you."
Her heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't back away. Not this time. Not after everything she'd been through. "You can't control me anymore," she said, her voice firmer now, even though her hands trembled. "I'm not the same person I was on that island."
Nickolas's smile was small but unmistakable. "I never wanted to control you. I wanted to protect you."
Evelyn let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Is that what you call it? Kidnapping me, trapping me on that island, forcing me to—"
"To love me?" Nickolas interrupted, his voice low but sharp. "Because that's what we had, Evelyn. Don't deny it. You felt it, too."
Her body tensed as his words hit her, a flood of memories rushing back—those heated nights when desire had taken over, when she had forgotten, just for a moment, how dangerous he was. But this wasn't about those fleeting moments. This was about the future she wanted for herself, for her baby.
"I felt it, Nickolas," she admitted, her voice softening, the truth slipping out before she could stop it. "But it wasn't love. It was... something else."
Nickolas's eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for the briefest second, Evelyn thought she saw a glimpse of vulnerability. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the familiar coldness she knew so well.
"You can call it whatever you want," he said, taking another step closer, his towering presence filling the room. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're mine. You've always been mine, Evelyn. And now, with our child..."
He let the words hang in the air, their weight pressing down on her. She instinctively touched her stomach, feeling the small life growing inside her, the one thing that made her more determined than ever to fight back.
"I won't let you use our child to control me," she said, her voice steady. "This baby deserves better than that."
Nickolas's face softened slightly, his gaze dropping to her stomach. He looked almost human for a moment, as if the mention of their unborn child had pierced through the darkness surrounding him.
"I want a family with you, Evelyn," he said quietly, his tone almost pleading. "I want our child to grow up knowing their parents are together. We can have that. We can be a family."
Evelyn's heart ached at his words, but she knew better. She had learned the hard way that Nickolas's idea of love wasn't something she could live with. It was suffocating, all-consuming, and destructive. She couldn't raise a child in that environment.
"We can't be a family, Nickolas," she said softly, her voice filled with sadness. "Not like this. Not in the way you are."
Nickolas's expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "I can change," he said, though even he didn't seem to believe it. "I'll do whatever it takes. Just... don't run from me again."
Evelyn took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of strength she had left. "I'm not running anymore," she said, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm fighting."
Down the hall, Dmitry and Sergei moved quickly through the estate, their footsteps silent as they approached Evelyn's room. The security breach had been unexpected, and they knew exactly who was responsible. Nickolas Alexander Jr. had finally made his move.
"Stay close," Dmitry murmured to Sergei, his expression grim. "We can't let him take her."
As they neared Evelyn's door, they could hear the low murmur of voices—Nickolas's and Evelyn's—drifting through the thick wooden doors. Dmitry's chest tightened. He had promised his sister that he would protect her, and now Nickolas was inside the walls of their sanctuary, threatening everything they had built.
Without hesitation, Dmitry pushed the door open, stepping inside with Sergei close behind.
Nickolas turned to face them, his body immediately tensing at the sight of Evelyn's brothers. His cold gaze met Dmitry's, and momentarily, the room felt charged with the unspoken threat between them.
"Get away from her," Dmitry ordered, his voice low but dangerous.
Nickolas didn't move. "This is between me and Evelyn," he said, his voice calm despite the tension. "Stay out of it."
"You lost that right the moment you crossed the line," Dmitry growled, stepping forward. "You don't get to decide what happens now."
Evelyn's heart raced as she watched the confrontation unfold. She knew her brothers would do whatever it took to protect her, but she also knew Nickolas wouldn't back down. Not without a fight.
"Dmitry, wait," she said, stepping forward. "I'll handle this."
Dmitry looked at her, his face etched with concern, but he nodded, trusting her decision.
Evelyn turned back to Nickolas, her eyes locking with his. "You need to leave," she said, her voice firm. "I'm staying here with my family. And you're going to let me go."
Nickolas's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he approached her. "I'm not leaving without you."
"You are," Evelyn said, her heart pounding in her chest. "Because if you don't, you'll never see me or our child again."
The words seemed to hit Nickolas like a blow. He stared at her, his expression unreadable, as if he was trying to decide whether to believe her. For the first time, Evelyn saw uncertainty flicker in his eyes.
"You wouldn't do that," he said softly, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "You wouldn't take our child away from me."
Evelyn held her ground, her voice unwavering. "I will, Nickolas. If that's what it takes to protect us, I will."
The room was silent for a long moment, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Nickolas stepped back, his eyes still locked on hers.
"I'll leave," he said, his voice quiet but filled with emotion. "But this isn't over, Evelyn. I'll come back for you. For both of you."
With one last look, Nickolas turned and walked out of the room, leaving Evelyn's body trembling with relief and fear.
Later that night, Evelyn sat alone in her room, staring out into the unknown. The future was uncertain, filled with danger and the lingering threat of Nickolas's return. But for now, she had her family. She had the strength to keep fighting. And she had something worth protecting—her child, the new life growing inside her.
No matter what came next, she was ready.