Chapter 2 - Darya
I sit staring at the table and listening to the conversation around me, which is heating up more and more by the second. Kiril is gripping his drink so hard I am sure he is going to crush the glass in his hand. Paval has gone into diplomatic mode along with Ivan, and they are trying to pragmatically discuss other options, but the stain in their faces is obvious. Maxim is pacing, and by the look of his posture and the way his fists are clenched so tightly, I think he wants to punch Stefano in the face.
Yes, we accepted him into our family because we all love Chiara, his stepsister, who married Maxim. But just because he hangs out with us and attends our dinners doesn’t mean that we especially like him. Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe I am the only one who hasn’t really accepted him yet. My brothers seem to get on with him just fine, but I don’t trust him.
I know how he used to treat Chiara. I absolutely adore Chiara, and he was a complete asshole to her. I think the only reason he stopped was because of Maxim. Maxim would tear him to pieces if he treated Chiara like shit now.
I know the kind of guy who treats his own sister badly, and because of that, I am not interested in getting to know him or trying to build any connection with him, regardless of the business alliance. I don’t know the whole story, about what happened between them, but I just don’t like him.
I cannot believe he wants to marry me.
It’s so selfish. It is obviously all about business for him. It’s all he cares about. Money, power and status. I am just some pawn on a chess board to him, some button he can press for a popularity update, and it makes me furious.
But at the same time, I know that his business has become very intertwined with my brothers', and the reputation of his business is really important to us as a family.
My brothers are getting more heated, and the tension in the air is getting thicker. This argument could go on all day, and it could end very badly.
We all know what Stefano is asking is perfectly normal in a business capacity, and I know that my brothers would never force me into something like that.
But even if they don’t force me, I know what I have to do for my family.
And for Chiara. With the way things are going right now, I think one of my brothers might pull out his gun and shoot Stefano just for suggesting this marriage. I would hate for Chiara to be upset over all of this.
I just want everyone to be happy.
I sigh a soft breath of regret, looking up directly at the selfish man who proposed this.
I wonder what he sees when he looks at me.
An object, a means to an end. An opportunity.
He doesn’t see me . Not a person. Not a girl who deserves to be loved.
I glance over his outwardly gorgeous appearance. To anyone who doesn’t know him, he is basically the hottest man alive. With his dark blonde hair and piercing amber eyes that look gold in certain light, and his thick, muscular body with broad shoulders that press up against the fabric of the custom suits he wears, he's undeniably sexy. He is smoking hot on the outside.
But because of who he is on the inside…I bite my bottom lip and a surge of anxiety washes over me, knowing that what I am about to say is going to change the course of my life.
I’m the silly girl who always believed she would marry for love.
A dreamer, I guess, living in a fairytale.
“I’ll do it.” The words leave my mouth with confidence and clarity which surprises me—I thought they would get stuck in the back of my throat and come out as a whisper.
Every single one of my brothers turns to stare at me in shock.
“It isn’t an unreasonable request, and we all know it's just for business and will benefit everyone here,” I continue, because they are clearly at a loss for words, their mouths hanging open and their eyes wide with shock.
Stefano’s eyes darken and he tilts his head to the side ever so slightly. He licks his lips like a hunter about to pounce on his prey.
A shiver runs down my spine at the intensity of his stare.
Paval is the first one to break the stunned silence amongst my brothers.
“It doesn’t matter about business, Darya, this is your life,” he says, heated and serious.
“I understand the world I was born into, Paval, the same way all of you do. And whatever I can do to help my family, I will do it. I will marry Stefano to secure the alliance publicly.”
Kiril’s glass shatters.
He mutters under his breath, “Fuck's sake.”
“Leave it, Tabatha will clean it up.” Paval gestures over the broken glass lying across the table.
Kiril pushes away from his seat and nods towards Stefano.
“You are serious about this?” he demands.
“Of course I am,” Stefano says, still looking at me.
I always thought the man I married would be gentle, kind, and softhearted. He would sweep me off my feet, and my life would be drenched in adoration, like those cheesy romance novels I love to read. I roll my eyes at myself and finally drag my eyes away from Stefano.
I guess at the age of twenty-two it is time for me to accept reality. To stop living in an illusion.
I've even saved myself for marriage.
I have never been with a man before because I've been waiting for the perfect one.
“Darya, I don’t think this is a good idea. We can come up with some other way,” Maxim says, still not wanting to put me through this.
“Max, seriously, stop worrying about it. I will do it. It’s not a big deal.” It is a big deal.
It’s not, though. I will move in with him, I will play the part of a good wife in public, but ultimately, I will still have my own life and do my own thing. It is only for appearances. Behind closed doors, he probably won’t even speak to me, so what difference will it make? We can still live separate lives and do whatever we want, as long as in public we look like the we have a good marriage.
Stefano is such a player. He flirts shamelessly; he has tried many times to flirt with me, but I know he does it with every girl he meets. He is just that kind of guy. The guy who gets whatever he wants.
He doesn’t actually want me. So this should be easy enough.
It will all be fake.
“Darya has agreed to it—she understands the situation. Can we—"
Kiril interrupts Stefano with a snarl. “Stay out of this, Stef. Just because she agreed to it doesn’t mean it’s happening.”
“Stop it,” I say loudly. “I said I would do it, and that is final. You can stop fighting now.”
I stand up because there is too much nervous energy flowing through me now.
Ivan’s face pulls tight as his eyes pierce into me. He knows me the best—he knows that I would do anything for my family, but he also knows better than to argue with me when I have made up my mind.
I might be soft, but I am not one to be messed with when I am trying to do something good for my family.
“Darya—" Kiril steps towards me.
“Leave her,” Ivan says, holding up his hand. “We can give her a few days to think about it, and then have this conversation again later.”
“I don’t need a few days to think about it. I said I would do it. You can go ahead and make the arrangements. Just let me know when and where I need to be.”
I steal a glance at Stefano again. He is smirking, like he has just won an argument. Of course he would be—he did just win. The power balance will change drastically in his favor when this marriage is made official.
I need to get out of here.
I need to take some time to process what just happened, and what it means for my life.
Everything is about to change so dramatically.
The beautiful love story I have always dreamed of will never happen now, and I think I need to be alone so that I can grieve that.
“I’m leaving now. Just let me know, ok?” My eyes fall on Paval, who nods.
“We will make all of the arrangements,” he nods. “Call me later if you change your mind.”
I shake my head. That won’t happen. I am doing the right thing for my family.
“Stefano,” I say politely, nodding to the man who is to be my future husband.
“Darya, may I walk you to your car?”
“No,” I reply bluntly.
He looks offended. I can’t imagine why. He looks a little angry, too. A nervous shiver tingles across my skin.
“I need some time alone,” I add quickly, so that I don’t come across as too rude. His eyes soften ever so slightly, and he smiles tightly.
“I will make the arrangements at my home for you to move in after the wedding. You can let me know anything you need or want so that I can have it set up for you before you arrive.”
“Thank you.” I am a bit surprised by this. He doesn’t seem like the type of guy to go out of the way to want to make me feel comfortable, even in a forced marriage.
I spin on my heels and walk towards the door, glancing over my shoulder only once to smile at my brothers and let them know I'm okay. Even though I’m not.
Walking out of the front door, I can feel my hands begin to shake as reality sets in.
I climb quickly into my car. Have I made a huge mistake? What did I just agree to?
I swallow hard to try and push away the lump in my throat, but the tears are already splashing down my cheeks.
I just need to get home.
All I need is a little time to come to terms with it. Everything will be okay.
It’s just like moving house. I will be living with him—nothing else. He will probably hardly even speak to me.
Everything is going to be okay.
I press my foot against the accelerator and drive quickly away from Paval’s home.
Taking long, slow breaths to calm myself, I manage to push the panic aside.
I don’t know if I am just going numb or if I am in denial, but by the time I get home, I feel alright. It’s all fake, anyway, the whole marriage to this arrogant man.
It really doesn’t matter.