Chapter 16 - Katerina
There was no point in rushing back to my brother’s house. All that’s waiting for me there is accusation, guilt, and a wedding I definitely don’t want anything to do with.
I’ve been staying with Yulian. My head is busy, trying to figure out how to deal with my brothers, how to make them understand, but in the meantime, I’m doing what I love. I’m at my studio, talking to a client about a new commission I’m going to make for her.
She’s gorgeous. And as sweet as a button.
“I’ve been waiting for this day my entire life. I just want it to be perfect,” she grins, her cheeks bright and rosy. “My friend said you’re incredible. That you’ll make me something breathtaking.”
“I’m so excited you get to marry the man of your dreams, Tilly. And I’m honored to be designing your wedding dress. I’m going to grab my folder from the back room, if you’ll give me a moment. Then we can go over some designs so I can get an idea of what you’re looking for as my starting point.”
“Oh no, I don’t even want to do that. I’m giving you full free rein over this one.”
My mouth drops open. It’s a designer’s dream to hear those words from any client.
Of course, it can go very badly if, in the end, the client gives you no guidance and ends up not liking the same things you like…
but on the other hand, I can create the most beautiful statement piece that will have other clients flocking to my brand.
“Are you sure? You don’t want to just glance at some ideas?” I ask, double-checking.
“I promise you, I’m not one of those crazy people who’re going to storm in here all upset when you show me what you’ve created, because I completely know you’ll make me the most magnificent dress ever. There is no limit to my budget. So, please, go wild. Make something you’d be excited to wear!”
“I can do that. I’ll have the design put together by the end of the week. Once you’ve seen it, my team will be able to make it a priority.”
“That sounds perfect. I’ll see you on Friday, then?” Tilly stands, wiggling her hips in excitement. Her happiness spills over onto me as she impulsively reaches out and hugs me.
“Friday,” I nod, smiling as she steps back.
Tilly waves when she walks out of the studio door. I stare after her for a long time before I pick up my sketchbook and start designing her dress.
I don’t know what it is about her, but her bright eyes, her happy smile—she makes me think of what I used to think my wedding would be like. How excited I would be.
But things have changed now.
My future husband might be a stranger, not someone I chose myself. He might be anything and anyone. I might be happy with him, sure, but the chances are low considering how difficult it is to find real love in this world.
As I sketch, I realize I’m drawing my dream wedding dress for Tilly.
It makes sense, seeing as I won’t get the wedding of my dreams—she may as well have the dress I’ve been envisioning all my life.
Hours roll by, and I’m lost in the art of it. Sketching, adding details, making it the most realistic version of my dress I’ve ever drawn. Tilly is going to love it. How can she not?
While I’m drawing, I let my mind wander. I let myself pretend that I’m as happy as Tilly. I daydream about a beautiful future with a loving, kind man who supports my dreams. He’s gorgeous, with soft brown eyes and dark hair.
My mind wanders further, and that man is Yulian. I don’t stop myself from daydreaming. Because in this moment, I’m happy, and I can feel that happiness flowing through into my design.
I hear the soft chime of my door opening and look up from the drawing I’ve been lost in for hours.
“Hi,” he grins, walking towards me. He’s absolutely gorgeous. My heart still flutters every time I see him. And now, after my silly daydream, I’m grinning like a fool. “How’s work going?” he asks, looking down at my sketch.
“Oh, this is for a new client, Tilly. She gave me free rein, which almost never happens, so I’ve been designing her a wedding dress that I think… I think I would wear.” I smile sheepishly, getting shy even saying it out loud, and trying to close the sketchbook to hide it from his prying eyes.
He takes my hand, stopping me.
“It’s beautiful, Kat. It would look incredible on you,” he says, his voice low.
“Well, it belongs to Tilly now. She’s the client.”
Yulian shakes his head. “Actually, Tilly is my brother’s personal assistant. I borrowed her to have her come over to pretend to be the client. I’m the client, Kat. I’m the one who wanted you to design that dress,” he says, his eyes piercing into me.
My brows furrow, my nose scrunching in confusion. “I don’t understand,” I mutter.
“Katerina, will you marry me, and wear your dream dress?”
The silence is so heavy between us that I can hear it ringing in my ears.
“Marry…you?” I stammer. “Yulian, what? Why? What?” I trip over my words.
Yulian takes my hand, pulling me away from my workbench to my feet. He stands in front of me with my hands in his as he speaks.
I’m listening, but in shock, as his words rumble from his chest, dark and lovely, his deep voice touching me like I’m still dreaming.
“Kat, you’ll have everything you ever wanted.
And more. Anything you need or desire, I’ll give it to you.
You will be safe with me. I understand the Bratva world.
I have strong allies, a strong family. And I know you.
Better than most people. I know what makes you smile, what fuels your passion.
We’re good together, Kat. You can’t deny it.
And of course, if you marry me, your brother won’t be able to force you into another marriage. You’ll already be taken.”
He stares at me intensely, his eyes eager and waiting for my answer.
I get what he’s doing, and I think he’s a truly beautiful soul for trying to help me like this. But he doesn’t have to give up his life to marry me just to stop my brother.
It’s not his responsibility to make sacrifices to save me from this mess.
“Yulian, I understand what you’re trying to do for me, and it’s really…
it’s amazing. But I think if I can just talk to Artur and have a chance to really explain things to him, I think he will be reasonable.
He’s my brother. I love him. He won’t force me to marry someone I don’t want to marry.
I think he was just angry with me, and it was some kind of scare tactic.
He wouldn’t do that to me. I know him better than that.
” As I tell Yulian this, I realize that I’m right.
Artur is reasonable. He’s kind and loving, and he does care about me.
He will care if this means that much to me.
“I just need to speak to him, that’s all.”
I smile up at Yulian. His face is calm, his eyes locked onto mine.
“Alright, Katerina. But I’m going to wait for you.
I will wait for you. No matter how long it takes.
If and when you decide that you want to marry me, I’ll be here.
” His voice rushes over me like a cool stream in summer.
The intensity of his words surprises me. He really does want to help me.
“I’ll speak to Artur tonight. Then hopefully I’ll be free of all that,” I smile, squeezing Yulian’s massive hand in mine before I step back, overwhelmed by the emotions flooding from him.
“Good. Let me know how it goes. Do you have any specific cravings for dinner tonight? I was thinking a nice pasta with mushrooms and bacon?”
Relief washes over me. Thank goodness Yulian is a patient and understanding man. He offered his help, but he was graceful when I turned it down.
I don’t want to steal Yulian’s future from him.
I’ll speak to Artur and sort this out with him.
I get home after six, and Yulian is on the phone ordering us some pasta from the Italian restaurant around the corner.
He has white wine chilling in a bucket and soft music playing in the background.
As soon as I walk in, I feel this sense of relaxation, like I’ve arrived home.
It’s so strange to feel that way after everything that’s happened.
My heart aches for a moment when I watch him, again, wondering what it would be like to say yes to his offer. But then guilt steals away my moment, making me realize I could never force someone else to marry me just so that I can escape being forced into a different marriage.
“I’m going to get into some comfy clothes and call Artur before dinner,” I smile. He can see the nerves creeping through in my eyes.
“I’m here when you need me,” he smiles warmly, always reassuring me.
Heading upstairs, I strip out of my work clothes and stand under a hot shower.
When I’m done, I get into a cozy hoodie and some pink sweatpants.
The hoodie belongs to Yulian. It smells like him.
I scrunch the neck up around my nose and take a deep breath of it.
Silly girl. All this talk about dream weddings has you lost in that daydream. Pull yourself together.
After I’ve delayed it as long as I can, I finally pick up my phone and dial my brother, pacing up and down the bedroom, walking towards the balcony and the beautiful garden views, and then away again.
“Katerina,” he snaps as soon as he answers the phone. “Where the hell are you?”
My heart races with anxiety.
“Artur, we need to talk. You’re my brother. My family. I need you to listen to me.”
I swallow hard, and he grunts in response. “Say what you want to say,” he huffs.
“Please don’t make me marry a stranger. There are so many other ways for you to build alliances. This is my life. My whole entire life that you’re giving away. What if it’s hell? What if he’s a monster?”
“Katerina, stop this bullshit at once. When are you coming home?” he snarls.
Did he hear anything I just said? Is he even listening?
“Artur, I don’t want to marry someone to strengthen your position in the Bratva,” I say as clearly as I can.
“You will do what is best for the family. This isn’t a choice I’m giving you. If you don’t return, I’ll be forced to take action against you. You might be my sister, Katerina, but you are only one member of my family. A family I will do anything to keep safe.”
I can’t believe he’s threatening me. I can’t believe he isn’t even trying to speak to me about this.
Where is the man I used to know? Where is my brother?
This man sounds like Uncle Boris. One-sided opinions, cold-hearted decisions, claiming it’s for the betterment of everyone else, but who is it really serving?
It’s not for me. That’s for sure. In this moment, I’m starting to think that Artur honestly doesn’t care if the man I’m supposed to marry is a sadist. As long as he gets his alliance, he’ll be happy.
Artur never planned to hear me out.
I was a fool to think he would. Naive.
My brother isn’t my brother anymore. He’s a Bratva leader. That’s all.
With my heart sinking, I realize that my one chance to escape this arranged marriage is to offer something better. My heart races as I speak.
“I will marry Yulian Andreev. Our family will be allied with his instead of Mikhail. They are well known in this city. They have a lot of pull, a lot of strength. It will be a good alliance for our family,” I speak clearly, diplomatically, trying to keep my voice free of the flood of emotions stealing through me.
“You’ll marry an Andreev? Are you fucking kidding me? This is what you’re telling me? You’ll betray our family like that? You’ll choose them over us?”
Sighing, I squeeze my eyes shut and press my fingers into them. “Artur, you’re still not listening. It’s an alliance. A better alliance than the one…”
“It’s not a fucking alliance. It’s a betrayal. It’s a giant fuck-you to our family, Katerina.”
“No, it’s not. And if you take even a second to speak to Yulian, you’ll realize…”
The phone goes dead.
Artur has hung up on me. He wasn’t even willing to consider my counteroffer.
A better marriage. A better alliance. I don’t know who this Mikhail guy is, but I know the Andreevs, backed by the Dubrovs, are a stronger family to have on your side.
Just from that aspect, I thought Artur might bend. But he wasn’t any more interested in that than he was in my plea for my freedom, for my life.
My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are filled with stress when I head downstairs to have dinner with Yulian.
He notices my somber mood right away.
“I take it the call didn’t go well?” he says gently.
“It’s okay, he’ll come around,” I smile, trying to make light of my brother’s response because I don’t know how to handle it yet.
“He’ll come around,” Yulian says, pulling a chair out for me. “Sit, let’s eat some food and maybe watch a movie. Something funny?”
“Sure, that sounds nice,” I agree as Yulian places a hot plate of food in front of me. It smells amazing.
His smile is amazing.
My heart is so confused about everything that’s happening.
Did I really tell my brother I would marry Yulian?
Would I? My heart somersaults as I ask myself the question.
I would. I definitely would. But I would feel deep guilt for trapping him in a marriage with me when he probably has the choice of any girl he wants.
Putting my head down, I pick up my fork and focus on the flavors of my dinner.
I’ll figure it all out.
I have to.