Chapter 7 —Ravyn
I tried to find another way out of this by seeking help from charity organizations and some humanitarian family friends.
All I encountered were rejection, excuses, and outright refusal to be part of the Jensen family's misfortune.
Everyone I went to for help slammed their doors in my face—figuratively, of course.
After trying so hard, I realized that help was coming from nowhere. I was my father’s only way out of this mess. That devil incarnate, Lev, had sat down and carefully orchestrated his plan to frustrate me and my dad.
He left us with no other choice, no other option, and I hated him for that.
I loathed him with every fiber of my being because that was the only thing that I could do.
The man was used to getting whatever he wanted; he was used to having his way.
Despite all my efforts, I’d end up as just another one of his wins—his trophy.
The mere thought of being that monster’s wife made my blood boil. I’d dated his younger brother and regretted it—hell, that was the reason I was in this mess in the first place. Now he was forcing me to marry him. What a twisted son of a bitch!
Viktor was an idiot, yes, but he shouldn't be okay with this; he should oppose the marriage and speak some sense to his older brother. Did he have no dignity or pride at all?
At this point, I’d do anything not to be married into that family. I’d give up anything—anything but my father. I couldn’t bring myself to choose my future, seeing how screwed up his life already was.
Even if, for some reason, Lev Tarasov didn’t take his life, someone else would. Dad’s other creditors were already threatening to take matters into their own hands. And with how rapidly the situation had escalated within the last forty-eight hours, things could get ugly at any moment from now.
We’d run out of time, and although Dad hadn’t pressured me into taking the deal, his silence and his eyes were constantly pleading with me to do so. I was my father’s saving grace—his hope at making it out of this in one piece.
These creditors were wolves, and he was a sheep; they’d devour him without breaking a sweat. What’s at stake here wasn’t just my father’s life; it was the Jensen family’s future—the whole lineage. These monsters wouldn’t mind wiping us all from the face of the earth if they had to.
If marrying Lev Tarasov was the only way to save my family, then so be it.
It took a lot of courage to make that decision because I knew there was no turning back now. When Dad learned of the choice I made, he was both sad and relieved.
However, I left his study before he could get too emotional and make my tear glands water.
I had already promised myself that I had cried enough.
No more. I had made my choice, and I would live with the consequences as long as my father and the family business were safe.
Lev had left the address to this office the last time he was here.
He said to meet him there when I decided to go through with the plan.
When. Not if. As though he was certain that I would.
I located the place and drove my vehicle into the compound. My brows arched at the sight of armed men lingering by the gates and high walls. Their rifles were slung casually, their sharp eyes roaming the surroundings.
“What the hell?” I murmured, pulling up in front of a low warehouse looming over me. “Office my ass.”
This place was a fuckin’ fortress. Not an office. And what was more disturbing was that, of all the places in the city, he chose this as our meeting point. This man would do anything just to prove that he was in charge.
Condescending jackass!
I killed the engine, my grip tightening around the steering wheel. I clenched my jaw, feeling the boiling of my blood. I’d never hated anyone the way that I hated Lev Tarasov, and without thinking twice, I’d put a bullet in his head if the opportunity ever presented itself.
The car door clicked open, and I stepped out into the evening sun setting on the horizon. My face was twisted into a frown as I walked into the warehouse with steady strides.
I thought one of the commandos lingering in the compound would ask who I was or who I was looking for. But to my surprise, no one approached me. They all just went about their activity like a strange woman hadn’t just waltzed into their territory without identification.
Strange. I hadn’t been expecting so much freedom of movement in a fortress like this. Either they weren’t afraid of my scowl, or their bastard boss had already told them I was coming.
Yeah, the latter made more sense.
Inside, the warehouse stretched wide and cavernous, the smell of oil, sweat, and metal drifting through the air. Crates were stacked high along the walls, and the hum of generators vibrated through the building. Loud voices echoed as workers moved sealed boxes and crates across the space.
Heads turned as I walked toward the door labeled “office,” my shoes clicking against the concrete floor. I could feel the workers’ gazes as I moved, but again, nobody said a word to me.
I reached the door, grabbed the handle, and yanked it open. There he was, seated at his desk, hands placed on the mahogany table. His eyes were fixed on the door, as if he knew I was coming and was waiting for me.
A faint, mocking smirk curled the corners of his lips as he met my gaze. My jaw clenched, and my pulse raced with a sudden dryness in my throat.
His stare was so intense it almost stripped me of my confidence. And just like that, fear crept its way into my heart, reminding me that this was the moment of truth.
I closed the door behind me and walked over to his desk in silence. He didn’t rise, didn’t say a word, just watched me take a seat.
My eyes fell on the marriage contract lying on the table between us, black ink against white paper. He reclined in his chair with a cocky grin on his lips, his gaze unwavering.
“Sign that,” he said, calm as always, “and all your problems will go away.”
With my heart pounding like a drum, I skimmed through the contract, each clause another shackle to keep me chained to him for all eternity. If I signed this, I would be giving up my freedom, my future. Essentially, I’d be throwing my life away.
I glanced up at him, furious by that cocky grin on his lips. My fingers curled into fists, and my jaw tightened, but the selfish prick didn’t seem to care. All he was after was my signature on the fuckin’ paper.
The fact that he already believed that I belonged to him only infuriated me all the more. I should turn around and walk away—prove him wrong. But as much as I wanted to do that, I couldn’t.
What was the point? I was already here, so I might as well just do what I came to do.
My hands trembled when I reached for the pen before me. I picked it up, lowered it toward the paper, and after a moment of hesitation, closed my eyes and slowly signed the damn thing.
Once done, I set the pen back on the table, my heart shattering into a million tiny pieces. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not now. No. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me vulnerable.
“That wasn’t so hard, now, was it?” he asked, a hint of mockery lacing his tone.
I gritted my teeth but said nothing.
“Congratulations,” he added. “Your father’s a free man again.” He reached out and retrieved the signed contract.
“Are we done here?” I asked, my voice sharp as a knife, eyes blazing with fury.
He paused, his brows knitting together, a stark contrast to the blank expression on his face. “Yes.”
Lev didn’t even finish his response when I stood up and walked out of his office. With my head down, I hurried out of the warehouse, shoes squeaking quickly against the floor.
The moment I reached my car, I yanked the door open, got inside, and slammed it shut. My head fell onto the steering wheel as I let the tears flow, a hand resting on my chest. I cried like a child, my body shuddering, heart breaking.
I hated myself for shedding those tears, but then again, it was the only way that I could feel better.
About two minutes later, I wiped my tears, lifted my head, and drew a deep breath. I buried my face in my palms for about a second, trying to get a grip on myself. A soft exhale escaped my lips, and I combed my fingers through my hair.
Feeling a bit better, I started the engine, its low hum filling the car’s cabin. Gravel crunched beneath my tires as I set the vehicle in motion and drove out of the compound.
The world outside felt different—sharper, more dangerous—like stepping into a storm I couldn’t see. I could feel it, though, pressing in on all sides. I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles ached, promising myself that I wouldn’t break, no matter how hard Lev pulled the chain.
He would never truly own me. Never.
At home later that night, after taking a warm shower, I stood in front of my full-length mirror, a white towel wrapped around me. My hair was damp, my skin dotted with water droplets. The lady staring back at me wasn’t the same girl from six months ago.
That girl had evolved—grown into a woman—stronger, sharper, and more experienced. I survived the hardest storm the Jensen family had ever faced. And now I was walking right into another.
But this time, I knew what I signed up for and what to expect. If I could, I’d make Lev Tarasov regret ever underestimating me.