Chapter 35 #2
What was he talking about? Technically, they were his. I was only allowed to use them as his wife. But they’d never be mine.
“When you asked about an allowance… I think that’s when it dawned on me, that you may never view it as yours. And after our conversation today, it’s even clearer…”
I still wasn’t getting what he meant. “And?”
“You asked what is getting renewed.” He ran his hand through his hair. “The legal ownership.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That… doesn’t… tell me much.”
“Other than Atlas and your dowry—those are fully yours—everything else will be owned by both of us.”
I froze, unable to follow my own thoughts. Did he mean that the assets we gain during marriage will be considered shared? That wasn’t something done in our circle.
Usually women would bring their assets, like a villa and company shares, their trust fund. The man, if generous, settled something in return: property, stocks, sometimes a promise of income. Those legally belonged to the wife, as a guarantee she’d never be left destitute.
Everything was kept separate—hers stayed hers, his stayed his. That was the rule.
Husbands, though, were usually managing them both.
In our case, I knew that Viktor not only contributed a large amount to mine, with some shares and property and all the heirlooms from Rowks, but also agreed on an exchange of shares with Papa.
This was the most standard thing. I’d never seen anything wrong with it. It solved so many cases if a couple decided to divorce. Though such cases were few, even in very unhappy marriages.
“You mean you want to switch our marriage contract from Separation of Property to Community of Acquests? You mean everything that’s built during marriage will be shared?”
That was something not every couple in our circle would do.
Like a promise they were building everything together.
Rafa did that with Anne, even when our parents were against it.
As for Cath, I knew she and Mark wanted it as well, but Mark’s parents were against it.
So for now they were going with Separation of Property with some adjustments.
Mark promised he’d change it in a few years.
My supposed one with Edmond had also been Separation of Property. And that had actually made me a little sour. Only because Community of Acquests was considered something very romantic. And I’d been craving everything romantic.
I think I still was. And the fact that Viktor was once again making one of my dreams come true…
“No.” He frowned. “I’m changing it to Community of Property.”
I’d never heard of that one. “What does that mean?”
“It means all my assets—premarital and acquired—become jointly owned.”
“Premarital and acquired…” I tried the words on my tongue. “Premarital and acquired…”
I knew the words sounded simple, but I was sure something was wrong with my thinking process.
Viktor seemed relaxed, as if he’d just told me the state of the weather.
But something had to be wrong.
“Premarital and acquired…”
Usually when a husband decided to show off his love, he’d gift a summer house on a beach or a winter cottage in the mountains. If the need to show off was killing him, he could gift an island.
Not his whole fortune in an equal share!
Considering that Atlas and my dowry would stay as mine according to his plan… that made the split not so fair. In my favor.
“Is that even legal?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I blinked. “Are you in your right mind?”
He surely wasn’t!
“That… I’m a bit unsure. But let’s not tell others.”
I blinked again. Several times. “It’s insane! Why would you do that?”
“I told you. I have no desire to hear one more your.”
Did my constant separation of things make him that uncomfortable? If I’d known, I probably would have kept my mouth shut. Because I think I was mostly pointing it out to not forget myself.
“Community of Acquests is totally fine! I’d be very happy with that!”
“Any reason you can’t be happy with Community of Property?”
“Community of Acquests means we both own everything we build together. What you’re suggesting is me getting my hands on what was already yours. That’s unfair!”
“How’s that? I already told you what’s mine is yours. And I meant it. So why can’t I seal it legally?”
“Because…” There was some logic about why he can’t, but my heart was pounding against my chest.
Edmond had repeated how he loved me, but when the time came, he never stepped in.
Viktor had never said he loved me, but every time I doubted him a little, every time I came up with a plan to get something from him, he’d already had another one prepared.
Always so much better than mine. And he was doing it repeatedly.
Was that his way of saying he loved me?
I was so lost in my head that I didn’t notice when we landed. Only the soft breeze pulled me back to reality for a second when we left the plane. But how I got into the car, I couldn’t say.
Someone mentioned it would take around forty minutes until we reached Korolyov’s estate. That I should enjoy the view. And I did try for a moment. But my thoughts were still on our last conversation.
Viktor was checking on me every few seconds. And I didn’t know what to say. How to react.
I was, in fact, so… touched? Was that the correct word?
No one in their right mind, in possession of such a fortune, would suggest such a thing. Even if madly in love.
So was I a fool for thinking that what Viktor was feeling toward me wasn’t just guilt? That there was so much more in his feelings?
When the car stopped in front of an old-fashioned mansion, I panicked.
Had we arrived?
I felt another wave of nausea go through my body. Soon the Korolyovs would greet us, and I—instead of preparing myself to greet them, to make a good impression—was caught up in my feelings.
“Are you coming?” Viktor’s voice brought me to the surface.
He was standing near my door, waiting for me to get out.
Everything will be fine, I told myself as I stepped onto the pavement.
Viktor said something to the staff before gesturing toward the stairs. “Ready?”
Linking my arm through his, I rested it on his forearm. And while stepping up, I noticed a woman was waiting near the doors—Inessa, I supposed? But something prevented me from moving forward.
I looked back at Viktor: frozen with pure stupefaction in his eyes.
A slight sound of inquiry left my lips.
Viktor looked down at our linked arms, then at me.
What? Was anything wrong?
He looked down again, then again at me.
I felt my throat dry as realization washed over me.
My arm was in his…
I was touching him.
I. Was. Touching. Him.
And I wasn’t feeling panic. Or crawling on my skin. Or anything similar like before.
I put my other hand on his forearm, looking into his eyes.
He was so… warm, firm. And I could feel how each of his muscles tightened beneath his smooth skin. The weight and steadiness of his arm. The pulse that was beating under my palm as I moved to his wrist; and the hairs on his arms that tickled my fingertips.
My eyes went back to his as a slight tremor went through my limbs.
Please don’t pull away.
Please don’t pull away.
Please don’t pull away.
The plea was still in my eyes when he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.