Chapter Fifty-two
Alessia
What was the plan again? My mind blanked, as if someone had yanked the plug out of my brain. Every fear and heartbeat of panic drained the second I saw him.
A minute ago, I was sure I would walk out of here legally married to Vincenzo, sealed into a life I could never escape.
But Rodion was here, dressed in a black tuxedo, and carrying the kind of control that made the room fall silent.
He looked healthier than when I had last seen him.
If anyone had asked whether I had expected this, I would have laughed.
His eyes locked on mine, waiting for me to tell him about a plan that didn’t work.
“It failed,” I whispered, my voice splintering. “Dmitri lied to me. But you’re here. I didn’t expect this.” My smile widened as I leaned into the warmth of his hand against my cheek. “You always show up.”
He stepped closer, shadows carving his face in his usual control. “The next time you decide to make plans, I will get to know it first! You involve me in every fucking plan you have.” He was angry.
“You’re mad.”
His jaw ticked. “What did you think? That I would find you, congratulate you, and kiss you?”
I swallowed, unsure whether to smile or fear that he was mad. “Kiss. Yes.”
Rodion’s lips curved into a smirk, his eyes flicking to my lips. “You’ll beg for that.” He turned toward the officiant. “Continue.”
“Rodion, you can’t be—”
“Now,” the officiant resumed. “We are gathered here as witnesses—” He stopped when Rodion’s attention swung back to me. He wasn’t done.
“You hated that deal. Didn’t you think for a second that I regretted it too?” His tone softened, but not enough to comfort. My throat locked, and I blinked, lost for words. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Was he furious, or just pretending?
The officiant cleared his throat, trying to pull the moment back, but Rodion’s voice sliced through his effort before it began.
“So you trusted Dmitri. Was that the point?”
“I…” I shook my head. “Rodion.”
“No. Say it. Let’s hear how clever this plan was.”
He gave me his full attention again, and the officiant gave up. I caught him slipping away from the stage like a man escaping a war he didn’t sign up for. And honestly, I couldn’t blame him. I was done with Rodion, too, or at least, I wanted to be.
“Fine,” I breathed. “I was to faint when the lights went out. Dmitri would’ve shown up with his team pretending to be medics and…and that’s it.”
Rodion stayed silent for a long moment before a low chuckle escaped him. “Brilliant.”
My smile came again, hopeful. “It is?”
“That’s stupid. Brilliantly so.” His voice dropped. “Do you even realize the ways it could have failed? And you believed him. Because apparently, you trust him.”
The smile on my lips faltered, and I turned away, trying to hide the sting of humiliation. I was done with his lecture. But why was everyone so quiet?
I glanced toward the audience, expecting curious faces, and my breath caught.
Vincenzo’s relatives weren’t occupying the seats like I expected, but men in black suits.
The realization made my skin tighten before my mind caught up.
No wonder everyone was so calm, even with the fact that it was Rodion standing there instead of Vincenzo.
Vincenzo’s people weren’t here. These were Rodion’s soldiers.
My pulse stumbled as I searched the room. Toward the back, Savina and the lady who came for me earlier sat calmly, as if they had planned this.
What the hell was happening?
I turned back to Rodion. “Where are Vincenzo’s relatives?
” Looking at him, I remembered he was angry.
“Oh, right,” I sighed. “You are mad at me,” my voice wavered somewhere between sarcasm and exhaustion.
“So, should we end the wedding? We’ve made the poor man leave. He was completely done with us.”
“You can leave,” he said.
I stared at him, stunned. “Okay.” I swallowed, realizing he wasn’t joking. “I’ll go and change. But I’m glad you’re the one who got to see me in this dress.”
I meant it. When he didn’t say anything, I turned and started down the stage. But before I reached the second staircase, a sudden rustle made me gasp. Every man in the room rose from their seat in unison, and they all turned their backs to me: even Savina and the lady in blue.
Confused, I looked back at Rodion to ask what the hell was happening, but the words died in my throat.
Rodion was on one knee.
The world stilled around me, the space between us thick with disbelief. My breath hitched as I watched him slip a ring from his baby finger, his gaze never breaking from mine.
“Rodion?” I glanced at the audience, then back at him. The soldiers had turned away the moment their boss knelt? “What… what are you doing?”
“Proposing.” He looked down at his hand. “Perhaps this could remind you that you are mine.”
I took a step back to him, watching as he turned the ring on his finger. The metal caught the light, and I saw the letter R engraved on it. Every finger carried a ring, spelling out ARTUR. And he was proposing to me with the one with the letter R.
“You’re proposing?” The words slipped out with a shaky laugh, though the warmth blooming inside me made my chest ache.
“Is it a yes?”
I let out a chuckle. “That’s not how you propose.”
“Alessia, if I—”
“Okay.” I interrupted him before he ruined the moment with his bossy tone. “Fine. Yes.”
He rose to his feet and closed the distance between us, close enough that his breath brushed against my skin. His gaze locked on mine, and he slid the ring onto my finger.
“This is the last time you make a decision without me,” he murmured. “If it’s not with me, it’s nothing. Do you understand?”
Tears slipped down my cheek, and I let out a soft laugh. “You are unbelievable.” I looked at the ring, the weight of it sinking in, then lifted my gaze to him. “It fits.”
“It does.” His fingers traced my cheek. “And now you’re going to make your vows from the letter you left.”
“Letter?” My brows pulled together as the memory surfaced.
“Be careful how you say them,” he warned.
I let out a small chuckle, already knowing what he wanted. Fine. I’d give him what he wanted because somehow, he calmed my heart.
“I vow to trust you and love you,” I said.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Is this where I kiss the bride?”
“You only proposed, not married me.”
“Don’t ruin the moment,” he declared, and before I could breathe, he pulled me closer.
His mouth crashed onto mine in a deep, punishing kiss that stole my balance.
His arm locked around my waist and dragged me closer until every inch of air between us disappeared.
The world tilted. The sound, the crowd, and the tension all fell away.
His kiss was fierce and deliberate, burning every fear and silence that had kept us apart.
I didn’t care what he had planned, or that my plan with Dmitri had failed. None of it mattered anymore. He was here, and I wanted nothing in the world to take that away from me.
He pulled back, his breath brushing over my lips. “You look so fucking beautiful.”
I didn’t have the chance to respond before his mouth found mine again. My hands clung to him without thought, every part of me knowing this was where I was meant to be. I had never wanted anything more in my life than this man.
He broke the kiss just enough to speak. “I’m sorry I put you into this.”
My chest rose and fell. I shook my head. “I’m fine now.”
His thumb traced my lower lip. He looked at me as if he was searching through everything I had hidden, all the hurt I had tried to carry alone. He would never know how much it took to reach this moment, but it was worth it.
“Were you scared?”
“A little.” I smiled. “But I knew it was worth it.”
He kissed me again, just a soft touch this time. “I will make it up to you.” His voice held a quiet promise. “I will.”
I nodded and leaned my forehead against his. My eyes drifted shut, his warmth sinking into me. There was a quiet relief that came with knowing I wasn’t alone. And I wanted that feeling to stay.
“Let’s go home.”
“Home sounds perfect,” he said, sliding his hand into mine. His grip was firm, the kind that told me I was safe.
He guided me down the stage. Chairs scraped against the floor as the crowd shifted.
His men closed in, waiting for orders. My eyes caught Savina standing by the door, a calm smile playing on her lips.
I couldn’t tell if it was reassurance, but I still didn’t know what had happened to Vincenzo’s relatives.
I wondered if Savina was safe in all this.
Rodion stopped in front of a man who looked familiar. His posture and his face pulled a memory.
“How many more minutes?” Rodion asked.
“Approximately forty,” the man replied. His deep accent broke through, and I immediately remembered where I had heard him. That night, I argued with Vincenzo by the roadside. He was also the stranger who handed me a flower in the café.
“I know you,” I said, my voice rising before I could help it.
The man turned to me. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m Pavel.”
“She didn’t ask your name,” Rodion cut in, and I ignored him.
“Back at that café,” I said, my voice carrying a hint of laughter. “You were the one selling flowers. That was you, wasn’t it?”
He smiled, lowering his head slightly. “That’s right.”
I gasped and looked at Rodion. “No wonder that flower and his accent reminded me of you.” I laughed. “And there is this maid who gave me a necklace with a gemstone pendant. It reminded me of you, too.”
“I know.” Rodion winked before he turned to Pavel. “We need to move immediately.”
“Yes, boss.” Pavel gave a slight nod and signaled to a few men before heading out. But my attention wasn’t on them; everything made sense now. Something about Savina’s calmness and kindness to me started to make sense.
“Wait,” I said to Rodion, who was already on his phone. “You knew about the necklace? So you know Savina?”
“I know everyone in your life, Little Gem.”