Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Lilith
"Lilith!" Luca's voice shot up, his face turning the color of a ripe eggplant. "What the hell are you doing in my house?"
"Luca, you're back!"
Seeing Luca sparked an instinctive flutter of joy, but then reality crashed down—I'd just been stripped bare in front of my ex-boyfriend's father, and he'd literally had to fish a toy out of me with his own hands. Guilt flooded through me.
"I came to—" I tried to force a smile, but then I noticed the blonde woman beside Luca. His arm was wrapped around her waist.
I'd seen her once before. Anna. Business school's golden girl back in college.
She wore perfect makeup, pressed against Luca's side. They looked good together—picturesque, even. And Luca's mouth still bore traces of her lipstick. They'd been kissing. Just now.
He'd brought her home to fuck her.
The realization hit like a physical blow.
I clutched the trench coat and stood, my whole body shaking. "Luca, what is she to you? You were already screwing around with her, weren't you?" My heart was breaking into pieces.
I glared at Luca. He just raised an eyebrow, pulling Anna closer. "Lilith, we're done. Stop clinging to me like some desperate parasite. It's pathetic."
"Oh my God, so you're the nun girlfriend who wouldn't put out until marriage? That's hilarious. What are you, some kind of fossil?"
Anna's mouth curved into a cruel smile. Her eyes stripped me bare, looking at me like I was damaged goods at a thrift store.
Her voice dripped with artificial sweetness, savoring every syllable of my humiliation. "You're already broken up, but here you are dressed like that. Trying to seduce him? What a hypocritical slut. Look at yourself, honey—fat as a pig. Even naked, no man would spare you a glance."
"Right, baby?" Anna turned to Luca. My mouth opened to fight back, but rage choked me. My chest heaved. For a moment, I couldn't speak. I could only hope Luca would defend me.
Instead, he smirked. "Of course. With you around, nobody would look at that sow twice."
"Dating her was just a bet between me and the guys. Why else would I waste time on trash like that? These past few years were a fucking nightmare."
"What?"
I stared at Luca, my legs buckling. The ground tilted.
Had all those sweet moments been lies? Was I just a bet? No wonder he'd dumped me so easily.
Luca's words turned everything I'd done today into a joke. I was a clown. An idiot.
My stomach dropped. Nausea rolled through me. Tears spilled over, and I hated it—I didn't want to cry in front of these two pieces of shit, but I couldn't stop.
"Shut up!" Tears streaming, I clenched my fists. "Luca, you're really proud of yourself for breaking my heart, aren't you? I was so stupid to waste three years on you!"
Anna giggled, shaking Luca's arm with exaggerated fear. "Baby, the pig's mad. I'm so scared."
"I'll throw her out." Luca was eager to please. His face twisted with disgust. "Get out. Now. Or I'll dump you on the street like the garbage you are."
My ears rang with rage. All I could hear was my heart shattering. But I wouldn't let him throw me out—that would be too humiliating. I had my dignity. "Don't bother. I'll walk myself out."
"Who the fuck gave you the right to disrespect my guest?" A sharp voice cut through the room. Just as I turned to leave, the words stopped me cold. I blinked in confusion. Luca's face shifted instantly—I even saw fear flicker across it.
I turned toward the voice. Luca's father—Andrei Volkov.
He stood there, silver hair damp at his temples, water droplets sliding down into the deep V of his open collar, exposing chest hair that made him impossibly sexy.
His striking eyes surveyed everyone coolly, expression neutral, but the weight of his presence sucked the air from the room.
"Father." Luca turned toward him, his face draining of color like someone had pulled a plug. Despite his attempt to hide it, his voice trembled.
Andrei didn't respond. His gaze swept the room, finally landing on me.
Shame flooded through me. I dropped my head. Today had been humiliating enough—I'd stuffed myself with a toy to win Luca back, his father had to remove it, and now I'd been verbally destroyed by Luca and his gorgeous new girlfriend right in front of him.
Andrei was a good man for helping someone like me. I shouldn't put him in this position.
"I'll leave now." I bit my lip, fighting back tears.
I'd only taken two steps when Andrei moved. His hand pressed down on my shoulder. "Nobody's throwing you out."
"Lilith is my guest. I invited her here.
She came to see me. This has nothing to do with either of you.
How dare you talk to my guest like that in my house?
Did that blonde skeleton suck your brains out through your dick, Luca?
Both of you apologize to Lilith. Now." Andrei's eyes cut to Anna.
"And then she leaves. Immediately. I don't want to see her face again. "
Andrei's hands were in his pockets, his stance casual, but the pressure he exerted was suffocating.
For everyone but me.
I wasn't afraid. Instead, my heart hammered against my ribs like it wanted to burst free. The fact that Andrei was defending me made me feel weightless—like I was floating on clouds instead of standing on marble.
Someone was protecting me. Actually protecting me.
I looked at Andrei. He gave me a clear look of encouragement.
"That's right, who... who do you think you are?" My voice caught, but I forced steel into it. "I'm Andi's guest. You should show some respect."
As soon as I finished speaking, I caught Andrei's mouth quirk up slightly. The curve was tiny—if I hadn't been watching him, I'd have missed it.
Was he smiling? Andrei Volkov was smiling? At me?
Then it hit me—I'd just called him Andi. I didn't mean anything by it, just wanted to show we were close since he was protecting me. His smile felt like he'd caught my heart in his palm.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Luca's rage, Anna's venom, Andrei's coldness—everything changed. Because of that barely-there smile at the corner of Andrei's mouth, something else entered the air. Something softer, warmer. Something that existed only between him and me.
Then he gently draped his arm across my shoulders, silently declaring his allegiance. Satisfaction surged through me. My courage swelled.
"Andi?" Shock painted Luca's face. He stared at me, mouth opening and closing, anger and confusion flashing across his eyes.
"Apologize." Andrei's voice was steady. "If you don't apologize right now, get out. And don't come back."
The air froze for at least ten seconds.
During that time, I imagined scenarios where I got thrown out—where Luca lost his temper and beat me up. My legs trembled.
None of it happened. Anna had looked terrified since Andrei appeared. She tugged Luca's sleeve, head bowed so low she might as well burrow into the ground. "What do we do?" she whispered.
Luca jerked his arm away. His face twitched. Finally, through gritted teeth, he forced out, "Sorry."
Relief washed through me. He'd actually apologized. I wasn't joking—in our entire three years together, I'd never once heard him say this word to me.
"What was that? I didn't hear you." I tried to contain my excitement. Luca had apologized, but I couldn't forgive him easily. His humiliation still burned. I nervously clutched the edge of Andrei's shirt.
"I'm sorry!" Luca roared, veins bulging in his neck. "Happy now?"
I didn't answer. Neither did Andrei. He looked at Anna. I followed his gaze. Anna shook like a leaf. She immediately stammered out, "I'm sorry."
"Luca. Take your girl and get out," Andrei said.
"Dad, this is my home too!"
"This house is in my name. You live here because I allow it. Tonight, take your girl and leave. I don't want to see either of you again today. Don't make me repeat myself."
Luca's face went from red to white. He glared at me. "I don't know what kind of spell you cast on my father, but if you think he'll convince me to take you back—forget it. I will never love a pathetic creature like you."
"I don't give a shit. I don't need love from garbage like you." Standing beside Andrei, I shed my weakness and spat the words back at Luca.
Luca sucked in several harsh breaths. He glanced warily at Andrei. Finally, he said nothing more. He grabbed Anna and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the crystal chandelier in the living room swayed.
The room fell silent again.
I deflated. Tears started flowing again. I'd cried too many times today—my eyes stung with dryness. My mascara had probably smeared all over my face. I must look hideous. I wanted to run far away, somewhere I'd never have to face any of this again.
Andrei pulled a tissue from the box on the table and wiped my tears away.
"You've cried yourself into a little raccoon," he said. His hand moved gently.
"Huh?" I sniffled, trying to suppress my sobs. "Well, I guess nothing could be worse than right now. Thank you for not letting me get completely humiliated back there. Thank you for defending someone as pathetic as me. I should go."
"None of this is your fault. You need to calm down and rest." Andrei's voice was soothing.
I suddenly realized how close we were standing. I caught his scent—faint cedarwood. That familiar smell broke something inside me. I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. "Am I... am I really worthless?"
"Of course not." Andrei paused, then firmly denied it.
"Then why did Luca treat me like that? He was only with me because of a bet." My voice cracked. "You men all prefer beautiful, skinny women like Anna, don't you? I'm too fat. I don't deserve to be loved..."
"Nobody would want someone who looks like a pig!" Luca and Anna's taunts echoed in my head. I covered my face and sobbed. Then Andrei's hand moved across my back, patting gently, like soothing a child to sleep. I felt warmth radiating from his palm into my heart.
"Listen to me, Lilith. You shouldn't let two assholes make you feel worthless. You're beautiful. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."