Chapter 3 - The Broken Trust
I froze as the sharp tip of Julian's blade dug slightly through the delicate silk of my wedding dress.
"If you kill me in the middle of Nikolai's penthouse, you will not live long enough to spend a dime," I whispered calmly.
Julian pressed the blade slightly harder, drawing a tiny drop of blood.
"His guards work for whoever pays them the most, Evelyn, and I just made them a very generous offer."
Suddenly, a heavy, suppressed gunshot shattered the quiet elegance of the terrace.
Julian screamed in agony, dropping the knife as a bullet tore completely through his right kneecap.
He collapsed to the marble floor, writhing in pain and clutching his shattered leg.
Nikolai lowered his smoking pistol, his face an emotionless mask of pure, calculated violence.
He casually walked over and kicked the bloody switchblade over the edge of the glass balcony.
"You always were a terrible negotiator, little brother," Nikolai stated coldly.
Two guards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Julian by his arms and dragging his bleeding body toward the service elevator.
I stood completely still, my heart pounding as I realized exactly what kind of monster I had just married.
Nikolai turned to me, his dark eyes softening slightly as he noticed the small spot of blood on my dress.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, reaching out to gently touch my waist.
I slapped his hand away, the revelation of the trust fund finally fueling my anger.
"You lied to me," I snapped, taking a step backward.
"You didn't marry me to secure your leadership, you married me to unlock a billion-dollar trust fund."
Nikolai did not flinch, nor did he attempt to deny the accusation.
"Both things are true, Evelyn," he admitted calmly.
"I am your wife, Nikolai, not a transaction."
He closed the distance between us in a single, fluid motion, his towering frame backing me against the glass railing.
"In my world, everything is a transaction until proven otherwise," he murmured, his face inches from mine.
"But I chose you because I knew you were strong enough to survive this."
Before I could argue, the penthouse elevator chimed, and the heavy doors slid open.
My father walked onto the terrace, accompanied by four men wearing suits with the rival Rossi family crest.
My father looked at the blood on the floor and then glared directly at me.
"You are coming home right now, Evelyn, and we are annulling this ridiculous marriage."
I stared at the man who had told me to smile while my heart was broken just twenty-four hours ago.
"I am not going anywhere with you," I said firmly.
My father's face twisted into an ugly, unfamiliar sneer.
"Julian promised to wipe out my gambling debts if I brought Serena to the ballroom last night."
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He pulled a heavy revolver from his coat and pointed it directly at Nikolai's chest.
"And now the Rossi family has promised to pay me double if I deliver Nikolai's fresh corpse."
