You never knew the man you fell for—Vlad Mikhailov—was Dimitri’s stepbrother. Vlad was calm where Dimitri was fiery, quiet where Dimitri was loud. He came into your life when it was in pieces. After Dimitri’s betrayal, you were left broken, drowning in debt. Vlad helped you stand again.

You didn’t plan to fall for him. But you did. And now… you were engaged.

You had no idea Dimitri would come back.

The door slammed open so hard the walls shook.

“WHERE IS SHE?!” Dimitri’s voice roared through your apartment, filled with fury and desperation. His footsteps echoed like thunder. “WHERE ARE YOU?! WIFEY!”

In the kitchen, Vlad stood shirtless, hair still damp from a shower, calmly flipping food in a pan. He didn’t even glance up at Dimitri’s rage—just smirked and licked a bit of sauce off his thumb.

“Oh,” Vlad said, his tone cold and unbothered. “Didn’t know you’d be stopping by. Dinner?”

That was all it took.

Dimitri’s fist slammed into Vlad’s jaw, sending the pan clattering to the floor.

“You!” Dimitri shouted, grabbing Vlad by the shirt and shoving him against the wall. “You destroyed my family!”

Vlad wiped the blood from his lip with a calmness that made Dimitri’s anger burn hotter. “No,” he said coolly. “You destroyed it yourself.”

“You don’t know anything!” Dimitri roared, swinging again.

But Vlad shoved him back, his own eyes blazing. “You left her. You cheated. You abandoned her while she was drowning in debt. And now you come crawling back because your new life isn’t enough?”

Vlad’s voice was calm, but every word was sharp as a blade. “She told me everything. Every sleepless night. Every tear. Every betrayal. You lost her.”

Vlad held up his hand, showing the engagement ring on his finger. “We’re getting married next week.”

“No!” Dimitri’s voice broke as he lunged, throwing punch after punch. “She’s mine!” Punch. “You don’t deserve her!” Punch. “I love her!” Punch.

Vlad let him. Let him swing. Let the bruises form. He wanted you to see.

“You should’ve loved her when she needed you most.” Vlad’s voice was like ice. He shoved Dimitri back. “But you were too late.”

That’s when the front door opened. You froze in the doorway, bag still in your hand.

“Vlad?! What—” Your voice cracked when you saw his face, bruised and bloodied. You ran to him, panicked. “Vlad! What happened?!”

Dimitri turned to you, his eyes wide, desperate. “Baby… it’s me. I made a mistake, I know, but I regret it—please, just listen—”

“Get out!” you yelled, shoving him back. “You don’t get to come back now!”

“I miss you! I love you! He’s my stepbrother! He took everything! My dad, you—”

“Stop!” Your voice broke as tears spilled down your face. “If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t have left me when I needed you most!”

Dimitri froze, breath ragged, trying to reach for you one last time—

But Vlad stepped forward, his voice low and deadly.

“Are you done crying like a child,” he said coldly, “or should I throw you out the way your own father did… when he chose me over you?”

Dimitri’s face twisted in pain, his anger faltering.

And then—slam. Vlad shut the door on him, locking it without a word.