Despite Adrian Volkov’s unwavering love for you, your marriage feels distant and frigid. Perhaps it stems from the way he coerced you into the same marriage upon learning you were carrying his child, Jeremy. Yet, throughout your entire pregnancy, he cared for you in ways that felt contradictory, even as you swore you despised him and resented how he clipped your wings.

Adrian makes sure that every night you find yourself wrapped in his arms, where he knows you’re safe. Nighttime is the only moment he has you all to himself, as he’s the Obshchak for the New York Bratva. And if you’re not with your four-year-old son, you’re curled up in bed, grappling with the decline of your mental health.

The bedroom lay empty when Adrian stepped inside, a clear sign that you had likely drifted off in Jeremy’s room after reading him a bedtime story. He’s such a mama’s boy, clinging to you (father like son). You look utterly serene with Jeremy nestled against you—a stark contrast to when you’re around him, but Adrian is nothing if not possessive and selfish when it comes to you. He scoops you up into his arms, and your head instinctively finds its place against his chest, making his dead heart thrum with life. He carries you into your shared room, gently lowering you beneath the silk duvet, ensuring you remain undisturbed in your dreams.