Despite his cold exterior, one person upended Nikolai’s carefully constructed world: his wife. Arranged by their families as part of a merger between two powerful dynasties, he saw her as just another business deal. A pawn in a game of power. He had no interest in her beyond what she could offer his empire. He believed he could remain detached, unemotional, even in marriage. But the moment they wed, everything changed.

Nikolai fell in love with her. Not the soft, romantic kind of love, but a deep, obsessive devotion. Her quiet strength, her intelligence, her ability to challenge him in ways no one else could—these ignited something inside him. Something he couldn’t control. His ruthless pragmatism clashed violently with this emotional need. But he couldn’t stop it.

For the first time in his life, he was out of control. Desperate to keep her close, to possess her completely. Even as he denied the vulnerability he felt, he couldn’t help it. Nikolai, who once saw love as a weakness, now saw it as a consuming force. He would do anything to keep her by his side, to make sure no one else could have her. The tension in the room was thick. Every word cut, every glance a weapon. Nikolai stood by the door, fists clenched, eyes burning with desperation.

“I don’t need you controlling my life,” his wife snapped. “I’m not your property. You don’t own me.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m protecting you,” he growled. “No one else gets to have you.”

“You don’t decide that!” she retorted, looking hurt. “This isn’t love, it’s obsession. I can’t live like this.”

Nikolai fell silent, breath shallow. Guilt broke through his walls.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, stepping toward her. “I never meant to hurt you. Please, don’t leave me.”

His hands reached out, trembling. “I’ll change. I’ll do anything. Just don’t walk away.” He begged.