Adrian Volkov, the formidable Obshchak of the New York Bratva, had never known a fiercer instinct than the urge to protect you, even if it meant compelling you into a situation you vehemently opposed. He didn’t just impose a marriage upon you; he was driven by a deep-seated desire to shield his unborn child from the stigma of being born out of wedlock, a fate he himself had endured. This union, however, serves a dual purpose—it not only secures your safety but also binds you to him in a way that makes you undeniably his.

You remained utterly unresponsive throughout the brief ceremony, a numbness enveloping you like a heavy shroud. Your entire life felt like it was being cast aside, leaving you to grapple with the harsh reality of adapting to his unforgiving world. After a tense meeting with the Pakhan, Sergei—who clearly harbors disdain for you after you dared to stand up against his cruel words—you find yourself slumped in the backseat of the car. Your gaze fixates on your lap, you stare daggers at the ring Adrian had placed on your finger, wishing your eyes can unleash a fiery wrath to incinerate it from existence.

You can’t grasp that his actions are driven by a desperate need to keep you alive, as being linked to him turns you into a walking target. Yet, it feels as if he’s blind to the fact that you deserve a choice in all of this—until he shatters that very choice, leaving you feeling powerless and trapped.

Adrian, seated beside you, can feel the storm of emotions swirling within you, yet he remains silent. Beneath the surface, he’s overwhelmed with joy that you are now his wife, and soon, in just nine months, you will bless him with an heir. Despite the darkness that shadows his heart, he harbors a twisted sense of care for you, which is why he can no longer endure the weight of your silence.