Guests

A couple of men quickly approached to assist Boris, while Yulia remained motionless, unable to believe what had just happened. She had the urge to scream, to tell everyone to leave, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Her mother and father came over to her immediately to embrace her. Dimitri hadn't even taken the liberty to approach them to greet them, and now he had put his daughter in a ridiculous situation. Who did he think he was? Did he believe he was the master of the world and could humiliate his daughter like that?

Boris asked the men holding him to let go. He threw his cane aside to try to reach his son, heading towards the exit as fast as his weak legs allowed.

Dimitri impatiently waited for the valet to bring his car. He wanted to get away from there as quickly as possible. Just as his car was handed over to him, he saw Boris coming out of the hall.

He sighed resignedly, knowing a good lecture awaited him. He felt like a teenager about to be scolded by his father.

"Son!"

Dimitri stopped to wait for him. After all, the man cared about his well-being, and it wouldn't be fair to be aggressive with him.

"I won't go back in there," he said seriously.

"Let's go home. I'll go with you."

They got into the car to head towards the Petrov mansion. On the way, Boris took the opportunity to talk to the man he believed was his son.

"Well, here you will have to listen to me. You won't be able to run away."

"I know you've been through a difficult situation. It can't be pleasant being near death. Before all that happened to you, it seemed to me that you were madly in love with Yulia. I remember telling you at some point that what I saw you feeling for her bordered on obsession. It was very intense."

Dimitri listened attentively. The memories of Luke sometimes mingled with those of the true owner of this body. It was clear to him that Dimitri Petrov was trapped somewhere inside his brain.

"So, it was me who opposed your marriage. I thought she was too immature, only caring about what people would say and fashion. But when I tried to reason with you, you just told me you loved her and that her body drove you crazy."

"I still haven't been able to remember any of that." For the true occupant of this body, it was as if Petrov was narrating a chapter from a movie or series where he clearly wasn't the protagonist of all that.

"But now I believe that Yulia has earned a place by your side. She deserves your love and respect. She has invested too much time in you. She could have paid attention to some other suitor in these years because it's certain that she has them. Nevertheless, she decided to stand by your side religiously."

"I truly apologize. I am aware of all that. But no matter how hard I try, I can't feel anything for her. It's as if that feeling died, or rather, it seems it never really existed. Maybe it wasn't love I felt for her, and I was just dazzled by her beauty."

Boris fell silent. If he had been the same man he was before the attack on his son, he would have found a way to force him into marriage. However, he was determined to change for the sake of a better relationship with his son.

"You must think very well about what you're going to do. At the very least, you should avoid causing her harm. You owe her that much for all these lost years by your side. You should try to remember something from your past, invite her on a date as you used to, surprise her with a gesture."

"I'm not going to do it. I'm not really interested."

"You're as stubborn as your father. There's no doubt we share the same blood. I refused to marry your mother, and I ended up falling madly in love with her. I ask you to try. You can't refuse."

"I can't."

"Give me just one reason why you're refusing."

"I don't love her."

"That's one reason. And the other?"

"I am married."

Upon hearing that, Boris immediately changed his expression. His only son had gotten married and kept it a secret.

"Stop the car!"

"We're still far from home. I can't just leave you," Dimitri refused to do what he was being asked.

"Stop the damn car!"

Dimitri had no choice but to obey the order; Boris' face looked contorted.

Boris immediately got out of the car and began walking along the side of the road. Dimitri stood still, observing. He then took his phone to call the driver and ask him to come pick up his supposed father.

The driver arrived minutes later. Boris hadn't strayed too far yet; his pace was slow, and he already felt exhausted. However, his pride outweighed his fatigue. He wouldn't return to the car. So, when he saw the driver arrive and stop the car, he didn't hesitate to get in and leave.

"Before having children, you must think about it. Listen to what I'm telling you, young man. You'll take care of them, and they'll end up sidelining you," he said to the driver with bitterness.

The young man listened in silence while continuing to drive. Dimitri watched as Boris' car drove away. He then started the car to head to where Laura was. He was in a terrible mood after the trap they had set to force him into marriage.

In the mansion, Laura felt relieved not to have seen Dimitri all day. She was in her room, having changed into more comfortable clothes—short denim shorts and a tight-fitting white T-shirt. She wanted to watch a movie, so she went down to the kitchen to make some popcorn.

Dimitri arrived at that moment, desiring a glass of cold water. He felt a dry throat from the unpleasant encounter. Upon entering, he saw Laura standing on tiptoes, trying to reach the popcorn at the top of the cupboard. He sighed and approached her, handing her the bag of popcorn.

She breathed in his scent again, closing her eyes, imagining that it was Luke who was with her. Dimitri also felt the warm and sweet aroma of the girl, bringing his hand to her face to caress her cheek.

This time, he couldn't resist. While Laura kept her eyes closed, he brought his lips to hers for a kiss. The girl responded immediately, and Dimitri felt elated tasting the sweet honey of her lips again.

Laura began to cry silently as she reciprocated the kiss, missing Luke so much that she thought it was him who was kissing her.

Feeling her face getting wet, Dimitri immediately reacted, pushing Laura away from him, glaring at her with fury.

"There's no doubt you're just a loose woman, an easy catch. I approached you to test you, and you fell so easily. Tell me, how many men have you slept with since you became a widow? I imagine it's been quite a few dozen."

Far from feeling ashamed, Laura also felt furious. This man was an idiot, and she wasn't going to allow him to offend her. She approached him, and without thinking twice, she landed a punch on his cheek.

Dimitri placed his hand on his reddened cheek. In a reflexive act, without thinking, he pushed Laura, and she fell to the floor. He felt the impulse to help her, but he resisted.

"Never in your life lay a hand on me again because I won't respond. You're a traitor, and you don't deserve anyone's pity or sympathy. You've been warned, don't forget it."

Dimitri walked away, feeling his blood boiling. It wasn't that the punch to the cheek hurt him; the sting of the love he felt for her wounded his pride.

Dimitri changed completely after that day. Before, whether as Luke or the Russian, he wasn't accustomed to drinking until he got drunk. He only drank on special occasions, and he did it very discreetly.

But since the argument with Laura in the kitchen, he started excessively drinking every day. That evening, he went to a bar with two corporate employees, his party companions laughing excitedly around some girls moving their sensual bodies to the rhythm of the music.

A beautiful redhead and a fiery brunette approached Dimitri. While he observed them, his face remained impassive, showing no emotion.

"Wow, you're very serious, but very attractive. What if we have some fun? I assure you won't regret it. What do you say?"

In Dimitri's mind, only Laura existed. He berated himself harshly for desiring her. His body didn't respond to the caresses of those beautiful women, and that infuriated him terribly.

He took the two girls by the waist; they smiled flirtatiously. He then called his companions.

"What do you think if we continue the party in a more private place?" He said, forcing a smile.

"Great, let's go. Tonight, we have to have fun as if it were our last day," said one of the guys, taking a girl by the hand.

The other man did the same. Dimitri and the two girls got into his car, the other guys and their companions followed closely in another car.

When they arrived at the grand mansion, Dimitri parked the car and invited them in immediately. The girls, who had never been to such an elegant place, looked around with curiosity, amazed by everything they saw.

"Wow! Handsome, you really know how to live a classy life," exclaimed the brunette, hanging on Dimitri's arm.

The redhead on the other side did the same. Laura, who was about to go upstairs to her room, was surprised to see him accompanied, especially by these kinds of girls.

It wasn't something that really concerned her, so she ignored them and started climbing the stairs.

"Wait a moment, come here right now," Dimitri ordered almost shouting.

"Handsome, we didn't think your wife would be here. We better leave right away."

"That woman here is nobody, just a simple maid."

Laura tried to ignore him and continued going up. He walked away from his companions and went towards her.

"You're going to obey me. Don't forget you've signed an agreement, and you know what could happen if you disobey me."

Laura couldn't believe that he dared to threaten again with her son at that moment. Reluctantly, she turned around to stand in front of Dimitri.

"What do you want?" she asked, annoyed.

"Now you'll see what I want." He took her by the arm and led her to the living room, asking his guests to follow.

"Take a seat, girls. You're always the ones who provide entertainment. Today, you're my guests. She'll dance for you."

Laura couldn't believe the madness. The night girls smiled pleased. After all, that woman was nothing more than a housemaid. They were ready to have some fun.

"You're crazy if you think I'll do this," Laura turned around to leave.

"Don't even think about it, or I'll call to have your son's transplant removed right now. You'll dance for us. I want you to do it to the rhythm of the music and slowly remove your clothes. One of the girls will show you how to do it."

Laura started crying silently, feeling rage and helplessness. The redhead stood up immediately. After Dimitri played some music, the woman began moving sensually. Dimitri ordered Laura to imitate her, and she obeyed, although deep inside, she wished she could grab that shameless girl by the hair.