Chapter 56 Nikolai
The wedding preparations began immediately.
Katya moved into the mansion fully. She brought her clothes, her jewelry, her entire life.
She redecorated my bedroom. Changed the curtains. Replaced the sheets. Tried to erase every trace of Anya.
I let her.
I did not care anymore.
"Nikolai, what do you think of this color?" Katya held up fabric samples one morning. "For the reception hall?"
"Whatever you want," I said without looking up from my drink.
It was barely noon. But I was already on my third glass of whiskey.
"But I want your opinion. This is our wedding."
"Then why are you asking me? Just pick one."
She frowned. "You have been like this for weeks. Cold and distant. We are getting married, Nikolai. Can you at least pretend to care?"
I looked at her then. She was beautiful. Everything was in place. But I felt nothing.
Nothing at all.
"I am marrying you, Katya. What more do you want?"
"I want you to love me!" She threw the fabric samples down. "I want you to look at me the way you looked at her!"
"That will never happen."
The words came out harsh.
Katya's eyes became filled with tears. "Why? What does she have that I do not?"
"Everything."
She slapped me.
My head snapped to the side. My cheek stung.
But I just smiled.
"Feel better?" I asked.
"No!" She screamed. "I do not feel better! You are marrying me but you are still in love with her! How is that fair?"
"Life is not fair, Katya. You should know that by now."
"I hate you," she whispered. Tears streamed down her face.
"I know."
"Then why are you doing this? Why marry me if you hate me too?"
I poured another drink, downed it in one gulp.
"Because it does not matter anymore. You, Anya, anyone else. It is all the same."
"You are cruel."
"Yes. I am." I poured another glass. "And you knew that when you came back. So do not act surprised now."
"I thought you would change. I thought you would love me eventually."
I laughed. "Love? I loved once, Katya. And she chose her brother over me. Twice. So no. I will never love again."
"You are pathetic," she spat.
"Maybe. But I am rich and powerful. And you want that more than you want love."
She slapped me again.
But I just kept smiling.
"Go ahead. Hit me again if it makes you feel better."
Instead, she left the room, crying.
I finished my drink.
Mikhail came in shortly after. He looked at the scattered fabric samples on the floor. Then at me.
"You made her cry again," he said.
"She will get over it."
"Will she? Or will she leave like Anya did?"
I slammed the glass down. "Do not say her name."
"Why? Because it hurts? Good. You should hurt."
"I thought you were on my side."
"I am. That is why I am telling you this is insane." Mikhail sat down across from me. "You are marrying a woman you do not love. Out of spite. Out of anger. Out of... what? Revenge?"
"Maybe."
"Against who? Anya? She will not even know. She is trapped with Alexei."
The mention of Anya with Alexei made my blood boil.
I grabbed the whiskey bottle, drank straight from it.
"I do not want to talk about this."
"Too bad. Someone needs to tell you the truth." Mikhail leaned forward. "You are destroying yourself. And everyone around you."
"So?"
"So it will not make the pain go away. It will not bring her back. It will just make everything worse."
"I do not care about being happy anymore."
"Clearly." Mikhail gestured to the bottle in my hand. "But what about Katya? Does she deserve this? Being married to a man who will never love her?"
"She chose this. She came back knowing I did not love her."
"Because she is desperate. That does not make it right."
"Since when do you care about what is right?"
"Since I watched my best friend become a monster." Mikhail stood up. His voice was rising. "The old Nikolai would never do this. He would never use someone like this. He would never give up on the woman he loved."
"The old Nikolai is dead."
"No. He is just hiding. Behind rage and vodka and empty sex."
"Get out."
"Nikolai..."
"I said get out!" I threw the bottle at the wall.
It shattered.
Mikhail stared at me for a long moment, disappointed
Then he shook his head and left.
I sat there in the silence, surrounded by broken glass.
The wedding was set for three weeks from now.
Katya handled everything. The venue, the flowers, the food, the guest list.
I just signed papers and showed up when required.
The invitations were printed on expensive cream paper in gold lettering. My name and Katya's intertwined.
Mr. Nikolai Markov and Miss Katya Morozova request the honor of your presence…
It made me sick to look at. But I approved them anyway.
"We should send these out soon," Katya said one evening. She was going through the guest list. "To all the important families. All our allies. Even enemies."
"Fine."
"I also thought..." She hesitated. Bit her lip. "Maybe we should send one to Alexei Volkov."
I looked up sharply. "What?"
"It would be good to have him there."
"Are you insane?"
"I am practical." Katya met my eyes.
"He has Anya."
"Exactly. So show him you have moved on. Show him he did not break you."
I stared at her. She was right. As much as I hated to admit it.
Sending Alexei an invitation would be a power move.
You took her. But I am fine. I am getting married. I am moving on.
Even if it was all a lie.
"Fine," I said. "Send him one."
Katya smiled. "Good. I will have it delivered personally."
She left the room.
I sat there, staring at the invitation in my hands.
Then I picked up a pen and wrote a personal note on the back.
Alexei,
You are cordially invited to my wedding. Feel free to bring your mistress. - Nikolai
I sealed it in an envelope and called for a guard.
"Deliver this to Alexei Volkov personally. Make sure he gets it."
"Yes, Pakhan."
The guard left.
I poured another drink.
Two days later, a response arrived.
A cream envelope with gold lettering.
I opened it.
It was an invitation. To Alexei's wedding with Anya.
My hands started shaking.
Inside was a personal note.
Nikolai,
Thank you for the invitation. I will be sure to attend. And I am delighted to inform you that I will be bringing my fiancée. We are getting married as well. Same month as you. How convenient. I do hope you will return the favor and attend our wedding.
\- Alexei
The paper crumpled in my fist.
He was marrying her.
Alexei was marrying Anya!