Chapter Seventy Nine.

Chapter Seventy Nine.
The heavy doors of the mansion creaked open and Viktor stepped inside.

His presence filled the air, causing the maids scattered around the entrance to pause mid-task and bow their heads in deep respect.

His eyes scanned the space, moving across the polished floor and lingering briefly on the massive living room,but it was empty.

No sign of her.

Just then, Svetlana appeared from the hallway, calm and graceful as always.

“Welcome home, Pakhan..” she greeted with a slight bow, her voice smooth.

Viktor barely acknowledged her with a small nod, eyes already darting toward the staircase.

“Where is Xena?” His tone was quiet.

“She’s been in all evening, sir” Svetlana replied.

His gaze lifted toward the top of the staircase, a small smirk pulling at his lips.

Svetlana hesitated for a breath, then added,

“She tried to go out to the garden earlier, but I stopped her…as per your instruction. She seemed to understand why, but…” she lowered her voice slightly, “she wasn’t pleased. She’s remained upstairs ever since.”

Viktor gave a single nod, the smirk never fully leaving his face.

Without another word, he started up the stairs, his steps.

As he disappeared out of view, the silence in the hall broke.

“I swear, Our Pakhan is truly in love..” one of the younger maids whispered, her cheeks flushed with a giddy kind of excitement. “I can’t wait until they get married…”

A few other maids shot her sharp looks, one rolled her eyes so hard it nearly hurt.

“And what makes you so sure?” one of them scoffed, arms crossed. “You think just because he looks at her a certain way that means marriage?”

The younger maid nodded, completely unfazed. “It’s not just the way he looks at her..” she said, her voice almost dreamy. “It’s everything. Ever since Miss Xena came into this mansion, sir’s been different. Softer… but only with her. And she’s the only woman he’s ever brought here.”

Another scoff followed.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re forgetting something, He has a fiancée..” the skeptical one muttered bitterly.

The beaming maid gasped and quickly glanced around as if afraid the walls would tattle.

“Don’t say that out loud! Sir doesn’t like that being mentioned. Everyone knows they’ve been broken off for a long time now. He never acknowledged her. Not once.”

“Still…” the scoffing maid grumbled, folding laundry aggressively. “He’s not the type to settle down.”

“Maybe not,” the younger maid said with a smirk, “but if he ever does, it’s definitely going to be Miss Xena. And let’s be honest, she’s way more beautiful than that other woman.”

“Pfft. Maybe that’s what she used to trap him..” the skeptic hissed under her breath.

“Enough!” Svetlana’s voice cracked like a whip, slicing through the gossip.

Her expression didn’t waver, but there was warning in her eyes. “Back to work. All of you.”

The maids scrambled in silence, scattering across the mansion like startled birds.

Svetlana lingered for a moment, her eyes drawn toward the staircase Viktor had ascended.

Then she sighed quietly to herself and walked away.

The bedroom door opened with a soft click.

Viktor stepped inside, only to be met with the fiery glare of Xena seated on the edge of the bed.

Her sharp eyes met his cold ones with a defiance that sent a ripple of something dark and amused through him.

Her posture had changed, spine straight, arms stiff at her sides, chin slightly raised. A woman scorned… yet so breathtaking in her fury, he could hardly look away.

She looked like a storm trapped in silk.

“Now that’s a beautiful face to come home to.” Viktor murmured with a teasing smirk, closing the door behind him, his voice low and unhurried. “All fiery and pissed. What did I do this time, my little fire?”

Xena didn’t blink. Her glare only deepened.

She stood up. Her bare feet padded softly against the marble floor as she walked up to him, fire dancing in her every movement.

Her voice came sharp. “What’s with the house arrest, Viktor?”

He tilted his head, playing innocent. “House arrest?” he echoed lazily.

“Don’t play dumb with me.” she said, folding her arms tightly beneath her chest.

The movement didn’t escape Viktor’s eyes, his gaze dipped, catching the slight swell of her breasts beneath the top, the defiance in her posture, and he swallowed. Hard.

“I tried to go to the garden this afternoon. Just the garden, Viktor. But Svetlana stopped me, on your orders.” Her tone was biting now, and when she stepped closer to jab a finger into his chest, his smirk only deepened.

“You caught me..” he said with a shrug. “But it’s for your safety.”

He reached up to touch her cheek, his fingers gentle against her skin, but Xena slapped his hand away without hesitation, her eyes still burning.

“It’s just the garden.” she growled. “I wasn’t trying to go out to the street. You’re being ridiculous.”

Viktor’s expression darkened slightly. The teasing flicker in his eyes faded, replaced by something more serious.

“I have enemies, Xena..” he said quietly. “It’s not just Marco. You have no idea how many people would love to hurt me, how many would use you to do it. I’m not taking that risk.”

Again, his fingers moved to her cheek, this time slower, more possessive, and she didn’t stop him. But her body remained tense beneath his touch.

Xena sighed softly and looked at him, her voice gentler now, but no less determined. “Speaking of Marco… Viktor, can I go and see my—”

“No.”

His voice was sharp, final. His jaw clenched tight as he looked away for a moment, forcing the words through gritted teeth.

“It’s too risky.”

She exhaled sharply, stepping back slightly. “Then come with me..” she said. “You don’t have to let me go alone. You’ll be there. I just need to talk to my Nana..”

Viktor’s eyes returned to hers, cold steel meeting jade fire. For a moment, his expression faltered—then he sighed.

“Not until I’ve handled Marco..” he said quietly. “Once he’s dealt with, then maybe. But right now, you stay here. You're safest with me.”

Xena’s lips parted, but no words came out. She clenched her fists by her sides, her entire body taut with frustration.

◇◇◇

The room echoed with the sound of muffled moans, thick with lust and heat.

Alexei was shirtless, his body hard and tensed as he pinned a trembling woman against the wall, devouring her mouth with hunger.

Her whimpers filled the space, legs wrapped around him as she clung tightly.

His hands roamed her curves possessively, and without breaking the kiss, he lifted her off the wall and carried her to the bed.

“Shlyukha (Whre).” he muttered with a lazy smirk, the Russian word rolling off his tongue like a taunt..

He began to unbuckle his pants, knuckles grazing his toned abdomen, but then—

The door creaked open.

He didn’t flinch.

Instead, his hands froze mid-motion, irritation flashing in his cold blue eyes as he looked over his shoulder.

Standing at the door, a redhead.

Not just any redhead.

Yelena.