Chapter 112 ONE FEARLESS HUMAN

Chapter 112 ONE FEARLESS HUMAN
••Roman••

“What?”

The word ripped out of my throat before I could stop it. The air in the dining hall turned toxic the moment my father sat that woman down at our table. 

I looked around, and the dissatisfaction was written in everyone else face. The silence was deafening, made worse by the glaring empty chair where my mother, Nadia, should have been. We all knew why she wasn't here. She was likely upstairs, her heart being shredded by the man whom she had spent more than 30 years loving.

I turned my gaze to Katya. My childhood lover, the girl I had grown up with, and the woman who had remained a friend after the fire between us died out. Or so I thought.

“Why are you doing this, Katya?” I asked, my voice low and lethal. 

“Look at me and tell me the truth. Because it’s obvious to everyone with eyes that you are not in love with my father.”

Katya didn't flinch. She feigned a look of innocent confusion, tilting her head as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Roman, please. I am with your father because we love each other. It’s a private matter, and frankly, it has nothing to do with you.”

I felt a surge of pure disgust. I knew her. I knew the way her mind worked. This wasn't about love; it was about revenge. She was trying to get back at me because of Luciana. She had realized she couldn't win my heart back, so she went to the one person who held ultimate power over my life—my father.

Mildred, never one to filter her thoughts, finally snapped. “So, Katya, you are actually okay with marrying the father of the person you once were fucking? And probably still want to fuck?”

“Language, Mildred!” I shouted.

Theo shook his head, throwing a look of utter loathing toward Katya. The room was spiraling into chaos until Lorenzo slammed his hand on the table.

“Silence!” my father barked, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk. “Everyone eat. Let her be.”
But the table wasn't ready to let it go. Mildred leaned forward, her voice trembling with anger.

“Knowing how much my mother used to like you, Katya, I can’t believe you’d do this. You were like a daughter to her.”

“Katya, really?” I added, staring her down. “You’ll throw away years of friendship for this? Just to get back at me with your stupid ass plan.
Katya picked up her wine glass, looking entirely too comfortable.

“Everything that transpired between us was in the past, Roman. It doesn’t affect my new relationship with your father. Or does it affect yours?” She shifted her gaze, eyeing Luciana with a sharp, pointed look.

I looked at my wife. Luciana just sat there with perfect composure. I could see her hands folded neatly, her face a mask of calm. Katya obviously wanted her to be on edge, to scream or throw a fit, but Luci wasn't giving her a single inch.

In a fit of rage, I started to push my chair back, ready to stand up and end this farce, but I felt a soft, firm hand grip mine under the table. I looked at Luci. She squeezed my hand, a silent command for me to relax.

I took a breath and sat back. Katya was looking for trouble, she was declaring war against my mother, my wife, and my entire family. 

But she was wasting her energy. The last time she tried to play a trick to get between us, it backfired so beautifully that Luci made me take her upstairs and claim her for the first time. We were stronger than ever, and Katya had no idea what she was up against.

“Enough, all of you,” my father shouted, banging the table again. “My decision stands. Now, eat!”

I could barely take two spoonfuls of the soup. The room was a minefield of exchanged looks and heavy breathing. I kept glancing at Luciana; she was clearly holding everything in. 

Just endure this, I thought. It’ll be over soon.
But then Katya opened her fucking mouth again.
“Is Borscht still your favorite food, Roman?” she asked, her voice sweet as honey.

I didn't answer. I didn't even look at her. But she just kept on talking, reminiscing about the past as if Luci wasn't sitting right there. “I remember how you used to like it so much. We used to sneak into the kitchen at night just to get an extra bowl, remember?”

Then she faced Luci, a fake smile plastered on her face. “I hope you make that for him often. Or do you even know that he likes it?”

Katya was poking the bear, trying to get a rise out of my wife. I was about to tell her to shut up, but Luci did something that surprised everyone.

“Oh!” Luci gasped suddenly, blinking rapidly.

“Baby, there’s something in my eye. Help me, please.”

She totally ignored Katya’s comment.

Baby? My heart skipped a beat. Wow.
I turned to her, and she leaned into me, her face close to mine. I played along, pretending to blow into her eye.

“Is it out?” I whispered.

“Not yet,” she murmured.

Then loud enough for the table to hear, she added, “I’m so tired, baby. Please feed me the rest of my food. I don't think I can lift the spoon.”
I froze for a second. Feed her? In front of my father? 

I Roman Orlov does not do public displays of affection, especially not at this table. Luciana saw my reluctance and, under the table, she stepped hard on my toes.

I got the message. I picked up the spoon and began to feed her, one slow bite at a time. 
I could see Katya’s face turning a shade of red that matched her wine. Luci was getting her revenge, making Katya watch exactly how much I loved her.

When the dinner saga finally ended, everyone stood up to leave. We were almost out the door when Katya leaned in. “I hope you’re not scared that one day your husband will take in a mistress like this.”

That was the final straw. Luciana snapped. 

“I hope by that time you’ll be happy in your marriage, competing with a woman who once took you as her daughter because of your stupidity and desperation for a man who sees you less.”

“Stop this!” Lorenzo roared. “You won’t do that while I’m here. Roman, tame your wife!”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Luci beat me to it. She turned her fury on my father.

“No!” she shouted at Lorenzo. “You should be the one to be tamed!”

Everyone one of us who were in the room went still. No one spoke to Lorenzo Orlov that way.
But I guess Luci is just one fearless human being.

“Do you not see what is happening?” she lashed out, her eyes blazing. “This woman wants to destroy your family and your son's marriage. She is a snake! I’m sure Nadia is somewhere hurting right now, crying because of your selfishness, and you’re just too blind or too arrogant to see it!”

“Nadia accepted it, and this is none of your business.” My father snapped.

The fact that my father isn’t threatening to kill her right now, makes me know that the words got to him.

The room was silent. Luci stood her ground, breathing hard, looking Lorenzo right in the eye.

“I hope you don’t loose that woman who spent years building all these with you, because of this sly fox who is using you to get back at your son.”
After a beat, she turned on her heel and angrily stepped out of the room.

Mildred let out a small giggle, clearly impressed.
 The words actually seemed to do the trick; I watched as a flash of doubt crossed my father’s face. He didn't look at me. Instead, he grabbed Katya’s hand, and dragged her out toward the other wing of the house.

I stood there for a moment, marveled. Luciana was really something else. I had spent my life fearing my father, and she had just dressed him down like a misbehaving child.

I walked out after her, a smirk playing on my lips.

One thing was certain: nobody tested my wife and walked away unscathed. Not even the Don.