Chapter 26 The Notebook

Chapter 26 The Notebook
"You're getting it all wrong," I laugh, trying to make my voice sound casual. "It’s not what it looks like."

Lisa’s eyes narrow sharply, like she’s trying to read the truth straight from my face.

"Then what is it?" she presses, stepping closer. "Because I know you were going to marry Adrian. I even got the invitation. And now… you’re sneaking off with another man?"

I bite my lip, my stomach tightening. She wasn’t at the wedding, she doesn’t know what actually happened. And Nikolai… that man, he had probably made sure the world never saw the truth about what really happened.

"I’m not… sleeping with him," I finally manage to say, my voice tight. "It’s… complicated. A long story."

Her breath hitches slightly, like she wants to argue but isn’t sure how. 
"I know I shouldn’t interfere in your life, Liora," she says softly, almost gently, "but I had to ask. I know how Adrian looks at you. He loves you."

I close my eyes for a moment, letting the words sink in. I know. Adrian loves me… and I love him. Deeply. But everything that happened pushed me here, into Nikolai’s orbit. And he’s holding me now, not willing to let go.

"I… love him too," I whisper, almost to myself. Lisa presses her lips together, clearly stopping herself from saying something that might make the truth even harder to bear.

"You got yourself a good catch," she says, and for a moment I catch a glint of envy, maybe even admiration, in her eyes. "He’s incredibly handsome."

You can have him, I think bitterly, a silent thought I wouldn’t dare voice. Right now, I wouldn’t mind anyone, anyone at all, pulling me out of Nikolai’s arms.

"Thank you," I say, my voice calmer now. "So, what are you doing here in Santorini?"

"My fiancé and I are on a little vacation," she gushes, turning her hand slightly to show the golden band on her finger. Her excitement is almost infectious. "I said yes two months ago."

"Woah," I exclaim, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "I’m so happy for you. That’s such wonderful news!"

"Yeah, I know," she laughs softly, swinging her shoulders with that easy confidence she’s always had. "I should go find him. He must be looking for me right now."

I watch her walk away, and for a moment, a pang of jealousy twists inside me. She’s in love, truly happy with her fiancé, her world bright and uncomplicated. And here I am… with a man who feels like the devil in a tailored suit, whose presence is suffocating and irresistible all at once. The thought makes my chest tighten. I suck in a deep, shaky breath and walk back to him.

Nikolai is waiting, his eyes fixed on me the second I reach him.

"What did she say?" His voice is calm, but there’s an edge to it. "You seemed uncomfortable the entire time."

I avert my gaze, trying to smooth my uneven breathing. 
"It’s nothing," I murmur, hoping to steer the conversation away. "When are we going in?"

"As soon as you start telling the truth," he replies, his lips curling slightly in that maddening half-smile. "How do you know her?"

I pause, collecting my thoughts. "We were once classmates… good friends, until she left the country."

"So she must know about Adrian and you," he observes, eyes narrowing just slightly. "If you were close, right?"

My head snaps up, startled by the accuracy in his words. His lips curl further, amused. 
"So that’s it," he continues. "She asked about Adrian’s whereabouts… and why you’re with me instead of him."

There it is again. That unnerving insight of his. Nikolai Volkov, somehow knowing things he shouldn’t. A shiver runs down my spine.

I force my voice light, trying to regain some semblance of control. "What movie are we seeing?"

"Guess," he teases, that infuriatingly smug curl lingering on his lips.

"I… don’t know," I admit, glancing at him. "You tell me."

"Let it be a secret," he says softly. "Come on. I saved us front row."

We enter the main theatre together. Darkness swallows us, and the faint hum of voices, laughter, and chatter fills the room. Nikolai’s hand brushes mine as he guides me through the rows to the very front.

I slide into the seat beside him, and the reality of the situation settles over me. Lisa’s words continue to echo in my mind. And she’s right. I am doing something that feels wrong, that gnaws at every shred of conscience I have. But what choice do I have? This isn’t for me… it’s for Adrian. I force myself to inhale slowly, grounding my thoughts. She wouldn’t understand. No one could.

Nikolai leans closer, his voice low. "I’m so jealous of whatever’s occupying that lovely mind of yours."

I glance at him, startled by the intimacy of the comment, my cheeks warming.

Every time he speaks like that, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking, it’s like he reaches straight into my chest and twists my heart. I turn my head slightly, trying to focus on the soft murmurs around us, the shuffle of people finding their seats, the faint scent of popcorn wafting through the air. The theatre is darkening with every passing second, making the world feel both smaller and more intimate.

The screen flickers to life, and my heart skips a beat. 

The Notebook. 

My favorite movie. My words catch in my throat as I look at Nikolai, disbelief mixing with something I can’t quite name.

"Did you—did you—" I begin, unsure how to even phrase it. No way he could have known this about me.

"Shhh," he whispers, lips curling into that slow, knowing smile of his. "You’ll miss the movie, and my efforts would go to waste."

Efforts. The word lodges in my mind, making me pause. He actually… arranged this? My chest tightens as a wave of realization crashes over me.

"How did you know?" I ask softly, eyes misting with emotion. The gesture, the thought, it’s almost too much to bear.

"When you were sick," he says quietly, voice dropping, "your mother would play this movie every time. Every time I came to the hospital, I would see her putting it on. Your father said it always made you happy."

I swallow hard, my throat tight, and whisper her name without thinking. Mum… She had passed away a year after I recovered, leaving my father and me alone in this world. No siblings. No one else who knew the intricacies of my heart and fears.

Then Nikolai’s arm snakes around me, firmly. Before I can pull away, my head finds its place on his shoulder. My eyes widen at the proximity, at the intimacy of it, at the warmth and strength of him. I try to shift, but his grip is strong.

"Your mother would be happy in heaven," he murmurs, his voice low. "Knowing you’ve found someone who loves you so much."

I close my eyes for a moment, letting the words sink in. His presence is a paradox. Both dangerous and comforting, suffocating and protective. My heart hammers painfully, torn between my loyalty to Adrian and a strange, unexplainable pull toward Nikolai. I remind myself... Adrian is the one I love, the one I promised my heart to. But in this moment, with Nikolai holding me, speaking as if he knows me better than I know myself, I feel a stirring inside me.

The movie begins, and my eyes are glued to the screen. Slowly, I start to relax into his hold, letting the warmth of his body ground me. The story unfolds, and just like before, it tugs at the same hidden chords inside me. I can’t help but glance at him once or twice, seeing the shadow of a smile on his lips, but I quickly look away, forcing myself to focus on the film.

By the time the credits roll, my heart feels both lighter and heavier at once. Nikolai gently removes his arm from around me, and we rise, stepping into the humid evening air. 

We walk toward the car in silence, and once inside, he starts the engine. I take a quiet breath, the words finally finding their way past my lips.

"Thank you," I murmur, my voice soft. "For your thoughtfulness… for arranging the movie today."

He smirks, his dark eyes glinting.
"I’m trying to woo you," he says lightly, almost teasing. "To win your heart. Of course, I’ll go the extra mile."

I feel heat rise to my cheeks and look away, trying not to betray how deeply his words affect me. 

From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Lisa standing on the sidewalk, staring after us. Her eyes are cold and sharp, filled with disbelief and judgment. Of course she’d judge.
She has no idea I’m doing this for Adrian. She has no idea how desperately I’m trying to fix things, to save the one person who has always been there for me.

The car pulls away from the curb, and Nikolai starts driving. His hand rests casually on the steering wheel, his posture relaxed.

“Where are we going now?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He glances at me briefly, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“You’ll see."