Chapter 4 The Arrival

Elena's POV

Elena sat on the edge of her bed, the weight of the day pressing down on her like a physical force. The cold Moscow night seeped through the thin windowpane, but she barely noticed. Her mind was a storm of thoughts, swirling faster than she could catch.

How had her life come to this?

Just weeks ago, she was a doctor-focused, determined, living a life she had chosen for herself. Then, that day at the hospital, everything changed. The VIP lounge. The unexpected patient. The man with the piercing eyes who had marked her the moment he saw her. She had thought it was a strange encounter, a fleeting moment in the chaos of her work. But it wasn't. It was the beginning of a chain reaction she hadn't seen coming.

And now, here she was, back in Moscow, caught between the life she knew and the one being forced upon her.

Her parents' words echoed in her mind-their cold certainty, the way they had handed her over like a prize. "You're going to marry Luca Romano." The sentence had shattered something inside her, but the worst part was the silence that followed when she asked why. No answers. Just the unspoken truth that she was a pawn in a game far bigger than herself.

She ran her hands through her hair, trying to steady the whirlwind inside. She never should have gone to that VIP lounge. She never should have been asked to fill in for the usual doctor. If she had stayed in her routine, none of this would have happened.

But fate had other plans, and now she was trapped.

Her phone lay on the bedside table, silent. No messages. No calls. Just the cold reminder of the unknown waiting for her.

Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away. She wasn't the girl who broke down easily. Not anymore.

She stood and moved to the window, staring out at the city lights twinkling through the night. Moscow was beautiful, but tonight it felt like a cage.

"Why me?" she whispered to the empty room. "Why did it have to be me?"

The question hung in the air, unanswered.

Her thoughts drifted back to Luca Romano-the man who had stepped into her life like a storm. Powerful. Dangerous. Obsessive. She didn't know what he wanted from her, but she knew it wasn't just the doctor's care he sought.

Her heart ached with the weight of betrayal-her parents had kept the truth from her, choosing their own safety over her freedom. And now, she was left to face the consequences alone.

Exhaustion pulled at her limbs, and she collapsed onto the bed, the sheets cold against her skin. Sleep came quickly, but her dreams were restless-shadows and whispers, distant voices calling her name.

When she woke, the morning light was harsh and unforgiving. The reality of her situation settled over her like a shroud. There was no turning back.

She was caught in a web of secrets and lies, and the only way forward was through the darkness.

The sound of the door unlocking startled Elena. She wasn't expecting anyone, and the sudden noise made her heart race. Footsteps approached, steady and sure. Then, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Elena."

She turned to see Tony standing in the doorway, his posture relaxed, his expression calm and confident. There was none of the weariness she had expected-no sign of doubt or worry. Instead, he carried himself like a man who knew exactly what he was doing.

"Tony," she breathed, a mixture of relief and exhaustion in her voice.

He stepped inside without hesitation, closing the door firmly behind him. "I heard you were back," he said simply.

Elena sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands trembling slightly. "I don't know how to handle this anymore," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "Mom and Dad... they're forcing me into something I don't understand. A marriage to Luca Romano."

Tony's gaze was steady as he sat beside her. "I know," he said quietly.

She looked up, surprised by his calm certainty. "You do?"

He nodded. "There are things they haven't told you. Things you don't need to hear yet. But I'm here now."

Elena swallowed hard, the weight of everything crashing down on her. "Why didn't you say anything before? Why let me face this alone?"

Tony's voice was firm but gentle. "Because I wanted to protect you. Sometimes, knowing too much can make things worse. But now, it's time you understand what you're up against."

Her eyes searched his face. "What am I up against?"

Tony's expression didn't waver. "A man who doesn't take no for an answer. Someone who plays by his own rules. But you're stronger than you think, Elena. And you're not alone."

Elena's hands clenched in her lap. "I feel like my life is slipping away. Like I'm being handed over without a say."

Tony placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "That's why I'm here. To make sure you have a say. To make sure you're ready."

For the first time in days, Elena felt a flicker of hope. Tony's calm presence was a rock in the storm raging around her.

"We'll get through this," he promised. "Together."