In the underground world of Ivanova's empire, Dmitri's only heir, Svetlana, finds herself entwined in a love affair with Nikolai Petrov, the charismatic heir to the Petrov crime family. As their passion intensifies, they navigate the treacherous and uncharted waters of loyalty, torn between their very hearts and the very expectations of their ruthless families. With their romance deepening, Svetlana and Nikolai must endure painful sacrifices in other to protect their forbidden love, forcing them to navigate through the troubles of a secret relationship, the forced marriages that threatened to divide them apart, and the brewing war between their families. Unexpectedly, a new threat emerges, forcing the Ivanova and Petrov families to set aside their age-old Vendetta. Will they eventually rise above the new threat, giving all they have had to go through? Or will their happily ever after remain a fleeting dream for the two lovers?
Chapter 1 Shadow of seduction
**SVETLANA'S POV**
I watched the city get covered under the blanket of night as I stared out the window, taking in the evening sky that would soon turn dark.
An eerie silence that would make every hair on a person's body stand up lifted the atmosphere as the evening light sank fully below the horizon.
I kept looking up at the sky through the window of the Ivanova home, a shining fortress in the heart of the city with an aura that silenced the birds in the sky.
I, Svetlana Ivanova, the sole child of the infamous criminal lord Dmitri Ivanova, leaned against the window of my bedroom, staring into the void.
I was dressed in a simple emerald green dress that hung loosely about my ankles, the soft material providing a subtle contrast to my harsh surroundings.
After standing there for some time, I observed someone standing beyond the wrought iron gates. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that person to be Nikolai Petrov, the heir to the opposing Petrov family.
Then I saw his sharp hazel eyes contact mine, and that's when the unsaid love between us sparked like lightning bolts that streak across the sky, leaving in their wake a loud rumble of thunder.
Our covert romance had started with a furious dance, a tune of defiance against the same walls that attempted to contain us.
I carefully made my way out of my chamber, slinking through the maze-like hallways of the house as the sound of my footstep awoke the dead quiet, giving me the impression that I was one of those armed men trained under my father's merciless hands.
The ease with which I moved around, spoke of a well-practiced path that had been refined over numerous nights of seclusion.
Nikolai, a figure chiseled by danger and attraction, waited impatiently in the hidden shadows.
Standing at a height of six feet five, he wore trousers and a black leather jacket, his dark hair disheveled with his intense eyes.
Running towards him felt like the longest race of my life, but as soon as we came into contact, our lips connected in a stolen kiss, a collision between hot desire and hunger that was accompanied by necessity.
I tried so hard to leave behind the awful world, and for me, the kiss was a way out. For Nikolai, being with the person he would stir hell for if necessary brought him comfort and a deep desire.
Our love, a flame burning in the darkness, resisted the very limits closing in on us, and soon the outer world faded into insignificance.
"Tonight, we can be free," Nikolai murmured against my ear while severing the kiss.
He put one hand on my face, sending shivers down my spine. With each light tap of his thumb on my cheek, I could sense his kindness and concern.
We briefly caught eyes as we struggled to recover our breaths, and even though the intensity of the moment was palpable, it seemed like a fragile bubble about to pop at any minute.
"Let's head out," Nikolai said. "This time, let's head somewhere far from here. a location where we may reclaim our freedom to pursue our passions." He spoke softly but clearly in the quiet, promising a world far from the conflicts inside our family.
I followed my hand up to his, letting my cheek rest on his warm palm as I reveled in the happiness he gave me until my lips finally parted.
"Nikolai, you understand that this cannot continue. "What if we get discovered?" With a look of confusion and concern on my face, I enquired.
"We won't get caught, I promise you that." Nikolai tightened his hold on my hand and responded almost instantly.
"Your father believes you are asleep, but mine believes I'm drinking in a club with my friends." Now is the ideal moment since nobody will suspect anything."
Taking into consideration my side of the story-my father knew I had already gone to bed-I gave his remarks a lot of thought.
Even though my heart was telling me to ignore everything else and spend all of my time with the person I love, there was still a small reluctance buried deep within me.
After closing my eyes for a brief while, I quickly opened them and made a choice.
"You're correct; tonight we may be free to pursue our deepest desires. Thus, let's get out and do it immediately." After I responded, I saw Nikolai's eyes brighten with happiness, and he immediately drew me into his arms and locked our lips in a passionate kiss.
Soon after, the night's transgressions were hidden from view by the neon street lights and buzzing city sounds as we left the mansion and ventured into the inner recesses of the city together.
Every minute spent with Nikolai was a moment of delight snatched and reclaimed, a transient fantasy beneath the darkness of our everyday existence. But the night went by fast, and as I made my way back inside the mansion, reality cruelly established itself once more.
I had to find a way into the mansion even though I knew it would be closely secured and watched over by my father's watchful men; if I was caught, I would have to come up with a plausible excuse for being outside.
I cautiously made my way around the estate, stopping at every known entrance. All of them, as I had anticipated, were well-guarded. It was impossible to enter through the side gates or the servants' quarters undetected. The main door was impenetrable without setting off alarms, like a fortress.
My every step was colored with desperation as my worries grew, and finally, in a last-ditch effort, I climbed the ivy-covered walls to get to my father's study window.
I stepped through the little gap with great care and accuracy, appreciating the stillness around me. My father and his men carefully plotted every mission in his study, which served as a haven of strategy and secrecy.
The room's gloomy aura was enhanced by the lengthy shadows generated by the poor lighting and the heavy curtains that closed off the outside world. Something resembling the sound of a hardcover book being dumped on a table reached out to me as I hastened to close the windows before heading out.
[Thud!!]