Dressed for Defiance

Author's POV

Ksenia stood before the sprawling floor-to-ceiling mirror inside her bedroom, meticulously adjusting the delicate straps of her breathtaking silver satin gown. The heavy fabric cascaded over her curves like liquid metal, featuring a plunging neckline that pushed up her breasts and a dangerously high thigh-slit that bared her long, tempting leg with every step. A glittering silver chain rested against her exposed bare thigh, adding a sharp, sexy edge to her reflection. She stared at her own face, noting the bold nude makeup she had carefully applied and the cascade of wild, ironed curls tumbling over her shoulders. She slipped her feet into a pair of towering stilettos, resolving right then to stop concealing her beauty. She was thoroughly exhausted from two agonizing years of playing the demure, submissive wife for a man who did not respect her.

She had abandoned every foolish hope of repairing her fractured marriage the exact moment she saw Vance flaunt Darya in their shared space. She realized that this man could never change. She refused to waste another drop of self-respect on him. Ksenia grabbed her metallic clutch from the vanity table, pasted a forced smile on her face, and emerged from her room into the sprawling hallway, bracing herself to play her part in this fake relationship.

Vance and Darya stepped out of the master suite at the same time. Vance stopped dead in his tracks. His eyebrows furrowed in stunned disbelief as his gaze dragged down the silver satin. He was momentarily captivated by her radiant, sexy appearance. He stared at her exposed skin, his mouth parting slightly as he took in the confident woman standing before him.

Darya noticed his awe immediately. Prickling with instant jealousy, she sharply nudged Vance's ribs with her elbow.

Vance hissed in pain, shook his head, and cleared his throat. "Dad is already waiting for us at the venue. We need to go."

"I know. He called me." Ksenia replied, shooting a brief, dismissive glance at Darya’s emerald green gown which admittedly complimented her fair skin.

Darya plastered a sickly sweet smile on her face. "I hope you do not mind if I join you guys for the party. I am feeling bored sitting around the apartment all day, and I—"

Ksenia decided to ignore the pregnant mistress. She looked dead at Vance. "We are late. Move."

Heading down to the underground parking garage, Vance unlocked his luxury sedan. Ksenia walked past the rear passenger doors and smoothly claimed the front passenger seat. She pulled the seatbelt over her chest, staking her claim.

Darya stood by the open back door, her scowl deepening as she glared at the front seat. She clearly wanted to sit beside Vance.

Ksenia flashed a patronizing smile at the furious woman. "Vance's father is waiting for us at the entrance. He will hardly appreciate seeing another woman step out from the front seat of his son's car. Sit in the back where you belong."

"She is right, Darya. Please sit in the back." Vance requested, gesturing toward the leather interior. He closed the door once Darya climbed in and walked around to the driver's seat.

The drive through the glittering city streets descended into a tense, suffocating silence. Ksenia leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, watching the neon lights blur past. Her mind persistently drifted away from the petty drama beside her. She was consumed by illicit memories of Nikolai Sokolov. He had not left her mind for a single second this past week. His intense, predatory grey eyes flashed in her thoughts. She remembered the commanding way his muscular body moved over hers, the sheer power in his thrusts, and the raw friction of their skin. She recalled his thin lips and the dominant way his body flexed with every single movement. Some nights, she had woken up soaked in her own wetness just from dreaming about him.

Vance snapped his fingers right in front of her face, shattering her trance. "We have arrived."

Ksenia blinked her eyes, pulling herself out of the vivid memories, and looked out toward the grand venue. She reached for the door handle to let herself out.

"Let me open it." Vance unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out into the night air.

"The fake drama begins." Ksenia muttered to herself, rolling her eyes.

Darya let out a soft laugh from the back seat.

Ksenia shot her a lethal glare through the rearview mirror.

"Sorry, I did not mean to laugh at you. I was just—"

"Keep your mouth shut." Ksenia cut her off, stepping out of the vehicle the second Vance opened the door.

Vance extended his hand to help her up. He leaned close to her ear, his grip tightening on her fingers. "Show respect toward Darya throughout the evening, Ksenia. I will not tolerate this behavior from you tonight."

Ksenia yanked her hand free and glared back coldly. "Then you had better tell your girlfriend to keep her distance. I am not here to entertain your mistress. Do not dare expect me to play nice with her. Yes, I am polite to people, but I have my limitations."

Darya climbed awkwardly out of the back seat and cleared her throat. "We should go inside. Do not worry about me, Vance. I will entertain myself. Be assured."

Vance offered Darya a warm smile before wrapping a rigid arm around Ksenia’s waist. Ksenia suppressed a shudder of disgust as they stepped inside the glittering hall. His touch no longer brought her that old feeling of warmth and safety. It just felt uncomfortable and suffocating.

They slipped seamlessly into their rehearsed charade of a devoted couple for the benefit of Vance’s wealthy parents. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the elite guests mingling on the marble floor. Vance guided her through the crowd until they reached his family.

"Good evening, Sir." Ksenia painted a flawless smile on her face.

"Good evening, Ksenia. How are you?" Vance's father asked. He shared Vance's sharp facial structure, though his hair was silver and his skin lined with age.

"Dad!" Vance pulled his father into a brief embrace.

"You are looking stunning tonight, Ksenia. I am glad to see you two together. I expect things will continue this way." The older man smiled, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Of course. Ksenia is my life, Dad. I cannot imagine myself without her. She knows how much I love her, right, sweetheart?" Vance squeezed Ksenia’s waist in a fabricated show of affection.

"He is the best decision of my life." Ksenia smiled, leaning into the lie.

"Is that so?" Vance's father narrowed his eyes, clearly amused but skeptical. He looked down at Ksenia's bare left hand, his tone turning sharp. "Then where is your wedding ring?"

Ksenia's stomach churned with sudden panic. Her eyes snapped to her bare ring finger. She recalled exactly where she had left it. It was discarded on Nikolai’s dark wood nightstand right before they had sex. She had taken it off that night, refusing to wear Vance's diamond while giving herself to another man. She forgot to retrieve it before leaving the penthouse. She swallowed the lump in her throat, covering up her mounting fear.

She forced her heart rate to steady and formulated a smooth lie. "I took it off before scrubbing in for a complex surgery. I misplaced it in the hospital locker room and could not find it again. I felt terrible about my carelessness, but Vance assured me my happiness matters more than a piece of jewelry. Right, Vance?"

Vance plastered on a supportive grin and nodded in agreement. "Yes. I plan to buy her an even better ring anyway. I hate seeing that finger empty."

"Aren't they just cute, honey?" Vance's mother chimed in, holding a flute of champagne with a huge grin.

"They put on a good show, but I am still not convinced." Vance's father stated, his voice devoid of warmth. He pointed a stern finger between Vance and Ksenia. "Produce a grandchild within the year to prove this thing between you two is real. If you fail to do so, Vance, you will face the total loss of your family inheritance."

Vance stiffened, dropping his fake smile. "Dad! Are you serious?"

"Very much so." His father looked at him sternly. Ksenia was stunned. She could handle blackmail and fake relationship drama, but bearing his child would ruin her life. "If you do not want to comply, then fine. But you know the results. Anyway, I am catching a flight tonight, so I cannot attend your party until the end."

With that non-negotiable ultimatum delivered, his parents bid them goodbye and walked away into the sea of guests. The fragile facade shattered the moment they were out of earshot. The hostility exploded.

Ksenia immediately shoved Vance’s hand off her waist and took a huge step back. "I am never bearing your child. Get that through your head right now."

Vance sneered, his handsome face twisting into an ugly mask of rage. He reached out and harshly dug his fingers into her bare upper arm. "I already have a child on the way with Darya. I do not need you for a baby. Now tell me the truth. Where the fuck is your ring?"

His sharp nails bit painfully into her delicate skin. Ksenia hissed in pain and wrenched her arm free with brute force. Her eyes threw pure fire at him as she rubbed the angry red marks blooming on her flesh.

"As a doctor, I know hundreds of ways to save a human life. But I also know a thousand ways to kill a man without leaving a trace. Keep your fucking hands to yourself next time." Ksenia hissed, stepping into his personal space.

Vance gritted his jaw, his chest heaving with contained fury. "Do not forget I have Nolan under my control. You are talking way too much for someone in your position."

Ksenia let out a dark, mocking smirk. "You cannot do a damn thing to him. The key to your precious inheritance rests entirely in my hands now. A single call to your father exposing this sham marriage will destroy your future forever. All your hard work will go in vain."

Vance flared his nostrils, fuming in anger. "Do not dare threaten me. What gave you wings all of a sudden?"

"I played the good wife because I foolishly believed there was hope for us. That illusion is broken. Stay in your limits. I refuse to be disrespected by someone I lowered my standards to marry." Ksenia delivered the verbal blow without flinching.

Vance reeled back from her sudden savageness. He had only ever seen her soft, accommodating side. He did not know she possessed this much venom. "I need to teach you a good lesson."

He growled the threat, stepping closer to intimidate her. Ksenia opened her mouth to strike back, but a sudden shift in the ballroom's atmosphere stole her attention. The low hum of chatter across the venue died down to a hushed whisper.

Ksenia turned her head toward the grand entrance. Her heart nearly stopped beating in her chest.

Striding into the opulent hall was Nikolai Sokolov.

He wore an immaculate, coal-black tuxedo that emphasized the broad span of his shoulders and his lethal grace. He walked into the venue like it was his own private party. Two massive enforcers trailed a few paces behind him. He commanded the room's undivided attention without uttering a single word. Every head turned toward him as he walked. Some guests stood frozen in silent fear, while others buzzed with excitement at his sheer presence.

Ksenia swallowed hard. Her throat felt tight.

Across the sea of wealthy socialites, Nikolai turned his head. His cold, predatory grey eyes locked directly onto her. The intensity of his stare pinned her in place, making her feel like his chosen prey. He did not look at Vance. He ignored the mayor and the city councilmen attempting to catch his eye. He kept his unwavering gaze fixed solely on Ksenia.

Her fingers twitched, desperately clutching the silver satin of her dress as he altered his path. The dangerous mafia boss bypassed the reception line and began walking straight toward her.