Chapter 2

Eve's POV

"Viktor, feed me another bite~"

I walked into the dining room to find Liliya playing coy, mouth open like a baby bird, waiting for Viktor to feed her.

He was cutting her steak, tender as hell. Made me want to puke.

Liliya perched beside him, neck covered in hickeys like fucking war medals. She spotted me and leaned harder into Viktor, smug as hell.

"Eve!" Her voice was sickly sweet. "Sit down already! Don't be a stranger."

I ignored her. Grabbed my black coffee and sat as far away as possible.

"You know," Liliya cooed, fingers tracing circles on Viktor's chest, "I'm SO grateful you called me last night. Poor Viktor would've suffered so much otherwise. Right, baby?"

Viktor set down his knife and fork, murmuring something in her ear.

Liliya blushed, smacking his chest. "Stop it! Saying things like that this early... I'm still sore..."

Viktor pulled her closer, voice dropping low. "I'll be gentler tonight."

Something twisted in my chest.

Last life, after he took my virginity, the first thing Viktor did when he sobered up was slap me across the face.

"You filthy WHORE! Who the fuck told you to touch me?!"

That slap sent me sprawling, blood in my mouth.

Now he treated HER like porcelain. Every gentle touch, every soft word—like knives in my chest.

I sipped my coffee, pretending their sweetness didn't exist.

The dining room went quiet.

Viktor glanced up at me, frowning. My calm seemed to piss him off.

After a few seconds, he dabbed his mouth with his napkin, tone cold and arrogant. "Eve. You did good yesterday. Finally learned your place."

He paused, arm around Liliya's waist. "From now on, show Liliya some respect. She's my future wife. The next Mrs. Konstantin. In this house, her word is law—second only to mine. Clear?"

He expected me to fight back. Expected hurt in my eyes.

I just nodded. "Yes, Godfather."

Viktor frowned deeper at my compliance. He was used to my stubbornness, my lovesick stares. My sudden coldness irritated him in a way he couldn't quite place.

"You better mean that." Viktor's voice turned sharp. "Liliya's been bored at the estate lately. I'm putting her in charge of the South District. Hand over the ledgers and keys today."

Several guards gasped.

The South District—our most critical arms dealing territory.

I'd spent two YEARS fighting for that ground. Bullets flying, blood spilling. How many bodies I'd buried there, only I knew.

Last life, Viktor pulled this same shit. Back then he at least made up an excuse—said I was pregnant and needed to rest.

But I knew the truth. He was punishing me. Punishing me for "killing" his precious white moonlight.

Liliya blinked innocently. "Viktor, isn't that... I mean, Eve worked so hard for the South District..."

"Don't be silly." Viktor pinched her cheek, voice soft. "You're gonna be my wife. Everything here is yours."

He turned to me, eyes like ice. "Something to say?"

"Not at all."

I stood, pulled out a heavy set of keys and the black-gold badge marking the South District boss from my pocket, and walked over to Liliya.

"Congrats, Liliya."

She froze, clearly not expecting me to cave so easily.

Her hand reached out—

CLANG—

The keys and badge hit the floor.

The dining room went dead silent.

"Oh no!" Liliya's hand flew to her mouth, eyes instantly welling up. "Eve, you... you did that on purpose! You're pissed about losing the South District, so you're trying to humiliate me!"

She turned to Viktor, voice breaking. "Viktor, I KNEW Eve wouldn't give it up so easily... She must HATE me..."

"I just wanted to get along with her, but she won't even show me basic respect..."

Viktor's face went dark as thunder.

"Eve!" He shot to his feet. "What the FUCK are you playing at?!"

I bent down, picked up the keys and badge, and placed them in Liliya's palm.

"Sorry. Hand slipped. I need to hit the training room. Excuse me."

Viktor opened his mouth, but I was already gone.

I barely made it to the hallway before a hand slammed me against the wall.

Viktor blocked my path, those gray eyes narrowed and dangerous. "You jealous?"

"No."

"Jealous of Liliya?"

"No."

"Then what the hell was that back there?" He leaned in close, breath hot on my face. "Don't think playing indifferent is gonna make me look at you twice."

"Godfather, I have no thoughts on this." I met his eyes steadily. "The South District belongs to the family. You can give it to whoever you want."

Viktor stared me down like he could see through my skull.

Finally, he laughed—cold and sharp. "Better be true. Eve, I'm WARNING you. Don't play games in front of Liliya. She gets upset, I'll make YOU more upset."

He released me but didn't move. Instead, his fingers gripped my chin hard. "And get that tattoo removed."

My heart lurched.

The tattoo—"VK" inked on my left shoulder. Viktor Konstantin's initials.

He must've seen it last night when he ripped my shirt.

"Don't let Liliya see it and get upset," Viktor said coldly. "Your pathetic little crush on me? I don't give a shit. But don't make my future wife uncomfortable. Got it?"

His words stabbed straight through my chest.

Pathetic.

That's how he described my love for him.

"I'll get it removed." I took a deep breath.

"Today." Viktor let go. "I don't want to see it again."