Page 38 of Virgin Bratva Prisoner

“Are we headed back today? To your house?”

“To our house,” Oleg corrects me. “Yes, we are headed home as soon as we’ve had our coffee.”

I don’t think I can think of it that way. It’s not my home. Not by choice. I still believe that once this is all over, I can somehow end the marriage and carry on chasing my own dreams.

Am I being naive thinking that?

Are those dreams over now that I have married him?

My stomach knots and I take a deep breath to stop the sadness that threatens to overwhelm me. I am not ready to give up my dreams of being a doctor.

Those are my dreams. I never wanted to be a wife.

I deserve to chase my dreams.

When we arrive home, I do feel at least some sense of relief for the familiar environment. I have clothes here—and my own space.

After a shower and changing into some fresh jeans and a white jersey, I walk downstairs to find Oleg talking to a woman. She looks close to my age, very pretty with her long dark hair and she’s full of smiles and laughter.

“Yes, but how can you do that behind my back?” She says with a note of tease on her voice.

“It wasn’t something I discussed with anyone.”

“Well—Oleg—I definitely shouldn’t be the last one to find out. I didn’t even find out from you. I heard from my friend’sbrotherjust because he happened to be at that party. Oh, my word—is this her? “

The woman sees me walking into the living room and turns to face me.

She has the most gorgeous smile.

Oleg practically rolls his eyes at her. “Raisa, this is Anya, my sister.”

Oh.

Is that really his sister?

“Are you ok?” she asks, stepping towards me. I realize I am just staring at her, not saying a word.

“Oh—yes. sorry. I was—I wasn’t expecting—“

Fumbling over my words, I feel like a complete idiot. But I really wasn’t expecting someone like her. After everything I’ve heard about the Dubrovs, I was picturing his sister to be a bratty, spoilt bitch of a woman with overdone makeup and a sour expression on her face.

“It’s really nice to meet you.” She ignores my weirdness and drags me into a hug, which I receive with awkward stiffness.

“You too,” I finally reply, pulling myself together.

“I can’t believe Oleg didn’t even tell me I had a new sister-in-law. I would have been around to say hello already.”

I chuckle. It’s not the most normal of situations. That’s for sure.

Anya declares that we have to have cocktails by the pool, sitting in the sunshine. I glance nervously at Oleg, expecting him to tell me we have to work on the agreement we made last night—that I need to start talking to my brothers right away. But he doesn’t.

“Alright, you girls go get comfortable outside and I’ll make something pink for you.” He laughs shaking his head as he walks towards the kitchen.

“Your brother knows how to make cocktails?” I ask, surprised.

Anya nods. “Oh yes, I made sure all of them learned it’s the best way to impress girls.” She gestures for me to head out onto the patio.

The sun is warm so I pull my jersey off, feeling a little exposed in my crop top, but the sunshine feels amazing on my skin.

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