Page 69 of Ruthless Daddies

The halls of the estate are usually quiet at this hour, but as I round the corner on my way to the study, the sharp sound of raised voices cuts through the stillness. My steps slow, curiosity piqued. It’s not every day someone disrupts the sanctity of Ivan’s well-ordered household.

Then comes the unmistakable sound of a slap—a crack that echoes like a gunshot. I pause, my head tilting slightly, my curiosity transforming into intrigue.

I follow the voices, rounding the corner just as I catch sight of them—Svetlana and Alice.

Svetlana stands with one hand pressed to her cheek, her face twisted in a mix of shock and fury. Alice, on the other hand, looks like a firecracker about to explode, her cheeks flushed, her shoulders squared.

“I’ve had enough of your nonsense,” she snaps, her voice steady and sharp. “You don’t own Ivan. And you don’t get to talk to me like that.”

Little minx, this one. Who knew she had it in her?

Before I can enjoy the show any longer, Nikolai strides up, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern in a heartbeat. “What’s happening here?” he asks.

I glance at him, smirking. “Just a little drama,” I say casually, gesturing toward the two women.

His gaze flicks between them, his brows furrowing.

“What the hell is going on?” Nikolai asks again, his voice sterner now.

“Ask her,” Svetlana spits, jerking her head toward Alice. “Your precious little nanny slapped me.”

Alice doesn’t flinch. If anything, she looks more resolute, her eyes blazing as she stares Svetlana down.

“She deserved it,” Alice says simply, her tone even.

I bite back a laugh. Brave girl.

Nikolai looks between them, clearly torn between annoyance and disbelief. “Would someone care to explain why this happened?”

Alice crosses her arms, meeting his gaze. “Svetlana insulted me. Called me a sneak, and a bitch. And I’m not going to stand and listen to her yap.”

“How dare you—” Svetlana starts.

“Enough,” Nikolai says. He turns to Svetlana, his voice low and dangerous. “Is that true? What she said?”

Svetlana huffs, her fingers tightening on her cheek. “She was eavesdropping! I caught her lurking around, and she slapped me for no reason!”

I step forward, unable to resist adding my two cents. “She slapped you because you can’t keep your mouth in check,” I say lightly, my smirk widening. “And from the looks of it, you had it coming.”

Svetlana glares at me, but I don’t care.

“Why don’t you ask her what she’s doing here?” Alice says.

Nikolai’s eyes narrow as he looks at Svetlana, his usual patience running thin. “Well?” he asks.

For a split second, I catch it—a flicker of something in Svetlana’s expression. Fear? Guilt? She pales visibly, and that alone makes my gut tighten. This is Svetlana. She’s not one to back down or shy away from conflict. She should be throwing a tantrum, protesting, doubling down on whatever nonsense she was spewing at Alice. But instead, she looks cornered.

“I’m here to see Ivan,” she finally says, her voice huffy but lacking its usual venom.

“I think she’s lying,” Alice says quietly.

I glance between them before I turn to Svetlana. “Ivan’s busy. He’s not meeting anyone today.”

“But—” she protests.

“No,” I say with a finality.

“Fine, whatever.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder and turns on her heel, stalking away with as much dignity as she can muster.

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