Page 24 of The Bratva's Prisoner Bride

At my gratitude, she let a small smile settle on her lips, and she nodded. "You're welcome. I just want you to feel a bit more comfortable here."

The sentiment stirred something in me, and I found myself mirroring her expression, even if there was some sadness in it too. "That's a lot more than I can say for anyone else."

As our eye contact lingered, I had the feeling she wanted to say more, but she nodded instead, seemingly shaking it off.

"Anyway, I'll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything."

After I acknowledged her offer, Veronica made her way out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Once I was alone, I took a deep breath and looked through the clothes until I found a pair of patterned slacks and a cream-colored top that felt vaguely business casual despite how I didn't have anywhere to be. Either way, I wasn't going to deny how nice they felt on, or how it suited my figure.

All the while, my suspicion lingered, wondering what Ivan was up to.

Was he genuinely just taking care of my needs, or was he trying to further some sort of plan of his? I couldn't think of any devious motives he could have in buying me clothes, but it still ate at me anyway.

It was difficult for me to believe it was a gesture of good faith given how furious he had been with me, yet, I wasn't in the position to deny those clothes. Not when I didn't have anything else.

That anger I had for him still lingered in my chest over it all, but with the outfit on and the tablet in hand, I made my way downstairs.

Soon enough, a colorful breakfast was placed in front of me while I scrolled through the various luxury stores I had access to.

Despite it all, I figured some retail therapy couldn't hurt, especially if he was giving me full reign of his credit card. In a way, spending his money felt like the slightest bit of revenge I could manage at the moment.

***

The day passed by slowly while I roamed the house, given the chance while Ivan was out doing god knows what.

While I knew his family were obviously the leaders of a crime syndicate, I was curious about what his day-to-day life looked like when he was gone. What he did and how he contributed to their business.

But of course, I wasn't about to come out and ask him that. He would likely assume I was looking for some kind of weakness to exploit, or something ridiculous like that.

In between trying to keep myself busy with whatever I could find, my mind wandered back to the clothes he bought me and how it still didn't sit right.

Just when it was starting to eat at me, the front door opened and Ivan walked through the foyer with confident, decisive steps.

He rounded the corner, entering the living room where I was sitting idly, half reading a book I didn't really care about. Ivan looked me over while he undid the cuffs of his button-down with a finesse that caught my attention.

"I see the clothes got to you without issue."

With him bringing it up first, there was no way I was about to drop it.

Setting the book aside, I looked at him pointedly. "Why? Why'd you buy it all for me?"

He gave me a look that seemed to say it should be obvious, then a quiet huff passed his lips. "You didn't exactly have anything else to wear, but I don't need to remind you of that fact."

I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Still...you didn't need to buy such expensive things. If I'm your prisoner, then why didn't you get me cheap clothes instead?"

He scoffed at that. "I won't have my wife wearing rags, regardless of you being my prisoner. Consider it a bonus of having your status upgraded."

Despite him using the word 'wife' so casually, his making light of it all irked me.

"You think this is funny?"

"Somewhat, yes," Ivan murmured, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles flex shamelessly. "But more so than that, I'm wondering why I can't do something nice without you questioning my intentions."

I couldn't tell if he was playing dumb or if he genuinely didn't understand my suspicion, but either way, I scowled at him. "You can't be serious."

"I'm incredibly serious. You should thank me, not question me."

---