Page 3 of Beautiful Enemy

Elena beams under my praise. It’s clear she doesn’t get a lot of it from her own mother. I know the feeling. My father always made me feel like a bug under his shoe for the first seventeen years of my life.

Viktoriya sniffs, showing her disdain for my comment.

Ivan smiles tightly. “We should be getting to the chapel. Take our seats.”

We say our goodbyes and then there’s just me and Anya. We smile at each other but before we get the chance to say anything, there’s another knock on the door.

This time, it’s not a family of three. It’s just one young woman that I’ve never met before but I know exactly who she is.

Julia Smirnov. Viktor’s younger sister.Muchyounger sister. At only eighteen, she’s younger than I am. Viktor has been her protector for years and usually keeps her hidden away. But today, she’s let out to attend her brother’s wedding.

Julia is the epitome of classic beauty. Soft brown hair. Large eyes that make her sort of look like Audrey Hepburn. Petite. She holds herself with so much grace even though she’s so young. It’s interesting to compare her to Elena. They’re the same age and yet seem drastically different.

“Hello, Nadia,” Julia says, gliding over to me. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“You too.”

“My brother never really let me leave the house. For my own safety, as you know.”

“Isn’t that a red flag?” Anya asks. “He’s kept you locked up. Will he do the same to Nadia?”

“No. I don’t believe so. It’s just that I was so young. But now that I’m an adult, I believe he’ll offer me more freedom.”

My heart begins to beat faster. Hearing Julia speaks makes me worried. Anya has a good point. Will Viktor lock me up for my own ‘protection?’

“I can’t wait to be sisters,” Julia says. “It will be nice to have someone else in the house. It can get so gloomy there.”

“I can’t wait,” I whisper.

“I can’t stay long. Viktor likes to keep an eye on me. He’s so worried something will happen to me. It comes from a place of love,” she explains after seeing Anya’s suspicious look. “Our father had me when Viktor was already seventeen. Then he passed away a few years later, meaning Viktor had to raise me himself. He’s more like a father than a brother. He’s just protective. From what I understand of your relationship, you raised Nadia, didn’t you, Anya?”

“I did. Our father wasn’t a very good… dad.”

“I don’t want this to cast a bad light on my brother.” Julia takes my hand. “Please, Nadia. Don’t be worried. He’ll want to protect you but I don’t think he’ll want to keep you as a prisoner.”

“Think?” Anya asks. “Or know?”

Julia lets me go and faces Anya head on. “I know. Now, I need to get back to the chapel. But I just couldn’t wait to meet you, Nadia. I can’t wait to be sisters. And you too, Anya.” She leaves with a smile.

“She’s… a little strange,” Anya murmurs.

“Be nice.”

“I am being nice. I’m just saying. I can tell she’s been kept away from other people for most of her life. But she seems sweet. And I’m happy you’ll gain another sister. Just don’t replace her with me.”

“I could never. You’re my sister, Anya. Always and forever.”

Right as we hug, another knock on the door comes, breaking us apart.

“Jesus, how many people are going to show up?” Anya mutters as she opens the door.

On the other side is…

Our father.

Sergei Belov. Middle age. Grey hair. Slouched shoulders. But no less powerful. He has a gaze that could root you right in place, preventing you from leaving. It’s why I wasso scared of him growing up. I wasn’t sure what he would do to me and I never felt like I could run.

“Hello, Nadia,” he says, completely ignoring Anya. I know he blames her and Erik for taking me away from him and moving me in with them.

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