"I will not marry this man. You're not marrying me off, you're selling me to him."
Alina said it in a firm voice. Her throat was still trembling, but her eyes burned like fire.
From the sofa in front, Haider Saheb slowly stood up. His face had hardened. Taking a step forward to stand before Alina, he said in a grave voice,
"We are not selling you, Alina. If you marry Kaiv, he will forgive our debt of one and a half lakh dollars."
Alina's sharp eyes stayed fixed on her father. After a brief silence, her choked voice broke,
"And now you tell me that man will marry me in exchange for one and a half lakh dollars—is that not called selling?"
The weight of her words seemed to make the air in the room heavier.
Then Elan, her mother, standing beside them, spoke in a softer tone,
"Oh come now, Alina, he's not going to make you his mistress, he'll marry you. And you can see for yourself the state of our business. At this time, your marriage to Kaiv is necessary."
Alina could hardly believe her own ears. Looking at her parents' faces, it felt as though they weren't human at all—like vultures descending upon a helpless prey.
Her eyes began to moisten, yet she kept her voice firm,
"Is my life really that cheap to you? Why should I sacrifice my entire life just to repay your one and a half lakh dollars?"
Haider Saheb's voice grew hard,
"We didn't ask for your permission. You're our daughter—your well-being is our responsibility."
"Responsibility? What responsibility are you talking about? You were so obsessed with your business that you never had time to even look at me. I grew up like an orphan despite having parents. And now you've suddenly remembered your responsibility? Listen carefully—since you incurred the debt, it's your burden to bear. I will not ruin my life by marrying some stranger, some cruel man like Kaiv. I will run away. I will end my life. But I will not agree to this marriage."
With those words, Alina stormed off to her room. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the corridor, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Alina sat quietly in the corner of her bed for a while. Tears threatened, but she forced herself to stay strong. Just a few hours ago, her life had been completely different. She had been in Sapporo, a quiet city in Japan, busy with her studies—journalism courses, new friends, new dreams. It all now felt like a story from some other life.
But then? Then suddenly came her mother's phone call.
"Alina, you must come back quickly. Your father is not well," her mother's voice had trembled.
Alina had dropped everything, bought a plane ticket, and flown back to Vladivostok. She never imagined she'd be met with such a nightmare. When she arrived, she saw that her father was not seriously ill at all. Instead, he was crushed under the weight of a terrible debt. And to repay it, they had already decided to hand her over to a man named Kaiv—a mafia boss.
A contract. A kind of sale. Where, in exchange for one and a half lakh dollars, her life would belong to another.
Alina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew if she agreed to this marriage, her life would be over. She did not want such a caged existence. She wanted to fly free, like a bird in the sky.
Her gaze went to the small suitcase in the corner of the room. She knew she had to run again—just as she had when she went to Sapporo. But first, she had to know about this Kaiv. To fight darkness, you must first know your enemy—his power, his influence, his weaknesses.
Without delay, Alina called her closest friend, Irin. She was Indian, living in Vladivostok with her family.
After several rings, Irin finally picked up.
"Hello Irin, I need your help… Find out everything about this mafia, Kaiv—A to Z."
"Why all of a sudden? Is everything okay, Alina?"
"Everything's fine… Just do this for me."
And Alina hung up. She knew Irin would never refuse her. Within minutes, she would surely call back with the details.
And indeed, fifteen minutes later, Irin called.
Alina answered quickly, "So? Did you find anything?"
"Yes… But don't be shocked, okay?" Irin said softly.
Alina sat upright impatiently, "Come on, tell me—"
Irin paused for a moment before speaking in a deep voice,
"Alright, listen. Kaiv's full name is Kaiv Volkov. His father, Kayem Volkov, was one of the biggest mafia dons in Russia. Everyone feared his name. But three years ago, Kayem Volkov was murdered. No one knows who did it or how. Not even the police could do anything."
Alina's face grew serious as she stared out the window. A strange restlessness was growing inside her.
Irin continued, "After his father's murder, Kaiv took control of the entire empire. He was only twenty-six then. But Kaiv… He's even more dangerous than his father. He has no emotions at all. He handles everything with a cold mind. Speaks little, acts more. Killing someone is like a game to him. His father had national-level influence, but Kaiv? Now he's operating internationally."
Alina cleared her throat, "Anything else?"
"There's something interesting—he's of Bangladeshi descent. His grandfather had two wives—the first was Bangladeshi, the second American. Kaiv's father, Kayem, was the son from the second marriage. Kayem went to Russia for his studies and somehow got involved in the mafia world. And from there, the whole chain began."
Alina was silent for a moment before asking, "How do you know so much?"
Irin smiled faintly, "The first part I heard from Sujin, the rest I read in an article."
"Article? What article?" Alina asked, surprised.
"Don't you remember? For our group project, we had to do an article on Kazi Hayat—he's Kaiv's grandfather. He went from Bangladesh to America for journalism."
Alina slowly nodded. A heavy air was pressing against her chest.
Then Irin asked directly, "But why are you suddenly digging into Kaiv? Did something happen?"
Alina bit her lip and whispered, "Happened? You could say that… My father borrowed one and a half lakh dollars from Kaiv for business. But the business failed. And now that mafia wants me instead of the money. He's proposed marriage."
Irin was stunned. Her eyes widened in shock. Her breath caught as she asked, "What are you saying? And you… Are you going to marry him?"
Alina flinched, "No… No way. I can't live with such an animal. I'm running away tonight. Tell Richard to come get me."
"Alright… Wait, I'll tell him."
As soon as the call ended, the room seemed to sink into a strange silence. Alina sat wordlessly on the floor, her back against the wall, arms wrapped tightly around her knees.
The lights were off, and the whole room was half in darkness. The ticking of the clock pierced her ears, each second like a sharp knife stabbing her chest. Time was moving, yet it felt like everything had stopped. A suffocating sense of fear hung in the air.
Every so often she thought she heard footsteps—or was it the door handle turning? Then, only deep silence. Occasionally, the sound of a car passing outside drifted in.
She glanced at the clock—2 p.m. Richard would take three hours to come from Japan.
Alina closed her eyes and let herself relax for a moment. It was going to be a long journey. She'd heard that the wedding was scheduled for 9 p.m. tonight. She had to escape before then.
Time flowed like an endless river. When she woke up, it was nearly 5 p.m. She quickly checked her phone to see if Richard had messaged. Disappointment washed over her—nothing yet. Still, her heart whispered, Just a little more patience. Richard will come.
Right then, a loud notification tone rang out. Alina looked at the screen—and a faint smile touched her lips. Richard was here.
Without thinking, she grabbed her bag and went to the balcony. Turning back once, she said,
"Sorry, Mom, Dad. You never thought about me. And today, I don't want to think about you either."
With that, she began climbing down the pipe.
. . .
In Vladivostok's sky, dusk's mist had fallen, the sun melting into the sea like blood-stained snow. A tense silence hung over the city, broken only by the sound of a tram.
Alina was sitting in Richard's Mercedes, her mind tangled in a thousand worries. She didn't feel like speaking. Richard had asked her several times, but she had answered nothing. Her mind was empty—about her future, her life, the unknown fear.
The car moved on, surrounded by the quiet of night. Only the engine's low growl filled the air.
Then suddenly—a black SUV stopped in the middle of the road. Richard braked hard; the car jolted to a stop. Alina stared ahead, stunned, as the SUV's door slowly opened.
A man stepped out—a black coat, gray eyes that seemed to tear into her soul. The silence shattered with one deep word,
"Get out."
Alina froze. Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. She had no trouble recognizing that voice, that cold tone—this was Kaiv Volkov.
Richard tried to say something, but with just a flicker of Kaiv's eyes, several more men emerged from the shadows—dressed in black, faces covered. They dragged Richard out of the car.
Alina couldn't speak. Her lips had gone dry and stiff. The man she had wanted to avoid for life now stood right in front of her.
Kaiv walked toward her slowly. In a cold, detached voice, he said,
"You belong to me now, Alina. Don't test my patience by trying to run."
Her body trembled, but deep inside, a spark of defiance still burned. She gave it voice,
"Let me go… I will not marry you."
Ignoring her protest, Kaiv grabbed her and dragged her toward his car.
"Too bad," he said slowly, shoving her into the passenger seat. "We're getting married tonight—whether you like it or not. My men have already prepared everything."
"No! I don't want such a caged life!" she screamed.
Kaiv slammed the door, got into the driver's seat, his face set with unshakable resolve.
"You think I care about your wishes?" he growled, starting the engine. "This is my world, and here, I decide how life is lived."
"I don't care… I'm not going anywhere with a beast like you!"
Kaiv's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"Watch your mouth," he said coldly, his tone carrying an unspoken threat. "I'm not some street punk you can talk to like that. I'm the man who holds this entire city in his fist."
Then, glancing at her with icy eyes,
"So you think I'm worried about you? No, never. Not even for your parents' debt."
His face flushed red with anger, eyes burning. Suddenly, he pulled the car over, grabbed her chin in a bruising grip, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"You think you can throw me out of your life?" His fingers dug into her skin. "Your parents owe me a massive debt—one that can only be repaid by you marrying me. Like it or not, from now on, you are mine. Understand?"
"I will kill you."
He laughed—a cold, merciless laugh. Releasing her chin, he straightened his tie.
"You think you can kill me?" His eyes crinkled with amusement. "I'm the mafia king. At my word, an army moves. And you think your hands will be the cause of my death?"
"Yes… I can."
"Then go ahead." He spread his arms mockingly. "Try. Let's see how far you get."
His lips twisted in a smirk.
"Tell me—what will you use? A knife? A gun? Which one?" He laughed again, his tone dripping with mockery. "You know… sometimes even an ant is enough to drive an elephant mad—all it needs is the right time and place."
Kaiv's mocking smile slowly faded as his gaze locked on her furious yet calculating face.
"Shit…" he muttered under his breath, realizing she wasn't joking.
"Most women would be crying in fear by now. But in your eyes… I see a plan for murder." He smiled faintly. "Smart. And dangerous."
"Then let me go… let me live my life."
Kaiv fell silent for a moment, deep in thought.
"You really think I'd let you go? You'd live happily, and I'd just stand by?" He let out a cold, derisive laugh. "Do you know what happens to people who go against the mafia king?"
"You think I care?"
Kaiv studied her for a moment—then, for the first time, a genuine smile formed on his lips, one of true fascination.
"Remarkable… Anyone else would be trembling in fear by now. But you…" He leaned closer, his voice soft but laced with menace.
"There's just one problem—you've now made me want you even more."
Alina turned her face away in fear. Seeing that, Kaiv smirked and returned to his seat. Placing his hands on the wheel, he gave her a final, dark smile before starting the engine.
"Don't worry," he said in a cold voice as the car moved forward, "I won't touch you until our wedding night."
Alina sat frozen. There was such finality and threat in his tone that it made her feel even more helpless.
Kaiv let out a faint breath, then added with a low chuckle,
"But remember one thing, little ant—never even think of running away again. And if you do…"
"I will run…" she interrupted.
Kaiv stopped mid-sentence. His voice grew colder, harder.
"I will find you. And when I do…" He smiled faintly,
"You'll understand—a mafia is no joke."
His words sliced through the air like a sharp blade. Alina's whole body went cold; her mouth went dry with fear.
Soon, the car stopped. Alina looked out the window and saw they had arrived before a massive palace-like mansion. Decorated with expensive, colorful lights, it radiated a suffocating sense of dread.
Kaiv calmly switched off the engine.
. . .
1 a.m. Outside, the world was silent, cold winds making faint sounds against the cornices of the roof.
Inside one secret room of Kaiv's grand mansion, Richard was bound—his hands and feet tied tightly with thick rope. His head hung low, blood crusted on his face. Bruises marked his body everywhere. Moments earlier, the men had beaten him mercilessly without a single question or word.
In one corner of the room stood two masked guards, cold-eyed, holding gleaming batons.
The door opened slightly with a faint sound. Richard lifted his head just enough to see Kaiv Volkov enter—black vest over a white shirt, a perfectly knotted black tie, a black leather-strapped watch on his wrist. He looked as though he had just come from a wedding.
But his face was hard, his eyes cold—devoid of humanity.
Kaiv stepped forward slowly until he stood before Richard. Leaning down so his face was level, he spoke in a cold, strangely soft voice,
"Did you really think you could take Alina away from me?"
Richard struggled to lift his head, but his eyes only showed pain and defeat.
Kaiv stood back, giving a faint, mocking smile.
"I don't like wasting my time on people like you. But you need a lesson."
Straightening, he gave a calm order,
"Remind him again why you always bow your head before Kaiv Volkov."
The two guards stepped forward. Richard, trembling in pain, lifted his head enough to meet Kaiv's gaze. Blood pooled in the corner of his eyes, his breath ragged.
Still, in a broken voice, he said,
"Alina… She's in my heart… She doesn't have to fight to be mine."
Silence fell over the room. Kaiv stood still. Slowly, a cold, strange smile curved his lips.
"In your heart?" His voice was so cold it seemed untouched by blood.
Kaiv stepped closer, kneeling so his face was level with Richard's.
"Then let's see… where you've hidden her."
At his signal, one of the guards handed him a sharp knife. Kaiv ran the blade lightly along his fingers, admiring its edge, an odd satisfaction curling his lips.
Richard's breathing grew heavier. His trembling lips tried to form words, but Kaiv gave him no chance.
In a calm, unhurried voice, Kaiv whispered,
"I'll cut open your heart and see if Alina's really there."
Then, without a sound, the blade touched Richard's chest. In the room, there was only the metallic chill of the knife and Richard's muffled groans.
Kaiv worked with a cold head, finishing the task. With blood-stained hands, he silently looked at Richard's lifeless body for a few moments. Then, with complete detachment, he cut open Richard's chest and pulled out the heart.
Holding the bloodied organ in his palm, he turned it over, his lips curling in a cold sneer.
"Pathetic… Where's Alina in your heart? There's not even a drop of fresh blood left in it."
There was no anger in his tone—only ruthless coldness, as though tearing a man's heart out meant nothing to him.
Then, with disdain, he tossed the heart into the pool of blood beside him.
Silence of death filled the room.
And Kaiv? As if nothing had happened, he walked out in calm, steady steps.
Kaiv picked up the knife and gently ran his finger along its edge,
a strange smile of satisfaction curling at the corner of his lips.
Richard's breathing grew heavy.
His trembling lips tried to form words, but Kaiv didn't give him the chance.
In a cold voice, without the slightest haste, Kaiv whispered,
"I'll cut open your heart to see if Alina is really in there."
Then, silently, he pressed the blade's edge to Richard's chest.
Inside the room, there was only the cold metallic sound of the knife and Richard's muffled groans. A merciless silence spread across the space.
Kaiv, with a calm mind, finished the work of the knife.
With bloodied hands, he stood still for a moment, staring at Richard's lifeless body.
Then, with a detached air, he split open Richard's chest and pulled out the heart.
Holding the bloody heart in his palm, he turned it over and examined it.
A cold, mocking smile appeared on his lips.
"Tch… Where is Alina in your heart? There isn't even a drop of fresh blood left in it…"
There was no anger in his voice—only a ruthless chill.
As if tearing out a man's heart meant nothing to him.
Then, with disdain, he tossed the heart into the pool of blood nearby.
All around was only the stillness of death.
And Kaiv? As if nothing had happened, he walked calmly out of the room.