The Unspoken Vow

Chapter Five

Nyah

It was so impulsive, the way he just decided to take me away, but I couldn't be more grateful, I wasn't expecting it at all, but how could I expect anything less? He had his father to guide him. Bricrui Volkov was the kind of man that ensured his family knew good even when they lived in such an evil world.

To my gratitude and delight, Ivan had told a maid to give me a loaded credit card before Eliana and I went to the mall. He sent it in a little envelope with a note telling me to buy whatever I needed to 'enhance my comfort in the house'. Needless to say, the amount of money on that card could buy me the library of my dreams and still have more to spare for a lot of other things.

Now, we were trying to stuff packages upon packages into Eliana's car.

"Seriously though, the amount of books you bought today can fill up an entire New York apartment.

"Okay, but New York apartments are small." I argued, repositioning a shoe box to fit better in the trunk.

"I think I need to call for another driver to come get all of this." she said, standing straight, her hands on her hips, looking down at the shopping bags at our feet. Somewhere in these bags was a potential engagement party dress. She insisted that I get one because she was going to throw me an engagement party even though, judging by the lack of engagement ring on my finger, I was not officially engaged.

"I wonder what kind of ring Ivan will get you," she said as if reading my mind, then shrugged, fishing out her phone from her purse. "He'll probably make you pick,"

The thought made my heart sink. I didn't want to do that, I didn't want to tell him the ring I wanted. Before, it was my dream for my future husband to know me so well that he would pick out the perfect ring I would adore for the rest of my life. But how the hell was that dream supposed to come true with Ivan not knowing a thing about me?

It was sad, to think that the one and only dream I had for myself would probably never come true.

"Ok, there's a new driver on the way. Wanna get pretzels?"

~~~

I loved their house. Throughout the years of my childhood, I've been coming here, to the Volkov Villa, and it has become my safe place since.

Bricrui Volkov had this place built for his kids three years after how wife passed away, Eliana and I were only eight at the time of her death but none of the Volkov siblings loved the woman enough to grieve her. She was as cruel as my mother, and even more heartless than my father. I assumed, judging from how much Mr. Volkov loved her, that Isadora Volkov was a lot different before she had kids. Although I guess I made myself believe that to defend Mr. Volkov's decisions regarding his love life.

The experience of driving into their gates was all so familiar yet no matter how many times I came here, it always felt as if it was the very first time.

Driving there was like driving into an entirely new world, entering the Volkov villa consisted of a set of moments that varied each season of the year; now, in the August summer heat and with the sun setting past the houses, there was a breeze carrying the enthralling scent of summer, lush green trees and hints of lemons from their garden, filled the air beautifully.

The villa was nothing short of romantic; the four houses, Ivan's being the main one right now, were evenly spaced out with connecting stone walkways bordered by bright and colorful flowers. The houses surrounded a mini roundabout styled driveway made of bricks, polished to perfection, a small fountain with an angel pouring water in the center.