🌈The Scarlet Cube vol. 1💙💙

Chapter 8

New York, Spring 2012

***

"You must get married!"

Videgrel heard this phrase from his father almost every day.

"A solid union with a girl from a respected family is the key to success and prosperity."

Well, by the age of twenty-seven, he had found a suitable candidate.

Miranda Zitris was a brilliant actress of dramatic theater and cinema. Her family belonged to an old aristocratic lineage. The woman herself possessed extraordinary intelligence, refined beauty, and exquisite manners.

And most importantly - Videgrel was madly in love with her.

They met at a social event.

Miranda stood out among the guests, drawing everyone's attention. And from the very first glance, Videgrel was captivated by her angelic appearance.

He immediately noticed the charm of her sky-blue eyes and the shine of her golden hair, which cascaded down her shoulders in large curls. From that moment on, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Every movement she made was imbued with divine grace. Her articulate and melodious speech was music to the ears. She was knowledgeable in matters of culture and politics and could carry a conversation in at least three languages. She quickly won over any interlocutor.

Miranda was the true highlight of the reception, and as such, it was impossible to approach her for more than a few seconds.

Videgrel had almost no chance to introduce himself to her, but as it happened, Miranda noticed him herself and approached, surrounded by a radiant aura and exuding the floral scent of expensive perfume.

They spent the entire evening together. During their fascinating conversation, it turned out that Miranda was ten years older than Videgrel. But this did not bother the man at all. On the contrary, it intrigued him and added a touch of piquancy to his budding feelings.

He also learned that Miranda had been married before. Her husband was a combat officer and a hero of the Afghan war. He died in captivity under torture, never revealing the secret plans to the enemy.

From this marriage, she had a son – an "eighteen-year-old sweet angel, a kind-hearted and responsive boy."

This did not deter Videgrel either.

This woman bore the mark of a tragic fate, just like her heroines, which only added more charm to her image.

After the reception, a swift and passionate romance ensued between them.

Miranda turned out to be not only a skilled lover but also a wonderful hostess. Overall, Videgrel saw her as a celestial goddess, capable of granting the greatest joy or plunging him into the deepest despair with just a glance.

And now, after several months of courtship, mutual introductions to her noble family and his equally esteemed guardian, and a lavish engagement on the islands in the Pacific Ocean, he was traveling to his fiancée's home for the first time to meet his future stepson.

For reasons unknown to Videgrel, Miranda had refused to bring the guy to her parents' house, so they had postponed this introduction to a later date.

***

Miranda's country residence was situated on a gentle hill, and its architecture faintly resembled an old English mansion.

The extensive grounds surrounding the house featured a vast park with a decorative lake, numerous fountains, hidden gazebos, and other exquisite elements of landscape design.