Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 75

Ria's POV:

The sky was still a deep, muted blue as I drove down the quiet road to Hava Cofey. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but the early morning light was just beginning to touch the horizon, casting a faint glow over the empty streets. It was nearly the end of April, the time of year when the warmth should have been seeping into my bones, but I couldn't shake the cold that had settled over me in the last few weeks. I was freezing, despite the oversized black sweatshirt I wore, paired with black jeans and sneakers.

My fingers gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly as I drove, my mind spiraling with thoughts I couldn't control. I wore my hair loose, letting it fall over my shoulders, a small defense against Vlad. He wouldn't be able to grab it as easily if it were down. It was a minor precaution, but it was all I had.

Most students were still asleep at this hour, safely tucked away in their beds, unaware of the hell I was driving toward. The campus was quiet, and for a moment, I wished I could be one of them, blissfully ignorant of the terror that had taken root in my life. But that was impossible now.
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The bell above the door chimed as I walked into Hava Cofey, the familiar sound sending a shiver down my spine. My eyes scanned the room quickly, and I spotted him immediately. Vlad was seated in a booth toward the back, leaning back with a confidence that made my stomach churn. The large windows on the side allowed light to flood the space, but it did nothing to chase away the shadows that seemed to cling to him.

He was calm, collected, every movement oozing with the power he knew he held over me. I couldn't stop myself from trembling as I walked toward him, but I forced myself to keep going. When I reached the booth, I slid in opposite him, my heart racing so fast I was sure he could hear it.

His blue-green eyes locked onto me like a hawk sizing up its prey, and that sinister smirk curled on his lips, the one that made me want to recoil in disgust. "Ria," he greeted me, his tone casual, almost welcoming, as if we were old friends catching up over coffee. "I'm glad you could make it."

Like I had a choice, you fucking prick.

I said nothing, my jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He didn't seem to notice-or maybe he just didn't care. He continued, unfazed by my silence.

"They have amazing pie here," he said, picking up the menu as if this were any other normal morning. "You have to try it."

I stared at him, unable to speak, my throat dry as sandpaper. My heart pounded so hard that it hurt, each beat a painful reminder that I was here, that this was happening. Vlad flipped through the menu leisurely, talking about the different pies as if we were discussing the weather.

"Their apple pie here is especially good," he mused, his eyes still on the menu. "But then again, you always were more of a cherry pie person, weren't you?"

His voice was calm, too calm, and it grated against my nerves. How could he talk so casually while my world was falling apart? My nose flared as I struggled to keep my emotions in check, but I could feel the cracks forming. I couldn't take it anymore.

"What do you want, Vlad?" I finally snapped, my voice low and seething with barely controlled anger. "Stop playing games and tell me what you want."

His demeanor shifted in an instant. The calm, casual facade melted away, and his eyes darkened, a storm brewing behind them. Even the sky outside seemed to grow darker, as if it were responding to the change in him.

"I want you to end things with Nikolai," he said, his voice as cold and sharp as a blade.

The words hit me harder than any physical blow could have. They sliced through me, leaving me gasping for breath. My vision blurred with tears that I desperately tried to hold back. "No," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Please, don't. Not that."