Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 99

Ria's POV:

The night was crisp, the kind of autumn chill that hinted at winter's arrival, but inside the gothic venue, the air was warm and heavy with the scent of dark roses and candles. Layla and I had gone all out for her wedding, turning the old cathedral into something out of a fairytale-or rather, a dark, twisted version of one. Black lace hung from every archway, chandeliers dripped with blood-red crystals, and the flicker of candlelight cast haunting shadows against the stone walls. It was dramatic, beautiful, and undeniably Layla.

And here I was, standing in the middle of it all in a dark red dress that hugged my figure, a gift from the bride herself. The bodice was corseted, the skirt flowing out just enough to feel both elegant and fierce. The shade of red was deep, nearly crimson, and I couldn't deny how much I loved it. It was my favorite color, after all, and Layla knew it.

The ceremony had been beautiful, but it was the reception that really had Layla's stamp on it. The music was low, a haunting melody that seemed to echo through the high ceilings of the cathedral-turned-ballroom. Black and crimson roses adorned every table, and the lights from the chandeliers above bathed everything in a warm, almost ethereal glow. Layla and Jamal swayed together in the middle of the floor for their first dance, her breathtaking lace gown spinning as they twirled, completely lost in each other.

I should have been focused on them. I wanted to be focused on them.

But I felt it. Him.

That feeling of being watched, the heavy weight of eyes burning into me from across the room.

I knew exactly who it was before I even turned around. I could feel him-his presence was unmistakable, like a dark storm rolling in. My heart sped up, betraying me even though my mind screamed at me to stay calm, to stay collected.

I turned my head ever so slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of him through the crowd.

Nikolai.

He stood there, leaning casually against one of the gothic stone columns, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit that clung to his body in all the right places. The soft, warm light caught the edges of his sharp jawline and his high cheekbones, highlighting the sharpness of his features. His hair was neatly styled, not a strand out of place, and his dark eyes were locked on me, unwavering.

He wasn't even pretending to watch Layla and Jamal's first dance like everyone else. No, his eyes were fixed entirely on me. He looked good-he always did. And it annoyed me to my core. Hated how even after all these months, after everything, my body still reacted to the sight of him. It wasn't fair.

I quickly looked away, forcing myself to focus on the dance, but I could still feel him watching me, that magnetic pull between us impossible to ignore. The music swirled around me, but it felt like I was in a bubble, alone with my thoughts-and with the weight of Nikolai's gaze pressing down on me.

It had been months since I'd last seen him. Months of carefully hiding, of living under the radar, of making sure there was no trace of Victoria Winters anywhere Nikolai Wolves could find. Thanks to Jamal's help, the flat I was living in was officially under his name. I paid him rent every month, but on paper, there was no connection to me. Nikolai wouldn't have been able to trace me, not without crossing legal lines, and I knew the last thing he needed was a case for Wolves Enterprises.

But that didn't change the fact that he was here now, just a few feet away, watching me like I was some kind of prey.

My heart raced as I took a steadying breath, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing he affected me. I had been safe for months. Safe from his manipulation, his control, his constant need to have me under his thumb. Tonight would be no different. I wasn't going to let him get under my skin, not tonight of all nights.