Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 103

Nik's POV:

The morning sun had barely risen, but Victoria and I were already outside the massive, foreboding prison gates. Last night we had visited her sisters—who understandably why, still don't like me. But they knew the truth now. That Victoria and I were together, and married. Luckily, Lia's gun was out of reach when Victoria had told them, because I just know she would've shot me. Gia was out of town, so Mia assured us she'd break the news to her eldest sister.

And today we were visiting Vlad. We both knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary day. It wasn't every day you got to gloat in front of the man who tried to tear your life apart. This visit was personal. A chance for Victoria to finally get her revenge—and for me to sit back and enjoy every second of it.

I glanced down at my shirt as we walked toward the entrance, catching the absurdity of it all. "I support women's rights & wrongs" was written in bold black letters across the front. Victoria had laughed when I wore it this morning, but I saw the glint in her eyes. She knew I meant it.

Because I did. Every bit of it. I'd support her through her wildest dreams and darkest nightmares. Even this—especially this.

We walked through security, the metal detectors buzzing as they scanned us. Victoria was a force of nature beside me, her posture screaming confidence, her face set in determined lines. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as I watched her. This woman. My woman. My wife.

Once we were inside, we were led down a narrow corridor to a small, gray-walled room with thick glass separating visitors from inmates. Vlad was already there, chained up, sitting with his wrists shackled to the table. He looked up as we entered, his cold eyes narrowing as he saw us—saw her.

"Vlad," I greeted him nonchalantly, as if we were just two brothers catching up over coffee. I leaned back against the wall, letting my wife take the lead, my eyes following her every move. She stepped up to the glass with that fire in her eyes, the one that burned hotter than anything Vlad could ever comprehend. I loved that fire.

"I see you're enjoying your new home," Victoria started, her voice venomous yet somehow elegant. She crossed her arms, her eyes boring into Vlad with a hatred that was so hot. He stayed silent, his lips twitching, but his eyes couldn't mask the anger, the frustration of seeing us together.

"You tried so hard," she continued, leaning in closer to the glass. "You did everything you could to break us apart, didn't you? To make sure I'd never be with him. But here we are." She gestured between herself and me. "Together. Married. While you rot in this shithole."

Vlad's jaw clenched, the chains rattling as he shifted in his seat. "You think this is over?" His voice was low, dangerous, but it only made Victoria laugh.

"Oh, it's over," she snapped back. "You've lost. Look at you. You're in chains, locked away until you die, powerless. And me?" She raised her arms as if presenting herself. "I'm living my best life. With your older brother. Building my career. Enjoying my freedom. And there's nothing—nothing—you can do about it."

I could feel the satisfaction radiating off her, and damn, it was intoxicating. I loved watching her tear into Vlad like this. She had always been a fighter, but this? This was a whole new level of badassery, and I was living for it.

Vlad's face twisted into a scowl, his cold demeanor cracking under her words. "You think you've won because you're with him?" His eyes flicked over to me with disdain. "He's nothing. And you, you're just as weak as you always were, Ria. Running to him for protection."

Victoria's laugh echoed through the room, sharp and biting. "Protection? I didn't run to anyone, Vlad. I don't need protection. Least of all from you."

She leaned closer to the glass now, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If you ever, somehow, get out of this place, I hope you get run over by a bus. A big bus. And then I hope you're bathed in toxic acid until your skin starts eating itself. And after that?" Her eyes gleamed with dark delight. "I hope they throw you into a cold, dark dungeon filled with starving insects and wild animals that will pick at your skin, piece by piece. Slowly. Painfully. Deliberately."