The legal wife and the mistress

Marko Ivanov ruled his world with an iron fist-a man feared, respected, and ruthless to anyone who dared question his authority. He was the boss of bosses, overseeing every corner of the city's underworld. His name was synonymous with power, and the lives of others held no meaning to him. He controlled all illicit activities, from the nightclubs to the women who worked inside and outside of them, and his empire thrived on fear and submission.

Married to Kathrina through an arranged marriage, Marko had no real affection for her-he simply expected obedience. He liked his women quiet, compliant, and submissive. If they stepped out of line, they were quickly reminded of the consequences. Kathrina was no exception, though now she was pregnant, carrying his heir, an extension of his legacy.

One night, a new girl was brought to one of his clubs, and from the moment Marko laid eyes on her, something shifted. She wasn't like the others. Her presence unsettled him in a way he hadn't felt before-an attraction that ran deeper, more intense, more dangerous. Her background was nothing like his; she wasn't molded for the life he led, yet the pull between them was undeniable.

Kathrina noticed, too. She saw the way Marko's gaze lingered on this girl, how his desire for her was different, almost obsessive. Jealousy simmered beneath the surface, a quiet storm brewing. And then one day, the girl-Elena-was gone.

Marko now stood at a crossroads, torn between the cold, calculated world he knew so well and the unfamiliar longing that threatened to unravel him. He had to choose: the safety of his empire, or the dangerous allure of a woman who could change everything.