Charlotte "Body language can't lie."

I don't trust people even if I'm a human too. They are fickle, prone to mistakes and most often have no idea what they are doing.

They are useless, tasteless, and should not pollute the air with their breath. This contempt for people has been inherent in me since I grew out of childhood and gradually learned what the world is.

I also don't believe in the goodbye system. People don't get two or three chances with me. One mistake, one death. Forever.

Those who have crossed the line once will do it again if given the chance. It is forbidden fruit, delayed gratification and glorification sought. If they try once, they will be forced to try again. Then another one. And one more thing. Until they become animals pursuing their basic needs. Like Cade.

Giving them a chance to get close to the line, let alone cross it, is the epitome of stupidity, so in the future I need to stop relying on my emotions so much.

My zero-tolerance policy may paint me as cold and heartless, with absolutely no feelings, but it's better than being labeled as a soft-hearted loser who needs help, which often overlaps with my terrible personality.

I knew what it did to people. To me, How caring too much could tear a person apart from the inside. There was nothing I could do about it then, nothing I could stop or prevent. That's why I had to hold on to the towel and get up off the floor. Humiliated and dirty, even if that orgasm was the best in my life. It didn't matter.

But now I'm older, wiser, tougher, and I've sworn never to let that happen again, and even if Cade broke that promise for a few minutes, I'll get up and move on like it doesn't matter. Because he's not my king. I'm his queen. Not his, but his world's queen.

The fact that I can stand in a pool of blood without a problem - my own and others - proves what a strong woman I am and how much I don't care how others see me. They are no better, so why does anyone think they can judge?

The guy in my grip will barely be able to breathe, his eyes will be swollen and his face will be covered in mucus and blood from how hard I hit him so who said a man is stronger? I have often met such bastards who thought that they could ambush me during my Russian life. But they have strength, but only the brain of women can strike so that the enemy will remain unconscious.

"What are you going to do?" Cade asked, watching as I tied my towel tighter. "Be stubborn, or be a good girl and come with me?" I walked closer to him, fighting the urge to hit him. I threw my head back a little because it was terribly funny how taller he was than me.

"Cade..." I emphasized his fake name again, the one I live with in the guest house, and slowly straightened the collar of my shirt. "You know that you are too pathetic to give an orgasm for a woman who hates you." "You're wrong." He grabbed my hands in his. "Just because your body craves me doesn't make me pathetic."

I broke free from his grip and narrowed my eyes, but then, just silently, as if his words hadn't made my volcano of anger even stronger, I walked past him, deliberately touching him.

"Try calling and take your rat, sorry, Lin without taking a single step in this house and oh yeah, be a nice boy and take my things too. I'm definitely not going with you." I managed to shout, pushing the massive door, going out into the street.

The rather cool night air in the summer made me shiver a little and my skin get covered with goosebumps and I hugged my waist with my hands. But the fresh air that I inhale through my nose makes my lungs burn a little less.

I know my husband's games well...he came, took them and never came back, although he won't take his Lin who talks too much. But I only had a few minutes to come to my senses and find Karl because I knew for sure that this asshole stole the keys on my brother's orders.

Alex still thinks that this way he can force me to stay with him. I could understand him. He wanted to protect me from danger and not make the same mistakes when I have to be near Kirillov, but there is something that even such a powerful person as my brother does not know. I do not want to run away from danger, I want it to swallow me up and leave nothing of me.

"Well, what fun did you have with him, little Killer?" I jumped at the voice of Dean, who was leaning his shoulder against the wall. His silhouette was illuminated by the dim light from the lamps, but the worst thing was that he was so close to the door. "So you've been here this whole time?" I started walking down the steps, beckoning for him to follow me and completely ignoring his nickname.

"I wanted to go in, but then I kind of changed my mind." I smiled sincerely, grateful that it wasn't visible in the dark and that Dean didn't mention what exactly made him not go in. "Where are we going? Last time I almost got killed when I followed your husband the same way?"

"Relax." The stones on the path scratched my bare heels, but I didn't pay attention to it when I saw the two-story house for the staff. Only there could people live whom my brother completely trusted. "Here. I'll go now, get the keys to the car, you can wait here." I was about to come closer to the house when he grabbed my elbow.

"I'll go with you." "No, I'll do it myself." I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't a question." While I was blinking in confusion, he clicked his tongue and began to lead me to this house, holding me by the elbow. "You are strong, that's for sure, but I will never let you walk alone in just a towel."

I remained silent until our feet were near the door and yet the moment Dean was about to knock I opened it impatiently and regained my voice and ability to speak. "Karl!" I screamed, not caring if I woke the others. "Get your ass over here and give me my car keys. And tell Alex he can't keep me in his mansion like that!"

Because no one will ever dictate, hold me back, or make decisions for me. I won't allow that.

***

I wrapped the towel tighter around myself and leaned back against the car seat. Dean didn't even have to argue with me about being the one driving. The fatigue was too strong and the desire to not share the car with Lyn or Cade was even stronger.

It didn't take a genius to figure out who Dean was talking to, but I ignored it all, watching New York at night. So dark, but thanks to the thousands of bright lights and stars, you could see everything.

It was similar to our lives. We all have dark periods in life, when we are in complete darkness and cannot find a way out, and very often we cannot do it if we cannot be strong. But there are those rare cases when there is a person or people who will come with a candle in their hand and become your personal light. The one who will light your way and help you get out.

"Hey." Dean nudged my shoulder. "He wants to talk to you." I nodded in exasperation and picked up the phone, holding it to my ear. "If you think you can do that, you are very much mistaken." His rough and angry voice echoed in my ears. "If you think that I care about your opinion, you are very much mistaken."

"Melissa." I clenched my fist at the sound of my real name coming from his lips. "We'll start tomorrow night, I'll give you the information tomorrow morning and be a good girl." "Go to hell." I hissed and hung up, handing the phone back. "Thank you, we had a very nice conversation." I quipped. "Stop talking to me like I'm your enemy."

"For villains, everyone is an enemy." I didn't even look at him, watching the stars. "Then why did you choose to be a villain?" "Because villains are heroes too, but in their own lives, not for others." I threw my head back, giving in to the memory of when I was different. "Because once you open your heart, you change, but that doesn't mean you'll change someone else and become the stone of your dreams."

***

6 years ago...

Something changed.... I don't know if it was because we were on our honeymoon in Hawaii or because that kiss at the altar was so real that I drowned in it. And in this man who became my husband. I had been living with him for three months, sharing a bed, eating and breathing the same air as Roman Kirillov. For a week now I have become a Kirillova too.

With this man, I realized that I have a heart that can beat fast and lungs that can breathe fully. Passion and lust were what brought us to this, but it seems that I was able to melt his heart too. Or maybe it was my illusion, a dream or an obsession, but what I saw seemed true.

I emerged from the pool and leaned my hands on the tiles, but my whole body remained in the warm evening water. My eyes immediately fell on the man who was sitting on a sun lounger with a tablet in his hands, clearly thinking about something. So handsome in simple shorts, without a shirt, with wet hair and something else that makes me want him more and more every day. Only him.

"Are you staring at me?" He caught my eye, looking up from his work, and a barely noticeable smile touched his lips. "Mrs. Kirillova should be ashamed." "I'm never ashamed." I snorted, resting my chin on my hands. "But you should be." He put the tablet down with interest, maintaining eye contact but not approaching me and continuing to sit. "Why?"

I raised my hand where two rings that could have made me drown in the ocean from how big and heavy the diamonds seemed. "I am your wife." "I remember." A possessive grin dawned on him. "But I'm not ashamed of making you mine." "I'm wearing your rings and nothing else, and you're doing business instead of fucking me, so that's why you should be ashamed." I managed to say and push myself off the side, turning my back to him.

But I didn't manage to swim far because after the water, his big hands pulled me towards him by my waist, from which I squealed cheerfully, filling the space with giggles, meeting his hot skin. "I taught you not to turn your back unless you want to be trapped." His whisper burned my ear. "But I want to be in your trap."

***

Silly me, I should have known that everything was really an illusion or a figment of my heart, but alas, it was at such moments that I gave in to emotions and feelings and believed. I believed him, our marriage, and that there was something big. This became the mistake of my entire life.

"We're here." Dean said, stopping the car. It made my mind go back to where everything was real. Where my heart no longer beats but has turned to stone and where tomorrow I'll see my folder, inhaling the scent of only one thing. Hunting.