As Alia felt the strength in Evelyn's grip, she realized this woman was no mere corporate executive. When Evelyn whispered her hint of an alliance, Alia looked her dead in the eye and corrected her.
Alia whispered, each word carrying an ice-cold weight:
"Not Evelyn... your real name is Selana Hossain Olga."
The mention of that name seemed to freeze time in the palace corridor. A flash of shock and extreme caution crossed Olga's eyes. She realized Alia wasn't just Victor's prisoner; she was a woman who possessed lethal informationOlga masked her surprise behind a sophisticated smile. She tightened her grip on Alia's hand and hissed, "You've dug very deep, Alia. The name Selana Hossain Olga was buried a long time ago. Those who know it are either my closest allies or my greatest enemies. Which one are you?"
Alia gave a knowing smirk. "I am on the side that wants out of this hell. Olga, your tech empire and my lost identity—everything is tied to that Black Ledger. You aren't here to wear a wedding dress; you're here to end Nikola."
Victor's Suspicion
Victor and Nikola were talking a short distance away, but Victor's sharp gaze never left Alia. Seeing them whispering for so long, he stepped in.
"What are the two Queens plotting?" Victor asked, his tone dripping with suspicion.
Olga quickly recovered, smoothing her white suit. "Nothing, Victor. I was just telling Alia that her dress is exquisite. Red truly is her color."Alia's calm yet lethal tone sent a shiver straight down Olga's spine. Just when everyone thought Alia was a helpless captive, she revealed the true weight of her status as a Mafia Godmother.
Leaning in so close that her breath brushed Olga's ear, Alia whispered:Careful, Olga! Do not cross your limits. If you think you can eliminate Nikola to clear your path, you are dead wrong. Nikola is innocent in this; in this filthy game, he is the only one who has managed to keep some humanity. I know everything. Remember, you are speaking to a Mafia Godmother. Don't you dare look me in the eye and lie. Play your cards very carefully, do you understand, Olga?"
Seeing this unexpected side of Alia, Olga (Selana) stood frozen in place. A shadow of pure terror flickered across her face. She had mistaken Alia for a pawn, but she now realized she was standing atop a sleeping volcano. Olga's sophisticated, composed face turned pale, and she instinctively took a step back from Alia.
Victor, watching from a distance, noticed Olga's sudden loss of composure. He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "What happened, Olga? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"
Olga struggled to compose herself and swallowed hard. She glanced at Alia—who was now standing perfectly calm, adjusting her blood-red gown as if nothing had happened.After leaving Olga paralyzed with fear, Alia didn't linger for a second. She moved with the grace of a predator, her blood-red gown trailing majestically behind her. Every step she took radiated a newfound sense of power.
Nikola was standing nearby, engrossed in a serious conversation with Victor. As Alia passed by, she suddenly came to a halt. Ignoring Victor's burning, possessive gaze, she boldly placed her hand on Nikola's chest. The soft touch of her palm sent an unexpected jolt through Nikola's disciplined frame.
Looking directly into Nikola's eyes, she gave him a sultry wink and mouthed the words silently— "Love you."
That single moment shattered the entire atmosphere of the palace. Nikola froze like a statue, completely blindsided by such a daring move from his brother's wife. Victor's fists clenched, his rage hit the ceiling, and Olga watched from a distance, realizing that Alia was the one truly pulling the strings in this house of cards.
Without waiting for a reaction, Alia swept away, the chime of her diamond anklets echoing through the corridor as she disappeared into the shadows.Victor's inner beast was clawing to get out. He couldn't stomach Alia's audacity in front of everyone, especially his older brother. Before Alia could make it halfway down the corridor, Victor lunged forward, grabbing her arm and spinning her around with violent force.
He pinned her against the cold stone wall, his face inches from hers. His breath was ragged and hot with fury.You've played a dangerous game, Alia," Victor hissed, his voice trembling with restrained rage. "Touching my brother? Winking at him in front of everyone? Do you think I'm a fool? This red dress makes you look divine, but I can make it even redder with your own blood if I have to."Alia didn't flinch. She looked directly into his burning eyes and let out a soft, taunting laugh. "You call it an insult, Victor? I thought I was just learning to love your family. If Nikola becomes fond of me, shouldn't you consider whether that's an asset or a liability for you?"Victor tightened his grip, the metal of her jewelry digging into her skin. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. Victor turned to find Nikola standing there. There was no anger in Nikola's eyes only a profound sadness and a stern warning.
"Let her go, Victor," Nikola said, his voice echoing with authority. "What she did was just a tease. It's my wedding day, and I will not tolerate any blood or unrest in this palace."
Victor slowly released her, his eyes still smoldering with hatred. He leaned in one last time and whispered, "Wait for the night to fall, Alia. Once the wedding feast is over, your judgment will begin in the Red Room." The dinner table was a battlefield of silent glances. As the four of them sat together, Alia decided to play her cards with elegance and a touch of calculated affection.Alia calmly picked up a piece of food with her fork and held it up to Victor's lips. Victor, still simmering with rage, was caught off guard. Alia gave him a soft, enchanting smile. "Don't stay angry, Victor. Eat," she whispered. Mesmerized by her sudden tenderness, Victor leaned in and took the food from her hand, much to the shock of Nikola and Olga.Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of children playing and crying nearby. Alia's past is a complex one engaged at the age of 18, she is now the mother of five children.
The three older siblings sat at the edge of the table, watching the adults with eyes that had seen too much for their age.
The two youngest were running around, eventually breaking into a tantrum.
Dropping her fork, Alia shifted from a Mafia Queen to a devoted mother. She stood up instantly, picking up one child and soothing the other with a gentle touch. She managed them with a grace that left the room stunned. Nikola watched her with newfound respect, while Olga realized that Alia's greatest strength and perhaps her greatest weakness was her love for her children.As Alia sat back at the table after soothing the children, her eyes were focused and piercing. Victor continued to watch her, trying to decode her every move. Taking a slow sip of water, Alia looked him directly in the eye, stripping away the masks.Victor," Alia began in a low, steady voice. "We are all living behind a veil of false nobility. But do you know the terrible lie your grandfather fed us? I know the truth now."
The table fell into a deathly silence. Alia continued, "Remember when I was 18 and you were 20? Your grandfather planted a poison between us that is still killing us today. Everything he scolded us for, everything he told us back then—it was all a curated lie. He wanted us to hate each other so that his empire would never be weakened by our bond."
Victor's hand trembled slightly on his glass. His grandfather had been a figure of absolute authority, but the conviction in Alia's eyes was undeniable.
Alia leaned in closer, "You are still holding me captive based on that lie. Look in the mirror, Victor. Are you truly a Don, or are you just a lost boy trapped in the web your grandfather spun?Olga (Selana) and Nikola exchanged glances. They hadn't realized how deep the family secrets ran. Nikola's expression shifted was the very foundation of their legacy built on a deception? Alia's sudden shift in tone made the atmosphere even more mysterious. She cut herself off, letting out a heavy sigh. Her eyes reflected a strange indifference, as if she had so much more to say but chose to pull back at the last second.
Taking a final sip of her drink, Alia gave a faint, weary smile:
"Times have changed, Victor. Honestly, I don't even remember my own age anymore... Let's just drop it. There's no point in digging up the past. What's happening is happening, and we can't change what's yet to come. Just forget I said anything."
This sudden "surrender" made Victor even more uneasy. He knew that when Alia went silent, she was usually preparing for a much bigger storm. Olga and Nikola exchanged glances; they realized that by cutting the conversation short, Alia had successfully planted a seed of doubt in Victor's mind that would haunt him all night.