Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Deep Purples

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Valerian Vasiliev sat across from the man whom once saved his life. His silver–grey eyes were calm yet assessing as he studied the man before him. The atmosphere between them was familiar, built upon years of friendship, yet there was something different about him tonight.

“Tы прошел долгий пуrь, Cepreeв.” (You’ve come a long way, Sergeyev.) Valerian finally spoke, his voice steady yet curious. “что привело тебя сιода, мой друr?” What brings you here, my friend?)

Keegan leaned back in his chair, exhaling as he mulled over his answer. Then, with the smallest hint of amusement, he admitted.

“Несколько дней назад я был на улицах со своими людьми, наблюдая за группой, которая доставляла неприятности… в моем районe.” (A few days ago, I was on the streets with my men, observing a certain group causing trouble… back in my territory.)

Valerian’s brow lifted slightly, though his expression remained composed.

“And then,” Keegan continued with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, “I met this beautiful woman, who, out of kindness, dragged me into a boutique and dressed me up, completely blowing my cover.” He feigned a complaint, though his tone betrayed more amusement than annoyance.

Valerian chuckled, shaking his head. “И позволь мне догадаться, ты влюбился в нее?” (And let me guess, you fell for her?).

Keegan, without hesitation, gave a playful nod. “Да. Влнобился.” (Yеs. I did.)

A deep chuckle escaped Valerian’s lips as he leaned back, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “TТы никогда не меняешься, мой друг.” (You never change, my friend.)

“Heard that a lot,” Keegan replied with a grin, stretching his arms over the back of his chair. “But here’s the thing…as you can see, I have no power here since this is your territory. And you know me… I tend to be a bit messy.

Valerian lifted a brow, intrigued.

Keegan folded his hands together, offering a rather foolishly charming smile. “Помoги бедному человеку, дай мне привилегию следить за ней, раз уж они под твоим наблюдением?” (Do help this poor man and grant me the privilege since they are under your surveillance?) He paused before adding with a smirk, “Oбeшао, я не устроо беспорядок.” (I promise I will not make a mess.)

Valerian sighed, shaking his head in mock exasperation. “T? He ycтроишь беспорядок?” (You? Not make a

mess?) He took a slow sip of his drink before smirking “Mе кажется, ты уже ǝто сделал.” (I think you already

have.)

Keegan scoffed, placing a hand over his chest as if offended. “Kaк Tы можешь так говорить?” (How could you say that?)

“Очень легко,” (Very easily,) Valerian deadparined. “Ты сидишь здесь, умоляя меня дать тебе привилегию ради женщины, которую ты знаешь всего несколько дней.” (You’re sitting here, begging me to grant you privilege over a woman you’ve only known for a few days.)

Keegan shrugged. “Сердче знает, чeго xочет.” (The heart knows what it wants.)

Valerian studied him for a long moment, then exhaled with amusement. “Ты безнадежен.” (You’re hopeless.)

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“Я предпочитаю слово ‘преданный‘.” (I prefer the word devoted‘)

Valerian rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Хорошо. Я дам тебе свободу, но если ты облажаешься, даже не думай прятаться за мной.” (Fine. I’ll give you some freedom, but if you screw this up, don’t even think about hiding behind me.)

Keegan grinned, raising his glass. “Ты самый милосердный человек, которого я когда–либо встречал, Валериан.” (You’re the most merciful man I’ve ever met, Valerian.)

Valerian scoffed. “Помни об этом, когда будешь жалеть о своих жизненных решениях.” (Remember that when you start regretting your life choices.)

Grace stirred as the warm morning light seeped through the curtains. A rare warmth settled over her completely different to the restless nights she had grown accustomed to. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she had slept soundly.

With a slow, lazy yawn, she stretched her arms above her head, feeling the satisfying pull of her muscles. The cold morning air brushed against her skin, making her shiver slightly, but there was something oddly comforting about it. She sat up and ran a hand through her slightly tousled hair while her mind was still hazy with sleep.

That was when she noticed something cool and foreign, pressed against the skin of her ring finger.

Grace frowned and lowered her hand. But her breath was immediately caught in her throat as her gaze landed on the unfamiliar ring that was now encircling it. A deep red stone gleamed in the soft morning light, nestled in an intricate band that looked both old and expensive. The sight of it sent a strange chill down her spine.

Her brows furrowed as she turned her hand, examining the ring from different angles. How had it gotten there? She had gone to sleep without anything on her hands. There was no memory of slipping it on, no recollection of ever seeing it before.

‘What the hell-‘

Before she could fully process what was happening, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

She barely had time to react before the door swung open without waiting for her response.

Grace’s head snapped up just in time to see a group of maids flooding in. Their arms were burdened with boxes and dozens of them, each adorned with marks from high–end brands. The sheer number of packages was enough to make her blink in disbelief.

“What-?” she began with her voice still husky from sleep, but none of the maids so much as paused. They moved with practiced efficiency, completely unfazed by her confusion.

One placed a neatly folded dress on the bed beside her. Another set a tray of breakfast down on the nightstand. The rest continued flooding into the room, hands full of luxury goods and designer boxes, shimmering fabrics, expensive jewelry–all laid out with meticulous care, as though this were some kind of royal fitting.

Grace scowled.

“What the hell is all this?” She straightened with her usual unpolished, boyish demeanor taking over. “Who said you could just barge in?”

One of the maids, seemingly the leader of the group, stepped forward and gave a polite yet firm nod. “We are here to serve you and prepare you for tonight’s appointment.”

“Tonight’s–what?” Grace’s frown deepened. Then, as if a switch flipped in her mind, she suddenly remembered

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something far more important. Segen.

She had left him injured yesterday after Marco had…

Grace’s jaw clenched. “I can’t stay here. I have somewhere to be today.”

Before she could even take a step, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed her, pulling her up to her feet as if she weighed nothing.

“Nonsense,” one of the maids said smoothly. “The master has instructed that you remain within the estate for the entire day.”

Grace inhaled sharply as a group of hands began to work their way upon her–adjusting, fixing, smoothing. Her hair was suddenly being combed, a spoon was pressed to her lips, urging her to eat. The entire ordeal was so foreign that she could only stand there, stiff and unresponsive. No one had ever fussed over her before.

No one had ever cared enough to.

It was suffocating.

Then, just as she was about to shove them off, one of the maids reached for her shirt, unbuttoning it with the intention of dressing her…

But as soon as her cloth fell off, the entire room froze.

Soft gasps filled the space as her pale skin was exposed, marred by a collection of bruises in varying stages of healing. Deep purples and angry reds painted her torso and even her arms.

The maids glanced at one another, their faces shifting from shock to something almost resembling pity.

Grace’s expression remained unreadable. Then, with an unimpressed sigh, she picked up the spoon the maid had abandoned and popped the food into her mouth herself.

“Don’t start acting different now,” she muttered between chews, her tone flat and unaffected. “You’ll just have to get used to it.”

And with that, the maids quietly resumed their work, though what they had seen still lingered in their minds.