SASHA’S POV
The quiet hum of the evening air surrounded me as I made my way down the hall toward my bedroom.
Dinner with my father had been uneventful, as usual, mostly filled with him asking about my health, work, and the day-to-day things that seemed to matter to him far more than they did to me.
He had always been meticulous, overly protective, and sometimes frustratingly traditional, but I couldn’t fault him for caring.
After everything that had happened, he was one of the few constants I had left in my life.
I paused at the top of the staircase, glancing back at the dining room where I’d left him sitting.
The clinking of his glass echoed faintly, and I thought of going back to thank him for the meal.
Before I could take another step, his voice called out to me, strong and firm as it always was.
“Sasha.”
I turned slowly, my brows furrowing. He rarely used that tone unless it was something important. “Yes?”
“Come downstairs. I need to have a word with you.”
The weight of his words pressed on my chest.
It wasn’t unusual for him to want to talk, but the way he said it tonight was different.
There was an edge to his voice, a seriousness that immediately put me on guard.
I descended the staircase cautiously, the wooden steps creaking under my feet.
When I entered the sitting room, I found him already seated on the worn leather couch, his expression a mix of concern and frustration.
“Sit down,” he said, gesturing to the seat across from him.
I hesitated for a moment but eventually sank into the chair, smoothing my hands over the fabric of my dress. “What is it, Dad?”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes searching mine. “I’ve been patient with you, Sasha. I’ve given you time, space, and the benefit of the doubt, but I can’t keep quiet any longer. Why are you refusing to move on?”
The question hit me like a slap to the face. I knew this conversation was coming, had seen the signs in his disapproving glances and the tight-lipped silences whenever Sebastian’s name was mentioned, but I wasn’t prepared for it to happen tonight.
“I don’t know what you mean,”
I said cautiously, though we both knew I was lying.
He let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his graying hair.
“You know exactly what I mean. This… this obsession you have with that man, It’s not healthy, Sasha. He’s gone. You need to let him go.”
My heart clenched at his words, the pain sharp and immediate. “He’s not gone,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Sebastian is still here, and I love him. I can’t just”
“Love?” he interrupted, his voice rising.
“You call this love? Loving a monster who has done nothing but bring chaos and danger into your life? You’re blinded, Sasha. Blinded by whatever it is you think you feel for him.”
I flinched at the venom in his tone, but I refused to back down. “He’s not a monster. You don’t know him the way I do.”
“I don’t need to know him,” he snapped, standing abruptly and pacing the room. “I’ve seen enough to know what kind of man he is. A man who lies, manipulates, and surrounds himself with violence.”
“Is that the kind of future you want for yourself? For your family?”
I stood as well, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “You don’t understand. He’s not like that, not with me. He’s changed”
“Changed?” My father barked out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.
“Men like him don’t change, Sasha. They only pretend to until they get what they want. And when they’re done, they leave nothing but destruction in their wake.”
His words cut deeper than I wanted to admit, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“You’re wrong,”
I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Sebastian has his flaws, yes, but he’s also kind and protective. He’s saved me more times than I can count. He’s”
“A murderer,” my father interrupted harshly. “A criminal. And you’re a fool if you think love can erase that.”
Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You don’t get to decide who I love,” I said quietly.
“And you don’t get to throw your life away for someone who doesn’t deserve you,” he shot back.
We stood there in tense silence, the weight of our argument hanging heavy in the air.
I could feel my resolve cracking, the pain of his words mixing with my own doubts and fears. He didn’t understand, couldn’t understand, and I didn’t know how to make him see the truth.
Finally, I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m done talking about this.”
“Sasha”
“No,” I said firmly, cutting him off. “You’ve made your opinion clear, but this is my life. My choice.”
I turned to leave, my chest tight with emotion, but just as I reached the doorway, a deafening crash shattered the silence.
The sound of splintering wood and shattering glass filled the air, and I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.
The front door had been broken down, the heavy wooden frame hanging crooked on its hinges. Shadows moved in the entryway, and within seconds,
Several men dressed in black stormed into the house, their faces obscured by masks.
“Dad!” I screamed, instinctively backing away as the intruders spread out, their movements calculated and precise.
My father was already moving, positioning himself in front of me as if to shield me from whatever danger had just entered our home.
His hand reached for the fireplace poker, the only weapon within reach, and he held it tightly, his eyes blazing with determination.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice steady despite the chaos around us. “What do you want?”
The men didn’t answer, their silence more terrifying than any threat they could have spoken.
One of them stepped forward, his presence commanding, and my stomach dropped as I noticed the gleam of a weapon in his hand.
“Stay behind me,” my father said quietly, his body tense and ready for a fight.
“Dad, please,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Don’t do this.”
But it was too late. The man lunged, and my father swung the poker with all his strength, the clash of metal on metal echoing through the room.
The other intruders moved quickly, closing in on us, and I found myself frozen in place, my mind racing with fear and helplessness.
I didn’t know who these men were or why they were here, but one thing was clear,
they weren’t here for anything good. And as the chaos unfolded around me, one thought burned in my mind: Sebastian.
Where was he? Did he know what was happening?
And more importantly, would he get here in time to save us?