Suddenly, they had an argument. Alia went into another room. Victor said, "Go away." Angrily, Alia replied, "Don't you have any romance? You don't even call me, and you say go away!" Her voice was full of dissatisfaction and deep frustration because she had hoped Victor would understand her a little. But hearing his words, she felt even more hurt. Victor's indifferent and pessimistic remark, "Go, go, I'm not stopping you," seemed to insult her even further.
Victor, showing no emotion, calmly said, "Go, go, I'm not telling you to stay." But his restless, inattentive behavior caused Alia more pain and discomfort. She realized that the emotional connection and attention she once expected from Victor were no longer there.
This made Alia even angrier, awakening her pride and independence even more. "Will you ever understand, Victor? I don't want to live under your control anymore!" She was making a tough decision within herself, valuing her dignity and freedom above all else.
This moment created a new hidden conflict in their relationship, where Alia strengthened her stance against Victor's dominance. Though burning with anger, eventually her intense feelings seemed to subside. A strange restlessness worked inside her, but at that moment, for some odd reason, she moved toward Victor. Without saying a word, amidst her anger, she sat on his lap and closed her eyes, falling asleep.
It was as if this was an expression of an unknown trust, where despite her anger, she found some refuge in Victor. Amid her fury and resentment, she sought a kind of peace in him—a reflection of her complex emotions.
Victor silently watched for a moment, somewhat surprised and also a little annoyed. Many questions ran through his mind—why did Alia sit on his lap and fall asleep? Did she want to calm down and let go of her anger, or was there a deeper feeling she was afraid to express?
But Victor said nothing. He gently stroked her hair, as if knowing this moment could mark the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship.
Seeing Alia asleep in his arms, Victor felt a strange mixture of emotions—her anger and irritation on one side, her physical dependence on the other. A faint smile appeared on his lips, as if he understood how much remained unspoken between them.
Even Alia's behavior had become a puzzle for him. He knew she was strong, independent, and proud, but right now she wanted to be close to him, sleeping in his lap—an unexpected moment of peace for him.
Victor softly stroked her head and then placed a sweet kiss on her forehead, silently expressing his feelings. Though he said nothing, the kiss held a gentle affection and a strange plea—as if he wished to give her some peace, while knowing the future of their relationship depended on many unanswered questions.
This moment revealed a deep side of their relationship, where Victor felt both power and dominance, but also care and profound affection for Alia. Seeing her peaceful face, disconnected from the world as if lost in a sweet dream, a soft smile crossed Victor's face. He thought, "How beautifully she sleeps, just like an angel..."
A strange calm washed over him as he watched the silent peace within Alia's limp form. No matter how much conflict or difference existed between them, at this moment, the only thing visible on Alia's face was purity and quiet peace—which softened Victor's heart somewhat.
For a while, a deep feeling passed through his affectionate eyes, but he said nothing. He just held Alia tighter, letting this quiet moment linger.
Then Victor stared at Alia's sleeping face for some time, as if a strange peace was soothing his soul. He knew there were many unresolved and complex issues in their relationship, but at that moment, Alia's presence soothed his restlessness, even if only a little.
After a while, Alia lightly woke and sat up in Victor's lap. Her eyes were a bit blurry, but inside her was a strange calm. She opened her eyes, looked at Victor silently for a moment, then softly said, "You know, sometimes it feels so tiring, especially when there is so much to think about."
Victor looked at her a bit surprised, but gave no answer. He knew Alia hid much in the depths of her mind—her inner conflicts, struggles, and a peculiar independence—all of which remained a mystery to him.
Still, Victor quietly embraced her lightly. "I'm here," he said softly, as if to reassure her, "No matter how hard it gets, I'm by your side."
This was the beginning of an invisible connection between them, where two people would start sharing their inner battles and feelings.
Hearing Alia's words, Victor became quiet but his eyes showed gentle sympathy. He realized that no matter how strong, independent, and confident Alia was, there was fragility within her. At this moment, she seemed to have found a safe refuge, free from all storms.
Alia let out a soft breath, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep, silent sleep again. A new trace of peace was on her face, as if freed temporarily from the chaos of the world.
Victor continued stroking her head gently, his face marked by a strange silence. He knew this moment was a pause—a new kind of deep relationship beginning, where understanding and respect would grow.
In this quiet moment, Victor understood that some words and feelings had to be shared to complete their bond. But he also knew Alia still hid many things and had much to teach. This was a new chapter in their relationship—one where words were less important than simply being there for each other and sensing each other's feelings.
So, Victor lightly hugged Alia in his arms, his eyes filled with deep peace and a strange love, though it remained unspoken.
As Victor gently stroked Alia's head, his mind drifted to memories of his childhood. Alia's peaceful sleep stirred a strange feeling inside him, reminding him of his early years.
He remembered that when he was a child, there was no peace in his life—only competition, power struggles, and pressure. His parents, who always taught him to be strong, never showed tenderness or love. Their eyes saw only power and success.
One night in childhood, feeling very alone, his father had told him harshly, "A man can never show weakness." He grew up holding onto those words. Every step in his life felt like a battle where he was never allowed to show his emotions, only prove his existence through strength.
But now, watching Alia sleep in his lap, Victor felt a new kind of emotion rising. Alia's dependence and simple affection gave him a peace he had never known amid the strength and power he grew up with.
His life had many harsh lessons, but this moment reminded him that sometimes having someone special by your side, sharing feelings and presence, can be true peace. Alia was leading him toward that unfamiliar calm—where he could just immerse himself in his own feelings.
For the first time in his life, he began trusting someone fully with his vulnerability and emotions. Understanding Victor becomes even more important knowing he comes from a powerful Russian mafia background. In this situation, his childhood...
This was the first time in Victor's life when all the hard emotions in his heart poured out and forced him to cry. As he gently stroked Alia's head, he kissed her forehead and softly said,
"Alia... I know I have never truly loved you properly. I missed holding you like this... holding your hand, hugging you, kissing you, being close to you — I missed it all. I missed becoming your husband... but ever since you came into my life, everything has changed.
You taught me what love really means. You brought light into the emptiness of my existence. I haven't just loved you, Alia — I found myself in you."
At that moment, a tear slipped from the corner of his eye, breaking the strong man from the mafia world completely.