Vienna's POV

Tonight we were going to have dinner at Grace's place. Staring out of the window, I breathed deeply as Michael pulled over at Ryan's family's mansion while I was staring down at my fingers, playing with them, yeah it was a silly attempt to distract myself from this knot that I was feeling in my stomach.

You might have guessed it by now, I was nervous...I was damn nervous. I couldn't help but feel nervous these days, well I was not nervous about the dinner...it was just a casual one and I'm more than comfortable with the 'Knights', to feel even slightly nervous around them.

Now they are my family too.

So, no, this family dinner was not the reason behind my nervous and anxiousness.

It's just that...it's just a week until I finally tie the knot with the love of my life...and everything is going so good that I feel anxious all the time that what if something goes wrong? What if we don't end up getting married to eachother?

You know like it happens in the movies, when you think that everything's going well and smooth and then suddenly the main protagonists don't end up together, instead they part their ways.

Like what if Ryan abandons me? Leaves me waiting for him at the altar?

That's what happens right? When they need to bring some twist.

And considering our history and the fact that happiness doesn't lasts for a very long time in our lives, I'm afraid that something might go down the wrong lane right before our wedding.

And then there's...my mother...

Well...she is already against my decision of getting married to Ryan, just because she thinks that he'll break my heart by abandoning me once again like he did earlier.

I spoke to her over a phone call...because Ryan somehow convinced me that I should try and mend my relation with my mother, and even I have been wanting to do that since quite a while now but I guess I just needed that slight push that Ryan gave me.

And we spoke like any other normal mother and daughter until I mentioned that we have picked a date for our wedding.

Even though I already told her about my decision of getting married to Ryan when we visited her back at her place but I guess she was just hoping that by now I might have changed my mind and knowing that we were already preparing for our big day, just made it more real for her this time.

Of course she was mad. She even tried to convince me against my decision but instead I just told her very calmly that I would really love to have my mother by my side on my big day and I assume that made her realise that no matter what she said or did, there was no way on earth that I was going to change my decision.

So she didn't say much after that, but instead just hung up after saying that this decision will turn out to be the biggest regret of my life.

And even though for a while I tried not to show it but I was hurt by her words, it was like my own mother cursed my married life before it even began, and finally when I couldn't hold all of this inside myself any longer, I broke down in front of Ryan...telling him about my conversation with my mother.

He had asked earlier what we spoke about and if all went good but I refused to tell him, telling him that everything was fine but he knew me better than that, he knew something was up but he decided to give me the time that I needed and told me that he'll be there to listen whenever I felt like sharing.

And when I did tell him, initially he was kinda mad that my mother hurt me but then he promised me that she'll be present at our big day, blessing us.

“Don't you dare kidnap her, Ryan, she's my mother, not your girlfriend” I warned him while referring to the time when he had me kidnapped as he just chuckled at my outburst.

“I know, love. And no, I don't plan on doing anything of that sort but just trust me...she'll be there...willingly” He replied while emphasizing on the word ‘willingly’.

“If you say so...” I trailed off with a slight shrug, still not believing that she'll be here and that too willingly.

I know Ryan was a man of his words, he was stubborn, determined and a strong headed man...he always got what he desired, at the snap of his fingers...but my poor man didn't know who he was dealing with this time, my mother was equally stubborn and strong willed.

I sighed.

Ryan always keeps his promises and I would hate to see him not being able to keep this one.

“And don't you worry about kidnapping...there's only one girl in this entire world that I have the right and desire to kidnap...whenever I want” Ryan said with an arrogant smirk, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Oh. Is it?...” I replied as he interrupted me by smashing his lips against mine, pulling me on his lap, his hands running across my back...under the oversized t-shirt that I stole from him.

Our bodies pressed together, making the air around us thick and hot. As his hand reached his favourite spot...he cupped my breast, I moaned in utter pleasure, allowing him to slide his tongue inside, forgetting about all my worries and melting away in the warmth of his arms.

"Are you alright? Sweetheart" Ryan asked with concern laced in his eyes, snapping me back to reality, placing his hand on my thigh.

"Um. Yeah. I'm good" I replied, pressing my lips together, I gulped hard.

Huff!

I was feeling hot suddenly.

"Are you sure? You look flushed" He said caressing my cheek with the back of his hand.

"Yes. I'm fine, Ryan" I replied giving him a small smile, entwining our fingers on my thigh.

"What exactly were you thinking about?" He asked grinning as he obviously already guessed the answer to that question, as I just couldn't help the crimson red blush heating up my cheeks.

"Shut up" I mumbled rolling my eyes.

"Rolling your eyes is considered very rude and disrespectful, Mrs. Knight..." He paused.

"Do you wanna get punished?" He whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"Maybe I do..." I replied before leaning in, pressing my lips against his, kissing him at a dangerously slow pace as he cupped my cheek while deepening the kiss.

"You are getting bold, my sweet, innocent love..." He paused pulling away.

"And I'm loving it" He continued against my lips.

"Result of bad influence" I replied with a teasing smile as he just rolled his eyes before claiming my lips once again but a few seconds later we were interrupted as someone cleared their throat purposely to grab our attention.

"Um...Mr. Knight, your phone is ringing" Michael informed as Ryan pulled away while cursing under his breath, out of frustration.

"Yes, I know, Michael, and I was ignoring it but thanks anyways" Ryan said in a sarcastic tone before pulling his phone out as I closed my eyes blushing hard, realising that poor Michael just witnessed us getting all hot in the back seat.

"This better be important, David" Ryan said putting the call on speaker while running a hand through his perfectly styled hair.

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but your darling mother is waiting for you guys, so get your ass here right now..." David paused.

"Moreover, you can make out later, I'll even book a room for you two" He continued in a mischievous tone as I raised my eyebrows, frowning.

"Is he watching us?" I whispered to Ryan who just shrugged in response as I glanced around only to see David standing at the front porch of the mansion, waving at us once he realised that we have spotted him.

"I don't need you to do that. I own a very beautiful home" Ryan replied before hanging up.

"Would you give us a moment? Michael" He added.

"Sure, Mr. Knight" Michael replied before stepping out.

"What is it?" I asked frowning at Ryan.

"You seemed very tensed throughout the ride here. Is there something I should know about?" He asked as I sighed.

"You know me...I was just worried about us...I mean our wedding and if everything will turn out perfect or not...and then my mind went back to my mother..." I trailed off.

"You are just being paranoid, love. And about your mother, I told you I would handle it..." He paused as I interrupted him.

"She is against us, Ryan. Against our relationship, just because she's concerned that you might break my heart once again..." I paused.

"While she doesn't even knows about the bigger picture yet...the elephant in the room..." I trailed off, referring to my mother being totally unaware of the fact that the man that I love...the man I'm getting married to, leads the biggest Mafia organization of Russia.

"Vienna..." He paused gaining my attention.

"I'll deal with it. Trust me" He continued.

"Now come on, let's get inside, everybody is waiting for us" He added before stepping out and opening the door for me, like the perfect gentleman that he is.

"Vienna, I seriously can't get over your wedding gown that my workaholic brother chose for you" Scarlett said with her eyes beaming as I smiled at her because she finally seems to have gone back to her normal self after being all gloomy for a while, for some reason which is unknown to me yet.

"Yeah. Your brother has great taste" I replied while taking a bite of my chicken salad.

The very next day after our fight that night, Ryan himself decided to join me for my wedding gown shopping, once he got to know that I returned back home empty handed that night, because I just couldn't choose...but later on we selected the perfect gown together.

The dinner was going quite well as we ate, spoke and laughed together, enjoying eachother's company.

"You know Ryan and Vienna's wedding preparations, makes me wanna get married too...it's all so thrilling honestly, isn't it? Sam" Landon said while hinting something to Samantha, I assume.

"Yeah and those same preparations makes me not wanna get married at all. I never knew wedding preps could be so hectic" Samantha replied bursting Landon's bubble.

"You don't even have to do anything, like look at Ryan and Vienna, they have the best wedding planner in Russia...for nearly everything, obviously we'll have one too" Landon said with a slight shrug.

"Someone seems to be in a rush to get married" David commented teasingly.

"Lan. I don't wanna get married so young" Samantha replied shaking her head.

"Oh Landon. Just knock her up" Grace said giving a slight shake to her head and waving her hand slightly as if brushing the topic off, while taking a sip of her red wine.

My eyes widened at her suggestion before I and including everybody, just except Ryan and Samantha, burst out laughing as one of the house helps approached Grace and said something to her while leaning down a bit.

"Yeah let her in" Grace said in response to the house help which made me wonder if someone else was supposed to join us tonight?

"Mom! What are you even saying? That's your daughter" Ryan said in disbelief as Samantha just shot glares at a grinning Landon.

"They are not even married yet" He added as I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his words.

"That's just the protective big brother in you talking" I said in a low voice so that only he could hear me as he just frowned at me in response.

"Yeah as if you young children these days wait for other things until you get married..." Grace paused taking another sip of her wine as my face flushed.

"So why wait for a child?" She added.

"I think she's a bit tipsy" I whispered to Ryan while chuckling.

"Well...that's experience talking" Said a voice, which did seem a bit familiar for some reason but I couldn't really put a finger at it as we all turned towards the source of this unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar voice.

•••

Hey guys,

Happy new year!!!

Well now about the chapter...who do you think it is?

Anyways,

Please vote, comment and share.

Until next time.

Love,

Crystal ❤️