2 Misunderstanding

The expression on Vladimir’s face changed from calm to cold brutal stare. “What did you just say?” He asked, taking a bold step forward. “What? You expected me to be drooling over you.” Linda said. “We should think of what to say to them. This relationship thing between me and you cannot work out. I can never marry someone like you.” “Who says I was planning to marry you?” Vladimir asked. “And one thing I expect from you..... Don’t you ever speak to me in that manner again.” Linda squeezed the edge of her gown to control herself from losing it on him. “Anyway we won’t see each other after this so I want something from you. We would need to make an agreement that even when we see each other in public we act like strangers. Do you understand?” Linda asked. “To me right now, you are nothing but a complete stranger. I should leave now, there is nothing to talk about this.” He said and was about to take a step when she stood in front of him. Before she could open her mouth to speak what she had in mind, he pulled her wrist and pushed her to the side. Linda frowned deeply as she stared at the red lines forming on her wrist. “How pathetic of him.” She said before turning to him. “I hope we don’t cross paths with each other again.” When she went back to the dining room, the Novikov’s family were already preparing to leave. “Have a wonderful day Mr. Petrov” Audrey spoke up. As they walked out of the dining room, Linda met eyes with Adrian and she cursed inwardly. “Mom!” Bella stood up with a frown on her lips. “How could you have set up Vladimir and Linda? I thought we agreed on Alexei. What happened?” Bella asked. “You heard what Mr. Quin said. Vladimir was a replacement for his brother Alexei after he reconciled with his ex girlfriend.” Audrey replied. She turned to look at Linda with crooked brows and flared nose. “I know deep down you wanted this to happen. You knew I have a long crush on Vladimir but still went ahead to have a moment with him.” Bella said. “What?” Linda looked at her sister surprised. “If I hadn’t agreed to have a moment with him, I would have been considered rude. I am—” “Mom you should have seen the way he smiled as he walked inside the dining room. She already earned his interest!” Bella gritted her teeth. “Bella!” A cold voice from behind scolded and Linda turned around to see Kylie, one of her sisters. Kylie was the only person aside her father who had loved her. After she got married to a poor man, her mother’s slowly developed hatred for her. She lost the respect her siblings had for her and they looked down at her like trash. Ignoring her older sister’s presence, Bella continued to speak. “If you really didn’t want to hurt me you wouldn’t have agreed to have a moment with him. You could have refuse to go with him.” “I already cleared that up, Bella. I told him the relationship wouldn’t work for us. I swear he isn’t interested in me too.” Linda said. “Don’t pretend for me Linda. I know you very well. You could have seen the way he smiled as he walked in. Your charms on him worked successfully.” Bella said. “Bella—” “Don’t Bella me. We are sisters even though we aren’t related by blood. When I spoke to mother about Vladimir the other day, you went behind my back to plan on something. Who knows if you were the reason Alexei went back to his ex girlfriend?” Bella said. “I would never do something like that to you. I already planned on staying single for the mean time until mother brought out the idea of me getting married to Alexei.” Linda said. “Then tell me what made him smile as he walked in.” Bella nudged her head forward. “He is very interested in you Linda. Mother what am I going to do?” “You must be misunderstanding your sister, Bella.” Kylie said from behind. “Linda will never hurt your feelings. I am sure the man you spoke about smiled because of your beauty.” Bella chuckled before pressing her lips together. “Is that what you think Sister? You were never here to experience everything. Why not ask your favourite sister what they were discussing that took so long?” “You are taking this too—” “You even looked flushed when you came in. Your cheeks looked very red.” Bella said. “That is because of the argument I had with him.” Linda muttered. “I can’t stand here and hear you speak gibberish.” Belle spoke before walking out of the dining room. As she left, her elder brother followed leaving Audrey, Linda and Kylie in the room. “What are you doing here?” Audrey shifted her attention from her phone to Kylie. “I received the message from the butler about the dinner.” Kylie replied. “Why didn’t you tell me we were having a family dinner?” “That is because you have your own family to care for.” Audrey spoke, eyeing her from head to toe. “Mother you never once asked about your grandson. Don’t you think it is unfair of the poor boy?” Kylie asked. “I stopped caring for you when you decided to marry from a poor family.” Audrey stood up from the chair and walked out of the dining room. “I’ve missed you so much, Kylie.” Linda hurried to her sister and hugged her so tight. “Missed you too.” She said. Meanwhile at the other side of the city, Vladimir continued to take sip from the coffee in his hand. “How do you find her?” Petrov asked, dropping the coffee cup on the transparent table. “Stupid.” He answered the question to see his father’s fierce eyes on him. “I don’t like her.” “With time things will change and you will find yourself in love with her.” Petrov said. “I didn’t say I was going to fall in love with her, Uncle.” Vladimir snapped. Petrov slowly shook his head before sitting up straight. “Are you unhappy with my plan on getting a wife for, you?” “I am only doing what your father would want for you, Vladimir” Petrov said. “To have relationship with different women and they end up being killed?” Vladimir asked. “My interest in having a girlfriend ended after what happened years ago.” “I don’t want that, Uncle Petrov” He added. “I know you don’t but you still need to settle down. You will be turning thirty in a few months and you need a wife.” Vladimir said. “You and my mother want me to have a wife but you don’t about my feelings. Like I said earlier, my feelings for having a girlfriend died after what happened years ago.” With that, he stood up from the couch and left. “Do you think he will change his mind about this?” Anastasia stepped in. “Even if he doesn’t, he would still get married to her. She is the perfect one for him.” Petrov said before getting up. “I should be on my way now.” “Have a safe journey.” Anastasia smiled at him as he walked out of the Mansion.