A Battle of Wills

Nikolai had faced some of the most ruthless businessmen in the world. He had negotiated billion-dollar deals, crushed competitors without breaking a sweat, and turned failing companies into empires overnight. But nothing—absolutely nothing—had prepared him for Amelia Carter.

She was a force of nature, a woman who refused to be intimidated, even by him. And that, more than anything, made her the most frustrating and fascinating person he had ever met.

He sat in the back seat of his Rolls-Royce, staring out at the club where she worked. It had been hours since their tense conversation, and yet, her words still echoed in his head.

"They need love, Nikolai, not a checkbook."

He had never been told that before. No one had ever questioned what his money could do, because in his world, money fixed everything. But Amelia? She saw straight through him, and that unsettled him in ways he wasn't ready to admit.

With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant.

"Mr. Volkov," James answered instantly.

"Find me everything you can on Amelia Carter," Nikolai ordered. "And I mean everything."

A pause. Then, "Of course, sir. Anything specific?"

"Her life, her struggles, her damn dreams. I need to know what I'm up against."

"Understood. I'll have a full report by morning."

Nikolai ended the call, his jaw tightening. If he was going to claim his children, if he was going to be a part of their lives, then he needed to understand the woman who had raised them. And more importantly, he needed to figure out why, despite every instinct telling him to walk away, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Meanwhile, at the Carter Apartment …

Amelia tucked her triplets into bed, running her fingers through their soft hair as she hummed a lullaby. The boys, Theo and Leo, had already drifted off, but little Lily still clung to her sleeve.

"Mommy?" Lily whispered.

"Yes, baby?"

"Are we ever gonna have a daddy?"

Amelia's heart clenched. How could she explain to a six-year-old that their father was a billionaire who had never even known they existed?

"We have each other," she said, brushing a strand of hair from Lily's face. "And that's enough, isn't it?"

Lily frowned but nodded, her little fingers tightening around Amelia's hand.

Amelia kissed her forehead. "Now sleep, my love."

She waited until Lily's breathing evened out before slipping out of the room. As soon as she shut the door behind her, she leaned against the wall, pressing a hand to her chest.

Nikolai Volkov.

She had spent years trying to forget that name, only for him to waltz back into her life as if he had any right to be here. But the problem wasn't just him. It was her own heart—because no matter how much she wanted to hate him, a part of her had never stopped wondering about him.

And that terrified her.

The next morning

Amelia was wiping down the bar when she heard the front doors swing open. She glanced up, expecting a delivery, but her entire body tensed when she saw him.

Nikolai Volkov.

Dressed in a tailored suit, looking like he had walked straight out of a billionaire's fantasy, he strode in with the confidence of a man who owned everything he touched. The air around him shifted—he was that kind of man, the kind who didn't just enter a room, but took it over.

Amelia scowled. "You again?"

He smirked. "Miss me already?"

She rolled her eyes. "If you're here to throw your money around, save your breath."

Nikolai chuckled, leaning against the bar. "Now, Amelia, is that any way to greet the father of your children?"

Her grip on the rag tightened. "You don't get to call them that."

His expression darkened slightly, but he kept his composure. "They are my children. And whether you like it or not, I'm not going anywhere."

Amelia crossed her arms. "You don't get to waltz in here after six years and pretend to care."

He exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "I didn't know, Amelia. You think I would have left if I knew?"

She hesitated. As much as she wanted to believe he was heartless, there was something in his voice—something raw and real.

"You could have found me," she said quietly. "You're one of the most powerful men in the world. If you cared, you would have looked for me."

That hit him harder than he expected.

"I didn't remember," he admitted, his voice lower now. "But I'm here now."

Amelia searched his face, trying to find some sign that he was lying. But he wasn't.

And that scared her even more than if he had been.

Because if Nikolai Volkov wanted something, he didn't stop until he got it.

And now? He wanted them.

The battle had begun.