A War Begins

Nikolai Volkov never made mistakes—at least, that was what he told himself. But as he stared at the information in front of him, he realized one truth: letting Amelia Carter slip through his fingers all those years ago had been his greatest mistake.

Now, he was going to fix it.

By force, if necessary.

Amelia's Apartment– The next morning Amelia had barely gotten the triplets dressed for school when there was a knock at the door. She frowned. She wasn't expecting anyone.

"Mommy, someone's here!" Theo called, tying his shoelaces—the wrong way, again.

"Stay put," she warned, smoothing down her blouse before making her way to the door. She wasn't sure what she expected, but it definitely wasn't a man in a three-piece suit holding a stack of documents.

"Miss Carter?"

She folded her arms. "Who's asking?"

The man cleared his throat. "I'm Robert Lawson. Mr. Volkov's legal representative."

Her blood ran cold. Legal representative?

Her heart pounded as she stepped outside, shutting the door behind her. "Excuse me?"

The lawyer adjusted his glasses. "Mr. Volkov has requested full custody rights to his children."

Amelia's breath hitched. "I'm sorry, what?"

The man remained professional, as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on her. "He believes it is in the best interest of the children to be in his care. Given his financial stability, he would be more than capable of providing for them."

Amelia's hands curled into fists. "I don't care if he owns the whole damn world. He is not taking my kids."

The lawyer flipped a page in his folder. "Miss Carter, you have no official record of the father. Legally, Mr. Volkov has a right to establish paternity and—"

"Over my dead body," she snapped.

A deep chuckle made her freeze.

She turned.

And there he was.

Nikolai Volkov, in all his arrogant, billionaire glory. Leaning against his sleek black Aston Martin, a smirk playing on his lips as if he were enjoying this.

"You should really read the fine print, Amelia," he drawled.

Amelia's body burned with fury. "Are you insane? You think you can just walk in here and take them?"

He pushed off the car, strolling toward her with lazy confidence. "I think you forgot that they're my children too."

"They don't even know you!"

His eyes darkened. "That's not my fault."

"No," she snapped. "But it's not theirs either."

A long silence stretched between them, the air thick with tension.

Nikolai tilted his head. "I'm not here to fight you, Amelia."

She scoffed. "Oh, really? Because showing up with a lawyer definitely screams 'I come in peace.'"

His lips twitched, but he didn't deny it. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."

Amelia stepped closer, her voice low and sharp. "Listen to me, Mr. Billionaire Alpha. You may be able to buy anything you want in life, but you will not buy my children."

Nikolai's jaw tightened. "I don't need to buy them. They're already mine."

Her blood boiled. "Not if I fight you."

That made him grin. "Then fight me."

She faltered. She had expected him to be ruthless, but not this bold.

His confidence rattled her.

And worse?

The way he was looking at her—like she was a puzzle he wanted to solve—was getting under her skin.

Meanwhile, inside the Apartment…Theo and Leo were practically glued to the window.

"Who's that?" Leo asked, pressing his nose to the glass.

Theo squinted. "I dunno, but he looks important."

Lily, who had been playing with her stuffed bear, tilted her head. "He smells like the man from the bar."

Theo's eyes widened. "You mean the scary rich guy?"

Leo smirked. "Mom looks really mad at him."

Theo nudged his twin. "I think he's our dad."

Leo blinked. "No way."

Theo nodded seriously. "Yep. He's got the same grumpy face as you."

Leo gasped. "Hey!"

Lily giggled, hugging her stuffed bear. "I think he likes Mommy."

Theo and Leo made identical disgusted faces.

"Ew," Theo whispered.

Back outside…Amelia was still fuming when Nikolai stepped closer—too close.

"Move," she ordered.

He didn't. "You're going to have to let me in eventually, Amelia."

She hated that her heart skipped a beat. "I don't."

His smirk returned. "Oh, you will."

She wanted to scream. "Why do you even care?"

For the first time, his playful arrogance faded.

"They're my blood," he said simply. "And I don't abandon what's mine."

Something in his tone made her pause. It wasn't just possessiveness. It was… something deeper.

But before she could respond, the front door flew open.

"Mommy!"

Theo.

Amelia whipped around just in time to see all three kids running outside.

Nikolai stiffened.

And then—

Time stopped.

He wasn't sure what he expected, but it sure as hell wasn't this.

Two boys—mirror images of each other. And of him.

And a little girl, her features delicate, but with a fire in her eyes that reminded him of Amelia.

His triplets.

His children.

And for the first time in Nikolai Volkov's life…

He didn't know what to say.

Amelia's worse nightmare comes true

Amelia's stomach dropped. She had wanted to keep them apart for as long as possible, but now—

It was too late.

The boys stared up at Nikolai, their expressions identical—curious but cautious.

Lily, however, stepped forward first. "Who are you?"

Nikolai swallowed. He had stared down men who had tried to kill him, yet here he was, speechless in front of a six-year-old.

Amelia braced herself.

Then, he crouched down.

"My name is Nikolai," he said carefully. "And I… I think I'm your father."

Silence.

Theo blinked. "Are you rich?"

Leo elbowed him. "Duh, look at his car."

Lily tilted her head. "Are you nice?"

Amelia held her breath.

And for the first time in his life, Nikolai Volkov—feared billionaire, ruthless businessman—found himself answering honestly.

"I don't know," he admitted. "But I'd like to be."

Another silence.

Then—

Theo shrugged. "Okay. But can you buy me a spaceship?"

Leo grinned. "I want a race car."

Lily tugged at his sleeve. "I just want cookies."

Nikolai let out a short laugh, something genuine. "I'll see what I can do."

Amelia wanted to scream.

Because this was exactly what she had been afraid of.

He was slipping into their lives.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure she could stop him.