The Romanov Diadem: Oblast Dmitrovka

3. Maksim Smirnov Romanov

"Hello, good afternoon. Who are you looking for, My Lady?"

Viktor was surprised when he opened his in-laws' hotel room door. He saw the figure of a woman standing with her back to him. Viktor managed to control himself, and then he smiled.

Viktor took a few steps forward. The woman turned her body. How surprised Viktor was when the woman took off her sunglasses.

"Viktor, what took you so long? Did you know that I'm exhausted of waiting for you?"

Viktor smiled as he took the hand of the woman who turned out to be Xandrova. He stared at her from head to toe.

"You are absolutely perfect, Zoya!"

Viktor exclaimed with his eyes sparkling. Xandrova never expected this sweet treatment from her husband. It made her blush.

"Viktor, who's coming? Please invite our guest to come in, and don't let him be disappointed!"

Galana's voice boomed from inside the hotel room. Viktor laughed a little at that.

'Who did mom think came to visit them?' Viktor wondered in his mind.

"Did you hear Mom scream, Zoya?"

Viktor asked softly. Yes, Viktor always behaved like that towards his wife because he didn't want to lose Gennadius's trust.

"Yes, I heard that, Viktor."

Xandrova put her glasses back on and nodded. She looked at Viktor, who didn't stop smiling.

"Let's come in!"

Xandrova invited Viktor in. The man followed behind her.

"Huh?!"

How surprised Galana and Davidoff were when they saw their daughter step towards the sofa where her parents were sitting.

"Yーyou ...."

Galana couldn't hide her surprised face in front of Viktor and Xandrova.

"Mom, Dad, let's enjoy the summer sun on the banks of the Neva River!"

Xandrova invited her mother to go with her. Viktor watched his wife's movements from the doorway.

"Hey, Viktor!"

Davidoff called his son-in-law, surprising Xandrova.

"Yes, Dad?"

Viktor walked over to Davidoff. He saw Xandrova frowning.

"Why are you just standing there?! Hurry up and get us ready to bask in the sun!"

'Isn't it just sunbathing? What should I prepare? What did he want me to get ready for? I don't understand,' thought Viktor.

"Dad, please! Can't we go without any troublesome-trivial-unnecessary things? Let's go now, Viktor!"

Xandrova ignored Davidoff's orders. She grabbed Viktor's hand and walked away from his parents.

"Zoya! Zoya, wait for Mom!"

Galana shouted to stop Xandrova and Viktor. She got up and immediately rushed after them.

"David! No, chego zhe ty zhdesh?" It means, "So, what are you waiting for?"

Hearing Galana's scream, Viktor smiled without Xandrova knowing.

'Thank you, Zoya! You always saved me many times in front of your parents,' said Viktor inside his mind.

***

Viktor and Xandrova had just passed the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel near the Neva River in St Petersburg, Russia. Neither Viktor nor Xandrova were aware that someone was waiting for them.

Bam!

A man suddenly bumped into Xandrova. It made Viktor Gusev Konstantin's wife lose her balance and almost fall.

"Aaarghhh!"

Xandrova was shocked and hysterical. Viktor deftly caught Xandrova's body, then took her into his arms.

"Are you okay, Zoya?"

Viktor looked worried about Xandrova. He helped Xandrova stand up and found out who had hit his wife.

"Oh, sーsorry! IーI didn't ...."

Viktor and Konstantin's family were shocked when they heard a familiar voice.

Viktor was surprised when he found out who was the figure of the man in front of him with his eyes wide open.

"ZoーZoya! You're Zoya, right?"

Of course, hearing her name mentioned made Xandrova turn her gaze towards the man who hit her earlier.

"MaーMaksim?"

As if she couldn't believe her eyes, Xandrova blinked many times while covering her mouth with both hands.

'God damn it! Why would this bastard be here?' Viktor asked, cursing in his mind.

Viktor immediately grabbed Xandrova's hand to make Maksim realize that the woman he had hit already had a husband who was now standing beside her.

"Oh my! Look, David! Who is currently standing in front of our daughter?"

Galana called out from a distance. She jogged over to Viktor, who was with Xandrova and Maksim.

"Maksim, what are you doing in this hotel?"

Galana pushed Viktor to get him away from Xandrova. Receiving unpleasant treatment, Viktor immediately stood right behind Xandrova and Galana.

'I have to keep with Zoya no matter what,' thought Viktor as he watched Maksim's suspicious movements.

"I'll go enjoy the beauty of summer on the banks of the Neva River, Mrs. Galana."

Maksim answered without hesitation. He looked at Galana for a moment before finally looking back at Xandrova.

"You're just getting prettier, Zoya!"

Maksim grabbed Xandrova's left hand and then brought it to his lips.

"Even after marrying a poor man like Viktor, who comes from a rundown orphanage on the edge of town, you still look like a diamond. But sadly, the brightest diamond was contaminated with trash because she married a filthy pest like this beggar!"

Viktor's face turned red after listening to the words of his wife's ex-fiancee.

"Oh, what's it, Viktor? Am I saying something wrong?"

Maksim immediately lowered his tone when Viktor glanced at him sharply.

"Excuse me, Mr. Maksim Smirnov Romanov. If you know that Zoya is married already, shouldn't you screw off from other men's wives?!"

With one breath, Viktor replied to Maksim's words while removing Xandrova's hand from Maksim. He glanced at Xandrova for a moment, then smiled.

"Let's go, my dear wife!"

Viktor and Xandrova were about to step forward, but Davidoff buried their intentions.

"Wait a second!"

Davidoff tried to prevent Viktor from taking Xandrova away from Maksim.

"Aren't you gonna accompany me to a reflexology massage at this hotel, Viktor?"

'What?! Reflexology?! Are you kidding me, Dad?! Is it their tricks? Is it their intention to bring Zoya and Maksim closer from the start?'

Various questions emerged in Viktor's mind. He quickly responded to Davidoff without losing respect for his father-in-law.

"I'm sorry, Dad! Perhaps it would be better if you went with Mom. Isn't that right, Mom? After all, Mom was the one who created the idea before."

Viktor asked Galana a question that made the woman hesitate to answer.

"Wait, Zoya!"

Maksim looked annoyed and tried everything to get Xandrova to stay with him.

"Can I join you guysーViktor and Xandrova?"

'You damn annoying brat! What the hell's he thinking?!' Viktor was furious. He screamed without a sound.

For the umpteenth time, Xandrova was silent. It seemed like she couldn't do anything in front of Maksim.

'Oh, come on, Zoya! Say something so this brat can stop messing around!'

Viktor cried in his heart. He was hoping his wife would be firm and reject Maksim's wishes.

"Do I look like I'm disturbing your little family?"

Maksim asked while looking at Viktor and Xandrova alternately. Xandrova's beautiful eyes always managed to hypnotize Maksim's heart.

"Mr. Maksim, I can't take it anymore!"

What Viktor said this time didn't just make Galana and Davidoff speechless. The fact was, it also succeeded in making Maksim stunned.

"What you mean is ...."