Shattering Hearts

(S2): Vladimir's Confession

Lizzie sat pensively in her room it had been a week since she realized her feelings for Vladimir and all this time she had been trying to avoid him. Lately Vladimir has been around his grandfather a lot. Like last night Vladimir invited him to dinner, but Lizzie refused him and every time the man asked him for a way out, he refused again. Lizzie knew he had disappointed the man.

Lizzie just doesn't want her feelings to develop too far for the man as much as she wants to throw away her love for Vladimir, because Lizzie knows the man is unlikely to reciprocate her love. Vladimir loves Fanya and they both love each other. He could not have taken Vladimir from Fanya, because Fanya was his best friend.

Lizzie does not want her friendship with Fanya to be ruined because of a man, therefore she must forget her feelings for Vladimir. Whether he can, if the man is always around him and it looks like it will be difficult Lizzie thought.

Lizzie chooses to clean every corner of her room to take her mind off Vladimir. The sound of knocking on the door surprised him. Lizzie was shocked when Ivander was at her doorstep.

" Ivander," he asked in surprise.

" Hey Lizzie! Aren't you going to let me in?’’

"Oh of course.Please come in!"

Ivander walked in and looked around Lizzie's room.

"Simply clean" he commented.

"I just cleaned it up."

"When did you come?"

" So early this morning."

Ivander sits on the couch and Lizzie wonders why Ivander came to see him without telling him first then he sits in front of Ivander.

"Where's Juliana and Amber?"

"They're not coming."

"Dearly enough. I miss them so much."

"I'm glad you're okay."

"As you can see. I'm doing fine. What's suddenly coming to see me?"

"I just want to see how you are."

" That's all?"

"I'm actually worried about you."

"I? Why why?"

Ivander then recalled Jack's words two days ago when the man visited his house.

" I was assigned by Nicola to investigate twin brother Anthony Lennox. Nicola felt Anthony's twin brother was the real culprit."

"It's impossible."

Jack told Nicola about Milly's dating.

" Anthony's twin brother, Grigor Lennox, lives in Zelenogradsk. We're watching his house."

"Will that man hurt Dimitri and his family again?"

"I don't know. We'll always keep an eye on his movements."

"Ivander," cried Lizzie who surprised Ivander.

" What's up?"

"It's okay."

After a brief pause, Ivander squeezed Lizzie's shoulder.

"You should be careful. Don't talk to strangers you don't know."

Lizzie can clearly see Ivander's concerns.

"promise?"

"alright. But what's up?"

"I just want you to be safe."

Ivander then leaves Lizzie's room, leaving the girl confused.

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Vladimir lay on his bed holding a photo. In the photo, Fanya smiled happily. Vladimir's facial expression softened, when he saw Fanya smiling like that. He is very lucky to know her and would be happy if Fanya would be his wife. Vladimir was sure that Fanya would be a good wife someday.

 The knock on the door surprised him. Her sister, Regina was standing on the doorstep. As usual, her sister always looked beautiful with her belly enlarged. His sister has married his best friend and they are a very compatible couple. In this case he managed to match them. Vladimir smiled amusedly as he recalled his brother's matchmaking. He did not imagine that his efforts would succeed.

"Why are you smiling to yourself?’’

 "Secret."

 "You are,’’ said Regina wrathfully as she ruffled Vladimir's hair.

 "Ah big sister,’’serunya upset while tidying back her hair.

 "It looks like my dear sister is missing someone."

Vladimir immediately snatched a photo of Fanya already held by her brother.’’It's not brother's business."

 "When are you going to propose to her? You and Fanya have long been lovers. What else are you waiting for?’’

 Vladimir's face looked grim, then looked at Fanya's photo. "I've already made my decision against Fanya."

 "Are you going to marry her?’’

 "Later I'll tell brother that I've spoken to Fanya."

 "alright. I hope you make the best decision."

"I know because it's also about my life."

After Regina left, Vladimir returned to see the photos he held.’’Fanya,’’gumamnya. After thinking for a moment he picked up his phone which was on the table beside his bed, then he called Fanya.

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As the day went on, Vladimir parked his car in front of the Romanov mansion. He plans to bring Lizzie back for dinner. Just as he was descending, he saw Lizzie get off a car with a man carrying groceries. He got out of his car and approached them both.

"Good afternoon!’’

Lizzie and Ivander are shocked to see the unexpected Vladimir coming to see him.

"What are you doing here?’’

"I'd like to take you to dinner."

"I'm sorry Vladimir! I can't. Today I plan to have dinner together here with my family "

"It's a shame."

"If you want, you can have dinner with us, how?Lizzie's gonna cook us dinner."

  Lizzie is shocked by Ivander's invitation. Ivander turned to Lizzie.’’Is it okay ?’’his question is meaningful.

"Te.of course. If you want you can join us" said Lizzie.

Vladimir smiled broadly .

"I accept your invitation."

"So can you help me bring this groceries?’’said Ivander .

"Of course."

Vladimir immediately took the groceries from Ivander.  Lizzie notices Vladimir sitting with Ivander in the living room. After dinner, they talk back in the living room accompanied by a bottle of whiskey.

Vladimir smiled faintly, then took another sip of his drink. He glanced at the watch.

"I'm sorry I have to go home soon, because tomorrow I have to work again."

"alright. Be careful on the road!" dimitri.

Vladimir picked up his suit that was draped in the chair.

"Thank you for the dinner invitation."

"Next time we had dinner together again. Lizzie takes Vladimir out" Sergei said.

Within seconds, Vladimir had kissed her, which shocked Lizzie and she slowly began to like what Vladimir had done to her

"I'm sorry Fanya. This is the first and last" he said in his heart.  Lizzie closed her eyes enjoying every touch of Vladimir's lips on his lips.

Lizzie stared at Vladimir's departure until the car he was driving disappeared from before him. He was still standing there with his hands still touching his lips. Tears slowly drip. He did not understand why Vladimir kissed her, did the man love Fanya and would soon marry her. He must put an end to these feelings, because he does not want their friendship to be broken, because of one man.

Lizzie ran inside and was surprised to see Ivander still in the living room staring at her anxiously. Lizzie quickly wiped her tears and ran to her room without caring about Ivander's anxiety.

The next morning, Lizzie sighed in relief, as she did not find Vladimir anywhere in this house . After tidying up his tangled clothes, Lizzie enters Sergei's room. He smiled happily at Lizzie's arrival.

"So what story do you want to read for me?’’

Lizzie showed me the storybook she brought." The enchanted castle."

"alright. Read to me!’

Lizzie read the story seriously and drifted into the story to the point that she did not care about her surroundings. Sergei who saw it just smiled and he remembered Dimitri who also often read stories to him.

On the doorstep Vladimir noticed Lizzie reading a story for her grandfather. Sergei smiled at him and told him to come in. Without making a single sound, Vladimir sat behind Lizzie. The girl closed her book as she finished reading the last page and smiled at her grandfather.

"What do you think, Grandpa? Good no?’’

"Good story" replied Vladimir.

Lizzie immediately looked back and was surprised to see the man sitting behind her smiling at her.

"What are you doing here so early in the morning?"lizzie asked in surprise. He should not feel surprised or surprised again to see Vladimir who lately often roam the Romanov mansion.

" I came to see you. I have something to talk about before I go to the office."

"It seems very important."

"Maybe. I've been thinking about it since last night."

"You guys talk outside" Sergei said.

Lizzie out of the room is followed by Vladimir.  He continued walking without caring about the man following him from behind. " Lizzie wait!’’he shouted and he caught up with him, clutching Lizzie's hand.

"You're walking fast."

"Because you're walking too slow."

" Are you trying to avoid me?’’

"I'm not avoiding you."

Vladimir looked at Lizzie for a moment and looked for an answer . "Ah is it because last night I kissed you? Are you angry?’’

Of course he is angry where there are women who are not angry, if there is a man who suddenly kissed him without his permission and stole his first kiss even though he liked the kiss now Lizzie is very sorry. He was like a traitor to his own friend.

"Yes I'm angry and I don't like it. Why did you do that to me? Do you not already have a lover, if your lover knows for sure he will be sad and angry with you."

"Yes you are right. Fanya would get angry if her lover kissed another woman, but I wouldn't apologize to you, because I consciously wanted to kiss you and I'm glad I did."

"You...’’he gets upset.

"I've been kissing a lot of women, but not one of them involves feelings, but you're different. Lizzie, I love you."

Lizzie widened her eyes in surprise. He could hardly believe what Vladimir said.

"What did you say?’’

"I love you,’’he said in a hoarse voice.

"Are you crazy? I think you ate the wrong thing last night."

"I'll eat your cooking last night and maybe you've sprinkled love potions for me."

"Where is such a thing. Anyway you can't love me. Can't."

"Why?’’

"That's obvious. You can't make Fanya sad because of a broken heart and instead of all this time you love Fanya."

Spotlight Vladimir's blue eyes dimming. He let go of Cassei's hand making the girl feel pain due to the strong grip of his hand. "I never loved Fanya."

Vladimir's words surprised Lizzie.

"What do you mean?’’

"His father is a very nice girl and deserves to be loved. At first I thought I'd love her so easily, but I couldn't forget you. You were my first love and I loved you long before you had a boyfriend."

"It should have been from the beginning , you never accepted her love . He'll be very sad. Vladimir, you're really over-the-top’’.

"I'll talk to Fanya directly. He's coming in two days and we'll talk. I'm sure Fanya will understand. Lizzie, you don't have to answer my feelings right now even if you reject it, I will still break up with Fanya."

"Please don't break up from Fanya! He seems to love you so much, if you keep doing it, Fanya will be sad."

"I don't want to lie to my feelings and Fanya's feelings anymore, if I stay with her, it's the same as lying to each of us and it will hurt Fanya even more deeply. I hope you understand."

For one minute they were silent and the atmosphere became silent. The sound of Vladimir's cell phone ringing took them by surprise. Vladimir saw his father's name on his phone screen. He received it and heard his father's voice from across the phone.

"I'll be there soon."

Vladimir immediately cut off his phone.

"I have to go. There's work I have to do. Think about my words well! I honestly don't want to hurt anyone especially hurting Fanya."

After saying that Vladimir left.  Lizzie leaned herself against the wall trying to calm herself down. His feelings are now uncertain. He does love Vladimir and is happy to have his love reciprocated, but on the other hand, he also does not want to make Fanya sad.

Lizzie no longer knew what to do. He did not expect that his life would become more complicated now that he had to get caught up in the emotional problems of Vladimir and Fanya. Lizzie puffed her head upwards holding back her tears that were about to fall.

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Vladimir parked his car in an old, uninhabited house. Wild plants grow everywhere and lots of broken windows and some roofs have lost their roofs. The wind blew violently swaying the leaves of the tall wild grass around him. Vladimir opened the old iron fence that had rusted and made a noise.

He had no idea what made his father tell him to come to this creepy old house. Vladimir circled the courtyard of the house which looked very quiet.

"Hello! Is there anyone?’’his yell. Vladimir surged in surprise, as he felt someone touch his shoulder. ‘’Dad,’’call him. Vladimir sighs in relief.

"Come follow me!’’nicola's orders.

"What actually happened? Why should we meet here?’’

"You'll know for yourself."

Vladimir followed his father from behind and entered the old house through the back entrance. He could smell what was coming out of the old house. From the darkness came a person he knew. "Mr Carver,’’call him.

"We meet again Vladimir."

"What are you doing here?’’

"Look. Nicola told me to investigate two suspicious people in Zelenogradsk during a fire at the Thusenka family home. At first we didn't think they were suspicious, but Nicola told me to investigate them, because they might have something to do and it turned out that Nicola was right, they both had something to do. They managed to catch us and after a bit of coercion, they finally confessed their actions. Those who had killed Lizzie's adoptive parents and burned her house on the orders of Grigor Lennox."

"Who are they?"

"Peter Russels and Alexander Staadon."

Carver goes to the next room and takes Alex and Peter.

"This is it."

Vladimir looked at the two of them one by one in anger.

"How do you know that they burned down Lizzie's house?" ask Vladimir.

"From the CCTV footage attached to the tree in the backyard of the house. Petro Thusenka secretly installed cameras around his house. At first no one noticed the camera for 10 years, because it was located on top of a tree and hidden. Jack noticed it when he checked Lizzie's rumab again" Nicola replied

"So Anthony wasn't the one?"

"If according to Peter and Alexander's testimony it's Anthony, but Grigor."

"We've wrongly arrested people. Did they say where Grigor was?"

"In Moscow. Soon the police are coming and they're ready to be witnesses."

‘’True?’’he said in a voice full of hesitation. Nicola and Jack nodded, then Vladimir turned his head back towards them and looked at them very sharply and threateningly.

‘’If you make your promise to be witnesses, I will make you at the law of death’’ Vladimir threatened. Peter and Alex were terrified.

"Ka...we will both be your witnesses,’’ Alex said. Vladimir then smiled a satisfied smile. [ ]