Shattering Hearts

(C3): Lullaby

"Vladimir, where have you been? I couldn't contact you from earlier. You're really outrageous already making a big scandal. I didn't send you there to be alone with a woman in a hotel room."

"Sorry Dad. I'm really sorry, but trust me I didn't do anything shameful. They just misunderstood."

"Then you better clarify the matter immediately."

"I'll do that as soon as possible, but now I have to explain everything to Lizzie first."

"alright. I trust you all."

Vladimir hung up the phone and went to Lizzie's room.

"Lizzie, this is me please open the door."

Vladimir did not hear Lizzie's reply and then he put his ear to the door. Vladimir only faintly heard Lizzie crying.

‘’Didn't you promise to trust me, you don't care about the gossip that doesn't wear about me, so please trust me on this. I don't have a special relationship with Sherly. I just thought he was an ordinary friend. I admit he was in the same hotel as me.

I met him there by chance. He came out of my room, but we did nothing. Sherly took me to dinner, because my work wasn't done, so I told her to go into my room and wait in my room. It's just a misunderstanding. Really am.

Sherly told me she likes me, but I refused. I should have told you about him from the beginning. I was my college friend. I didn't think she'd fall in love with me. Lizzie, I just love you. You're the only woman I love. So I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Sherly. My fault. Please open the door."

Lizzie got up from her bed crying and stood in front of the door and her hand had already touched the door handle, but her intention to open the door was void. He was still upset with Vladimir, and finally Lizzie went back to bed and cried. Tired Vladimir stood waiting for Lizzie to open the door, finally sitting in front of the door leaning against the door.

"Lizzie, how long are you gonna make me wait here."

Vladimir sat at the door of the room all night. The day had changed, Lizzie still did not want to open the door.

"Vladimir you should have breakfast first" Aleandra said.

"What about Lizzie?"

"It looks like Lizzie hasn't opened the door yet and Lizziw's food will be brought here."

Vladimir obeyed Aleandra, before eating Vladimir changed clothes first. There the table of food was served, but Vladimir had no appetite, although the food was delicious, but he insisted on eating, because he needs energy to straighten out this problem in the wider community. Vladimir did not want his family's good name to be bad.

Vladimir decided to go to the office. He just kept quiet and headed straight to his office. There's Sherly there.

"What are you doing here? When did you come?’’

"I came in the early hours of yesterday and came to see you to talk about us. It seems like the rumors about us are getting worse."

"I'll get this over with as soon as I can, so everybody leave it to me. Wait a few more days."

"alright. This problem I leave to you, but actually who has photographed us?’’

"I don't know."

"Then I'll go first. I hope this is over soon."

"Hopefully."

Sherly wears a wig and glasses back, then leaves. Not long after that Zoya came.

"You're already back. Have you done any work there?’’

"Yes. I decided to come back here with Sherly.You don't have to worry I've done the job there. Here's report. Please check it out."

Zoya handed over the report with a stack of curses to Vladimir.

"I've read the news today. This time it's too much. Who really spread news like this? How about Lizzie?’’

"Lizzie's still mad at me and doesn't want to see me."

"It's only natural that Lizziw is angry at you. You've explained everything to him?’’

"I've explained to him. I hope Lizzie can understand."

"When will you explain everything?

"Tomorrow."

"alright. I'll take care of everything."

Zoya leaves Vladimir alone in the office sitting daydreaming while looking at the sky.

🍀🍀🍀

Lizzie out of the room. Aleandra and Dimitri immediately approached her.

"Thank God you're okay. You haven't eaten for two days. We're so worried about you. You better eat now. I'll have the waiter prepare a meal for you" Dimitri said.

They brought Lizzie to the dining room and the waiter prepared a nice meal for her. Lizzie ate voraciously and the food her servant had provided was running out. Aleandra and Dimitri were happy to see Lizzie eating voraciously.

"Lizzie, you're not hungry for two days not eating?’’Aleandra.

"Of course hungry. I had a little snack in the room, so I wasn't too hungry."

"It's your own fault. Why would you lock yourself in a room?"dimitri.

"Because I'm sad and upset at Vladimir."

"Just forgive him. Vladimi was wrong to say nothing to you about that woman" Aleandra said.

Lizzie looked at her mother and resumed eating.

"That's. Now this is my feeling really fucked up.Moreover she's the woman I helped at that time."

Aleandra just stared at Lizzie with resignation.

🍀🍀🍀

Nicola looked at the front of the house from her study window.

"It looks like the reporters are still there. They haven't given up yet."

"True," said his servant.

Nicola picked up the phone and called Vladimir.

"Vladimir, it's Dad, you better not go home today."

"Why indeed?’’

"In our house there are still many journalists, it seems that if you go home now it is impossible for sure they will attack you if you go home. You'd better stay at Lizzie's house later I'll have the waiter take your clothes there."

"All right."

"Have you made up with Lizzie?"

"Unfortunately not. I'll talk to him again tonight."

"You need to get this over with as soon as possible."

"I know."

"alright. See you!’’

Nicola hung up her phone and noticed the reporters gathered at her house.

🍀🍀🍀

That night Vladimir went home to Lizzie.

"Vladimir, now that Lizzie is with Aleandra in the room you should go there immediately" Dimitri said.

"So Lizzie's out of her room."

"Yes." Yeah."

"Thank you."

Vladimir hurried to Lizzie's room and found her eating ice cream in the room with Aleandra. Lizzie is shocked by Dimitri's arrival in her room. Then he threw his face away.

"Can we leave them alone?"ask Vladimir.

"certain."

Aleandra left Lizzie's room. Lizzie still doesn't want to see Vladimir and eats his ice cream again.

"When are you mad at me?’’

Lizzie did not answer, and Vladimir approached Lizzie and sat down beside her. Vladimir held onto Lizzie's chin and made Lizzie turn to him, then for a while they looked at each other.

"I'd love to see your face, because it's been 3 days I haven't seen your face, I miss you."

"I told you, I have nothing to do with him but a friend. Trust me. Not that you promised to trust me."

"That's true, but if I look at that photo, do I have to believe you. Anyway, I seem to know that woman."

"Eh, what do you mean?’’

"Can you take your hand off my face,’’ said Lizzie cynically.

Vladimir let go of his hand.

"Explain what you mean, you know Sherly?’’

"I met him near the supermarket when I finished shopping. When he got dizzy, then I helped him and he took me to lunch."

"Did he know who you were?"

"Looks not. She's a very beautiful woman, you deserve to like her."

Vladimir smiled at Lizzie's jealousy,

"Yes I like him."

Lizzie immediately looked at Vladimir with an angry look.

"I like him just as a friend."

"Why didn't you tell me about him? Don't you want me to know?’’

"It's not. I was wrong not to tell you, because I thought it was unnecessary, because I had nothing to do with it. This is how it should tell you. Lizzie, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Lizzie wants to trust Vladimir. He looked into the man's eyes and looked for honesty.

"How many times can I trust you?’’

"of course. You can trust me. Never doubt my love for you."

Vladimir took Lizzie's hands and kissed her hands.

"So, you forgive me?’’

"Yes. I forgive you."

Vladimir hugged Lizzie.

"Thank you."

Vladimir let go of his embrace and looked at Lizzie. He saw in the corner of Lizzie's lips the rest of the ice cream, and Vladimir wiped the ice cream with his mouth. Lizzie was shocked by what Vladimir had done. His cheeks became red.

"There's ice cream on your lips. The ice cream is good too. May I have a request?’’

"Te-of course."

Lizzie handed the rest of her ice cream to Vladimir

"It's already night. You're not home?’’

"You kicked me out, huh? And I want to be with you longer, because we just met again."

"It's not. You must be tired and need rest."

"I'm not home today."

"Why?’’

"Because I can't go home. There are a lot of reporters in my house. Dad told me to stay here. Tomorrow I'm announcing our relationship. I want this misunderstanding to be resolved so that no more gossip will befall me and Sherly. I want everything to be clear and I want to announce to the world that you are mine. That way no other man would dare to approach you."

‘’I should have said that, so that no other woman would come near you."

Vladimir smiled.

"Thank you for the ice cream. I think I'm gonna sleep well tonight."

"You should sleep. I want to go back to the room to change clothes first."

"After you change your clothes, will you come to my room again? I want you to sing to me before I go to bed."

"alright. I'll be right back here."

Vladimir left Lizzie's room with a happy face.

"You look so happy. Have you made up with Lizzie? Did he forgive you?"ask Aleandra.

"Lizzie has forgiven me and we've made up."

"Thank God. You two make us anxious."

"Thank you for supporting us."

Vladimir went into his room and quickly changed his clothes and returned to Lizzie's room.

"You haven't slept?’’

"Yet. I'm waiting for you to come."

Vladimir sat on the bedside and sang lullaby to Lizzie. Lizzie finally fell asleep. Vladimir kissed Lizzie's lips and forehead.

"Good night dear!’’

🍀🍀🍀

The next morning Vladimir and Lizzie were already in Vladimir's office to hold a press conference.

"Lizzie, are you ready?’’

"Yes I'm ready."

Vladimit looked at the nervous Lizzie, then Vladimir hugged her.

"Don't be nervous. I'll be there with you."

"Yes. I get it."

2 Hours later, the reporters gathered. They are very enthusiastic to know the news that will be conveyed by Vladimir.

"You better get down. The conference will begin soon" Zoya said.

The three of them went down and headed for the press conference room. Vladinir and Zoya go straight to them, while Lizzie is still in the back of the room. They photographed Vladimir many times, then he started talking.

"I'm holding this conference to clear up the misunderstanding between me and Sherly. We have no romantic relationship. The news that has been circulating all along is not true. You concluded that, because I was always close to her, so you assumed that we had a love affair. Today I want to let you know that I already have a future wife."

Everyone there was noisy with Vladimir's statement including Sherly who came to the conference.

Lizzie then came out. Journalists began to photograph Lizzie and flashes of blitz scattered everywhere, making Lizzie's eyes glare, then Lizzie sat next to Vladimir.

"I want to announce something to you too. This woman beside me is my real lover. His name is Lizzie Romanov."

The reporters started to fuss back and whisper.

" So you now know clearly who my real lover is. All the news circulating right now about me is not true."

Sherly stood quietly by the door still watching the two of them.

"The woman turned out to be Vladimir's lover. I really don't suspect it. Vladimir loves her, it turns out that she is the woman Masumi has loved all along. He's the one who stole Vladimir's heart."

Sherly finally left the conference room, while the reporters were still busy photographing the two of them and asking some questions.

Vladimir had already started to see Lizzie trembling with the questions the reporters were asking.

"It looks like this conference ended here."

Vladimor took Lizzie out of the room. The reporters chased them, but they were stopped by security guards. They're now in Vladimir's office. They hugged.

🍀🍀🍀

"The woman turned out to be the woman Vladimir loved. Maybe the woman is his weakness,’’ the man said.

The man smiled wickedly and went back to gulping down his beer. Meanwhile, Kalashnikov's residence Nicola smiled alone in his study.

"The boy has solved the problem. The reporter is gone. I didn't expect him to have a press conference today. And he had already dared to announce his relationship with Lizzie. Now I can breathe. The family's good name doesn't get smeared."

Vladimir was still in his office cleaning up work and he got a call from David. David asks Vladimir to meet him below. After his work was done he went straight to David and talked to him. [ ]