Fated by a Single Night
Ainsley
One unforgettable night. Two strangers. One secret that changes everything.
After the death of her beloved grandmother and a heartbreaking betrayal, Isabella Álvarez Volkov returns to Russia to start over. A drunken night with a mysterious stranger becomes a memory she tries to forget—until she discovers she's pregnant with twins.
Unaware that the father is Mikhail Petrov, one of Russia's most feared mafia bosses, Isabella chooses to raise her children alone. But fate has other plans. When they cross paths again, old memories resurface, dangerous enemies close in, and hidden truths threaten to tear them apart.
In a world ruled by power, betrayal, and bloodshed, can two broken hearts find love... before it's too late?
Chapter 1
ISABELLA'S POV :
The church bells echoed softly across the quiet streets of Seville, Spain. One. Two. Three. Each chime felt heavier than the last.
I stood in front of a white marble grave, dressed entirely in black. Fresh white lilies rested on top of the tombstone.
The name engraved on it blurred before my eyes because of the tears I could no longer stop.
Sofía Álvarez
1948 – 2026
My grandmother. The woman who raised me. The woman I called Mama for almost my entire life. I slowly knelt in front of her grave.
"...Abuela." My voice trembled. "I'm sorry..."
"I'm late." A cold breeze brushed against my face. It was as if she were gently caressing me one last time. "I still have so many stories I wanted to tell you."
"I wanted you to see me graduate."
"I wanted to introduce you to the man I thought I was going to marry." A bitter smile escaped my lips.
"You always said..."
«"When life becomes too heavy, don't carry it alone, mi niña."»
"But who's going to carry it with me now?" Silence answered me. Only silence.
---
The cemetery slowly emptied. Relatives began leaving one by one. I remained. Unable to move. Unable to accept that the only person who had never abandoned me...
Was now gone forever.
---
FLASHBACK
I was six years old when my parents left for Russia. Business. Meetings. Expansion. Success. Those words were all I heard growing up. Because of their busy lives they decided it would be better if I stayed in Spain with my grandmother.
And honestly I never complained. Abuela gave me everything. Love. Warmth. A real home. She never made me feel abandoned.
Not even once.
---
PRESENT
"Isa." A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
I looked back. My mother. Elena Volkov. Standing beside her was my father. Alejandro Volkov. The people who gave me life yet somehow felt like strangers. Mama slowly walked toward me. "It's time."
I stared at my grandmother's grave one last time. "I don't want to leave her."
Mama's eyes turned red. Neither of us had spoken much over the years. But today she looked just as broken. "We're taking you home." Home. Russia. A place I barely remembered.
---
THREE DAYS LATER
The private jet landed smoothly. Outside the window everything was covered in white. Snow. As far as my eyes could see. I quietly smiled. "It's beautiful..."
Papa chuckled. "You'll get used to it."
I wasn't sure. Spain was sunshine. Russia was winter. Spain was laughter. Russia...
I didn't know yet.
---
The black luxury SUV stopped in front of a massive estate. Iron gates slowly opened. Beyond them stood a breathtaking mansion.
"This is..."
"My home?"
Papa smiled proudly. "Our home."
Servants lined up outside. "Welcome home, Miss Isabella."
I awkwardly smiled. "Thank you." Everything felt... Too big. Too expensive. Too unfamiliar. I suddenly missed my tiny house in Spain. The one with cracked walls and my grandmother's little flower garden.
---
THAT NIGHT
I couldn't sleep. The room was beautiful. Too beautiful. It didn't feel like mine. I walked toward the balcony. Snowflakes landed softly on my hand.
"...Abuela."
"I don't think I belong here." A tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. Maybe this was just grief talking. Maybe tomorrow things would finally get better. I had no idea...
That tomorrow would become the day my heart would be broken all over again.
---
SOMEWHERE ELSE IN MOSCOW
A black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of an exclusive casino. Several men immediately bowed. "Boss."
The man stepped out of the car. Tall. Broad shoulders. Black suit. Cold gray eyes. His presence alone silenced everyone.
Mikhail Petrov. One of the most feared mafia leaders in Russia.
He adjusted his cufflinks before entering the building. "Where's Viktor?"
One of his men lowered his head. "He betrayed us, Boss."
Silence. Mikhail simply lit a cigarette. "Bring him to me."
"What should we do with him?"
Mikhail's expression never changed. "Traitors only deserve one thing."
He turned away. "Make sure he never betrays anyone again."
"Yes, Boss."
The heavy metal door slowly closed behind him. And somewhere in the same city...
Two strangers continued living completely different lives. Neither of them knew...
That fate had already begun writing a story they could never escape.
The church bells echoed softly across the quiet streets of Seville, Spain. One. Two. Three. Each chime felt heavier than the last.
I stood in front of a white marble grave, dressed entirely in black. Fresh white lilies rested on top of the tombstone.
The name engraved on it blurred before my eyes because of the tears I could no longer stop.
Sofía Álvarez
1948 – 2026
My grandmother. The woman who raised me. The woman I called Mama for almost my entire life. I slowly knelt in front of her grave.
"...Abuela." My voice trembled. "I'm sorry..."
"I'm late." A cold breeze brushed against my face. It was as if she were gently caressing me one last time. "I still have so many stories I wanted to tell you."
"I wanted you to see me graduate."
"I wanted to introduce you to the man I thought I was going to marry." A bitter smile escaped my lips.
"You always said..."
«"When life becomes too heavy, don't carry it alone, mi niña."»
"But who's going to carry it with me now?" Silence answered me. Only silence.
---
The cemetery slowly emptied. Relatives began leaving one by one. I remained. Unable to move. Unable to accept that the only person who had never abandoned me...
Was now gone forever.
---
FLASHBACK
I was six years old when my parents left for Russia. Business. Meetings. Expansion. Success. Those words were all I heard growing up. Because of their busy lives they decided it would be better if I stayed in Spain with my grandmother.
And honestly I never complained. Abuela gave me everything. Love. Warmth. A real home. She never made me feel abandoned.
Not even once.
---
PRESENT
"Isa." A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
I looked back. My mother. Elena Volkov. Standing beside her was my father. Alejandro Volkov. The people who gave me life yet somehow felt like strangers. Mama slowly walked toward me. "It's time."
I stared at my grandmother's grave one last time. "I don't want to leave her."
Mama's eyes turned red. Neither of us had spoken much over the years. But today she looked just as broken. "We're taking you home." Home. Russia. A place I barely remembered.
---
THREE DAYS LATER
The private jet landed smoothly. Outside the window everything was covered in white. Snow. As far as my eyes could see. I quietly smiled. "It's beautiful..."
Papa chuckled. "You'll get used to it."
I wasn't sure. Spain was sunshine. Russia was winter. Spain was laughter. Russia...
I didn't know yet.
---
The black luxury SUV stopped in front of a massive estate. Iron gates slowly opened. Beyond them stood a breathtaking mansion.
"This is..."
"My home?"
Papa smiled proudly. "Our home."
Servants lined up outside. "Welcome home, Miss Isabella."
I awkwardly smiled. "Thank you." Everything felt... Too big. Too expensive. Too unfamiliar. I suddenly missed my tiny house in Spain. The one with cracked walls and my grandmother's little flower garden.
---
THAT NIGHT
I couldn't sleep. The room was beautiful. Too beautiful. It didn't feel like mine. I walked toward the balcony. Snowflakes landed softly on my hand.
"...Abuela."
"I don't think I belong here." A tear rolled down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. Maybe this was just grief talking. Maybe tomorrow things would finally get better. I had no idea...
That tomorrow would become the day my heart would be broken all over again.
---
SOMEWHERE ELSE IN MOSCOW
A black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of an exclusive casino. Several men immediately bowed. "Boss."
The man stepped out of the car. Tall. Broad shoulders. Black suit. Cold gray eyes. His presence alone silenced everyone.
Mikhail Petrov. One of the most feared mafia leaders in Russia.
He adjusted his cufflinks before entering the building. "Where's Viktor?"
One of his men lowered his head. "He betrayed us, Boss."
Silence. Mikhail simply lit a cigarette. "Bring him to me."
"What should we do with him?"
Mikhail's expression never changed. "Traitors only deserve one thing."
He turned away. "Make sure he never betrays anyone again."
"Yes, Boss."
The heavy metal door slowly closed behind him. And somewhere in the same city...
Two strangers continued living completely different lives. Neither of them knew...
That fate had already begun writing a story they could never escape.
Chapter 1
— Chapter 1 of 16