The political landscape of Russia was in turmoil. Alia's elder brother, once a high-ranking military officer, now served as the President of Russia. He stood by the window of his vast Kremlin office, deeply engrossed in thought his brow furrowed with concern over an impending, massive danger to the nation.
At that very moment, the woman who was Alia's greatest enemy appeared before him. She was a mysterious associate of Viktor's power. A few days earlier at a state function, this woman had deeply humiliated Alia in front of everyone, which was a heavy blow to Alia's self-esteem. However, Alia was not one to back down; to avenge her humiliation, she had fiercely confronted the woman in front of everyone that day and insulted her so severely that it showed what could happen if Alia's patience broke.
The air in the President's office was thick with the gunpowder of revenge. The woman smiled craftily upon seeing the President. She knew this was the perfect opportunity to destabilize Alia's brother's administration. Alia's eyes burned with the fire of that past insult, while on the other hand, there was the battle to protect her brother's honor. This conspirator Viktor's partner seemed to have laid a death trap right beneath the Russian throne, and Alia was ready to face her enemy. The name of Viktor's associate and Alia's arch-rival was **Elena**.
Elena was not just Viktor's chief associate; she was known as a cunning and ruthless woman of the Russian underworld. Ever since Alia had humiliated her publicly at the state event, a fire of intense hatred and vengeance had been burning in Elena's heart. Now, she was plotting a new conspiracy with Viktor to avenge that humiliation and shatter the honor of Alia's brother's presidency.
Far from the power struggles and political complexities of the Kremlin, the atmosphere in Viktor's private lair was completely different. While the outside world was in turmoil over the President's peril and Elena's conspiracies, Viktor and Alia were immersed in their own private moment.
Alia was lying with her head on Viktor's chest. They both held a phone, laughing at something on the screen. Viktor and Alia were actually watching an old, funny video or photos where Viktor looked like an ordinary person, stripped of his cruel mafia mask.
Alia laughed heartily, stroked Viktor's cheek, and said, "Look, Viktor, in this video you look just like me! So calm and innocent!"
Charmed by Alia's laughter, Viktor did not look at the phone but kept his gaze fixed on Alia's eyes. He said in a soft voice, "In this dark world of mine, your laughter is the only light, Alia. And pretending to be like you is not a difficult task for me at all, if it makes you happy."
In the outside world, a massive storm was brewing over Elena and the President, but in that moment, they seemed to want to forget everything in the laughter of the phone screen.
Standing before the President's desk, Elena said in a calm voice, "As Alia's older brother, you may want to protect her, but you have no idea who she is involved with. I know everything about Victor Alekseyevich Demidov Stepanov—he is no ordinary billionaire."
Looking directly into the President's eyes, Elena added clearly, "Victor's family is an 'Old Money' elite dynasty, built over generations, controlling billions of dollars in business across Russia, Europe, and Asia. Their primary sources of income are the international arms trade, cybersecurity firms, and vast oil and gas infrastructure. Victor travels in his private jet and stays in highly secured mansions and yachts, all protected by his own elite security forces."
Elena's tone became harsher as she continued, "Victor is no mere criminal; he is the heir to a hereditary royal mafia dynasty. His father was the most powerful mafia lord in Russia, and Victor is now the absolute ruler of the underworld stretching from Moscow to Seoul. Their family's ancient 'Royal Blood' line controls the politics and power of the Russian underworld. You may not want to hear this, but it is the brutal truth that your sister is now trapped at the center of that power game."
The President burst into a strange, chilling laugh upon hearing Elena's words. He stood up from his chair and walked slowly toward her. There was no fear in his eyes, only a deep sense of arrogance.
In a low but firm voice, he said, "Elena, have you truly gone mad? Do you think I don't know all this? You are mistaken."
Pointing a finger at Elena, he added:
Family Heritage: "We also carry the blood of the same royal lineage. My father is a man from an elite family of Bangladeshi and Korean heritage, possessing a vast ancestral 'zamindar' (landlord) bloodline."
Wealth and Power: "My father's wealth is so immense that it cannot be measured in the billions that ordinary people talk about; buying people with that wealth is a trivial matter for us."
Final Warning: "The game you are playing with my sister is the biggest mistake of your life. You are greatly overstepping regarding the boundaries and power of my family. You will be executed immediately."
At the President's calm yet thunderous declaration, Elena's cunning smile vanished in an instant. In that room in the Kremlin, Elena realized she was not just facing Alia, but a family whose power extended far deeper than her imagination. Elena's devious smile now carried a strange sense of confidence. Taking a few steps toward the President, she whispered, "I know how much you love Alia, but you don't know things about her that could turn your whole world upside down. Her relationship with Victor is not just about emotions; there is a dangerous secret world behind it."
The President interrupted her, saying in a firm voice, "I know my sister very well. She is very dear to me, my younger sister. Do not waste time saying such things unnecessarily."
Elena laughed scornfully. "Listen first! The version of Alia you know is merely a veil. Alia is not just your sister or Victor's wife; she herself is the 'Mafia Godmother' of the Russian underworld. She regularly conducts dangerous undercover missions and covert operations that you may know nothing about."
She added, "Alia is a multi-billionaire heiress whose personal wealth exceeds even your imagination. Her power rests on three pillars:
Family Empire: Her father's vast international business and infrastructure located in Moscow.
Underworld Domain: Shared control over the multi-billion dollar Alekseyevich empire with Victor.
Intelligence Backing: Massive classified funding for her covert operations as a top-tier CIA agent."
Locking eyes with the President, Elena finished, "In that heavily fortified palace in Moscow where she lives with her sister Sophia, she is not just a symbol of beauty—she possesses infinite power. If you knew the secrets they keep from each other, you would realize how deeply your sister is entangled in this cruel power game."
Looking at the President even more aggressively, Elena continued, "Is that all? You perhaps do not know that the very foundation of Alia and Victor's relationship is built on mutual distrust, power struggles, and deep emotional turmoil. They repeatedly hide information from one another, and this complex relationship is the central theme of 'The Fate of the Shadow'".
She did not stop, elaborating further:
There is a connection of royal nobility or 'Royal Blood' between Alia and Victor, which further deepens their relationship.
When Alia is in that fortified mansion in Moscow with her sister Sophia, she is not just a beautiful woman, but sits at the center of absolute power in the underworld.
Her high-performance, luxurious lifestyle and personal sports cars do not just prove her billionaire status, but also reflect her arrogance of power.
Hearing Elena's words, the President was stunned for a moment, but his gaze immediately hardened. He placed his hands on the table and leaned toward Elena. His voice held a profound coldness that made the atmosphere in the room stifling.
Looking at Elena, he said in a sharp tone, "Have you truly gone mad? Do you think I don't know all of this? Every step of my sister's life and every detail of her complex relationship with Victor is at my fingertips."
The President did not wait another moment and ordered his bodyguards, "Get her out of here immediately! Push her out of my sight!"
The bodyguards moved in an instant and grabbed Elena. Leaning back in his chair, the President said to Elena for the last time, "Do not let me see you dare to talk unnecessarily about my family and the boundaries of my power ever again." The bodyguards dragged Elena out of the room, and once again, a heavy silence descended upon the Kremlin office.