Dmitri lovingly tied the black ribbon on Jasmin's head, high up in her hair. This was his silent promise—this ribbon was her protection, his surrender to her.
Dmitri looked at Jasmin and smiled, his smile was pure and sorrowful even with tear-filled eyes.
Dmitry said, "Oh, cute little girl!"
He seemed to see before him that little, helpless girl he couldn't protect, but whom he would now shield with all his power.
Dmitri carried Jasmin in his arms and walked toward the massive bed.
Then Dmitry sat down on the bed with Jasmin.
Dmitri held Jasmin close to his chest. In this moment, there was no empire, no revenge, or any spy game between them. There was only a husband, sheltering his pain-stricken wife from all adversity. Around them, there was only the Russian winter and a silent promise—this game wasn't over yet, but they were now an alliance.
The Lullaby: Sleeping with the Boss
Dmitri sat on the bed with Jasmin, who rested her head on his chest, finally at peace. Dmitri gently touched the black ribbon on Jasmin's white hair with his powerful hand.
He knew how deep Jasmin's inner pain was. There was no place for emotion in the bloody game of the mafia empire, but in this moment, next to Jasmin, Dmitri was merely a lover.
Dmitri began to speak in a low, extremely tender voice. His voice was as smooth as velvet, deepening the silence of the night.
Then Dmitry spoke beautiful words:
"My cute little girl, I know how strong you are. You are like fire, Jasmin. But now, with me, you are only mine. No one will hurt you, and no fire of revenge will be allowed to burn you."
He kissed Jasmin on the head. "Maria is gone. The souls of your parents will rest in peace now. You have paid your debt. Now let me pay my debt to you, let me save you from this curse."
Dmitri gently stroked his golden hair. "This world is dirty, but the world inside us is sacred to me. There is only you, and me. Forget Korea, Ji-Han, Viktor—everything. Tonight, you will only sleep. I will watch over you."
His words were not just reassurance, but a deep, mesmerizing sense of security. Jasmin, who had spent so many years amidst the tension of revenge and danger, felt all her burdens lift in that moment. Dmitri's warmth, the magic of his voice, and the feeling of his unconditional love enveloped Jasmin.
Jasmin fell into a deep sleep.
With the black ribbon tied in her hair, her head rested on Dmitri's strong chest. Jasmin completely surrendered to the peace and security she had been searching for for many years.
Dmitri held his sleeping wife calmly. His eyes were full of resolve. He knew the game would begin again in the morning, but this night was what Jasmin deserved. No one would take away their peace during this time of sleep. When the sun cast its first golden light upon the Siberian snow, an unusual peace reigned over Dmitri's secured fortress. Jasmin awoke after a deep, long sleep. The black ribbon given by Dmitri was still tied in her hair.
She quietly left the bed and headed toward the apartment's ultra-modern kitchen. A world-famous model and spy might not typically enter a kitchen, but in this moment, Jasmin sought a measure of the ordinary life she craved.
In the morning, Jasmin was cooking.
In the soft kitchen light, she began preparing Dmitri's favorite breakfast—perhaps traditional Russian pancakes, Blini. The sweet scent of eggs and fresh berries filled the entire apartment. This act of focus was a strategy—one meant to show Dmitri that she was back, she was a wife.
Just then, Dmitri's presence was felt on the other side of the breakfast bar.
On the other side, Dmitry was getting ready.
Dmitri was completely prepared. The impeccable fitting of the Italian suit, the craftsmanship of the tie, and the gelled arrangement of his golden hair—he was now the fearsome Mafia Boss again. There was no trace of the tragic lover from the night before in his eyes, only hard resolve. He had an empire to protect from Viktor and Alia after Maria's death.
Dmitri walked toward the kitchen. Jasmin turned to look at him.
"My cute little girl is awake," Dmitri said, a slight warmth in his voice. He walked closer to Jasmin and gently kissed her forehead.
Dmitri checked his watch as he picked up his official briefcase.
"Don't worry about me, Jasmin. The security here is impenetrable. You won't step a foot outside this fortress," Dmitri commanded, though his tone was loving.
Then his voice hardened. These words were the announcement of the inevitability of his own life.
"I am going to the office."
"Viktor, Alia, Ziaisko—everyone is searching for Maria like mad now. And Ziaisko's whole world has just shattered. I have to manage the situation, Jasmin. Your fire of revenge could have consumed me too, but now the two of us will play this game together."
Jasmin smiled faintly as she flipped a pancake. "I know. But remember, Dmitri, you have now made a secret pact against your brother. Be careful. And I will wait for you... I will not go anywhere alone without removing this ribbon."
Dmitri was reassured by Jasmin's words. He knew this woman hadn't just wanted his love; she had wanted to use her husband's power in her web of revenge. And Dmitri had willingly walked into that trap.
Dmitri quickly left the room. His day as a Mafia Boss had begun. And Jasmin, standing in the kitchen, slowly started planning her next move with the knife in her hand.As Dmitri drove away from his secured fortress with his car convoy, Jasmin ended her act in the kitchen. She knew Dmitri had given her strict orders to stay within the fortress, but Jasmin's rules of the game were entirely different.
Then Jasmin saw Dmitry had left.
After ensuring Dmitri's departure, Jasmin quickly changed her clothes. She put on a simple but stylish Korean outfit, hiding the black ribbon in her hair under a plain hair-band. She picked up her personal, untraceable spy phone.
Then Jasmin drove out in a car.
Evading the fortress security, Jasmin sped toward the city in her own SUV. Her destination was an old and aristocratic Coffee House in Russia. This place was safe for their secret meeting.
Inside, Alia was seated in a corner of the coffee house. Her attire was perfect, but there was a kind of suppressed joy rather than worry in her eyes.
Jasmin walked up to Alia's table.
"Sister," Jasmin called Alia.
She met Alia at the coffee house and called her "sister."
Alia burst into laughter. Her laughter was genuine; there was none of the mafia Godmother's coldness in it. Jasmin laughed too.
Then both of them laughed.
This scene was the ultimate deception for the entire mafia world. Jasmin and Alia were not working against each other; they were allied! Actually, the main reason was that Alia and Jasmin are first cousins (daughters of sisters/brothers).
This was the truth behind Jasmin's entire game. Alia was Viktor's wife, but Jasmin's first cousin. Viktor, Dmitri, Ziaisko—everyone believed Jasmin was working under Alia's direction, but they didn't know the two of them were working together to destroy the Volga family. Killing Maria was Jasmin's revenge, and now Alia wanted Viktor's downfall.
Alia pulled Jasmin's hand and made her sit down.
"You did well, Jessi," Alia whispered. "You did well."
Alia was happy about Maria's death—because Maria was not only Ziaisko's weakness, but she was also Alia's rival.
Alia then turned to the real plan.
"Viktor's power must be broken. I wanted to use Ji-Han, and you've brought Dmitri into your hands. By eliminating Maria, you've increased the suspicion among the three brothers even further."
Alia took a sip from her coffee cup and, with a thoughtful look, discussed the remaining vulnerabilities.
Then Alia said, "Besides Viktor, Ji-Han, and your husband, I can't remember who else [is important/a target]."
Alia was creating a list of the main men in Viktor's empire: Viktor (husband), Ji-Han (spy), and Dmitri (Jasmin's husband). But Alia knew there might be someone else in Viktor's empire, besides these three, who could be used or who could pose a danger to them.
Jasmin calmly picked up her coffee cup. "Don't forget, sister. Ziaisko is still alive. And his love is directed toward me now. Our game is still ongoing."
The Loyalty: Jasmin Defends Viktor
Jasmin was discussing their secret plan with Alia as Alia listed the key men in Viktor's empire. Alia was ready to strike against Viktor, but Jasmin's answer was unexpected.
Jasmin placed her coffee cup on the table, the same hesitation that had appeared during her breakdown in front of Ziaisko returned to her eyes.
Then Jasmin said, "I won't do anything to Viktor. Viktor is a good person, sister. You need to understand."
Alia was stunned. She hadn't expected Jasmin, whose parents Maria had killed, to take Viktor's side now. Alia looked at her cousin with a mixture of anger and suspicion.
"What are you saying, Jessi?" Alia hissed. "You killed Maria, and now you say you won't hurt Viktor? What is this gratitude for?"
Jasmin tried to explain to Alia.
"I have gratitude, sister. Viktor has done a lot for me. Killing Maria was my personal revenge; it was not an attack on Viktor's empire."
Alia sighed deeply. This emotional vulnerability from Jasmin was unexpected. She didn't want to lose Jasmin completely.
Then Alia said, "Okay, I'll drop it."
Alia temporarily cancelled the plan for a direct attack against Viktor, out of respect for their familial bond with Jasmin.
But Jasmin did not calm down. She now pointed an accusing finger directly at Alia, her eyes filled with intense disappointment.
Jasmin said, "He didn't help Maria. You should be ashamed, sister. Your husband is a good person."
Jasmin tried to explain that Viktor might be a mafia boss, but he hadn't helped Maria as the killer of her parents. Rather, Viktor had hidden Maria merely as a weakness for Ziaisko; he was not complicit in Maria's crime after learning about Jasmin's past. Jasmin felt that Alia was misunderstanding her husband and was trying to destroy him instead of being grateful to him.
Alia lowered her head. Jasmin's words hurt her. Alia knew Viktor had done many terrible things, but personally, he might not have been involved in Maria's murder mission.
Alia was now in a difficult situation—on one side, her goal of revenge, and on the other, her cousin's emotions and her gratitude toward her husband.
The Final Move: Game On
Jasmin's words deeply affected Alia. The plan to strike Viktor was cancelled, but the game of internal conflict within the Volga family hadn't stopped. Alia decided to place her complete trust in Jasmin now.
Jasmin stood up from her chair to bid Alia farewell.
Then Jasmin walked away/moved to leave.
As Jasmin walked a few steps, Alia called her from behind. There was no hesitation in Alia's eyes now, only cold resolve. It was as if she was ready to hand over the entire game to Jasmin.
Then Alia said, "Viktor and I won't meet you all anymore. I am leaving now."
Alia made it clear that she and Viktor were removing themselves from the direct mafia game from this moment on. They were now just spectators. Alia herself wanted to shield her husband from this game.
Alia laughed. Her laughter was a mixture of absolute faith in Jasmin and a dangerous prophecy.
"Listen, Jessi," Alia said, her voice commanding.
"Ji-Han, and your husband, and Ziaisko—the real story for you four starts now. Best of luck, Sis, bye."
Alia made it clear—the center of the game now featured Jasmin, Ji-Han (the spy), Dmitri (the husband/boss), and Ziaisko (the rival/lover). The story would now revolve around the emotions, power, and secret plans of these four. Alia wished her luck, which was simultaneously a terrifying challenge.
Saying this, Alia left.
Alia placed something on the table and quickly exited the coffee house.
Along with this, she gave a VIP Golden Card.
Jasmin turned back and looked at the table. The card was heavy, made of pure gold, with no name written on it, only a complex symbol—a signal for access to the Volga Empire's secret vault or network.
Jasmin understood that Alia hadn't just said goodbye; she had handed over the biggest weapon of her life to Jasmin. Now, Jasmin had not only the fire of revenge but also Dmitri's power, Ji-Han's attention, and Alia's secret network.
Jasmin smiled faintly.
"Game On," she whispered.