Jasmine, in her mud-splattered white dress and holding the assault rifle taken from the mafiosi, was speeding towards the safe house in Ziyaisko's Bentley. She quickly pulled out her spy phone and messaged Ji-han on the encrypted line, notifying him of the change in her location.
A little later, Ziyaisko stopped the car near an old, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. This was Ziyaisko's private secret hideout. Jasmine got out of the car.
Ziyaisko said, "Jesi, it's safe. I'll guard the outside. You go in."
Jasmine entered the interior. It was a temporary office setup by Ziyaisko.
Ji-Han and the Unexpected Arrival
Jasmine quickly called Ji-han.
Then Ji-Han went near/came closer to the office—the safe house.
Jasmine was standing near a messy table inside the warehouse, waiting for Ji-han's arrival. She put down the rifle she was holding.
Jasmine waited for a minute. Ji-han was supposed to come, but there was no response.
Jasmin saw Ji-Han was not there.
Ji-han had confirmed her message, but he hadn't arrived yet. Perhaps the mafia chase was delaying him.
Jasmine sat down on the chair out of exhaustion. Her body was covered in mud, dirt, and the smell of gunpowder. Her mind was burdened by revenge, Viktor's game, and the weight of Maria's death.
Then she went to freshen up.
Jasmine went to a temporary washroom in a corner of the warehouse and quickly cleaned her mud-splattered dress and washed her face. The smell of gunpowder on her hands still lingered. She came back and sat down, resting her head on the table.
She came inside the office and stood for a while.
She looked at the mafiosi's rifle in her hand. After waiting for a while, she sat down and gently wept with her head in her hands.
Jasmine made a soft weeping sound. This was not a cry of sorrow, but an expression of extreme mental pressure. She wanted to weaken Dmitri through Viktor's plot, but her sister's child, Lena, was also involved in this game. And now, the blood of Maria's murder was on her hands.
Dmitri's Entrance
As Jasmine was immersed in her moment of weakness, the sound of the warehouse's main door opening echoed. Before Jasmine could quickly compose herself, a tall man walked toward her.
Jasmine looked up and was stunned. It was not Ziyaisko.
Then suddenly Dmitry arrived.
Dmitri! How was he here? He was supposed to be at the office. Before Jasmine could get up, Dmitri pulled her close.
Dmitri approached Jasmine without a word and hugged her tightly.
He hugged Jasmin tightly.
Jasmine still had the mafiosi's rifle in her hand. Dmitri paid no attention to it. He gently kissed Jasmine on her forehead.
He kissed her on the forehead.
Dmitri kissed Jasmine on the forehead and moved his lips across her eyes, nose, and cheeks. His eyes were closed, as if he was simply feeling her presence.
Then, with extreme warmth and passion, Dmitri placed his lips on Jasmine's.
Then he kissed her on the lips/lips-to-lips.
Jasmine was completely stunned; she couldn't respond. The rifle in her hand dropped to the floor. Dmitri had been desperately searching for his wife, and he found her in Ziyaisko's secret hideout. This embrace was a mix of Dmitri's anger, fear, and intense love.
Dmitri kissed Jasmine with intense emotion, as if he wanted to confirm that she was truly with him. Jasmine quickly composed herself. The rifle on the floor was now an extreme danger to her.
Dmitri ended the kiss and looked at Jasmine. There was love in his eyes, but clear concern in his voice.
Then Dmitry said, "Where were you? Let's go home."
Dmitri didn't ask for any explanation—only Jasmine's safety mattered to him. He grabbed Jasmine's hand and tried to lead her out of the warehouse.
Jasmine quickly assessed the situation. Ziyaisko was waiting outside. How did Dmitri get here?
Jasmine tried to calm Dmitri. "Dmitri, I'll tell you everything. But..."
Just at that moment, the sound of the warehouse's back service door opening echoed.
Then Ji-Han arrived.
Ji-han quickly entered. He had probably taken another route due to the mafia chase. Ji-han saw Jasmine standing with a tall man, and an assault rifle lying on the floor. He instantly realized it was Dmitri.
Ji-han could not conceal himself.
Jasmin was shocked.
Ji-han's arrival in front of Dmitri! This meeting was supposed to be private, but now two mafia bosses (Dmitri and Ziyaisko, who was waiting outside) and a spy (Ji-han) were all in one place.
Jasmine made a quick decision. She had to keep Dmitri calm. She welcomed Ji-han as if his arrival was completely ordinary.
Jasmine quickly released Dmitri and moved towards Ji-han.
Jasmin hugged Ji-Han. "You finally came!"
Jasmine embraced Ji-han tightly. This hug was a spy code to warn Ji-han. Jasmine quickly whispered in Ji-han's ear, "It's Dmitri, Ziyaisko is outside. Be quiet."
Ji-han received the signal from Jasmine. He released Jasmine and naturally turned to Dmitri.
Dmitri was watching in surprise. Another man was hugging his wife, but Jasmine's behavior was normal.
"Dmitri, this is Ji-han," Jasmine said with a smile. "He is a very old friend of mine. He came here to discuss something about my modeling agency. But look at the state I'm in! My dress is wet, and you've come looking for me!"
Dmitri looked at Ji-han with suspicion. He couldn't believe Jasmine's words, but Jasmine's smile forced him to remain calm.
Jasmine quickly tried to take control of the situation. Dmitri's anger and Ziyaisko's presence—both were extreme dangers.
Ji-han had understood the warning Jasmine gave him during the hug.
Jasmine now turned to Dmitri.
"Dmitri, I have a terrible headache. I think I need to be alone for a bit right now. Ji-han, why don't you check on my car! The Bentley was driven very fast, Ziyaisko might have faced some trouble."
As Jasmine said these words, she gave Dmitri a quick look/signal with her eyes.
Then Jasmin signaled Dmitry to leave/go.
The signal was extremely subtle and authoritative. Dmitri, who loved Jasmine crazily, could not ignore the look in her eyes. Although he was suspicious, he left the warehouse at Jasmine's instruction. Dmitri would surely find Ziyaisko, and this conflict could create some opportunities for Jasmine.
After Dmitri left, Jasmine and Ji-han were alone inside the warehouse. Jasmine quickly moved toward Ji-han.
Jasmin and Ji-Han went to another room to talk.
They entered a small, dark storage room at the back of the warehouse.
"Are you crazy/Insane!" Jasmine almost scolded Ji-han in a whisper.
"Are you crazy/Insane?"
Jasmine scolded Ji-han because his sudden presence could have ruined all her plans.
"Why didn't you arrive right after my message?" Jasmine whispered. "How did Dmitri get here? And Ziyaisko is waiting outside!"
Ji-han took a deep breath calmly. "I saw the chase, Jesi. I tracked your phone and saw you were heading toward a secluded warehouse. I thought it was a danger signal. I came through a different route so no one would see me."
Ji-han now warned her. "But your husband, Dmitri... he tracked your Bentley's GPS and came here. And when I arrived, I saw the paranoia and anger in his eyes. Dmitri will talk to Ziyaisko now. We have very little time."
Jasmine could hear the sound of intense shouting from outside the warehouse. A definite confrontation had begun between Dmitri and Ziyaisko.
As Jasmine and Ji-han were talking inside the storeroom, the sound of intense argument between Dmitri and Ziyaisko echoed from outside the warehouse.
Ziyaisko might have thought Dmitri had come to find him, but he didn't know Dmitri was only looking for Jasmine.
Jasmine and Ji-han quickly went near the door so they could listen.
The Amusing Feud Between Dmitri and Ziyaisko
The argument started normally, but their personal rivalry took an amusing turn with remarks that surprised Jasmine and Ji-han.
Then Jasmin saw the two of them started arguing, saying funny/absurd things.
First Attack:
Dmitri: "Ziyaisko! Why did you bring my wife to this filthy warehouse of yours? What are you making her do?"
Ziyaisko: "Your wife? She came with me by her own will! And why are you wearing that old 'Volga V-57' design coat again? Don't you have any new fashion sense?"
Personal Attack (Modeling):
Dmitri: "Don't worry about my coat. And Jasmine is a model! Did you pressure her into some new modeling contract, or are you trying to play with her life?"
Ziyaisko: "Modeling? You don't even know what fashion is! All you have are those 'golden chains' and boring blazers! You don't understand the 'F' of fashion for Jasmine!"
Comparative Attack:
Dmitri: "You! You can't be a better mafia boss than me. You focus more on making deals than controlling people!"
Ziyaisko: "At least I know how to drive a Bentley like a racing car! You just stick to your 'traditional Mercedes'! Old and boring!"
Comment on Hair:
Dmitri: "Did you cut your hair too short again? Are you trying to copy me?"
Ziyaisko: "Don't talk about my hair! I'm not responsible for that bald spot showing on the back of your head! You're getting old, Dmitri!"
Their argument was increasingly turning into a ridiculous one about personal style, cars, and hair, rather than Maria, revenge, or the mafia empire. Jasmine and Ji-han started laughing inside.
Jasmine whispered to Ji-han, "They are actually brothers. So similar, even their fights are equally foolish!"
Ji-han replied with a laugh, "That's their real weakness. Personal pride. Jesi, use this opportunity now. Ask Dmitri the question immediately!"
The argument between Dmitri and Ziyaisko was in full swing. Although their personal attacks were ridiculous, they expressed intense mutual hatred. Jasmine realized that she had to stop the argument right now and start the real game.
Jasmine quickly opened the storeroom door and stepped out. Her face was stern and authoritative.
Then Jasmin said, "Listen, everything that was in our plan, I have already told you."
Jasmine addressed this to Ziyaisko, though Ji-han was also present. The purpose of this statement was to confuse Dmitri and make him more jealous and suspicious. Dmitri would be convinced that there was some deep connection between Jasmine and Ziyaisko—perhaps a plan for revenge.
At Jasmine's comment, both Dmitri and Ziyaisko instantly stopped arguing and went silent. Their attention was now completely on Jasmine.
Just then, Ji-han emerged from the storeroom. Jasmine wanted him to further insult Dmitri, so that Dmitri's attention would remain focused on her, forcing him to answer the real question.
Then Ji-Han said, "Oh, Dmitry, why are you insulting him about his hair/being behind [in the race]?"
Ji-han used the phrase 'behind' which could literally refer to Ziyaisko's baldness or imply that Ziyaisko was lagging behind Dmitri in business or personal life.
Dmitri became even angrier seeing Ji-han and Jasmine together. His wife and his rival—both were insulting him!
"Who are you?" Dmitri questioned Ji-han, fire in his eyes. "Why are you interfering in my family matters?"
Jasmine seized the opportunity and advanced toward Dmitri. It was time to ask her real question. Not Maria, not modeling, not revenge—now it was time to solve the real mystery.
Jasmine touched Dmitri's shoulder with her hand.
Jasmin then quickly went outside and stopped the argument.
Jasmine turned to Ziyaisko. She decided that the truth must come from Ziyaisko's mouth, as Dmitri might hide it due to emotion. Ziyaisko was now her ally.
Jasmine's question was direct and overwhelming:
She directly asked Ziyaisko, "Why is there such a strong resemblance between him and Dmitry, despite their differences/feud?"
The question instantly detonated the suppressed tension that had been hidden behind Maria and revenge.
Both Dmitri and Ziyaisko were stunned. Their personal feud suddenly seemed insignificant.
Ziyaisko's face turned white. He looked at Jasmine, pain evident in his eyes. He was not prepared for this question.
"Jesi..." Ziyaisko whispered.
Dmitri quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ziyaisko's arm. "Ziyaisko, you will tell Jasmine nothing!"
Dmitri's intense reaction further solidified Jasmine's suspicion.
Jasmine shook Dmitri's hand off and fixed her gaze on Ziyaisko.
"Tell me, Ziyaisko! What is the real truth behind this game of Maria, Dmitri, and Viktor? Why do you look like twins? Are you twins?"
Ziyaisko could no longer hold back. All his anger and the hidden truth broke. He took a deep breath.
"Jesi..." Ziyaisko said. "We... we are not twins. We are twin brothers. Dmitri is my older brother."
This ultimate truth was the biggest secret of the Volga empire. Dmitri and Ziyaisko were twin brothers, whose personal revenge was rooted deeper than Maria.
The truth that Dmitri and Ziyaisko were twin brothers confirmed all of Jasmine's suspicions. There had to be a huge family secret behind Viktor's game.
Dmitri quickly turned to Ziyaisko, fire of betrayal in his eyes. "Ziyaisko! Why did you tell Jasmine this? This is our family secret!"
Ziyaisko lowered his head. "How much longer will you hide it, Dmitri? Jasmine is part of this game now. And I can't lie anymore."
Jasmine ignored their conflict and focused directly on Ziyaisko. Her eyes went to Ji-han, who had quickly closed the warehouse door so that no one outside could hear their conversation.
Jasmine looked firmly at Ziyaisko.
"Tell me your childhood history."
There was extreme restlessness in Jasmine's voice, but Ziyaisko could no longer stop himself. Dmitri leaned against a warehouse wall in despair.
Ziyaisko started speaking, his voice broken and heavy:
"We are twin brothers. Father did not separate us, but our mother... Mother was an actress. Father was a mafia boss, and Mother wanted a quiet life. When we were eight years old, Mother tried to run away from Father with us."
Ziyaisko paused, as if the memory pained him.
"Mother couldn't choose just one of us," Ziyaisko sighed. "Mother took Dmitri with her because Dmitri was the elder. And I... I was left behind with Father. Father started grooming me to become the mafia boss, while Dmitri lived a normal life."
Jasmine now understood the depth of the mystery. This was not a game of Maria or revenge; it was the pain of an abandoned child.
Ziyaisko's eyes welled up.
"When we grew up, Dmitri wanted to return to the mafia world. Dmitri's arrival in the mafia world threatened my existence. According to the rules of the Volga empire, two twin brothers cannot be bosses in the same empire. Only one of us could be the heir."
"Father couldn't resolve this conflict between us. Maria's arrival was just an excuse. When Maria chose Dmitri over me, all my anger fell upon Dmitri. Maria was just the trigger that exposed our deep childhood wound."
Dmitri slowly approached Ziyaisko. "Mother took me, Ziyaisko. But I never wanted you to be alone. This division of our fate was our Mother's decision."
Ji-han quickly grasped the situation. "That's why Viktor kept this information secret, Jasmine! He knew that if the two of you united, the Volga empire would remain intact. Viktor wanted the two of you to destroy each other so that he could seize power himself!"
Jasmine understood everything now. Her goal had changed. She had to unite Dmitri and Ziyaisko.