CHAPTER 129: UNTIL DEATH DO US PART

The previous night

The Andreyevna estate

It was quiet. The house was asleep. The stars above were bright, and the air was cool with the scent of night flowers. Alexander stood outside in his coat, a cigarette between his fingers, the smoke slowly drifting into the air. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had a lot on his mind. Too much. Then he heard footsteps. His heart jumped. He turned quickly, afraid.

A soft voice came from the shadows. "It’s me, uncle."

It was Lydia.

She stepped into the light. Her face looked calm, but not peaceful. It was cold. Her eyes looked like she hadn’t smiled in years. Alexander was stunned. He could barely believe what he was seeing.

"You still smoke," she said softly.

Alexander looked at her, struggling to say anything. She looked the same and yet not the same. Something about her had changed. There was a darkness, a distance, like she had died and come back a different person.

"Lydia," he said. "I thought you were in Ravelle. What are you doing here?"

"Just passing through," she replied in a cold voice. "Dropping by."

Alexander grew tense. He had a bad feeling in his chest. Maybe she had heard about Ivan’s wedding.

But Lydia cut him off. "I heard my former husband is getting married tomorrow."

She paused. Then added, "I came for something."

He looked at her, confused. "What is it?"

"My mother’s necklace and earrings. The ruby set. It doesn’t belong to your family. It belongs to her. And now it belongs to me."

Her tone was sharp and cold. Not a request, but a demand.

Alexander nodded slowly. "Come inside."

They walked into the study. He bent down, pulled out an old chest from a drawer, and opened it. Inside were the ruby necklace and earrings. He handed it to her. Lydia didn’t hesitate. She snatched the chest, opened it quickly, and stared at the jewels. Her face didn’t change. She closed the box and held it tightly.

"That’s all I needed," she said.

Alexander spoke gently. "I’m sorry, Lydia. When everything happened... I should have taken you in. Your cousins, they’ve been searching for you. You can stay, at least for a night. Maybe a few days."

But Lydia cut him off again. Her voice didn’t shake. "I didn’t come here for your apologies. I came to get what’s mine. That’s it. Anyway, I have a wedding to attend tomorrow."

Alexander’s face turned pale. "You’re... coming to the wedding?"

She nodded. "Yes. And you should come too. Bring the whole family. It’ll be a spectacular event."

With that, she turned around and disappeared into the dark.

Now in the chapel.

The heavy wooden doors burst open. Everyone turned. The music stopped. The room froze.

Lydia stood there. She wore a scarlet wedding dress that shimmered with gold threads. Her bouquet was full of dried, withered roses. Around her neck were her mother’s rubies, glowing like fire. Her earrings matched. A tiara rested on her head. Her red veil floated around her like smoke.

She walked down the aisle slowly.

No one moved. No one spoke. You could hear a pin drop.

Alexander stared at her in shock. Elena’s eyes went wide. Anya, Mikhail, and Pyotr looked lost. Even Vladimir and Olga looked stunned.

Tatiana turned white. She looked like she had seen a ghost.

Ivan stared at her, frozen. Yes, it was Lydia. But something in her eyes had changed. They were no longer sad. They were filled with rage. Fire. Pain.

She stepped onto the altar.

The priest, who had stood speechless, finally found his voice. He looked at her and said gently, "Madam... please state your reason for objecting this union."

Lydia didn’t answer right away. She just laughed. Loud. A cruel, cold laugh. It echoed through the church.

Then she spoke. "I’m sorry," she said, laughing again. "It’s just... I heard you say ’holy matrimony.’" She laughed even louder. "Holy. That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day."

Olga frowned. "If you have nothing to say, get out. Or I will call the guards."

Lydia turned to her sharply. Her voice dropped. "Oh, shut up."

The entire chapel gasped. Olga was stunned into silence.

Lydia turned to the priest. "Forgive me, Father... or whatever title you go by. You asked why I’m objecting to this marriage? Well, it’s simple. Because this man standing beside her... is my husband."

The room gasped again. Silence followed. Ivan didn’t speak. He just stared.

Tatiana snapped. "What are you talking about? Both of you are divorced! I was there. You signed the papers."

The priest turned to Lydia. "Please, explain, madam."

Lydia smiled slightly. Her voice was steady. "Just like you, I thought we were divorced. But it turns out we’re not. Not completely."

She turned toward the door. "Come in."

Katherine stepped in holding a parchment. The guests whispered to each other.

Katherine handed it to Lydia, who gave it to the priest.

"Here. Take a look. What good is a divorce paper if it doesn’t carry a seal?"

The priest opened it. His face turned pale.

"Without a seal, it means nothing," Lydia added. "Which means this man and I... we are still legally married. So you see, this wedding cannot go on. Not unless our divorce is completed first."

Olga stood and said to the priest, "Then seal it now. Let the divorce be done so the ceremony can continue."

The priest nodded. "A seal is all that’s needed. I will have a clerk bring it."

Lydia stood at the altar. She began to pluck the dried roses from her bouquet one by one, letting the petals fall on the floor.

Ivan couldn’t stop looking at her. His eyes were locked. His breath shallow. His heart beating fast. It was like seeing her again for the first time. But she didn’t even glance at him.

Soon, the clerk arrived. He ran in, holding the priest’s seal.

The priest turned to Lydia. But before he could speak, she moved. She took the parchment from his hands.

And calmly, she walked toward the candle.

She held the edge of the document over the flame. Everyone watched in silence.

It caught fire.

She watched it burn. She smiled. Then she turned to Olga. Her eyes wild.

"On second thought... why should I divorce him? When I could still be a grand duchess."

The guests gasped again. Some stood up. Tatiana’s hand flew to her chest.

Lydia threw the half-burned parchment on the ground.

She turned to Ivan, her voice sweet and bitter. "Till death do us part, my dear husband."

And then she turned around, walking away slowly.

"I heard there’s a ball at the palace," she said over her shoulder. "So let’s make it a celebration of our reunion."

She stepped out of the chapel.

Ivan didn’t move. For a second. Then something inside him snapped. He ran.

The room broke into chaos. Voices rose. Tatiana collapsed on the floor, crying. The priest raised his hands. "This wedding cannot continue."

Vladimir stood up. "It’s over."

Olga sat still like a statue, her eyes empty.

Outside.

Lydia walked down the steps of the chapel. The red veil trailing behind her. Her carriage waited by the street.

Just as she reached it, a hand touched her gently. She stopped.

It was Ivan.

She turned to him slowly. He looked into her eyes. She was real. She was right there. But she wasn’t the same. There was so much pain in her eyes. Anger. Grief.

But he looked at her with soft eyes. He didn’t speak. But his eyes said everything.

I’m sorry. I miss you. I love you.

She stared at him. There was something worse than hate in her eyes. There was heartbreak.

He reached out to hold her.

But she stepped away.

She climbed into the carriage. Without a word.

And just like that, she was gone.