Would you believe I almost missed this update after patrolling the site for days like an addict looking for her fix. That was a heartbreaker. Onimosity, Onimosity, Onimosity! That five-star rating you got for the chapter, is for the EVIL EVIL cliffhanger. Ah Wednesday you say? Hmmm. I am not sure many of us could last that long. Before long we will be with your muse, drinking all those mimosas that she is whipping up, while biting our nails and anxiously waiting for that crucial final chapter. Lolol

Sergei finally lost his goddamn mind and Sunny feel this huge guilt for his actions. That misguided selfish boy goes and puts himself, his brother and probably his mother in mortal danger, and Sunny feels guilty. Well, what comes next is me raising my hand in frustration, rolling my eyes, shouting my favourite phrase -  WTF!!! Anatoly says it perfectly, "By rights - the rights we live under - Nikolai should have killed him. He should have killed my brother." Now that he had been beaten to almost an inch of his life and as he lies on his back to recuperate from his injuries, he can think about his life and his actions. Nikolai may be a monster, but Sergei is a monster in training. Ten years from now, he will be the Nikolai of today. And I think that has been my problem Sergei all along. He actually saw himself as being better than the rest of them and his decisions questionable at best, but after 10 plus years in the life, he would be just as bloodied as the rest of them. None goes unscathed. The young selfish hypocrite; he had to learn a painful lesson.

She admitted she loved him. Finally and it had to be under these circumstances. Of the three of them in that room I empathised with Nikolai the most. And I attributed this Onimosity to your gift of words. You crafted a story starting with most of us not particularly liking Nikolai. As his story unfolded and he began to transform, we came to see the man behind the mask so much so that most of us were cheering for him. This is not a fairy tale but it is a story about a man who through his circumstances became a dark violent soul; a beast even. And that is what it took for him to survive prison and become a most feared man. This is about a girl also caught up in a bad situation but who is able to remain a beacon of light for others. And this is about the love and a transformation of them both as Sunny shined her light on her Nikki.

Though heartbroken, I am glad Sunny finally saw that side of Nikki. Brilliant Onimosity, just brilliant! I believe that violent episode has brought them to a point where Nikki is broken enough to open up fully to Sunny, and she is sensitised and receptive enough to truly listen from the heart. Circumstances brought her into his world and into his life. Her father’s actions and decisions sealed her fate, but the choice she makes now is what counts. Does she have the strength to stay connected to a man who is capable of such violence? Can she go pass his blackness and see that her Nikki is really both sides of this complex man? I hope she can. I hope she really loves Nikolai, the Bloody and Nikolai, the lover. But I fear that her love is now a prison door about to swing either way. My hope is that she did not back go there to bargain her staying with Nikolai as a means of setting Sergei free. They are so way past that now. I don’t think he wants her at any cost. He has always taken precautions to ensure he didn’t entrap her and that is one of the things that has made him endearing to many of us. And so I cannot see him starting now. What did Stanislavsky tell Sunny I wonder? Did he tell her about Nikolai's new status in the family? One thing for sure, no matter how things turn out, Nikolai is at the end of his game as the head of the family.

So I guess Onimosity I will be there standing in line, gulping a mimosa, as I wait for your final instalments of this well crafted drama...

Ah finally, I can write the looonnngggg review I wanted to for this very heartwarming chapter. The end of this story brought with it a number of 'finallies' (if ever there was such a word).

Finally, Sunny said those magical words and there was no greater joy, it would seem. The long wait for them was like a relief not only to Nikolai, but also to us the fans of this well-written and well-thought out story. And it came with such a powerful scene - him in despair not knowing what decision she would make about their future; and her, for the first time, putting aside the painful lessons of her childhood, taking a chance on love, and recognising and embracing the possibility that Nikolai is not her father, but more like Royce Ukombozi, the man turned himself around to save himself and his family. That she was able to convince Nikolai that he did not need to hide anymore, that she loved all of him, the good and the bad, was a powerful contribute to Nikolai’s character. Basically I was in tears the whole damn time. I applauded the fact that she also expressed her love of self as she stood her ground and voiced what she needed from Nikolai - that is, him out of the life. Hats off to Sunny! A powerful lesson to us all!

Finally, Stanislavsky prove himself to be Nikolai's father. In anticipating that his son would need to get out of the 'business' and embrace a healthier and safer lifestyle, he proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is a good and deserving man, worthy of Nikolai calling him father. At last he can receive redemption, and rest easy that he took care of his children and honoured the memory of Victor, the son who only knew as a Cobbler. He is the best fairy godfather this story could have had because only he could untangle the mess that is Nikolai's life.

Finallly, Sergei got the message and learnt a powerful lesson in the process. I guess with Nikolai trying to choke the life out of him, his good sense came back. Now his brother would be forced to decide his fate. Well done, well done. He can only hope that Anatoly Bazykin considers the pain his death would cause their mother or else he may need some concrete shoes. Sunny's character remained untarnished as she magnanimously forgave him and took some of the blame. But she got my seal of approval when she told Sergei, she was not his to save and that people cannot always chose who they love. Something he could relate to, because Sunny does not love him and she made the choice to stay with Nikolai despite his maneuverings. 

And finally, we see the full extent of the changes in Nikolai as they bear fruit. Do not get me wrong, I loved Sunny from the start, came to love Stanislavsky in the end and could even tolerate and empathise with Sergei after his beating, but it was Nikolai who captured my attention and held it from the beginning. It was a pleasure to see the unfolding and development of his character. And this I believe attest to the brilliance and skills of the writer. As a character he gave hope to us all that people can indeed change, but with some vital ingredients included - having a strong character, a willingness to change, and the propensity to give and receive love - all of which Nikolai showed. But more than anything, he being a man of his word, was the clincher for me. In a world where people say one thing and do another, it was refreshing to read of a character who meant what he said and the outcomes as he took the 'high road.'

So I thank you Onimosity for creating a story that captured my imagination, put a smile on my face many, many times over the months, had me cheering for a seemingly impossible love, and taught me some powerful lessons along the way. And I say take a bow even before the final curtain closes on this inspiring tale. You have made a loyal fan out of me...

Hey Onimosity. I am lost for words to describe this last update. Just when I thought hmmm she can’t move me again, there you go making me all teary eyed again. Exceptional chapter! Everytime I think Nikki and Sunny's reationship has peaked, the next update rolls out and I see there is more to their love.

The unfolding of Nikki’s character is extraordinary. As we get more and more glimpses of his past, it’s like we are gently removing the layers which make him the complex man he is, allowing us to understand why his life took the turns it did and how he came to be who he is. A privileged man who was wronged, and who found himself in a situation where his survival meant that he had to adapt quickly to his very unfortunate circumstances. From gentleman to gangster, that is our Nikki.

And to think his father was indirectly responsible for his lot in life is even more pathetic than I initially imagined. By letting his son walk into a dangerous situation without so much as a warning, his father clearly demonstrated his weakness of character. And there he is on his death bed still heaping coals on Nikolai’s head. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic! His mother has my sympathy and if not my understanding. I couldn’t help but be moved when she gave her little speech about his father’s pride and her shame for standing by and doing nothing. I see the similarities between her shame and Nikolai fear (and maybe his shame as well) about telling Sunny about his lifestyle.

I am glad a young Nikki had Stanislavsky to cushion his prison experience, but by the time he left there his parents’ betrayal and his schooling under the ‘fatherly’ Stanislavsky had turned him into a willing killer. I can’t help but wonder if Stanislavsky‘s son had survived how would he have turned out. Would he have been the son of the cobbler or a gangster like Nikki? Maybe it’s only me, but I feel a sense of unease when Nikki refers to Stanislavsky as father. I am a firm believer of loving someone from afar and I keep thinking that may be Nikki needs to do just that - love his ‘father’ from a distance.

I just hope Nikki doesn’t take Stanislavsky's advice though. One thing we know is that though Sunny may not know the details Nikolai’s life, she knows who he is. Like Ben once said, everyone in their neighbourhood knows about him. I am starting to wonder about Sunshine’s motive for wanting Nikki to talk about his life. Is it because she wants to know the gruesome details or is it because she wants him to own up to who he has become?  Ah Onimosity, you are playing this one close to your chest aren’t you?

One thing for sure I am anxiously awaiting part 2. Should we be afraid for Sunny’s safety? guess we will find out soon enough eh... and i am investing in some more tissue as well...

That cliffhanger ending in the last chapter stirred up many scenarios in my mind, including one in which Sunny is there to witness this unfolding madness. Given this new cliffhanger I see that my mind will have to go swirling again. Wow Onimosity! This suspense is going to kill us loyal fans. As it stands, I am in knots and in need of a happy ending for our golden couple. Sunny and Nikolai deserve one. But there you go making it a possibility that either Sunny or Nikki may have gotten shot. I think I will have a meltdown if one of them dies… lolol.

As we say where I come from, “that was a ‘boss’ chapter.” Sergei did get some of my sympathy at first, but not much I am afraid after I thought about it some more. I can’t help but look at Nikolai situation and reflect on what little option he has of becoming who he is and being where he is.

Sergei, by contrast, was not forced into the lifestyle that he ended up in, did he? He had options, options his brother wanted him to explore. He drifted into the life with his eyes close. Did he give full thought to the lifestyle he so nonchalantly agreed to enter? Where the hell did he think his brother was working? Did he think people in the 'organisation' were playing with guns and shit? He wasn’t forced, pushed or threatened into the life. He had options, but his aimlessness set a path for him and look where it took him - gun in hand pointing it at Nikki and then at Sunny, trying to save Sunny when she didn’t ask to be saved. Did he ever listen to her? WTF. Who appointed him Sunny’s keeper. Suddenly he has a sense of purpose and it has a name, Sunny. I think he is projecting his frustrations, unrequited love and obvious insanity into the belief that he is trying to save Sunny. He didn’t seem to think things through and Nikolai’s reaction to him pointing his gun at Sunny shows further that all bets are off when the woman he loves is in harm’s way.

If Nikolai is wounded maybe now she would say those golden words. One thing though, I don’t think Sergei is dead (at least I hope not) but my fear is for Sunny and Nikolai or even Priscilla who may well be in the house. Please, at least if one of them is hit, don’t break my heart and kill them off :(

So when are you updating again, later tonight you say. Ah that’s good :D. Thanks for the rollercoaster ride and for keeping my interest. This read has been worth it all… lolol…

I once met this guy during my university years who found himself in a war torn area and who himself had been caught up in an ambush. Coward and selfish person that I am, I remember thinking that I would never intentionally place myself in such a situation. I guess Sunshine's willingness to go into a potentially dangerous situation once again speaks volumes of her character. I look forward to reading about her experience, but I do so knowing that the other shoe is about to drop once again wheither it's at home or overseas.

Onimosity, I am so loving m favourite couple. I get this really good feeling every time I read about Nikolai and Sunny's time together. This time was no exception. I think it was good for Nikki to see Sunny's interaction with Ben as he continue to understand and see her in different situations. It's a wonder he hasnt started to see her as the mother of his child (children). One thing though, I am getting more and more curious about her reason for not expressing her feeling for her Nikki. I know its coming (at least I hope it is).

You know whether or not you place your translation in text or not depend on whether you and your muse want Sunny to eventually seek to discover the meaning of all those words he say to her. If not then in text may be good to further strengthen Nikolai's words.

As always I wait impatiently for your next helpings... Stay warm...

This was an interesting update. You do fluff so well Onimosity. A carefree Nikki is someone to behold. Free of his responsibility and the entrapments of his life he is a regular guy and ever attentive lover. It was good to witness them in Paris. Their 'what if we had met under different circumstances' scene was enduring and cleverly told because in the end it brought them back to their present predicament. It is clear that the only wedge between them is the long shadow cast by his business dealings. So amidst their happiness and their commitment to one another there is Sunny's need for Nikki to provide full disclosure.

The question is what happens next. Nikki goes with Sunny to her firm's dinner and sees her through yet another different lens, in a world that he cannot truly exist unless there are further changes in his life. What would be his reaction I wonder? We see that his 'father' is coming to America. I am intrigued and live in hope that it is in an effort to give Nikki and Sunny their happy ending they so deserve. As a good soldier Nikki followed orders and came to Brooklyn, doing all that was necessary for the 'organisation.' As his favoured son, it is time Stanislavsky do something for Nikki because, as time and time has shown, without Sunny he would surely waste away...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what a FOOL... Well done Onimosity well done... I will return... going to this again...

Interesting start...