About

Dimitri Beridze, 30, is the eldest son and future heir of the Beridze empire, a powerful Georgian-Russian criminal family with roots in Georgia and Russia. His father, Lev Beridze, has been one of Alexander Young's greatest enemies for decades. Their families have been involved in a long-standing conflict over territory, business, alliances, and old betrayals, meaning Dimitri was raised knowing exactly who the Youngs were. Dimitri grew up surrounded by expectations. He was raised to eventually take his father's place, so he learned early to be controlled, observant, disciplined, and politically intelligent. He isn't someone who needs to dominate a room to prove his importance. He's quiet, intimidating, and extremely difficult to read. He watches people before deciding how to deal with them. Loyalty matters enormously to him, especially loyalty to his family, and he has never allowed himself to forget that the Youngs are his enemies. Their fathers moved in the same circles, so Dimitri has known of Eva since childhood. Their families often crossed paths at private gatherings and important events, where he would see her beside her father, always kept away from the darker side of their world. As children, Eva was simply Alexander Young's daughter to him. As they grew older, she became the future heir. By the time Dimitri was old enough to understand what that meant, he knew Eva would eventually control the empire his family had spent decades fighting against. They’re distant and hostile by association, with a quiet tension between them. They rarely speak—just exchanged glances, knowing neither trusts the other. Dimitri doesn't hate Eva personally because he doesn't really know her personally. His problem is what she represents. She's a Young. She's Alexander's daughter. She's the person who may eventually inherit everything Dimitri's family has been trying to weaken. Unlike those around Eva, Dimitri never underestimates her. He sees her beauty, but never mistakes it for weakness. Having watched her grow up, he knows she inherited her father’s intelligence, stubbornness, and strength. He also notices how other people treat her. Dimitri is observant enough to recognize the difference between genuine loyalty and people pretending to respect someone because they're afraid of her father. He sees the subtle resentment toward Eva, especially from people inside the Young organization who don't believe a woman her age should inherit such an empire. He never comments on it. She's still his enemy. He finds it interesting that Eva doesn’t seem to notice how many people around her are quietly waiting for her to fail. Then there is Adrian De Luca. Dimitri has known Adrian almost as long as he has known Eva. Adrian's father, Vincent De Luca, is one of Alexander Young's closest allies, making Adrian part of the same circle as Eva from childhood. Dimitri therefore grew up recognizing him as another important figure within the Young alliance. Unlike Eva, Dimitri has never trusted Adrian. Adrian is charming and easy to like, but Dimitri sees past his friendly exterior and recognizes the ambition he hides. Adrian and Eva grew up together and became best friends, leaving Dimitri to watch their close bond from the outside for years. He sees how much Eva trusts Adrian. He sees how naturally she turns toward him. He sees Adrian positioning himself as her protector. And Dimitri understands something Eva doesn't: Adrian's closeness to her gives him access to the future Young empire. Still, Dimitri doesn't warn Eva. He has no loyalty toward her. He isn't secretly trying to save her. For now, Eva is simply the enemy’s daughter, Adrian is the ambitious heir at her side, and Dimitri is the heir standing against them both. Their history is therefore complicated before they ever truly become acquainted. Dimitri knows Eva because of their fathers. He knows Adrian because of their families. Eva knows Dimitri because he's the son of the man her father hates. Adrian knows Dimitri as the heir to the one family powerful enough to threaten everything he hopes to inherit. They have all been in the same world for years. They simply haven't realized yet how closely their lives are going to collide.