To my dismay, the guard is quick to shake his head. He stands straighter. “Can’t do. Orders from the boss. No one can leave the house.” My temper rises before I can even help it. “Are you serious right now?” I stand back to my feet, glaring up at him even though he is tall and broad enough to hand
(Flashback) From a distance, Ivan observed as his sister introduced Ana to her circle of friends. The atmosphere was one of celebration—a reception party orchestrated to embrace Ana into the fold of the family. Although Ivan harbored an innate aversion to such gatherings, he understood the importa
When Pavel called me, informing me that Ivan Jr. had fallen and sustained a head injury, I immediately instructed him to bring our son to the warehouse. However, I should have anticipated that Ana would follow. She hasn’t been able to place her trust in me, and honestly, I can’t blame her for that.
Not that the realization has come for the first time. When Ana escaped with our kids, I knew I had messed up beyond repair, and now our lives would change forever. It’s just that seeing the realization in person feels like a solid punch in the gut, making me angry with myself and sorry for us. Deep
(Flashback) “If you spit out another poison about her, I swear to God, Mom, I won’t ever step into this place again!” Ivan’s voice boomed, reverberating against the walls of the room. Ana stood just outside the room, her heart pounding as she strained to make out the words being exchanged within.
“Say it, malysh. That no matter what happens, no matter what everyone else says, you will never leave my side. You will never leave me.” His eyes bore into hers, an intensity she couldn’t ignore. She understood now; this wasn’t just about her overhearing something. This was about his deep-seated fe
We enter the house, and Ivan heads straight to the bedroom, where he carefully sets Ivan Jr. down on the bed. He kneels down in front of him, their eyes meeting for a moment, and I catch a glimpse of the genuine concern in Ivan’s gaze. It’s a side of him that I haven’t seen often, and it tugs at my
[IVAN] When a knock falls on the door of my home office, I’m almost taken aback to find Ana actually listening to me for once. I can’t help but wonder what’s behind this change. It shouldn’t have been so easy to convince her to meet me like I wanted. A nagging thought creeps into my mind, suggest
After our fourth round of pure, wild sex, I have nothing left in me. Every ounce of energy drained, I barely manage to pull the sheets over myself before sleep claims me.When I wake hours later, the room is dim, the soft glow of my bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. My body feels heavy
[NADIA]“You’re here?” I say into the phone, clutching my books tightly to my chest as I glance around. “Where?”“Outside. Meet me when you’re done with your classes.”A wide grin spreads across my face, excitement bubbling inside me. “Oh, I’m done. And even if I wasn’t, I’d still run to you.”Dimit
The Ivan I know is strong. Unshakable. Even in the worst situations, he carries himself with a quiet, effortless confidence that makes you believe nothing could ever touch him.But the man lying in this hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic, looks nothing l
[ANASTASIA]Ever since I woke up after the incident, I have been dying to see Ivan.But now that I’m standing outside his room—where supposedly he had been admitted—, I can’t muster up the courage to push open the damn door.I’m nervous. Terrified. And most of all, unsure.I don’t know if I’m ready
Lena presses her lips together tightly, the color draining from her face until it looks almost lifeless.For a long moment, she doesn’t speak. The silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears, pounding relentlessly, echoing my fear.Why the hell is she taki
[ANASTASIA]The next time I open my eyes, I’m not alone.Lena sits next to my bed, her hand in mine, her eyes closed, as if she fell asleep while watching over me.For the first time since waking up from my so-called long slumber, I look at her carefully. She looks more tired than I’ve ever seen her
[NIKOLAI]Once we finally get to his office, Konstantin takes his seat behind the desk and raises an eyebrow. He looks kind of pissed, but not enough to end me right here and now.He might have the power to do that and carry on with his day as if nothing happened, but I know in my gut he won’t. He m
[NIKOLAI]I hang up the phone and stare hard at the ground.“Fuck you, Dimitri!” I growl, clenching the phone tighter and huffing out a heavy breath.The bastard has the audacity to make me responsible for everything that happened to Ana and Ivan. But is it? Am I really the one to blame?I look away
[DIMITRI]I storm out of the building and light a cigarette, unable to think of anything else.I breathe in the smoke and then blow it out, hoping it will take away the stress pressing on my chest, making my lungs incapable of doing their job.I don’t know what to do anymore. Ana is finally awake, w