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LXI

Penulis: Maya East
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-01-30 17:25:34

The sound of the waves crashing outside the window blended with the sound of the television that had been left on, showing an animated movie that was now almost over. The hot afternoon air made me reluctant to move further from the house, and Max, who was sobbing over his dinosaur toy, finally lay down on the cozy fur rug and was already asleep beside me, his hands gripping the hem of my shirt tightly.

I stroked his hair slowly, enjoying the warmth of his little body next to me. I sighed softly, letting my body relax under the cool air conditioning.

The summer sun was too hot to go to the beach, and the only thing more tempting than a nap was a bucket full of chocolate ice cream, which was unfortunately not available in the fridge.

“I'm going out for a while,” Pascha said after the man came out of the main bathroom near the kitchen. “But then Max will definitely be happy with what I brought.”

I opened one eye, looking at him lazily. “Hmm?”

He just smiled a little, giving no further an
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  • His Son, Her Secret   LXII

    I frowned. “What?”Pascha shrugged. “Party at the Carlton Hotel. I'm invited.”I sat up slowly, looking at him more seriously. “And you're telling me this. why?”He gave me a slight grin, then leaned closer to me. “Because I want you to come with me.”I blinked, then gave a short laugh. “Sorry, what?”Pascha didn't change his expression. “Come with me. We can go together.”I stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out whether he was joking or not. But there was no sign of humor on his face, only a seriousness that made me even more confused.I lay back down. “I already have a partner, Pascha.”He raised one eyebrow. “Jullian?”I nodded.Pascha sighed, then shook his head. “Of course. The perfect man.”I gave him a sharp look. “And you should have come with your fiancé.”There was a pause. I didn't miss how his casual expression was slightly stiffer, though he quickly hid it.“I'm not necessarily going with her,” he said finally.I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”Pascha smiled wryly. “Yo

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-30
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXIII

    Kyara and I stood by the drinks table, taking a moment away from the business talk that Jullian and Oliver were now dominating. They were both seriously discussing stocks or investments or something that sounded too boring for us to care about.I sipped my red wine slowly, enjoying the warm sensation in my throat. Kyara, next to me, still looks annoyed, her expression stiff as her eyes scan the room.I knew what she was looking for.And I was right."I really can't believe she can still walk casually in the same room as me without feeling the slightest bit embarrassed," she muttered as she took a sip of her wine with a sharp movement.I sighed. "Kyara...""What?" she turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "I'm just stating a fact, Belva. Our former best friend is standing at the same party as us, still acting like she never betrayed anyone."I couldn't argue with that."Wow, I haven't even said anything yet, but I'm already getting a cold reception."That voice.I closed my eyes for a mo

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXIV : FLASHBACK

    Music echoes through the room, vibrating the floor beneath my feet. Searing Latin rhythms blared from the large speakers in the corner of the room, livening up the already festive atmosphere.The air is filled with the sounds of laughter, clapping, and clinking glasses.Kyara and I shouted along to the lyrics, jumping up and down in the crowd without a care in the world. The miniskirt I was wearing fluttered with my movements, and my long hair swayed wildly every time I raised my hands in the air."We have to teach Ara dan Mika how to enjoy music properly!" Kyara shouted in my ear, her laughter exploding as she pulled my hand to spin.I laughed loudly, throwing my head back before jumping back to the beat. "This is THE party!"One second, I'm still spinning with Kyara, and the next, I hit a hard wall that shouldn't be in the middle of the dance floor.Or... not a wall?"Ouch!" I grimaced, taking a step back, and I rubbed my forehead, which was slightly sore from the impact.The tall fi

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXV : FLASHBACK

    "You know, Jacob," Kyara piped up, "Belva talks about you quite often."I reflexively opened my eyes, straightening up so quickly that I almost dropped the glass on my desk.“¿Qué carajos dices?!” (What the hell are you saying?!) I almost screamed, looking at Kyara with a face of horror.Kyara just grinned widely, a look of complete satisfaction gracing her face. "I'm just stating a fact."From the corner of my eye, I could see Ronan and Calvin, who immediately turned their heads with renewed interest, while Pascha only raised his eyebrows.However, Jacob, who was now looking at me, made me want to sink into the ground the most. There was no expression of excessive surprise on his face. Only a small nod as if he was processing the information.Oh my god.Mother Earth, please swallow me right now.I turned to Mikaela and Aurora, looking for reinforcements, but their expressions only made me more desperate."Oh, we already know, Bell." Aurora sipped her drink calmly. "I mean, you're not

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXVI : FLASHBACK

    The campus corridor was still crowded, with students leaving their classes. I walked while reading the paper. My professor had just given me a small note about revising the assignment I had to do. I frowned, reading each point carefully, too focused to notice the road ahead of me.And, of course...I hit something hard.Or rather, a person.My body was pushed back slightly, the papers in my hand almost falling before I quickly balanced myself."Ouch," I muttered as I lifted my head.Pascha."Of course," I said in a frustrated tone. "Why did I hit you again?"Pascha looked at me with a calm expression, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. "I also want to know why you have a habit of bumping into me every week."I gave him a sharp look. "Probably because you're always in my way."He chuckled, shrugging as if this wasn't all his fault. "Or maybe it's because you can't walk straight."I almost replied more sharply, but then I realized someone was beside Pascha—Jacob.Unlike Pa

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXVII : Flashback

    The light from the chandelier on the ceiling was still burning softly, creating faint shadows between the towering bookshelves. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the situation before realization hit me like a crushing blow to the stomach.I had fallen asleep.My whole body felt stiff after hours of sitting hunched over a desk, and to make matters worse, my stomach felt violently twisted. I squeezed the bottom of my stomach lightly, wincing as sharp pain spread throughout my body. My acid reflux had returned.I let out a long breath, trying to think clearly. I shifted in my chair and reached for my phone next to my laptop that was already wholly dead, and damn it, and my phone was dead too.I cursed under my breath, staring at the dark screen as if hoping the battery would charge itself. I didn't know what time it was, but the library was already too quiet, and there was no one around me.I fell asleep in the library. Again.My heart started beating frantically. If I calle

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXVIII : Flashback : First Kiss

    The wind pierced our skin as we left the library building, within seconds, the rain came down harder.I squinted, looking around. My dorm was right across the street, and running there only took a few seconds. But Pascha's car... I turned to him, watching him lift his face to the sky."Where is your car?" I asked, trying to speak louder over the sound of the increasingly crazy rain.Pascha turned to me, his eyes narrowed by the water droplets that had begun to fall down his face. "At the hockey pitch."I frowned, looking around. It was quite a distance. With this much rain, he would be drenched before he got there.I bit my lip, hesitating for a moment, before finally letting out a long breath. "You can go to my dorm first. At least until the rain stop."He looked at me, his expression hard to guess. I didn't know what he was thinking, but he just stayed silent, staring at me for a few seconds longer than he should have.I was starting to feel uncomfortable. "Just forget that—""Okay.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-03
  • His Son, Her Secret   LXIX: Flashback : His Hold on Me

    I had never felt this awful before.It had been a few days since that rainy night in my dorm, since that kiss—and I did everything to avoid Pascha desperately.Whenever I saw him on campus, I would immediately turn around, look the other way, or pretend to be busy with my phone. When he walked into the library, I would close my book quickly and leave. Even in the cafeteria, when I was with my friends, I chose to sit in a corner far away from where he and his friends usually ate.I couldn't face him.Not just because the kiss had left me confused but because something had changed inside me since that night, something I didn't dare admit.Jacob, my crush, who had felt like the safest place to be, suddenly felt... boring.I don't understand. I shouldn't feel this way. Jacob is a good man, a stable man, a reasonable man. He's not a storm like Pascha. He didn't confuse me or make me want to run away, but also... he didn't make me feel anything.I denied that.I told myself that this was ju

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-04

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  • His Son, Her Secret   CLI : Midnight Whispers & Morning Mayhem [Flashback]

    Night descended quickly over Siberia, bringing with it the creeping cold. The night wind struck the wooden walls of the cabin, rustling and whispering in a low, soothing tone. The fire in the hearth still burned, its flames dancing in golden-orange shadows across the rough wooden walls.I lay on the rough yet surprisingly soft wooden cot, a thick blanket wrapped tightly around me. Trisha lay next to me, curled up with her face hidden beneath the covers. Her breathing had evened out, signaling that she had fallen into a deep sleep after today’s long journey.But I couldn’t sleep. Maybe it was the sound of the wind howling outside or perhaps it was the swirl of thoughts racing through my mind. I glanced toward Pascha and Igor, who were sitting on the other side of the room. They were near the hearth, which was slowly dying down, talking in low tones that I could only partly make out. Their Russian flowed quickly and smoothly, sounding more like murmurs than distinct words.Pascha turned

  • His Son, Her Secret   CL : Beneath the Pines, Beneath His Gaze [Flashback]

    The sky was starting to darken as we walked back to the cabin. The Siberian night air pierced our skin, even though the sun hadn't fully set yet. Trisha and I walked side by side, a bit behind Pascha and Igor, who were leading the way with their long strides.Trisha slipped her hand into my arm, trying to warm herself. "You know, I'm kind of jealous of you," she muttered suddenly.I turned to her, frowning. "Jealous? Jealous about what?"She shrugged, her eyes still fixed on her brother ahead of us. "Pascha loves you in a way that's... hard to explain. It's like the world stops when he's with you."I looked away, trying to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks. "I know he loves me, but... the future is unpredictable, right?"Trisha laughed softly, her voice like a gentle breeze slipping through the pine trees. "That's true. But I know Pascha. He'll never love anyone the way he loves you. He might be a little annoying and clingy, but trust me, he won't just let you go."I bit my lip, tr

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLIX : Wildflowers & Wilderness Hearts [Flashback]

    Igor walked ahead with a light step, as if he didn’t feel the weight at all, while I, Pascha, and Trisha followed behind, gasping for breath. The trail was rocky and slippery, with tree roots jutting out from the ground. Towering pine trees lined both sides, their shadows stretching under the afternoon sun.“I... hate... you... Igor...” Trisha panted, dragging her feet, clearly exhausted.Pascha raised an eyebrow, glancing at his brother. “Are you sure this is the right trail? We’ve been walking for over an hour!”Igor just looked back with a half-mocking smile. “You’re too spoiled. This is the easiest route.”I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took a deep breath. “The easiest route? Are you serious?”Suddenly, the rumble of a helicopter sounded above. I looked up and saw a sleek black helicopter flying low, following the trail. The window was open, and I could see Natalia waving cheerfully while Alexandr sat comfortably inside, probably enjoying the view from above without having

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLVIII : Luxury Left Us at the Gate [Flashback]

    The Romanov family's private jet was way bigger than I had imagined. The interior felt like a floating penthouse, complete with white leather sofas, thick cream-colored carpets, and large windows offering an endless view of the blue sky. There was a spacious seating area with a polished wooden table and a minibar filled with crystal glasses and high-end liquor bottles.I sat on one of the sofas near the window while Trisha sat beside me, hugging a pillow with a grumpy face. From the other end of the room, I could hear Pascha and Igor’s muffled voices, seemingly arguing about something I couldn't quite grasp."I can't believe we're actually going to Siberia," Trisha grumbled, burying her face in the pillow. "I packed summer clothes, cute dresses, and now we're going to end up in the middle of a forest with wolves and—what was it again? Taiga man?"I chuckled, resisting the urge to tease her more. "You could still wear those dresses in the woods. Maybe the bears would appreciate your fa

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLVII : Siberian Summers & City-Born Hearts [Flashback]

    Lunch at the Romanov household felt more like a grand family feast than just an ordinary meal. The long dining table was covered with mouth-watering dishes—thick black bread with butter, deep purple-red borscht, salads with diced beets and potatoes, and large platters of roasted meat, their savory aroma filling the room. Everything was arranged neatly on a spotless white tablecloth, with crystal glasses gleaming under the luxurious chandelier.I sat next to Pascha, who looked more relaxed than usual, while Igor sat across from me, chewing his food with the focus of a soldier on a covert mission. At the head of the table sat Alexandr, moving his fork with graceful precision, observing the scene with sharp yet affectionate eyes. Natalia was beside him, her slender fingers delicately stirring her soup as she smiled softly.However, the peaceful lunch almost immediately unraveled when Trisha started talking.“I’m telling you, we have to go to the Riviera! Beaches, cocktails, yacht parties

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLVI : The Scent of Roses, The Sound of Power [Flashback]

    In front of the massive entrance, with towering marble pillars, stood two figures who immediately captured my attention. A tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair that was starting to gray at the temples, his face stern with sharp, chiseled lines.My chest and throat tightened instantly. Pascha’s parents. Alexandr Romanov and Natalia Romanova.Their names carried a weight of history, almost legendary in the realms of international business and politics. Just one glance at them, and I could feel the power and dominance radiating from their composed presence. A sudden wave of tension washed over me, and I found myself clutching the hem of my skirt.“Relax,” Pascha whispered beside me, his large hand reaching out to pat my thigh reassuringly. “They’re not as bad as you think.”I shot him a suspicious look. “Not as bad?” I echoed quietly. “Did you forget all those stories about their strict discipline and rigid rules?”Pascha shrugged nonchalantly. “They’re softer when it comes to guest

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLV : He Smirks, The City Glows, & I'm in Too Deep [Flashback]

    The sight of the Romanov family's private airport froze me in place. A warm summer breeze brushed against my face, but it was nothing compared to the gleaming private jet shining under the sun. The jet's sleek black paint bore the Romanov family emblem on the tail—an elegant symbol with gold accents that screamed power and luxury."Wow," I whispered, probably for the fifth time in the past ten minutes. My eyes couldn't tear away from every detail of the jet, the aerodynamic lines, the dominating grandeur, and the bold, graceful lettering of the family name etched on the side.Standing beside me with his hands casually tucked into his black pants pockets, Pascha let out an amused snort at my repeated reaction."It's just a plane, Bee," he said nonchalantly, as if the magnificent thing was just a toy.I glanced at him, giving him a pointed look. "Just a plane?" I echoed in disbelief. "It's bigger than my apartment!"He shrugged without a hint of guilt. "You haven't seen the inside yet."

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLIV : Moscow Sounds Like Trouble (So Do You) [Flashback]

    "I missed you," he whispered, his deep, raspy voice vibrating the air between us. I bit my lower lip, trying hard not to smile. "Then stop making me mad." "I can’t promise that," he replied with a mischievous smirk before leaning down to gently kiss my forehead. I closed my eyes, letting out a long sigh. Pascha always had this infuriating yet comforting way of making me both angry and at peace at the same time—a combination that was both annoying and heartwarming. The night stretched on, and we kept talking, laughter and complaints blending into a long, seemingly endless conversation. Slowly, my eyelids grew heavy.I inched closer to Pascha, letting his arm wrap around me as his warmth surrounded me in a rare feeling of comfort. :::: For the first time in weeks, I felt genuinely at peace. The morning in Cambridge was chilly, even with the sun hanging low in the sky. Dew still clung to the apartment windows, leaving blurry wet streaks. I stood in my small kitchen, staring at a s

  • His Son, Her Secret   CXLIII : Tamed? In Your Dreams, Darling

    As soon as the car stopped in front of my flat, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I practically jumped out before Pascha even turned off the engine, dragging my suitcase to the front door. "I missed my bed!" I yelled enthusiastically. Behind me, Pascha just scoffed, grabbing his jacket and following me with a lazy stride. "Of course," he muttered. "I’m the one you see first after we apart, but the thing you missed most is your bed. Annoying." I ignored him. After punching in the door code and pushing it open, I rushed inside, dropped my bag on the floor, and nearly threw myself onto the bed—except Pascha beat me to it. He casually tossed his jacket onto the couch and walked straight to my bed, dropping onto it with a smug, victorious expression. "Pascha, move," I hissed, glaring at him. He looked at me lazily, raising one eyebrow. "No." I groaned in frustration but eventually just flopped onto the bed too, shoving his shoulder to make some space. "Don’t touch me," I muttered when

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