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VI

Author: Maya East
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-16 16:51:16
At the dining table facing the glass wall, I sat with a cup of coffee in my hand, its bitter aroma piercing my sense of smell and slowly infiltrating my mind.

"So, how was the party?" asked Ben, his black hair a mess, and the pajama shirt and shorts he was wearing showed how relaxed this morning was for him.

I didn't turn around, just stared straight at my cup. "Nothing special,"

"Nothing special?" He pulled up a chair opposite me, his voice laced with skepticism. "That's not Grandpa's style. So, what's the latest political scheme he's devised for you, then?"

I forced a smile. "He introduced me to Julian Warren."

"Julian?" he gave a short laugh. "The eldest son of the Warrens? The guy who always looks like he's trying way too hard to be "cool"? That guy? What's the plan this time to organize a business wedding?"

I gave him a flat look, doing my best to ignore the knot tightening in my chest. "You know Grandpa. He thinks Julian and I are perfect for... fortalecer la alianza familiar—li
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  • His Son, Her Secret   VII

    Kyara lowered her coffee cup loudly onto a small saucer, making a clinking sound that attracted the attention of several guests at the following table.Her eyes widened, her gaze lingering on my face. "I hope this is a joke,"Aurora leaned closer to me, "Belly, you know how they treat you. Why would you even consider going to that party?"I leaned back into the chair, my hand holding the glass of tea I hadn't touched. "I have no choice. Grandpa gave me an ultimatum, and I knew if I didn't go, I'd be putting Max in danger. They... they threatened to bring his name to the Romanov family.""Of course, they'll use Max to force you. Typical of a family that only cares about their big name. They haven't changed a bit." Kyara snorted.Aurora touched my arm. "Is everything okay? What happened there?"I looked down, letting the memory of the party invade my mind. "Well, they had a lot of questions and were, obviously, surprised by Max. Papa and Mama barely spoke to me, they’re.... still very co

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  • His Son, Her Secret   VIII

    I arrived at the office precisely fifteen minutes before the meeting with Lantum Mining. My heart pounded like a war drum in my chest. I piled all the files on my desk, trying to focus on the presentation slides that I had prepared overnight"Focus, Belva. Don't mess it up," I whisper to myself, wiping my damp palms on the sides of my work skirt.A knock on the door startled me. Jess, Mr. Grant's assistant, stood up with a faint smile. "Mr. Grant asks you to get ready. Ten minutes."I nodded, my mouth too dry to reply. While she left, my eyes stared at my reflection on the dead computer screen. My face was tense, and the tired lines under my eyes couldn't lie.I straightened my blazer, grabbed the presentation file, and walked briskly to the meeting room. My heels press against the marble floor with a tick-tock sound that sneaks up to my heart.The main meeting room with glass walls that almost wholly overlooked the city of San Francisco was already partially filled with participants.

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  • His Son, Her Secret   IX

    “Miss Moguel?” The voice of the man who had been asking about technical constraints broke the ice that was choking me. “Can you explain more about risk mitigation in this implementation?”I tried to concentrate. My lips trembled slightly when I opened my mouth, but no sound came at first. It felt like this whole room was shrinking, the sound of Pascha's faint laughter echoing in my mind, even though he hadn't said anything.Mr. Grant turned to me, his eyebrows raised in slight concern. “Belva, please.”"I’m sorry." I nodded quickly, forcing myself to stand up straight again.I stared blankly at the screen for a few seconds, taking a deep breath before pressing the remote to display the next slide.“As I explained earlier,” I began, but the scratchy feeling in my throat made the voice hoarse. I closed my mouth for a moment and took another breath. “Our team has considered various risks in implementing this technology. In the event of operational disruptions, such as data inaccuracies or

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  • His Son, Her Secret   X

    “But isn't it...” He continued, folding his arms across his chest, “A team like that needs a leader who is not only smart but also... strong under pressure?”The whole room was silent, and I knew he wasn't just asking. He wanted to test me, to see if I was still the girl who had left him at the altar five years ago and whether I could still stand up under his pressure.I knew how Pascha always played with the people around him. Testing and testing. It was like he was the master of every game, while everything around him was just a pawn.And this time, I was the pawn.“Of course,” I replied, forcing a slight smile that didn't fully reach my eyes. “Pressure is part of the job, and I'm used to dealing with it.” I let the words hang, gauging his reaction.Pascha didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned back in his chair. His cold eyes looked at me, then slowly toward the documents on the table before him. He held up one piece of paper, twirling the end between his fingers.“Interesting

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  • His Son, Her Secret   XI

    “Belva!”I turned my head sharply, my hand raised on its own.A hard slap landed on his face before I could think.Pascha stood still for a moment, his hand still gripping my arm. He touched his cheek with his free hand, then, instead of anger, he chuckled—low, deep, provoking. But his gaze was piercing, like he was trying to strip away every wall I'd built over the past five years.I held my breath, trying to break free from his grasp.“So many things have changed, Bee?” he said, a lopsided smile gracing his face. “Five years ago, you were just running. On the night three days ago you were still moaning my name. Now? You slapped me. I like this new version.”My blood boiled. I jerked at his hand, forcing myself to stand straight even though my body shook angrily. “You don't know anything about me, Pascha.”“Oh, I know a lot,” he retorted casually, but his eyes blazed with provocation. “I know the girl who stood at the altar five years ago didn't dare to say what she thought. But now..

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  • His Son, Her Secret   XII

    I sat on a cane chair on the balcony, looking at the coastline. The midday sun reflected golden sparkles on the waves rolling gently towards the sand. The cool coastal breeze blew through my hair, but I still felt like I was burning—not by the sun's heat, but by the thoughts that hadn't stopped tearing at my composure since this morning's meeting.In front of me, Max sat in his little chair, a spoon in his tiny hands, busily digging into the lasagna on his plate. His round cheeks moved as he chewed enthusiastically, his little legs dangling over the edge of the chair. Every time he looked at me, he smiled widely, like there was no sinner in the world."Mommy, the lasagna is so good!" he said happily, jolting me out of the dark vortex of thoughts shackling me.I forced myself to smile. "Really? Mommy made it, especially for you, Max. If you like it, I will be so happy."He nodded vigorously, his spoon back in action. I watched him eat, trying to hold on to the fact that he was the reaso

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  • His Son, Her Secret   XIII

    Max chuckled as Clara lifted him high, making a rattling sound like a robot. The little boy giggled loudly, his hands flapping like a bird learning to fly.I sat on the sofa, laptop on my lap, typing up the report due this week. Their laughter filled the house, forming an atmosphere that made me feel all was well."Mommy, look, I'm a robot Superman!" Max shouts, striking a strange pose: one arm stretched out like he's flying while the other grips his robot toy tightly.“You'd make a great superhero, Maxie.” I laughed, looking at him. I glanced over at them, seeing Clara teasing Max under the pretense of going after him.Clara was an irreplaceable presence in this house. She knew how to make Max happy and fill the void I couldn't constantly fill, especially when I was drowning at work or caught up in messy feelings like now."You really saved my life, Cece." I said, half-joking while typing the last line of my report."Ah, you know I'm glad to be here. Max is a wonderful boy. How could

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  • His Son, Her Secret   XIV

    This guy wasn't an asshole in the same way as Pascha. That was one thing I could admit without hesitation.Julian might be too conscious of his image but doesn't hide his weapons. Everything he did was open and obvious, unlike the other guy who still haunted me with that cold smile and game that always made me feel trapped.Inside, the atmosphere was luxurious. The Roles family had truly mastered the art of impressing their guests. A large crystal chandelier hung in the hall's center, and the scent of expensive wine and classical music's soft sounds filled the air.We didn't have to search for our hosts for long. The Roles—husband and wife, who looked more like living porcelain figurines, immediately greeted us with broad, overly friendly smiles."Belva Moguel!" exclaimed Mrs. Roles enthusiastically, grabbing both my hands. "It's been a long time. You were just a little girl the last time I saw you."I smiled slightly, trying to remain polite. "Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Roles. Yo

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Latest chapter

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXXI : aching laughter, restless monsters

    "Why do humans even watch horror movies if they end up too scared to use the bathroom?" Max's voice rang out loud and clear, laced with heavy sarcasm."Because humans are stupid and sometimes like to create problems for themselves." Mischa added with an eerily calm tone, completely emotionless,I choked a little on my tea, trying not to laugh.At the dining table, Kyara and Aurora sat looking like zombies freshly risen from the grave. Kyara's hair was a mess, she was wearing my hoodie with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, while Aurora was still in my house dress, sleepily munching on breakfast. They were both sluggishly shoving pieces of toast into their mouths."Don’t tease Auntie Kyara and Auntie Aurora, Max," I warned him."But Mommy," Max protested, pointing at Kyara, "Auntie Kyara slept on the couch hugging my bike helmet! And she was mumbling in her sleep!""And she said 'don’t open that door, it’s a trap' three times," Mischa added flatly, staring at Kyara’s toast like it w

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXX : Karma Never Knocks, It Breaks In

    The dinner table was packed with small dishes. Lasagna, garlic bread, spinach salad, and a big bowl of mashed potatoes that Aurora had prepared with scientific precision. In the middle of it all, Max and Mischa sat side by side, both wearing plastic aprons with robots and unicorns on them.“So...,” Aurora muttered, “you have two kids now?”“It’s... an emergency situation.”Kyara, sitting beside Aurora, immediately jumped in. “Emergency? Emergency? From where I'm sitting, that mini-Russian has already claimed territory in your house.”Max, his mouth full of cheese, pointed at Mischa. "She's cool! She’s teaching me Russian! Now I can say ‘robot’ in a badass voice! Robot." Max said, with an accent that was... highly questionable.Mischa just kept chewing her bread, unfazed. Her gaze was blank yet sharp, like a tiny Wednesday Addams who had wandered into a happy family dinner."I don't need an invitation," Mischa said casually, shrugged. "I'm already here."Aurora raised an eyebrow. "You

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXIX : We Never Go Out of Style

    That morning, the sun hung low over the San Francisco skyline, casting a soft glow that danced across the glass walls of the headquarters. I stood in front of the final presentation slide for the Lantum Mining project, the hum of the air purifier quietly filling the room, and my heart beat in an unfamiliar rhythm: slow… but heavy.Around me, the tech team was assembling the final report and prepping the soft launch of our AI-based ground stability monitoring system, soon to be deployed at the last satellite mining site. On the screen, every indicator was green. All the data integration, tech synchronization, and final testing. Flawless.“This,” I said, clicking the last slide on the remote, “is our final milestone. We’re officially done.”There was a soft round of applause. Not wild. But enough. Because this wasn’t just about finishing a project, it was validation. Of our work, our choices, our resilience.And for a moment, I just stood there. Staring at the screen.Then the breath ca

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXVIII : you drew stars, but never stayed to see them fall.

    I was driving with one hand, the other resting under my chin. Kyara sat in the passenger seat, wearing oversized sunglasses that looked like they belonged to a celebrity fresh off a Vogue shoot.“I still can’t believe it,” she said. “She’s pregnant, Bell. And you… you just—” She twisted toward me and let out a strangled noise of pure frustration. “—offered yourself up like a sandwich he dropped five years ago!”I clenched my jaw. “Ky…”“No, seriously.” Her voice was low and sharp. “He slept with Mikaela when you were about to marry him, then you got pregnant, and now Mikaela is pregnant and you slept with him again. I’m sorry, but this isn’t a soap opera anymore. This is Shakespearean tragedy with WiFi.”I gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I know. I… know.”But knowing wasn’t enough. Not when the shame crawled from the back of my neck to my cheeks, hot like a slap from the reality I’d refused to face. I ran a hand over my face, fingers trembling slightly.“Shit,” I muttered. “I fee

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXVII : The Morning After Never Ends

    Glass shelves, matte-black drawers, and a line of clothing racks stretched from one end of the room to the other. Filled with suits, shirts, and, oddly, rows of women’s clothes.I pulled open the third drawer, just like he said.And there it was.A pale gray knit sweater, wide-necked and slightly stretched around the collar from too much wear. I took a quiet breath as my fingers brushed the fabric. I knew this sweater.It used to be my emergency jacket when New York suddenly turned cold in Pascha’s penthouse. Back when we were still living together after graduation, before everything turned to rubble. It was the sweater I wore while eating instant ramen at 2 a.m., waiting on the couch for him to get home late from Romanov HQ, watching criminal series he never quite understood.I shut the drawer slowly, my breath trembling in silence. Then I glanced at the clothing rack beside it.Dresses. Blouses. Sweaters. Trousers. Silk pajamas. All… in sizes that, in a way far too strange, fit me e

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXVI : I Know Better. I Just Don’t Do Better.

    Morning sunlight slipped through the gap in the thin linen curtains, fluttering gently in the sea breeze.Warm. Soft. Peaceful.Too damn peaceful.My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing my brain registered was the ceiling—too high... and way too unfamiliar.Pascha’s mansion.I froze.My body tensed as I realized the warmth wrapped around my waist from behind wasn’t a blanket. It was an arm.Long. Strong. Bare.Wrapped around me like a gate I couldn’t break through.“Fuck,” I breathed out, almost like a prayer caught in my throat.A long sigh escaped my lips as I tried to piece things together. Didn’t take long. My head throbbed faintly. My neck still felt kissed. My legs still tangled in the mess of last night.Damn it.“Fuck me,” I whispered again.“Already did, Pchelka. More than once.”I jolted and half turned. “Pascha!”His eyes were still closed, face half-buried in the pillow, but a smug smile tugged at his lips.One of his arms was still draped around my waist, pulling me

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXV : Lips Red, Knees Weak, Soul Gone [21+]

    The cold air brushed against my skin as Pascha pulled the fabric of my T-shirt, which was roughly uncovered until it pooled under my chin. My breath caught. I didn't have time to be embarrassed, let alone protest, because his eyes were already smouldering like a hungry animal spotting prey.“Shit.” His voice was hoarse, guttural like he was choking himself with desire.And then...Heat.His tongue swipes over my nipples in slow motion, too conscious, too deliberate, like he wants to memorize every earthquake he triggers in my body. I squirm, my back arching without realizing it, hands gripping his short hair. Whether to pull him away or to bring him closer, I don't even know."Pascha...” his name came out as a moan, broken by the vibrations he left behind every time his lips sucked, every time his teeth pressed with sweet menace.He growled, the vibrations flowing straight from his mouth to my chest, to my spine, to the rest of my body. His one hand gripped my hip, holding me immobile

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXIV : Out of My Hands

    Jullian hadn’t even made it fully to his feet when Pascha’s second punch slammed into his face. The sound was thick, flesh meeting bone, followed by Jullian’s groan as he crashed back down into the sand, his hand flying to his cheek, already red and starting to bruise.“Don’t you ever touch her again,” Pascha growled, his chest heaving, and I didn’t recognize this man at all.I threw myself between them, shoving at Pascha’s chest with both hands. But his body was like stone.“Stop! ARE YOU INSANE?!” I screamed, my voice caught somewhere between panic and rage.He didn’t answer. His eyes stayed locked on Jullian, who was now sitting up, propping himself on one arm, breathing hard.“He touched you,” Pascha shouted at me.“YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!” I snapped, standing in front of Jullian now. “You don’t get to decide when you’re my son’s father, and when you’re—whatever the hell you think you are!”Pascha finally turned to me.His eyes were burning.I swallowed hard. “You can’t just show up an

  • His Son, Her Secret   CLXXIII : even gentle hands can’t erase the ones that bruised you first

    I froze.The sea breeze that had felt cool just moments ago now stung my skin like tiny needles. An inheritance?An heir?That... didn’t make any sense. My father was not someone who gave me anything. Not love, not protection, not even a place to return to after everything that happened at St. Sophia. He was the man who sat in the old armchair in our living room with those dark eyes that demanded A+ on every test, the man who raised a wooden ruler with a cold hand because of a single B.The man who, along with his wife—my biological mother—kicked me out of the house with one sentence: You’re a disgrace.And now... five years later, wrapped in a thin blanket under the night sky, hearing that the daughter they once labeled emotionally broken and too stubborn to love, the one they said could never compare to Ben—own everything they once used to crush me.My hands clenched the edge of the blanket. “Isn’t Ben the one managing everything?”Javier nodded . “Yeah. He handles the operations.

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