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XCVII : A Place We Once Knew
Last Updated:
2025-02-26 18:51:52
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His Son, Her Secret XCVIII : Aching Hearts & Icy Waters
Pascha's hand lifts to the hem of his T-shirt and pulls it up, taking it off like I'm not here.I looked away but still caught a glimpse of how his back muscles moved in the moonlight. I blinked and tried to keep my mind from thinking weird thoughts at the sight of his bare chest.He tossed his T-shirt onto a rock. "Meeting was exhausting," he muttered. "My head is still full of numbers and reports.""So that's your excuse for swimming in freezing water?" I raised an eyebrow.Pascha smiled. "Don't you remember? I used to do that a lot."I frowned, staring at the surface of the water. "But we're in the mountains.""Exactly," he said easily before stepping into the water.I instantly got goosebumps just by seeing how his feet touched the surface of the river, but he didn't even react. He continued to walk in, letting the water envelop his body until it reached his waist. then, without hesitation, he plunged himself into the water completely.I wiped my face with my palm.A few seconds p
Last Updated : 2025-02-27His Son, Her Secret Little Hands
I felt something hot pressing against my forehead.My eyes still felt heavy, my body seemed to sink into the mattress, and every inch of my skin ached. My head throbbed violently like there was a hammer tapping inside.I tried to move, but my body felt too tired, too warm, and too heavy. I just lay here, listening to the sounds around me, faint, like they were coming from a distance."Mommy?"Max's voice. His voice sounded worried, followed by a slight movement at the side of my bed.I wanted to answer and tried to tell him I was okay, but even opening my mouth felt too exhausting."Daddy!" Max's voice was louder this time, and I could hear panic from him. "Daddy, get over here!"I heard footsteps approaching quickly, a familiar heavy voice filling the room."What happened?" it’s Pascha. His voice was sharp."Daddy, Mommy’s head is burning up." Max answered quickly. I can feel his tiny hand touch my cheek briefly before pulling it back. "She's not waking up, Daddy."I heard the sound
Last Updated : 2025-02-28His Son, Her Secret C : Flashback : Stealing Pens and Hearts
The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, turning the horizon a golden orange. The autumn breeze blew dry leaves along the campus road, creating small swirling eddies before they fell back to the ground.I sat on a wooden bench near the library's back garden, my knees bent over the seat while a notebook was open on my lap. Blue ink danced on the pages, traces of scribbles that should have been lecture notes but instead were filled with small drawings and random sentences about everything that was on my mind.I bit the back of the pen, furrowing my brows as I tried to remember something that niggled at the back of my mind. Something I should have remembered but kept evading every time I wanted to catch it.And then, a tall shadow fell over my notebook paper. A hand reached out from the side, snatching my pen out of my fingers."You daydream too much."I looked up quickly, and there he was.Pascha.His black hair was messy as usual, the plain white T-shirt he wore was slightly rumpled, and
Last Updated : 2025-02-28His Son, Her Secret CI : Flashback : The Coder and The Teaser
Thin smoke billows from the coffee cup beside my laptop, mingling with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla that fills the corner of the cafe. The chandelier on the ceiling gives off a golden yellow glow, adding to the warm ambience of the place. Acoustic music plays softly in the background, mixing with the occasional buzzing of the espresso machine.At the long table by the window, I sit with my back straight, my fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. My laptop screen is filled with lines of code and algorithm flowcharts. My round glasses sag slightly on my nose, but I don't bother to fix it. My focus is entirely on the task I need to complete tonight.All around me, the sounds of laughter and noisy chatter echoed from the three people sitting at the same table."Oh, come on! You can't deny that Professor Daryl is lovely for a man his age," Aurora's voice sounded the loudest, followed by Kyara's distinctive laughter."But he's married," Mikaela chimed in with a sceptical tone, stirr
Last Updated : 2025-02-28His Son, Her Secret CII : Flashback : Press Pause, Play Kiss
Sarah looked at me from head to toe, then smiled a little. A smile that wasn't exactly friendly."Belva Moguel," she said in an overly sweet tone, like too much sugar mixed into tea until it tasted bitter.I raised one eyebrow. "Sarah."Kiano was already stifling a laugh. He still remembers what happened between me and Sarah, especially the incident involving me, the group assignment, and my hand tearing off her expensive hair because of her unprofessionalism.Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, her head tilted slightly. "I heard you're still with Pascha Romanov."I just frowned. "Yes. And?"Sarah shrugged. "Rumor around campus is that he's still playing behind your back."Kiano coughed with laughter. "Wow. Creative people on this campus."Sarah smiled slightly, her eyes flashing strangely. "I just thought you might want to know. I mean, with his history... well, you know."I rolled my eyes. "I don't remember asking for daily reports on my love affairs."Sarah winked innocently, pr
Last Updated : 2025-02-28His Son, Her Secret CIII : Flashback : Sweat, Smirks, and Shenanigans
Pascha let out a long sigh, his head resting on the back of the sofa while I sat beside him contentedly.I applied the last layer of the green mud mask to his cheeks, making sure it was evenly distributed before pulling away slightly to admire my handiwork.His face was now completely covered by the thick green mask that I had just bought last week. From his forehead to his chin, no part is left unturned. Only his eyes are now looking at me suspiciously, and his lips are still open."I feel like a giant guacamole," He muttered, his voice full of agony.I giggled, grabbing a small towel to wipe the mask off my hands. "You're the one who won't let me go to the shower in peace."Pascha snorted. "I'd rather get on with what we were doing than sit here with sticky green mud on my face."I grinned, then patted his cheek, which was now covered by the mask. "You have to learn to accept the consequences, Romanov."He sighed heavily, then glanced at his reflection on the screen of the phone he'
Last Updated : 2025-02-28His Son, Her Secret CIV : Flashback : A Father's Call
Pascha let out a long sigh on my chest, his warm air brushing against my bare skin as he muttered something in Russian that I didn't understand. His body was warm from the shower, the scent of soap and water still clinging to his skin.We were both lying on his absurdly large bed. Seriously, this bed could probably hold his entire hockey team at once, with thin blankets covering our naked bodies.Pascha rested his head on my bare chest, his face turned to the side while his fingers played with the ends of my long hair, wrapping them around his fingers before letting go again."I should have scored one more goal earlier," he murmured suddenly, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.I stroked his nape lazily. "You already won.""That's not the point." He frowned, his eyes still staring blankly ahead. "I had a opportunity, but the opposing team's damn goalie closed the angle too quickly."I smiled a little, letting him continue rambling."I could have shot higher, but I chose a lower angle be
Last Updated : 2025-02-28His Son, Her Secret CV : Flashback : Morning Confessions
Morning arrived with sunlight peeking through the bedroom curtains, casting a warm golden glow across the wooden floor. The air inside the penthouse felt cooler than usual, perhaps because Pascha had left the window slightly open last night.Pascha was still asleep, one arm draped casually around my waist as if ensuring I couldn't go anywhere. His breathing was steady, his face peaceful, his dark hair slightly tousled against the pillow.I let out a quiet sigh, then carefully shifted my body, trying to slip out of bed without waking him.But before I could move away completely, Pascha’s arm suddenly tightened, pulling me back to his side.I gasped. “Pascha—”“Hm.” A low murmur rumbled from his throat. His eyes remained closed, but I knew he was awake.I tried to move again, but this time, he pulled me even closer, pressing his face against my neck.“Pascha, I have to go home,” He only mumbled something incoherent, his voice still thick with sleep. “No.”I sighed, resting my head agai
Last Updated : 2025-02-28
Latest chapter
His Son, Her Secret CLXVII : Salt on My Skin
Max’s floatie was a little too tight, which I’d done on purpose because I knew my son. Give him space and he’d swim as far as possible until someone thought a new dolphin species had been discovered. But now that we were getting ready to snorkel, the floatie had to come off. “I still think this is a bad idea,” I muttered while fiddling with the clips on the side of Max’s floatie. “But it’s fun!” Max shouted as he squirmed, just trying to break free so he could dive in like some kind of sea ninja. “Hold still, Maximus Prime. You don’t want to snorkel with a floatie this tight. Trust me, it’ll make you look like a failed floating donut.” Mischa stood next to us, already geared up with her snorkel mask and little fins on her feet. She looked calm and efficient, like a tiny professional swimmer. Even her curly hair had been neatly tied back with a blue ribbon by Igor. “I took off my floatie a while ago,” she said flatly. “My mom’s not that protective.” I glanced at her and raised an
His Son, Her Secret CLXVI : Cruel Summer, Salty Shoulder
Pascha finally pulled over. Water sprayed out on both sides as his jet ski hit the last wave before reaching the shore. In one smooth motion, he turned off the engine, jumped off onto the sand without losing his balance, and walked toward us.I had just picked up a glass of cold coconut water from the little table beside my lounge chair when he arrived. And without saying a word, he took it.He sipped it like it was the most satisfying drink in the world.“Thanks,” he said shortly, not even looking at me as he drained what was very clearly my coconut water.“Pascha,” Natalia scolded softly from beside me, “get your own drink. That one’s Belva’s.”Pascha shrugged, then winked at his mom. “She likes to share.”“I like sharing permission, not drinks,” I shot back, pulling my towel tighter around my legs, trying to ignore the way his face still dripped with saltwater and sins from the past.He just gave a short laugh, then dropped onto the sand next to my chair. “Let’s go. Ride the jet sk
His Son, Her Secret CLXV : a boy, a boat, a bloodline
"Pass the pilaf, please!" Trisha was already shouting before she even sat down, grabbing the plate and then plopping into her seat.Igor sat at the head of the table with two small creatures flanking him. Max on the right, Mischa on the left. Both with eyes shining and hands ready to pounce. I sat in the middle, with Pascha—mysteriously—choosing to sit right beside me, even though plenty of other chairs were still empty.He sat too close. His left arm draped behind my chair, and his knee… well, his knee kept brushing against mine far more often than lunch table etiquette would allow. Every time I shifted, he shifted with me.And of course, his fingers occasionally played with the ends of my hair that fell over my shoulder.I refused to react. That would mean he won. So I focused all my attention on the plate of pilaf and the roast chicken coated in fragrant Middle Eastern spices made by Natalia herself."Uncle!" Max spoke through a mouthful. "Did you ever throw Daddy into the sea?"Ig
His Son, Her Secret CLXIV : small missiles and bigger hearts
We arrived at the Romanov villa gates nearly two hours after leaving San Francisco. With one emergency stop I’d rather not talk about, and a series of events that could only be explained as Pascha being Pascha.It started with me just needing to pee. A quick stop at a small, empty-looking rest area. But of course, Pascha decided to turn on the hazard lights and call out from the car window, “Don’t get lost, Miss Moguel. The woods can be cruel!”I shot him a glare.Naturally, he didn’t stop there. When I came back and reached for the car door, he locked it automatically and smiled at me through the window like he’d just won some twisted Olympic event.“Pascha Romanov, I swear to God, I will—”Click.The door unlocked. He laughed for the next ten minutes straight while I sat in silence, breathing slowly, seriously considering whether throwing my sandal at him would be too dramatic or way too soft.The moment we arrived at the villa, I understood why Max loved it here. The Romanov villa
His Son, Her Secret CLXIII : oh great, you’re charming again
BelvaMorning slipped in through the gap in the curtains like an old friend who knew how to arrive without making a sound. Warm light crept across the edge of my bed, slowly trailing up the wall and brushing my fingertips.I opened my eyes without the weight in my chest. The bad memories were still there, sure, but like shadows, they came and went, swallowed by something warmer. Something calmer.Maybe I was just too tired. Maybe my body had finally surrendered to a peace I had been refusing.I got up, letting my feet touch the cool wooden floor. The sheets were still messy, a pillow had fallen to the ground. This morning felt... light. I grabbed a towel and walked to the bathroom. Hot water washed over my body, and for a few minutes, I just stood under the shower, letting it rinse away the traces of last night.Afterward, I slipped into a loose white t-shirt and comfortable linen pants, my hair still damp as I stepped out of the room. My pace was slow and lazy, but the moment I reac
His Son, Her Secret CLXII : a thief in borrowed time [Pascha]
Night had fallen hours ago, but Max had no real understanding of the concept of "bedtime."“I think,” he said, rolling over to his left for the hundredth time in his bed facing the villa balcony, “if I fall asleep now, I’ll miss the golden hours to plan my next secret mission.”I sat at the edge of his bed. “What time do you think it is right now?”“Eight fifty-nine!” he said, then raised his index finger like he was teaching me something very serious. “And do you know what great spies do at times like this, Daddy?”“Sleep?”“No!” he said, clearly offended. “They practice foreign languages and memorize secret codes!”I sighed and rubbed my temples. “Max…”“Teach me Russian, Daddy. Right now. Hurry. Say, ‘I am a super robot from the planet Bumbleberia.’”I frowned. “Bumbleberia’s not a real place.”“Then teach me how to say it in Russian so it can be!”This kid…I looked at his little face, so expressive. His hair was still damp from his bath, his cheeks flushed from the warm night air
His Son, Her Secret CLXI: The Stage Was Never Yours Alone
My phone buzzed, screen lighting up with a name that had become familiar, and still somehow made my heartbeat skip half a note: Pascha Romanov.I tapped the screen to accept the video call while Clara and Jullian were still deep in debate over whether dinosaur-shaped pancakes were superior to star-shaped waffles.The call connected, and Max’s face instantly filled the screen, his grin wide, hair a little messy, and behind him, Trisha, still wearing her straw hat, waved while chewing on something.“Mommyyyy!” he shouted. “Why is everyone here speaking Russian?! I don’t understand anything! I feel like… like an alien on Mars!”I let out a soft laugh, about to reply when—“MAX!” Jullian called out.Max’s eyes lit up. “You’re there too?!”Jullian leaned closer, sharing the screen with me. “Hey, partner,” he greeted warmly. “Looks like you’ve been busy socializing with the high society crowd.”Max nodded enthusiastically. “I almost got to drive the golf cart by myself! But Grandpa said I d
His Son, Her Secret CLX: I Bet You’d Look Good in a Rom-Com
Clara showed up just minutes after I sent the message. With slow steps and eyes barely open, she walked toward us dragging a gray blanket behind her like it was an oversized royal cape. Her hair was a mess, and her expression, well, like the world had woken her up five centuries too early.“I smell empanadas,” she mumbled without preamble, plopping down onto the sand with zero regard for grace.Jullian stifled a laugh and held out a plate. “I admire your lifestyle.”“I don’t remember who you are,” Clara answered with a huge yawn, grabbing an arepa and taking a bite like a zombie discovering its first victim. “But you make excellent life choices.”I shook my head and scooped a bite of arroz con pollo into my mouth. “Clara, you can’t keep napping like this every afternoon.”“Relax. I dreamt I was watching Max,” she shot back. “Technically, I’m still on duty.”Jullian chuckled, then glanced over at me. “Speaking of Max…”I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”“I keep thinking about that dinner we
His Son, Her Secret CLIX : Sunburns, Sass, and Someone Like You
The midday sky hung cloudless, a clean blue canvas yet to be written on. On the warm, breezy shore of San Francisco, I sat on a white canvas folding chair, my bare feet touching sand that still held the chill of morning. Beside me, a cold water bottle beaded with condensation and a gently vibrating phone, my only interruption in an otherwise peaceful silence I was beginning to savor.I picked up the phone and glanced at the screen.A message from Pascha.The first photo popped up with a soft notification sound. Max was in Trisha’s arms. Her long blonde hair was braided into two neat plaits, a straw hat tilted playfully on her head. Max looked half-squished, but happy, his cheek nearly disappearing behind Trisha’s oversized sunglasses.Second photo. Max was perched on Igor’s shoulders. Max was laughing, mouth wide open, arms thrown up in the air. He lifted him higher as they walked among the tall, leafy trees of Carmel.I smiled, letting a quiet warmth spread through my chest. Not beca
