WARNING! This is the previous chapter that has been edited.
FLASHBACK“Belva, are you okay?”I shook my head slowly. With my last bit of strength, I typed in the last line of code and hit the “Submit.”When my laptop screen displayed the Submission Complete message, I immediately put my head on the table.“Belva, you look so pale,” Kiano said in a worried tone. His warm hand suddenly touched my hair, stroking it lightly. "You should go to the clinic. I'll help you.”I don't know why, but my tears started to flow at that moment. Maybe it was the pain, the exhaustion, or the feeling of hopelessness that I had been holding back. I cried, with my head still resting on the table.“Hey, Bell, don't cry,” Kiano sounded panicked. "Belva, you're done. You're great. It's okay now.”My sobbing intensified, and Kiano kept trying to calm me down, but I only sobbed harder."Why did you make my girl cry?"The voice stiffened my body. I raised my head slowly, tears still rolling down my cheeks. Pascha stood before the table, his sharp eyes looked directly at K
The darkness was so peaceful, wrapping me like a soft blanket that hugged me tightly. I felt my body light, without the haunting pain like before.In my sleep, I felt a familiar warmth, a firm and protective embrace, like an anchor amid a storm. The steady heartbeat, the deep breathing—all of it gave me unexplainable comfort.Like returning home after years of being lost.I don't want to wake up. Here, in this warmth, all my worries disappeared. I let myself sink deeper, letting time pass without a care in the world.But finally, reality pulled me back.Slowly, my eyes opened. The soft light of the morning sun infiltrated through the thick window curtains. The unfamiliar white ceiling greeted my sight, and I realized my head was no longer as heavy as before. But, there was a light throbbing in my stomach, a reminder of all the emotions and pain I had gone through.I blinked a few times, trying to understand where I was. This room was... large, with elegant modern furniture. The bed ben
The afternoon sunlight broke through the curtains of the bedroom window. I lay on the bed, my body limp and my breathing heavy. My stomach was still sore, a pain that didn't seem to disappear even though I had taken medicine a few hours ago."Mommy," Max's voice broke the silence, complete with excitement that contrasted with my state. He appeared at the bedside with a small bowl in his hand. The warm aroma of creamy chicken soup wafted from the bowl."Cece made this," he said proudly, placing the bowl on the table beside my bed. "Daddy told me that Mommy likes chicken cream soup, and I'm telling that to Cece! I helped her cook it too, Mommy!"I turned my face slowly, looking at Max, his face shining brightly like the sun outside the window."Cece said Mommy should eat this to get better quickly," he said as he gently tapped the table. "I helped Cece stir the soup. She said I'm brilliant!"I smiled, even though my stomach still felt like it was being squeezed. Max's voice was always an
The night was falling. The sky outside was dark, with stars faintly visible through the window curtains. Aurora stood behind me, concentrating on fixing my hair, while I sat in front of the mirror with my body slightly tense."So he really said he would take Max away from you?" Aurora's voice broke the silence.I nodded slowly, staring at our reflection in the mirror. "Yeah. He's not messing around, Ara."Aurora paused for a moment, her lips drawn into a thin line, then quickly picked up a hairpin to tighten the bun she was making. "That guy is really... ugh, I don't have words bad enough to describe him.""We can make a list of curse words if you want," Kyara interrupted from the doorway, folding her arms across her chest. "Pascha Romanov is shameless. How dare he show up after five years and immediately feel he has a right to Max."I let out a long sigh, looking at Aurora, who was busy with my hair again. "You know, I loved him once too. I mean, I... I still don't know what he really
I sighed, looking at Ronan sharply. "I'm sure there's nothing to remember about that.""Oh, there are tons," Calvin interjected with a laugh. "You two are the cutest couple on campus. I still remember when Pascha got mad because a student from another campus tried to ask you to lunch. He immediately challenged the guy to a basketball game to prove who deserved you more."My face turned red. "That's not funny, Calvin.""It was hilarious," Calvin insisted with a giggle. "And I wonder, Belva... how come you ran away from the wedding five years ago? I mean, that only exists in movies, right?"His question brought a brief silence. I lifted my chin, trying to ignore Pascha, who was now looking at me."How? That's easy," I replied in a sarcastic tone. "Because my future husband turned out to be cheating on me with my own best friend."Calvin immediately coughed, almost dropping his wine glass. "What? Pascha? This guy?" He pointed at Pascha with an incredulous expression. "The one who is so st
I couldn't resist anymore, and my arousal had reached its peak. I could only surrender to his touch and his power over me. His lips moved to my ear, his soft nibbles and sighs making me even more lost."Pascha..." I moan, calling his name, weak, drowning in the pleasure he's giving me.His hands moved down, grazing my inner thighs, and slowly up my dress. I felt the warmth of his hands on my skin, making me shudder."Let go of me..." I tried to resist his touch, but my voice only sounded like a moan.Pascha laughed softly, a triumphant laugh. "Try it yourself."Gently, he lifted my dress, exposing my aroused body to him. His eyes were full of desire as he looked at me as if he wanted to eat every inch of my body."You're so beautiful," he whispered, his hands returning to my breasts, squeezing and massaging them gently.I shuddered, my body responding to his every touch. “Pascha... oh, God...”He lowered his head, his mouth touched my nipple gently, then sucked it passionately. I moane
The morning sunlight pierced through the thin curtains, illuminating the room with warm rays that reflected off the marble walls and shiny wooden floors. I woke up slowly. My head felt slightly heavy. But, that comfort was soon replaced by confusion as I opened my eyes and looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling of the room.I sat up quickly, my body feeling stiff on the soft bed that was too luxurious for a normal room. The sight of San Francisco skyscrapers looming outside the large windows made it clear that this was not my home.Panic began to creep in."Where am I?" I whispered softly, my voice hoarse.My eyes swept the room, trying to find clues. The room was large, too large, with decor that felt expensive: thick fabric curtains, a glass table with a vase of fresh white flowers, and a crystal chandelier glittering from the ceiling.I pulled the satin blanket over my body, and that's when I realized. I was only wearing a long white shirt—not mine. My chest immediately felt heavy, and
The car was quiet, with only the soft, barely audible sound of the engine and jazz music playing softly from the speakers. I sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window at the San Francisco streetscape passing by.This car is too comfortable, too expensive, too Pascha.A small bowl of warm oatmeal porridge is topped with cinnamon and banana slices on my lap. The porridge looked simple, but the aroma was quite tempting, especially when my fragile stomach began to whimper.However, I was still upset."Eat," Pascha commanded, his deep voice laced with authority as his hand gripped the steering wheel effortlessly. His tone was casual, yet the power behind it made my pulse quicken. "I don’t want you passing out at the zoo later."I snorted softly, staring at the bowl of porridge he had handed me a few minutes ago. It was a typical warm oatmeal mixed with ripe bananas, a little honey, and a sprinkle of cinnamon that had a delicate aroma."I can eat later," I reply flatly, trying to hid
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
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
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
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
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
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
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."
"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
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