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XL

Author: Maya East
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-22 19:59:26
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
Maya East

WARNING! This is the previous chapter that has been edited.

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  • His Son, Her Secret   XLI

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22
  • His Son, Her Secret   XLII

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22
  • His Son, Her Secret   XLIII

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22
  • His Son, Her Secret   XLIV

    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

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  • His Son, Her Secret   XLV [21+]

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22
  • His Son, Her Secret   XLVI

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22
  • His Son, Her Secret   XLVII

    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

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22
  • His Son, Her Secret   XLVIII

    Max looked so happy in Pascha's arms. His little hands pointed towards the giraffe enclosure, his face full of excitement as he talked endlessly about how long the animal's neck was. With patience I never seen before, Pascha responded to Max's every word with a gentle tone that made me feel like I was seeing a completely different side of him.Pascha turned to me, waving a hand in a clear gesture for me to come closer. I sighed, and Clara still giggled next to me. With reluctant steps, I walked over to them. Max is still in Pascha's arms, his face beaming as he pointed at the monkey cage near us."Mommy, Cece, come quickly! Daddy says this monkey likes to eat bananas like me!" Max exclaimed enthusiastically, and then he rebelled to get down, Pascha put his down.Pascha turned to me, his eyes watching my movements. "Max wants to know why monkeys like to eat bananas. Do you want to explain?""You seem to be quite enjoying being a science lecturer. Please continue." I folded my arms acros

    Last Updated : 2025-01-22

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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