CamilaMelania continued to look at me with disdain."By the time I am through with you, you will tell me the truth. All the while, Sergey and I were worried Ronan got drunk and took advantage of you, hence the pity. That was why we let you birth Katya and raise her. Had we known you and your mother orchestrated this entire thing, I would have handed you to the authorities after you gave birth," she said, grabbing my hair in her fist. I didn't scream out because Katya was already crying. Tears streamed down my face."You belong to Sergey and me, and I will take you back to the estate. Ronan can get a new nanny for his daughter. With you out of the way, he can think straight," she said, and I could hear the rage in her voice. She believed them.She sounded like someone who was deeply betrayed. I could understand her feelings, but my mother and I weren't the ones who drugged Ronan. I was content with my quiet life."What are you doing?" Ronan said, rushing down the stairs in his vest and
CamilaMelania decided she would leave the next morning. The air in the house was heavy with tension, words having been exchanged that could not be taken back. She came to check on Katya and found me sleeping on an air mattress in Katya's room. It was the first time she had seen me there."Is this where you sleep?" she asked, her voice softer than usual."Yes, Madam, so I am not too far," I replied, and I saw her eyes soften. She looked at me with a mix of curiosity and contemplation."I apologise for yesterday; it’s just that what was said made sense. You would never harm my family, would you?" Her question caught me off guard. It was unusual for Melania to apologise to someone like me, someone she considered beneath her. I had to tread carefully."Not in my wildest dreams, Madam. I owe my life to the Morosovs. I could never," I assured her, and she nodded, letting out a sigh."Keep this between us," she said, stepping closer. I wasn't sure what she meant but I stayed silent, waiting.
CamilaMadame Melania walked softly to the crib, her hand trembling slightly as she reached down to caress Katya’s cheek. Her touch was gentle, filled with a mixture of regret and sorrow."My sweet child," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Grandma was so angry yesterday that she made you cry. I'm so sorry, my love. I promise, next time I come, I won't make you cry." She bent down, her lips brushing Katya's forehead in a tender kiss, before she turned and left the room.I sat there, rooted to the spot, unable to move. My mind was a whirl of emotions, my heart heavy with sadness. I didn’t know how long I stayed like that, frozen in time, until Ronan walked in. He was dressed in casual clothes, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me."I heard her leaving this morning," he said, his voice breaking through my deep thoughts. I turned to look at him, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. He walked over and sat beside me, his presence a small comfort."I'm so sorry about yeste
RonanComing home to that dreadful scene tore at my heart. The sight was overwhelming, and it opened my eyes to a painful truth I had been trying to avoid. My mother, in her naivety or perhaps her stubbornness, had brought chaos into my home. I had vowed to protect Camila, to keep her safe from the dangers that lurked in the shadows, but now I felt powerless.The realisation that my mother couldn’t see the danger in her actions was crushing. It made me question everything. The idea of sending Camila and Katya to my father’s estate, which once seemed like the best option, now felt like a terrible mistake. But what choice did I have? I was about to leave for Kavistan, and the thought of leaving them behind haunted me, keeping me awake through the long, lonely hours of the night.My heart ached to hold Camila, to keep her close, but I was forced to stay away, restrained by the invisible chains my mother had unwittingly placed on us. The weight of the secret I carried was unbearable, gnawi
RonanTo become the head of state, I had two choices left after deciding to reject the Semenovs' offer. The first option was to bide my time, waiting fifteen long years to rise through the ranks and become a general. But with the world changing so quickly, and laws becoming more unpredictable, I wasn’t sure I could protect Camila for that long. The thought of waiting while everything around us shifted and the dangers grew felt unbearable.The second option was far more perilous—a coup d'état. But that was the darkest path of all. If I failed, I would lose everything, including my life. And the idea of leaving Camila in this harsh world without me to protect her was something I couldn't bear to consider.My parents could take care of Katya, but they wouldn’t be able to protect Camila. I felt trapped, desperate for a solution. I had to find a way out of this mess, but until then, all I could do was wait and hope."How are you?" I asked, breaking the heavy silence. Camila looked up, meeti
CamilaThe moment we stepped onto the pathways in the woods, I felt a deep sense of relief wash over me. It was as if I could almost taste freedom in the air. The tension I had been carrying for so long began to loosen, and I found myself exhaling, letting go of the anxiety that had gripped me. But that relief was short-lived when we came upon the checkpoint. My heart raced, and fear gripped me tightly. I was scared—terrified, really—of what might happen next.Katya, couldn’t hold back her tears. She cried so softly, and it broke my heart. I wanted to reach out and hold her, to comfort her in any way I could. She deserved that—she deserved to be held and reassured. Seeing her cry made me want to protect her even more.As soon as we entered the woods, I noticed a change in Ronan. His shoulders, which had been so tense, seemed to relax just a little. Even though I was seated in the back with Katya, I could sense his worry and stress alleviated. He had taken on so much for our sake, and I
CamilaRonan looked at me with a warm smile, and I knew I must have looked completely taken aback by everything I had just witnessed.“In the woods, there will be no sign of a car, a garage, or anything. No one would ever know we were here," he said, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him."This is a perfect getaway and hideaway," I replied, and he nodded in agreement."The only downside is the limited supplies and the need to stock up regularly. Otherwise, I might have just left you and Katya here, but that wouldn't be right. You can't go out on your own," he said, and I understood his concern.I knew Ronan wanted to protect me at all costs, and I appreciated him for that. But deep down, I had accepted my fate and knew I couldn’t stay hidden forever."Coming here for holidays, though, is perfect," I said, trying to lighten the mood. Ronan smiled and pulled me close, Katya still in my arms, and kissed me gently on the lips.Katya giggled when we broke the kiss, her innocent laughter
CamilaRonan and I stood quietly by Katya’s bedside for a moment, watching her sleep peacefully. The room was filled with a gentle calm, and for that brief time, everything felt right. Before we left, Ronan carefully placed a baby monitor on a nearby shelf, positioning it so it faced the bed. We could keep an eye on her from anywhere in the bunker."Now, let me show you the rest of the bunker," he said, a playful glint in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat.The kitchen was already visible, sharing the open space with the living room, so we moved on to the second door.When Ronan opened it, we stepped into another area with two more doors. The first room was filled with monitors and a computer—an impressive setup that allowed us to view above-ground and satellite images. It was a control center of sorts, providing a sense of security by letting us keep an eye on the outside world from the safety of the bunker.The second door led to a supply room. Inside, shelves were stocked with