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CamilaIt felt as though time had slowed to a crawl in the bunker, even though I knew our days there were numbered.The reality that I might soon be sent back to the Morosov estate to wait for Ronan’s return lingered in the back of my mind, but it didn’t trouble me too much. I clung to the hope that, somehow, everything would work out in the end.After a quiet meal, Ronan and I tucked Katya into bed. The peaceful routine of caring for her brought a sense of normalcy to our otherwise tense lives.Once she was asleep, we returned to the living room and decided to do something we wouldn’t normally dare to do at the house—something simple yet intimate. We snuggled up on the couch, wrapped in a warm blanket, and put on a classic movie, The Notebook.As the story of love, loyalty, and perseverance unfolded on the screen, I found myself deeply moved. The tale struck a chord with me, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.The emotions stirred up by the film were overwhelming,
CamilaThe night had been wild, and the morning even more so.Two days passed, wrapped in a blissful bubble of love and serenity, where the outside world ceased to exist.Neither of us mentioned Ronan's upcoming trip, as if by ignoring it, we could make it disappear.I was grateful for the escape, for the pure joy and love we shared.This life, this fleeting dream, was something I could never have in the real world. Yet Ronan had created it for me, effortlessly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.He made me feel like a freeborn, the wife of a Colonel, and the mother of his daughter. It was a perfect dream, and even though I knew it was temporary, I cherished every moment, holding it close like a precious gift.But soon, our little holiday came to an end, and it was time to return to the estate.Ronan seemed to think I would be sad, leaving behind our hidden sanctuary, but I wasn’t.In fact, I felt a sense of calm. The sooner he went to Kavistan and returned, the sooner w
CamilaI could see how hard Ronan was trying to ease my worries, and the effort he was putting into protecting us was both touching and endearing. His concern for our safety, his desire to shield us from any potential harm, made me smile despite the heaviness of the situation.“I’ll be fine, Ronan,” I assured him, my voice soft yet firm. “Just make sure you come home to me in one piece.”“I will, Malishka, I promise,” he replied, his smile warm and comforting as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror before taking a turn.His words lingered in the air, a promise that felt like a lifeline in the midst of all the uncertainty. Despite everything, I felt a sense of peace, knowing that Ronan was doing everything he could to keep us safe. And that, for now, was enough.We arrived at the estate, and I was immediately struck by the sight of the heavily guarded gate.It was clear that something serious was happening. My heart began to race as I instinctively reached out to touch Katya, ho
RonanThe shock of Marc's death still lingered, a heavy weight in my chest, but I forced myself to push through. I drove to the house, my mind racing, especially with the Lieutenant beside me—a man I didn't recognise, which only added to the unease.Once we arrived at the house, I called out for Kenneth and Oliver, who quickly responded."Welcome home, Sir," they greeted me. Kenneth’s voice filled with genuine relief. I knew his words were more for Camila than for me. My presence meant that Camila was home, but I also knew she wouldn’t be staying here for long."Help Camila bring the things in," I instructed, already moving toward my study, the Lieutenant close behind me. As I closed the door, I took a moment to gather myself, trying to push aside the chaos swirling in my mind."Tell me what's really going on, Lieutenant," I demanded, needing straight answers. He sighed heavily before speaking."Sir, we don't have all the details, but our intelligence suggests there's a targeted effort
RonanThe moment Lieutenant Orlov left, I sank into my chair, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.My hands trembled as I reached for my phone, dread creeping in as I prepared to learn the truth. I knew I had to call Abel—he was the only one who might be reachable right now, given that the rest of my friends were likely in the same precarious position as me, all of us holding the same rank except for Abel, who hadn’t yet been promoted.I dialled his number, my heart pounding as I waited for him to answer. When I finally heard his voice, it was strained, barely holding together."Ronan," he said, his voice cracking under the weight of grief."I just heard about Marc. Is it true?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. I could hear him sigh on the other end."I’m afraid so, Ronan. We left the club together," he said, his voice breaking as he spoke. I could hear the pain, the guilt, the disbelief, and it mirrored my own. I had no words of comfort to offer, no way to
RonanAbel arrived as he said he would, and we spent most of the night talking about Marc. It was his first time visiting my house, but he wasn’t in any state to notice or admire the surroundings.Grief hung heavy between us, making everything else seem trivial. I couldn’t bring myself to entertain him properly—our shared sorrow overshadowed any attempts at hospitality.This time, I didn’t let Camila serve us. I made sure Kenneth and my butler, Oliver, took care of everything instead.Abel was deeply shaken, more than I had expected.I could see the fear in his eyes, the way his hands trembled slightly as he spoke. He kept pleading with me to stay safe, his voice laced with desperation.He didn’t want to lose another friend like we had lost Marc. I hadn’t realised just how hard Marc’s death had hit him.It had affected me too, of course, but I’d kept most of it inside, processing it quietly. Unlike Abel, I had Camila and Katya to comfort me, to help bear the weight of the pain."Will
Ronan"Once I resume work, I'll put in the paperwork and have them come pick Arya up from here," I said, watching Abel's eyes widen in surprise."You mean she’s here?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.I nodded, feeling the weight of the situation more heavily than ever."Yes, in the servant’s quarters. I didn’t know what else to do, Abel. I couldn’t have her wandering around, especially with everything going on. If she goes missing and the government demands I turn her over, and I can’t, I’ll be in serious trouble. I really didn’t have a choice. I wasn’t home, so I just told them to put her in the servant’s quarters."Abel sighed, shaking his head. "You really aren’t lucky with women, it seems. She should have just turned herself in. I heard she was sloppy at the Red Cross, which is why they let her go so easily; otherwise, she’d still be free. But she wasn’t even doing her job properly."I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes at him. "You seem to know an awful lot more than I d
RonanMorning arrived, and I dressed in silence, feeling the absence of Camila’s usual presence as she didn’t come to help me get ready.Having a guest in the house meant pretending that things were different now, and it sucked.As I headed downstairs, I found Camila at the dining table, carefully setting places for two. I considered telling her not to bother, but the look in her eyes stopped me. She wanted to do this, and I couldn't take that away from her."You made breakfast?" I asked, approaching the table.She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips."Kenneth helped with the crepes," she said just as Abel walked in, fully dressed and ready for the day.The moment he saw Camila, he whistled, his surprise evident. It seemed Joseph and Marc had never told him she was staying with me.Did they suspect and choose to keep it to themselves? I wouldn’t put it past Marc; he was always a step ahead."You brought Camila here after everything that happened?" Abel asked, making himself comfo