Then get to know me

Ivan pulled Arisha into a secluded corner of the hospital, the fluorescent lights dimming as they moved into the shadows.

Arisha’s heart pounded, and her breath caught in her throat. What is he doing? she wondered, but before she could speak, Ivan leaned down, placing a gentle, lingering kiss on her lips.

For a moment, time stood still. Arisha’s eyes widened, and she froze, caught off guard by the warmth and softness of his touch. When he pulled back, her heart raced, and she whispered, “Ivan...”

Ivan’s eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his thumb caressing her cheek with an intimacy that felt both familiar and distant. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voice low, filled with a depth she hadn’t heard before.

Arisha blinked, confusion swirling in her eyes. “Thank you? For what?”

Ivan’s gaze locked onto hers, intense and unyielding. “For Sisi.” His words hung in the air, and Arisha felt her breath hitch. The name—their daughter’s name—felt like a shockwave, an