Chapter 063I'm pregnant, Alan no!POV (FREYA)I knew me throwing up every morning wasn't something I needed to ignore, the sudden dizziness and strange feeling I've never felt my whole life."Sounds like pregnancy symptoms to me, why not give a test a try?" One of the maids had said to me a few hours ago.Ridiculous but I still couldn't ignore it, she snuck in 10 test tubes for me and I wasn't actually grateful because this was obviously a stupid idea but I had nothing to lose either ways.I don't know what it was that I expected but it surely wasn't the two pink lines that stared back at me like ghosts.For the first thirty seconds, I stared at the two pink lines like they owed me rent.I blinked. Once. Twice. Nope. Still there.“What kind of evil defective stick is this?”I shook the pregnancy test like it might blink first. Maybe it was heat-sensitive. Or cursed. Maybe Eliza bought a prank one just to mess with me.I was barren. I was. That was the whole narrative of my life. That
CHAPTER 062Something about this morning POV (FREYA)I walked back in like I never left.No dramatic entrance. No words. Just the soft thud of my boots on the floor, the scent of Alan’s cologne still lingering in the air, and Eliza’s swollen eyes watching me like I might disappear if she blinked too hard.Alan stood frozen, mouth parted, as if he thought I was a hallucination.I didn’t speak. I only walked over to the couch where he’d dropped the blanket. Picked it up. Tucked it gently around Eliza’s legs. Her arms were still clutching the stuffed fox I’d given her days ago.When I looked up, Alan’s eyes met mine.“I’m not going anywhere,” I said.Not loud. Not soft. Just… enough.His shoulders fell, and for a second, I thought he might cry again. But instead, he just nodded, slowly, like he understood it was the closest thing I could give him to forgiveness right now.Morning approached and came soft.Not golden or poetic, just the usual kind of overcast grey that made you crave tea
FREYA'S POVThe world came back to me slowly, like dragging consciousness through heavy mud. My body felt like it had sunk through the earth, but the warmth pressed against my side brought me back.“Freya... Freya, you’re awake,” a familiar voice murmured, barely holding it together.I blinked, trying to focus through the blur, and found Alan leaning over me, his eyes puffy, jaw tight. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, and his hands were trembling where they clutched mine.“You scared me,” he whispered, pulling me into a shaky embrace.But the only thing I could say was, “Where is she?”Alan didn’t answer immediately. He looked over his shoulder, and when I followed his gaze, I saw Lucien standing a little too still near the window. His arms were crossed. There was something in his expression that felt calculated, but muted.Lucien gave me a small, tight-lipped smile. “She only fell from the second floor. There was a lower ledge. She’s... fine.”The second floor. Safe enough to
CHAPTER 060DID YOU ENJOY IT? ELIZA NO!POV(FREYA)I found her near the far end of the garden. Alone, barefoot, with her knees curled on a small stone bench, Eliza’s silhouette looked like something pulled straight from a painting. But the glowing orange tip of the cigarette she pressed between her lips shattered that illusion.Smoke curled lazily into the morning air. Her hair was tied up messily, and her wrist bore the fading bruise I’d wrapped just days ago. It didn’t make sense. When did she start smoking?I murmured the thought to myself, squinting in disbelief.“She’s always been like that,” a voice startled me from behind.I turned quickly to find one of the older maids standing with a laundry basket pressed to her hip. I blinked at her, confused.“What?” I asked.“She’s always had that habit,” the maid said softly, like she wasn’t supposed to say it out loud. “More when she’s thinking. Or breaking.”I looked back at Eliza, the cigarette now hanging limply from her fingers. Som
CHAPTER 059A STEAMY NIGHT, REGRETS OR LUST OR WHATEVER SHE FELT.POV(FREYA)I pulled the covers up to Eliza’s chin, brushing a strand of her hair away. She looked peaceful now, like she hadn’t spent the entire night unraveling in my arms.I turned to leave, tiptoeing out as quietly as I could.But just as my fingers touched the doorknob, I felt it, her hand curling tightly around my wrist.I froze.“Freya,” she murmured. “Don’t go.”I turned slowly, heart skipping. Her eyes were open now. Wide and glossy.“Eliza, it’s late. I was just...”She sat up, never releasing my wrist. “You flinched.”“What?” I tried to smile.“You were scared,” she whispered, blinking at me. “Am I… scary to you?”I didn’t answer right away. Something about her voice, the smallness of it, made my throat close. Her fingers loosened slightly, waiting.So I lied. “I’m just tired,” I said softly. “That’s all.”She didn’t believe me. I could tell.But she didn’t push.“Would you… sleep here?” she asked next. Her vo
CHAPTER 058HER EYES, THEY'RE DIFFERENT POV(FREYA)The place was not what I expected.A Russian bar. I’d pictured icy stares, vodka shots, and maybe a bear head mounted on a wall. What I got instead was... people laughing? Music bouncing off brick walls? A warmth I didn’t think Russia had?“This is oddly cheerful,” I said, leaning toward Alan as we stepped in. He was scanning the room, one hand in his coat pocket, the other motioning for me to stay close. “Where’s the brooding? The mystery? The scary mafia vibes?”“Maybe they’re on vacation,” he said dryly, then added under his breath, “Give it five minutes.”We found a seat near the bar, the glow of neon lights painting the air around us in soft pink and purple. I glanced at the women, sharp cheekbones, painted lips, laughter that rang like bells. All so tall. So elegant.“Russian women are beautiful,” I murmured, half to myself.Alan paused, then turned to look at me. “Are you jealous?”I smiled tightly, though I could already feel