The darkness slowly faded, and I felt like I was being pulled back to reality. Pain radiated throughout my body like small waves that never stopped. My eyes opened slowly, trying to adjust to the dim lamplight hanging from the ceiling of the room.I didn't recognize this place. The room was spacious and luxurious, with neutral-coloured walls. My bed was soft and too comfortable for an ordinary hospital.I tried to move my body, but the stinging pain struck immediately. I winced, looked down at my bandaged right hand and felt something poking in my arm-an IV.What had happened?Then, the fragments of events started to come back.A loud crash. The glass shattering. The pain that hit like a hurricane. And then... the shadow.Pascha.I groaned softly, trying to rise slightly despite my body's loud protests. It was then that I noticed the large window on the side of the room, revealing the glittering night view of San Francisco.It was already night.Panic immediately struck me."Max..." I
My body felt more refreshed. I rested my head on the pillow and watched Max, who was busy drawing on a table in the corner of the room. Clara sat on a chair near my bed, scrolling through the screen of her phone, occasionally smiling at Max.Max and Clara has been here for two hours, just like I asked. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't seen their faces as soon as I opened my eyes.This morning began with a bit of luck. A friendly nurse told me that Pascha had left early in the morning before I had even woken up. There was "important business" he had to take care of, she said. That gave me a little breathing space and calmed my longing for Max, at least for now.But when the bedroom door creaked open, all that peace was gone in an instant.Jacob walked in.He was dressed in his doctor's coat. His eyes immediately caught Max's presence, and my eyebrows immediately knitted together.Max, without any awkwardness, looked at him and smiled kindly. "Hello, Doc," Max greeted inno
When the bedroom door closed behind Clara and Max, I let out a long breath, feeling a huge weight lifted from my chest. I didn't know what would happen if Pascha saw Max. The worst-case scenario that kept running through my mind was a nightmare that I wanted to avoid at all costs.I leaned my head against the pillow, trying to calm myself down. But the calm didn't last long.The door to the room opened without a knock, and I knew immediately who entered before even seeing them. The steps were too slow but, sure, too recognizable.Pascha Romanov.He appeared with cold, domineering, as if the world spun according to his will. The black shirt he wore accentuated his increasingly masculine body, and the thin, well-groomed beard added a more mature impression than five years ago."How are you feeling?" he asked flatly, closing the door behind him."I'm fine,"He stepped closer, his eyes sweeping over my body with a look I found hard to interpret."Has anyone come to see you?"I let out the
"I'm going home alone,""No," he replied curtly.I looked up, staring at him with a furrowed brow. "What do you mean by no?""I'll drive you," he said ice-cold like it was a non-negotiable decision."I can go home by myself. I've already booked a cab." I snorted, trying to contain my mounting frustration."Cancel it."I stared at him, incredulous. "You can't force me to accept your help."He crossed his arms over his chest, standing tall like a marble statue. "You just got out of the hospital. I won't let you go home alone.""And I don't need you to decide what I can or cannot do." I retorted in a sharp tone."You're stubborn," he said flatly."I'm stubborn? You're the one who doesn't know when to stop!""You don't know what you're doing," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What if you pass out in the middle of the road? What if something happens?""I'm fine!" I almost shouted, stepping closer to him. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you to watch my every move!"He didn't b
I sat in the pantry room, stirring the coffee that was no longer hot. Jess, Mr. Grant's secretary, sat in front of me with raised eyebrows, looking at me like a big sister waiting for her little brother to admit something."So, you're considering moving out?" she asked finally.I shrugged, trying to look relaxed even though the anxiety inside me was mounting. "I don't know, Jess. I... feel like it's too much. I'm not sure I can keep doing this project, Romanov Corp, everything that comes with it."She didn't answer right away. Her sharp eyes scanned my face, searching for something I might not want to show."Belva," her voice softer. "You know this is no ordinary project. You're the one they're counting on to lead this. You can't just give up.""I'm not giving up," I quickly retorted. "I just feel... I need something new."She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over his chest. "I understand. But you also know this project wouldn't be what it is without you. Sure, they can repl
I'm standing in the center of the new office space where our team will work during the Lantum Mining project. The room is spacious, with a glass wall overlooking the busy city of San Francisco. The desks are set up and complete with the latest technological equipment provided by Romanov Corp.We got busy organizing the desks and computers, ensuring everything was ready to start work tomorrow. I took advantage of this time to get my mind away from the chaotic feelings.My phone vibrates. I take it out of my blazer pocket, and a message from Clara appears on the screen.Clara: Max just finished the 50-piece puzzle all by himself! The message is accompanied by a photo of Max smiling broadly on the living room floor in front of a large, completed dinosaur puzzle. His little face shone with a pride that couldn't be hidden.I couldn't help but smile.Me: That's great! Tell him that his Mommy is so proud of him.Clara replied quickly.Clara: he’ll be happy to hear it. When are you coming hom
When I arrive home, the orange sky paints long shadows on the sand. The roar of the waves accompanies my steps to the back porch, where Max's laughter echoes happily. I pause, watching his small figure chase a ball with Clara along the beach.Clara waves to me, her brown hair a mess in the wind. Max looked up, his face beaming when he saw me."Mommy! Come, come, come!" he exclaimed, jumping up and down on the spot, calling me excitedly.I raised my hand, waving briefly before entering the house. The air inside the house was calmer, with the distinctive smell of sea salt mixed with the fragrant wood from the kitchen.I removed my shoes, placed them in the corner by the door, and headed for the bathroom. The warm water touched my skin, caressing it gently, erasing the traces of fatigue from a long day. But, although my body felt calm, my mind was caught up in the conversation with Pascha, which was still echoing. It was like a wound that hadn't healed completely—painful, disturbing and i
It was getting late, but Max and Clara's laughter filled the dining room, keeping the atmosphere warm. Nearly empty plates lay on the table while Max swung his legs, his face content after a dinner that was quite a lot for a little boy."I thought you said you didn't want to eat vegetables," Clara teased, pointing to the cabbage left on Max's plate."Mommy said I should try," Max replied, his voice full of defense. "And it was... not bad. Not great, but not bad either."Clara chuckled while I just shook my head with a faint smile. "Next time, you'll say you liked it," I replied lightly as I set the plates on the table.Max suddenly stood up, his eyes sparkling. "OKAY! After this, we can play cards again!""Gosh, this kid doesn't run out of energy," Clara said dramatically.But, just as I opened my mouth to reply, a knock on the front door broke our attention.Max jumped up from his chair towards the door. "I'll open it!""Max!" I called, but he had already disappeared behind the living
I tossed Max onto the bed.Not tossed as in really tossed, but just enough to make him bounce and laugh like a tiny ball that had lost its sense of gravity.Mischa followed a second later, arms stretched out like a failed superhero, landing with a dramatic “UFH!” before rolling over and grumbling, “You threw me like a trash bag!”I raised an eyebrow, standing at the edge of the bed with my arms crossed. “You know, some kids beg to be thrown into Disneyland. You get a soft bed and free drama.”Max burst into laughter. Mischa glared at me.“That’s enough. You two little gremlins... it’s bedtime,” I huffed, trying to sound stern.Mischa had already curled herself up like a burrito in her blanket, only her eyes peeking out as she glanced over at Max.Max, of course, wasn’t done yet. “Daddy,” he said, sitting upright on the bed, “Mommy should sleep here tonight.”I paused, looking at that little face which, unfortunately, had inherited the Romanov face and stubbornness. And he knew it. He
Pascha drove with one hand, the other occasionally reaching out to the dashboard to change the music as he pleased. For most of the drive, he whistled and, much to my annoyance, kept looking at me, smugly.I leaned my head against the window. “Stop looking at me like that.”“Like what?” His voice was casual.“Like you know something I don’t.”He chuckled . “But I do know something you don’t, Mrs. Romanov.”I rolled my eyes. “You’re not going to stop calling me that, are you?”“Nope,” he said, without a hint of guilt. “Because now it’s official. Legal. And you can’t undo it just by... rolling your eyes like that.”I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to erase every trace of exhaustion and leftover emotion from the night before. I still hadn’t fully processed it all. That I was now... his wife.My house came into view in the distance. The ocean shimmered gold behind it. And as always, Pascha’s mansion loomed next door, a constant reminder that I’d never really be able to escape him.
My body tensed. I squirmed out of his embrace. The sand scraped against my palms as I pushed myself up to sit straight. I turned to look at Pascha."Can you just... not do that?"He stared at me for a moment, blankly.I went on. “That line you just said… God, seriously, it was so cheesy.”Pascha tilted his head , his eyes narrowing. And before I could add anything to emphasize the disgust still crawling down my spine, he laughed, irritating one.“Oh, come on,” he said, playfuly. “I thought it was kinda romantic.”I let out a long breath and edged a bit farther away, brushing sand off my arm. “Romantic?” I scoffed. “That sounded like a soap opera line Clara would obsess over.”Pascha shrugged. “Still, you heard it.”“I heard it because you whispered it right into my ear!” I snapped, whipping my head toward him. “It was....it was creepy, Pascha. Creepy and corny and... I don’t know. But gross!”He laughed again.. “I forgot,” he murmured. “You’re allergic to anything sweet.”Before I cou
I came down the stairs at seven a.m., my steps slow on the oak wood that felt too expensive—and far too quiet—for the storm inside my chest. The sound of waves drifted in from afar through a slightly cracked window, filling the air with sea salt and cool mist. Morning light slipped softly into the living room, brushing over thick rugs and cream velvet couches that looked like they belonged in an architecture magazine.The Romanov villa in Carmel… was too perfect.Too still.And for the first time since last night, I was thankful for that.No heavy footsteps on the floor.No clinking glasses.No low voice saying my name in that way that short-circuited my entire nervous system.No Pascha.I let out a quiet sigh—half relief, half disbelief. I wasn’t ready this morning. Not for his stare. Too honest. Too lit. Too full of history.I made my way to the kitchen. The interior looked like something out of another world—gray marble counters veined with white like paintings, dark wood cabinets
His embrace felt like the world I almost left behind—warm, stubborn, and heavy with the shadows of our past.But I couldn’t breathe.Not because he was holding me too tightly, but because my mind was too full. Too loud. Too much to process all at once.I pressed my hand gently against his chest. One small push. Then another, firmer.Pascha let go slowly, but his gray eyes stayed locked on me like he was afraid I’d vanish if he blinked.I took two steps back, holding in a breath that burned like embers in my chest.“I need some time alone,” I said softly.Pascha frowned but didn’t speak.“Another room. In this villa. I know this place is huge—too huge. You can sleep wherever you want. But I need space. I need… somewhere that isn’t you.”My voice nearly cracked, but I forced it to hold.He didn’t answer right away. He just looked at me, and I could see something stirring inside him. Not anger. Not guilt.But love—raw and unsure of what shape to take in a moment like this.Then he steppe
I fell silent.The only sound was the faucet still running, water hitting the metal sink like a downpour in the middle of silence.That sentence echoed in my head."You're my wife, Bee."I blinked.Once.Twice.Then the world started to spin.Not the usual kind of dizziness, not a migraine from lack of sleep or too much caffeine. This was... like my logic was twisted, crushed, and thrown off the highest cliff without warning.My heart started pounding—not from emotion, but because my brain couldn’t process something this big… this absurd… this Pascha.I took a step back.Then another.My hand reached for the cold edge of the kitchen counter, gripping it just to stay upright.“What... did you just say?” I whispered, even though I’d heard him. Too clearly.He just looked at me, eyes steady, shoulders still slightly leaning forward like a man who just dropped a bomb in the middle of a city and was waiting to see if there’d be an explosion.I laughed.It was dry. Empty. The laugh of someo
The cold air hit my skin like a slap of reality.I stared at my reflection in the villa’s bathroom mirror—cream marble walls too smooth to be real, warm lighting that made my swollen eyes look softer, and a wide sink with a bottle of liquid soap that probably cost more than my shoes.But my face... was still the same.Tired eyes. Cracked lips. Unsteady breath.I wiped my cheek with a white towel—clean, lavender-scented—then looked at myself again.“This is the end,” I said quietly.My own voice sounded unfamiliar. But steady.“It has to end. Tonight.”I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling the front pieces back and tying them at the back of my head with a small band I found in my bag. The rest of my short hair fell around my neck—light, out of the way. Practical. Sharp. Just like my intention for tonight.I looked down at my wrinkled sweater—sage green, a color I used to love, now feeling like a burden. My jeans itched too, dusty from the car ride and too much heat from earlier ang
“I hate you.”That was the first thing I said after the car crossed the gate and turned onto the main road. My voice cracked. My breathing was still uneven. One hand clutched the seatbelt, the other trembled in my lap.“You think this is funny? Bringing her into your house? Around Max?!”Pascha stayed silent. His left hand rested calmly on the wheel, the right on the gearshift. His eyes were locked on the road like there wasn’t a storm sitting right next to him.“You really don’t realize what a bastard you are, do you?”Still no response.“You’re insane. You’re.....you’re the most selfish person I’ve ever met! You showed up at my house bleeding, crawled into my bed. MY BED, and the next day you brought her to your house?!”Still nothing. The car kept rolling forward, eating up pavement in a steady rhythm.“And you let Max laugh with her? Sit next to her? What.....what’s next, he calls her ‘Mommy’? Is that it? That your plan? To replace me? Hand her the title?”No answer.I turned to h
The car hadn’t even come to a full stop in the carport when I opened the door."Bell—"I heard Kyara’s voice from behind me, but I didn’t look back. My steps were fast. Hot. Loud.Every heel strike against the stone path between my house and Pascha’s mansion felt like a tiny hammer, fueling my anger higher and higher. I knew he was there. I knew Max was there. And I knew that snake of a woman was there too, sitting pretty in the living room, playing a role so well even the devil would applaud her performance.Aurora was close behind me, her steps quick but cautious. I could feel her breath. Short and startled. But nothing could stop me now.The mansion door opened. Clara stood in the doorway, her expression confused and wary when she saw me. But I didn’t stop.“Where’s Max?” I asked flatly.“In the back room… playing with synthetic sand and Mischa,” Clara whispered.I didn’t say anything else. No need. I walked inside.And there she was.Her.Mikaela.Sitting on Pascha’s way-too-soft,