LOGINInside, Blair sat on the sofa, her hand resting on her slight belly, while Roman stood nearby deep in conversation with Luca. Two-year-old Olivia was showing off her drawings to anyone who would look."Aunt Keira!" Olivia shouted, abandoning her colouring-in to run across the room. Keira bent down,
Olivia, growing restless, wiggled off Blair’s lap. “Can I go play with my blocks?”“Yes, but stay in the playroom,” Roman told her. “I’ll be there in a minute.”As Olivia skipped off, Roman pulled Blair to her feet and into his arms. “You look tired. You should have let me bring someone in to handle
“Mama! Look!”Blair looked up from her laptop to see her two-year-old daughter, Olivia, proudly showing off a crayon drawing that was mostly colorful scribbles.“That’s beautiful, sweetheart,” Blair said, genuinely impressed with the artwork of her toddler. “Is that our family?”Olivia nodded madly,
"Is that what you think?" Niko's voice was dangerously quiet. "That your only value is as a... what? A royal broodmare?""It's the reality of our position," she insisted. "The Wystovian crown needs an heir. You need an heir. And I can't—" Her voice broke.Niko crossed the distance between them in th
"I'm trying to protect him—""From what? From having a choice?" Keira's voice grew stronger. "You're deciding what's best for Niko without asking him what he wants. That's not protection, that's control."Amelia stared at her, startled by the blunt assessment."Look, I get it. The pressure is overwh
Amelia shook her head, the weight of her failure pressing down on her. "The doctors say there's nothing wrong with Niko, which means the problem lies with me. I'm considering stepping aside, letting him divorce me so he can marry someone who can actually give him an heir." She glanced at Keira, sudd
"They said your father was contacted." Keira climbed back down, her torn dress catching on the metal edge, ripping it. "Will he pay regardless of the rules?"Alexei's expression darkened. "Officially, Wystovia doesn't negotiate with kidnappers.""And unofficially?""He's, my father." He paused. "You
"Let me tell you something," Alexei said after a long silence. "We're not just going to sit here waiting for rescue. We need to explore this place. See what we're working with."Keira looked at him skeptically. The way he winced when he moved told her his head was pounding worse than he let on. "You
His chuckle vibrated through his chest. "Practical as always."They lay together in silence, their bodies gradually relaxing against each other. Despite everything, the danger, the uncertainty, the fear Keira found herself growing drowsy, lulled by Alexei's steady heartbeat beneath her cheek."Why d
Keira couldn't handle the thought. Her mind screamed in panic.Alexei's jaw clenched. "Touch her, and no amount of money will save you from what I'll do."The man laughed. "Big words from a man who is tied up." He stood and turned toward Keira, taking a step in her direction. She shrank back, mind r







