MasukIvan’s hands cupped mine, his eyes glistening.“Emily,” he said, his voice thick. “You changed everything. I didn’t know what it meant to live fully until I saw you laugh. I didn’t know what it meant to love until I watched you hold Mila when she was scared, when she was sick, when she just needed s
E M I L YSix months later.The soft swell of violins filled the chapel air, and I blinked through a veil of tears as the double doors creaked open before me. My hand tightened around Mila’s tiny fingers, her giggle a spark of light in the stillness. She looked up at me with a beaming smile, radiant
I opened the box.“Will you marry me?”The room was silent for a heartbeat.Then Emily dropped to her knees and flung her arms around my neck.“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes. A million times, yes.”The room erupted.Mila squealed and clapped. Laura cried openly. Mikhail whooped. Elle burst into full sob
I couldn’t stop staring.“You’re going to burn a hole in me,” she teased, glancing at me through the mirror.“Can’t help it,” I said, my voice hoarse.She stood then, unwrapping the towel from her body. I looked away out of instinct, respect, habit, nerves, but she laughed and tossed a pair of tight
I V A NThe day after the courthouse verdict felt like the first real breath I’d taken in months. We’d finally won. Emily had full custody, Tristan was out of our lives for good, and Mila… Mila was safe. I thought that kind of peace would be enough to steady my nerves for a while. But now, standing
The final day of the hearing, when Tristan took the stand, it was like watching a stranger unravel.He was combative. Defensive. Sloppy. He tried to paint himself as the victim of a cruel mother who shut him out and poisoned his daughter’s mind. But under cross examination, it didn’t take long for h
He paused, breath shaking, eyes locked on mine.“You and Alina… you are my beginning. You are my redemption. And today, I give you everything I am, because you are everything I’ve ever wanted to be worthy of.”I couldn’t stop the tears, but I didn’t need to. I spoke my vows through them.“Mikhail, I
E L L EWe were still tied up to chains when the door opened. It's been what? Two days? Since we were captured here. I couldn't eat, sleep, or pee properly. And, I haven't had any water either.I was tired, sore, and starving. My legs were aching, and my throat was dry.And, the baby.I was so worri
"I know, Ivan. I know. It's just getting harder and harder. Because, the longer we take, the more likely they are going to hurt them. We can't wait any longer. They're already taking their anger out on the women, and if we don't find them soon, I have a feeling they're going to kill them. We can't l
M I K H A I LI was on the verge of losing it.I was about to lose my fucking mind.We couldn't find them.No one could.After Lana's call, we tried to track the number and traced it, but it only led us to a dead end.There were no cameras near the house, and no one had seen or heard anything. Sebas







