56

My mom covered her mouth with her hand, hiding an emotional sigh, while dad drilled the fiancé with his gaze. The funniest of all was Nazar. He sat there barely restraining his smile, watching the spectacle with keen interest.

"You know your daughter, she’s very proud and stubborn, so she decided to hide from me the fact that I was going to be a father," Kirill sighed sadly, pressing his lips together. "For a year and a half, I couldn’t get her out of my head; I couldn’t move on or start a new relationship," the man confessed sincerely, and I realized just how good he is! Damn it, good at acting! I could see even dad’s gaze beginning to soften. Unbelievable!

"But apparently, fate was on our side, and I met Vicky at a vacation base of one of our family friends," Kirill looked at me warmly and tenderly, taking my hand. "At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes, but she was there with two little ones. My sons!" he said with feeling, and damn it, his eyes got a little watery!

I watched this circus in complete shock! Internally, I noted to myself that there’s no way I could ever fully trust him. Stanislavski would have been giving a standing ovation here.

"I never had a second of doubt whose children these were," now he looked affectionately at the boys sitting at their little tables, apparently listening to their father’s bullshit as if understanding something. "No DNA test needed; they are our exact copy with Nazar."

"That’s true," my mom confirmed, looking at me reproachfully.

"We talked, sorted out all our misunderstandings, and now we’re together again. I won’t let my family go anywhere," he said, almost ominously. "You have no idea how happy I am about our reunion!"

"He’s happy," grumbled dad. "You need to take responsibility for your actions and your family," my father looked seriously at Kirill, and then something happened that I never expected in my life.

"Yes, that’s exactly why we’re all gathered here!"

Kirill stood up from his seat, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a box containing a ring of incredible beauty. He dropped to one knee and began babbling about the honor of having me as his wife.

Mom was in a semi-faint, dad pursed his lips approvingly, and I… I just stared at Kirill in total shock! Tears began streaming down my cheeks, not from joy, but because I couldn’t believe how skillfully he had turned everything in his favor! I was just horrified at what this man was capable of!

"Don’t cry, my love," the scoundrel gently wiped my tears. "I’m waiting for your answer."

Kirill’s satisfied and victorious expression told me that he already knew my answer. After all, for me, there was simply no other answer!

"Yes," I rasped, staring unblinkingly at the brunette and letting my tears fall. "I will marry you."

The fiancé slid the ring onto my finger and scooped me up in his arms, beginning to kiss my salty lips deeply. I didn’t resist, but I didn’t respond fervently either; I simply accepted it as a given.

Our parents and Nazar began congratulating us. My mother was crying, my father was also very moved, and I felt as if I were in a vacuum, with everything happening around me.

Then I heard that Kirill wanted to have the wedding in two weeks, arguing that he had already waited long enough. It turned out that we had been dating for about a year before our breakup. My parents didn’t understand such haste, but my fiancé assured them that the wedding would be entirely at his expense, which infuriated my father. The conversation then shifted to business and other interests.

By the end of the evening, all the men were freely and comfortably talking among themselves. Even Nazar fit perfectly into the group.

I moved to the floor with my mom, playing with the little ones. My mother couldn’t stop rejoicing for me and my “happiness,” occasionally shedding a tear and looking at me tenderly.

The evening was drawing to a close, and then another little trick came my way—this time from my mom.

"Vicky, we’ll start getting ready to leave soon. We’ll take the boys with us today too," my mom said slyly and knowingly. "You’re weaning them, so they’ll stay with us for a couple of days while you’re here. Otherwise, you’ll leave for Kyiv, and I’ll miss these little rascals terribly. And you two could use some privacy," she added softly, completely finishing me off and making my cheeks burn.

"Mom, it’s not a problem for me, really," I started to protest against such a tempting offer.

"Thank you very much," Kirill interjected, addressing his future mother-in-law, then giving me a teasing look. "Vicky, what are you doing acting like that! When grandmothers offer help, you don’t refuse. Especially since we’ll be leaving anyway, and the kids won’t see your parents very often."

I had no arguments left. I gave in. We said goodbye to my parents, who took the children with them, and then to the laughing Nazar, barely shoving him out the door.

And as soon as everyone left, panic gripped me. I felt Kirill behind me, slowly running his hand over my shoulder, whispering softly in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"So, my bride, shall we celebrate our engagement?"