LOGINNIKOLAI Heaving sounds filled the room, drowning out the rushing footsteps toward the door as the bitch finally got the message and left me alone. I struggled for control, my inner voice louder than the burning lump in my throat, telling me that I would not break. I would not give them satisfaction.But the door opened again before I could regain control, and quick, urgent footsteps followed soon after. I didn't have to look to know it wasn't the nurse this time.“Mr. Belkov, what is—?"“Get out."My voice cut through his words, sharp and final, just as the bastard approached me. I didn't look up at him, but I could feel his gaze on me, assessing and calculating, attempting to piece together whatever story the nurse had already begun telling him.“I was told there was some distress," he said, even though I had told him to leave, his words careful as if he were stepping on thin ice. “Can you tell me what—?"“I said, get out." Was he fucking deaf? He refused to move, which drove me ins
NIKOLAII stared at her as if I blinked, she would vanish before my chest constricted sharply enough to cut through the numbness I had grown accustomed to.My first thought was confusion rather than relief as I questioned her presence in this place. She was dressed in hospital clothes, so it was clear she wasn't visiting.My gaze quickly swept over her, instinctively searching for injuries, anything that could give me an explanation, while my heart thudded uncomfortably.Was she hurt? Was she...?My thoughts faltered as I shifted my gaze to see her parents with her. Their table was a short distance away, half in the sun and half in the shade. And then I saw him—Levi Price—and everything inside of me dropped.The air left my lungs in a slow, burning exhale, leaving a dark and bitter lump in my chest as I questioned his presence here. No. A better question arose immediately afterwards.What was he still doing with her?My jaw tightened, and my fingers curled against the wheelchair's arm
REVALevi and I were still snuggled in each other's arms, our bodies still floating in the aftermath, when my stomach let out a loud, ungraceful growl that broke the silence between us. I laughed in surprise because I had breakfast, while Levi backed away, a slow smile spreading across his face.“Was that you?" he asked, amused, and I groaned, dropping my head. “It appears I have started eating for two."His smile softened. “What do you feel like?"I considered it for a second. “Not hospital food."He huffed a soft laugh. “What's wrong with hospital food?"I wrinkled my nose and said, “It's all healthy. I don't feel very healthy right now."That made him chuckle. This hospital had a menu that rivaled most restaurants I knew, but it was all healthy, which made sense for a hospital. But as bad as it may have sounded, given that the food I put into my body was no longer just about me, I wasn't feeling particularly health-conscious right now, and I knew my baby would understand.“Alright,
LEVIReva's words hung in the air as she told me she was pregnant, and my heart stopped for a brief moment before pounding hard and fast.I stared at her, trying to process what she had just said, but the words came in slow waves rather than all at once. She went on to say that she didn't know who the father was and how far along she was.Each word sank like a stone, and my chest constricted as something sharp and unfamiliar passed through me. I had told myself for years that I didn't want children.It had become a fact about me—something fixed and unchanging. But it wasn't always like that. Before everything that happened with Danielle, I had wanted children. I had wanted to start a family someday; I just wasn't ready when she told me she was pregnant.I never imagined myself as a father at sixteen because there were so many things I wanted to accomplish before starting a family.So I was terrified of the idea at the time. Then the miscarriage occurred, and everything changed. Somewh
REVA “Hey," Levi said softly. Concern was written all over his face as his eyes scanned me, as if he was checking to make sure I was all right.Just for a moment... I couldn't speak; I just sat there, staring at him. How did he know I was here?He came to a stop next to the bed, close enough for me to see the tension in his jaw and the way his grip tightened around the flowers, and that's when I snapped out of it.“Hey." My voice was quieter than I intended, and his next words made me pause.“May I hug you?" It was a simple question asking for something simple, but how the hell was I supposed to survive that hug when I wanted him to get into this bed and make me forget about everything that had brought me here, despite the walls I'd put up. I realized I had to heal on my own before I could be close to anyone. But as I stared at him, I wanted to ignore everything and pick up where we left off.I didn't realize I'd taken too long to respond until he asked if I was okay, and said that
LEVI I arrived at Reva's apartment building, my grip on the steering wheel tightening before I turned off the engine. On the way, I'd stopped to get flowers and chocolate—the kind she liked. I remembered them from our visit to Aspen.I grabbed both from the passenger seat and exited the car, exhaling as I entered the building. I was nervous, which was new for me because I had never been this guy before.I'd always been confident, and if a woman wasn't interested in me, she wasn't. It was simple, and I've never tried to make anyone feel something they didn't, because I was never attached enough to care.But this was different. I walked into the elevator and pressed her floor, feeling all kinds of things. Looking up at my reflection, I barely recognized the guy looking back, and the elevator ride felt too brief. Stepping out, I headed down the hallway, not knowing if she'd be there.Part of me expected her to have gone to her parents' house. But I had decided to start here. Even if sh
HUNTERMy hands locked desperately around the broken railing on the first floor, knuckles screaming while my body half twisted over empty space. Below me, chaos erupted, shocked screams slicing through the air as people finally registered Nikolai’s fall, with some yelling for help.Everything had h
THIRD PARTY VIEWNikolai called Reva again, his voice breaking on her name, but there was no response. The realization came that she wasn't there. She hadn't been there, judging by how things still sat the way he had left them when he came to get his things. His legs buckled beneath him, as if his
NIKOLAIThe music cut out. “Security department, this is Mark speaking," a guy's voice came through from the other side of the line, and I straightened instinctively. “My name is Hunter Starling. I was transferred from reception to discuss security footage from Christmas Eve."“Yes, Mr. Starling,"
THIRD-PARTY VIEWPOINTNikolai stumbled out of the penthouse and froze, realizing his car was not in the driveway. Only Hunter's car was present, so he rushed back inside, tearing through the place until he grabbed Hunter's keys from the counter. He didn't slow down and drove away in Hunter's car li







