Lahat ng Kabanata ng Craving Him, My Step-Brother : Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

Ruslan’s POVEverything became blurry the moment Benny, Xavier, Bernardo, whatever name he called himself uttered those words about helping Ivana relocate.Something inside of me snapped, the sound like a wire spark. Without thinking, my body moved on instinct, fury guiding my every step. One second I was sitting, the next second, I was across the room, lunging towards him like an unchained beast.Lara's voice didn't stop me, I grabbed him by the cuff of his shirt and before anyone could realize what I was up to, I slammed him against the wall with a force that shook the shelves. “You think you can play God with people’s lives?” I bellowed, fists tightening around Benny’s neck. “Where is she?! Tell me now!”Benny gasped, struggling to breathe as he clawed at my forearms. His face had turned red, and then purple. Lara screamed and rushed forward, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me back, but I shoved her off with ease.“Stop it! You’ll kill him!” she cried.Of course that was my

Ivana’s POVNodding her head slowly, I watched as she darted her eyes around.Rita didn’t come to talk, she came to attack and even though I wasn't mentally prepared for it, I stayed back. At first, it was just the usual venom dressed up as passive aggression, raised eyebrows, dry smiles, and rhetorical questions. But something had shifted in Rita’s voice when she repeated the email I had received a while ago. Her voice was bitter and raw. “So,” she said, circling me like a predator, stalking its prey. “You disappeared for a few days, did nothing, and now you’re off to Russia. Does that make sense?”I exhaled slowly, my forehead aching slightly, “Rita, not now.”But Rita stepped closer, her voice sharp. “It’s funny. Despite your rushed work after the unfortunate incident, you were still able to land the biggest opportunity of the year?”"I guess some people don’t need talent when they’ve got other assets.” She huffed and immediately, the thought sinked in but I refused to accept

Ivana’s POVWhen I returned home that day, I was so giddy with excitement that I couldn't stay in place. I wanted mom to return from work that instant but it was still morning. Finally, she returned and when I told her, she gasped, clutching her chest in joy, and then started dancing in the middle of our living room. “You’re going to Russia!” she exclaimed, spinning me in circles. “Finally! My daughter is going places again!” She cried, her genuine happiness making my heart flutter.I smiled, but the nerves churned low in my stomach. I hadn’t told her mother everything, only that it wasn't the same region where Ruslan lived. Not that I hadn’t painted for days until a sudden surge of momentum forced me to pick up the brush again, not that a part of me was still not sure if I was ready.In a bid to stop being guilty, I told her but she said none of that mattered. She said the universe had opened a door for me and all I had to do was walk through it.What made my mother happiest, was

Ivana’s POVThe morning sunlight had blended gently into the luxurious hotel suite, warming the soft white sheets tangled around my legs. For a few precious seconds, the calm hum of the city outside soothed my nerves, the crisp Russian air filtering in through the window, carrying the scent of frost and early morning coffee from the nearby café.Throwing my feet off the bed, I waddled my way to the bathroom and on my return, I headed straight for the vanity, running a brush through my soft curls. My reflection in the mirror looked composed and polished but inside, my stomach twisted with a cocktail of nervousness and excitement. Today marked the beginning of something new, a chance to step into the world I had only dreamed about. I was finally going international or should I say I had already gone international. Smiling, I reached for my earrings and fastened them to my ears with care. My navy blue dress hugged my figure in the right places, it was modest yet elegant. Stepping

Ruslan’s POVThe soft hum of the air conditioner filled my quiet office and it was broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the antique clock hanging above the bookshelf. At the moment, I was leaning back on my leather chair, my gaze fixed on the dim glow of the computer monitor in front of me. Up until now, I haven't heard from Benny. It was just like I had expected but I doubted if he thought that the accident was natural. “Ivana.” I muttered, her name stirring something restless inside me.I hadn’t seen her in years, and yet the brief glimpses of her in recent days and her presence in the city had stirred up a storm within me.Just as I was about to drift into a daydream thinking about her, the door to my office swung open with a soft push and Nico stepped inside. He had a file tucked under one arm and a satisfied smirk on his face.“She’s not alone,” Nico said, placing the file on the desk.Raising my head, I locked eyes with him, searching his face for a hint of deceit but ther