CHAPTER 101: ARIELLA

We went into my apartment right after my panic attack settled.He was so gentle, so calm like he didn't just give me his name and everything else to make me feel complete."Why do you keep doing this? You could have anyone. Literally any woman you wanted. Why do you keep chasing me and making this choice impossible to keep to?" My voice cracked at the end, unable to continue."Because I don't want just anyone. I want you." He sat next to me on my tiny bed, wrapping his arms around my waist and planting a firm kiss in my hair. "No other woman makes me feel like you do. No other woman makes me want to burn the world for them like you do. No other woman can be you."My throat clogged, eyes glistening with tears I'd been too stubborn to allow to fall for years now. "And when you get bored? When you realise you could have had so much better."He laughed. Actually laughed like my words were a joke."Better? Where?" He could hardly strain together those two words through his obvious amusemen

Last Updated : 2026-07-07

CHAPTER 102: KILLIAN

She didn't get pregnant.Even after I got her a pill and test, she kept tapping her foot on the ground, completely paranoid.I didn't expect to see her today. After all, she'd never agreed to come to the funeral with me.My parents had already gone ahead, leaving me behind at home alone. With no one to force me to go.A part of me didn't want to at all. Attending her funeral meant acknowledging that my sister was truly dead.That these past few years, all that hope I'd held on to was for nothing, and all because I was too late to fucking save her.A knock on my door pulled my attention away from the framed photo in my hands. An old picture of me and Stella back when my parents dumped me in the little league."I'm on my way down. Who is it?" I waited for Ruth to come in with the message that my parents demanded my immediate presence, or Alex and Dimitri walking in to give me their sympathy.To my surprise, though, the person who stepped through that door wasn't one of those people.Ar

Last Updated : 2026-07-08

CHAPTER 103: ARIELLA

The words were barely out of Anya's mouth before Kirilli exploded, ranting and insulting Killian.His words blended from English to Russian quickly, but even without understanding I knew whatever words came from his mouth weren't good.Killian gave no reaction, simply standing still while his father berated him.It wasn't until Kirilli reached for me that Killian shifted.It was so fast I almost missed it.Killian's hand wrapped around his father's throat, slamming him onto a wall and squeezing."Killian!" Anya's voice was high and panicked, eyes wide as Killian continued to choke Kirilli with murderous intent.I rushed forward, yanking at his arm to pull him away. My effort made no effect. "Killian, please stop this. This isn't the way. Don't let anyone else in your family die."He froze, glancing at me for a moment. His grip on Kirilli loosened enough for him to escape.We stood in a tense filled silence for a second, before the sound of a heavy slap echoed across the room.Anya gas

Last Updated : 2026-07-09

CHAPTER 104: ARIELLA

Killian guided me as I drove, my body stiff and panicked.My feet remained firmly planted on the brake, ready to slam down on it when necessary. And even when it wasn't necessary."Just accelerate a bit. You're not going to go too fast or anything, but we've been in this spot for almost an hour." He didn't sound tired of me, if anything it was like he couldn't get enough."You're the one who told me to drive. Maybe this was a mistake, let's swap seats back."He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on my lips. "Nothing about you is a mistake love. Never forget that. Now let's start."It took another hour before he'd taught me and sweet talked enough to get me moving the car.After a few minutes it wasn't nearly as bad as before. He guided me through turns and junctions until we came closer to the estate."I think she would have wanted this. Me being happy with the woman I love." He glanced at me, his eyes shining.I nodded in agreement, smiling slightly.The next few weeks were absolute b

Last Updated : 2026-07-10

Epilogue, 105: KILLIAN

(*SEVEN years later.*)The announcer called my wife's name, proud as I stood to clap.Ariella stepped onto the stage, smiling widely while her graduation gown flowed seamlessly down her body.She received her diploma, shaking hands with all her supervisors before stepping off the stage and joining the other graduates.She was probably the oldest among them, but the light in her eyes never dwindled with each day she'd spent in this college. And now she'd finally gotten the rest of her dream."Wow! Mama looks so nice. Her clothes look funny." Nikolai giggled, clapping as he hopped on the chair he stood on so he could get a good view of his mom.Alina sat next to him, swinging her legs, unbothered by her surroundings and completely occupied with whatever it is that goes through the mind of a two-year-old.Nikolai was three years older and way more self-aware, but in that moment, he didn't seem to care if anyone saw him as he clapped loudly, chanting his mom's name.Alina, suddenly curiou