Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 81 - Chapitre 90

FIVE YEARS LATERWhat does a bird in a cage long for? Freedom, of course. The poor creature throws itself against the bars, desperate to escape, never realizing it has already grown used to seeing the world through iron rods. And yet, the moment it finally flutters out of its warm, familiar nest—where it was fed and cared for—it perishes.“Come on, just a little higher!” someone shouts from below, and, muttering a curse, I lift my foot onto the next branch. “Mom, hurry up, or Gosha will fly away!”“I’m trying,” I call back, lowering my voice so I don’t scare the feathered menace. This damn parrot has escaped his cage for the fourth time already. If only he’d finally fly off for good—but no. He always comes back, perches on the highest branch of the apple tree—perfectly visible to Sasha—and waits to be rescued. I swear, one more stunt like this and I’ll throw a brick at that ridiculous rainbow scarecrow.“Oh my God! Nina, what are you doing up there? This is unbelievable! You should’ve

They dragged me into the building against my will. I didn’t even know what kind of reaction to expect from myself that evening. The fact that I hadn’t thought about him in years was undeniable — but what would happen once I saw him?“We’re right on time,” Max said with a crooked smile, pulling me closer and wrapping a firm arm around my waist.I didn’t resist. I was too absorbed in the scene unfolding before me.He hadn’t changed at all. If anything, he looked older now — more mature, more unmistakably masculine. The man was down on one knee, holding out a velvet box to a flushed, visibly flustered girl.She’s beautiful. That was my first thought.She was my complete opposite. Tall, slender, small-busted, brown-eyed — at least, it seemed so. Now I understood what kind of women he preferred.“Yes,” the girl said, and the enormous hall erupted in cheers.There were so many people gathered that no one paid us any attention. The guests surged forward in a wave to congratulate the couple,

“Do you want some chocolate?” I asked, giving my son the most innocent look I could manage. I hadn’t even realized how deeply he could feel things. This was the second day he’d barely spoken to me. At first, I thought he was upset because I hadn’t brought him the building set he wanted. But even after I finally bought the long-awaited toy — I even asked the neighbors which set their son had — nothing changed.Sasha puffed out his lips again and turned away. What was I supposed to do with that? How was I supposed to reach him? He had never behaved like this before.“Nastya!” I called out when I finally spotted my friend. She’d taken the day off, so I hadn’t had a chance to talk to her about it. “Maybe you can finally tell me why he’s upset with me?”She put on a stern expression, and from that look alone I knew I was about to hear a lecture titled I Told You So.“He cried all night and kept calling for you. We tried to reach you. The security guard even called your husband, but he said

I figured out the new camera quickly and was completely captivated by it. It had been so long since I’d last looked at the world through a lens—especially one like this.“Like what you see?” he asked with a soft chuckle when he noticed me perched awkwardly on the table, photographing our sleeping son.“Very much,” I whispered—but it was already too late. Sasha stretched lazily in bed and opened his eyes.“Why are you on the table?” he asked as I climbed down. He hopped off the bed and glanced around as if he’d forgotten where he was. Then, spotting Max, he suddenly shouted, “Dad!”Max looked just as startled. When Sasha wrapped his arms around his leg, he froze for a moment, unsure what to do. But he recovered quickly and lifted the child into his arms.“So, how about we take a walk around the city, buddy? We can grab something at a café and then head to the park.”“Yes!” Sasha shouted happily, and I immediately realized my opinion no longer mattered.“Then let me help you get dressed

The engine cut off, and the man reached into the back seat, pulling out a large box with a toy inside.“Do you think she’ll like it?” Alina asked, examining the bright pink children’s tea set.“Of course she will. You spent an hour picking it out. She’s definitely going to love it,” Darvin replied as he opened the door and stepped out of the car.“They won’t mind, will they? I think they have guests.”Another unfamiliar car was parked beside theirs. Vlad smiled, turned to his fiancée, and said,“I think I hear Nadya yelling from over there. I’ll check the sandbox. I’m sure my niece is there.”Alina nodded and, glowing with anticipation, followed the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat. She had skipped breakfast and was starving by now.Clutching the box, Vlad headed in the opposite direction. But as he rounded the corner of the house, he stopped short.The sight before him made him freeze.A girl tossed back her cascade of golden hair and deftly climbed a tree while two children below