Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
I shake my head, swallowing past the sudden lump in my throat. “I don’t feel strong, Sergei. Not all the time.”
“You are,” he insists. “After everything that’s happened, the way you’ve handled everything. You’ve been through hell and somehow you’ve managed to come out even stronger. I’ve never met anyone like you.”
I want to believe him. I want to hold onto that version of me, the one who didn’t fall apart when the world felt like it was crumbling. The one he sees when he looks at me.
I smile, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear shyly. “You know,” I murmur. “I’m really glad I texted the wrong number that night.”
He chuckles, deep and low, and it echoes around the quiet room. “So am I. That night changed everything. I never saw myself doing this,” he admits, his voice quieter now. “Not the kid thing. Not the relationship thing. I thought I was too far gone. Too wrapped up in this life to even consider something like a family.”
My chest tightens, and I squeeze his hand. “But you changed your mind?”
His gaze locks on mine, intense and unwavering. “You changed my mind. Before you, I didn’t think I needed anyone. I was content running my empire, keeping people in line, making sure no one stepped out of place. It was all I knew. And I was fine with it.”
He pauses, his thumb sweeping over my cheekbone.
“But then you came along, and suddenly everything I thought I knew didn’t matter anymore. I started thinking about mornings with you, about what it’d be like to come home and have someone waiting. Someone who isn’t afraid of who I am. I didn’t know how much I needed that until you gave it to me.”
My throat tightens, emotion catching me off guard. I reach up and place my hand over his, anchoring myself in his touch. “I promise I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper.
His breath hitches slightly, and he leans in, pressing his forehead to mine. “Good,” he murmurs. “Because one day, I’m going to make you my wife.”
I blink, stunned. The words settle between us like a spark waiting to ignite. “You are?”
“There’s no one else for me,” he says, his voice a promise. “Not in this life. Not in any life.”
Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I don’t try to stop them. I just lean forward and kiss him, slow and deep, pouring everything I feel into that moment. Love. Gratitude. Relief. Hope.
When we finally pull back, he brushes a thumb over my bottom lip.
“I love you, Nicole.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper, my heart swelling so full it might burst.
He kisses me again, then pulls back slightly and places his hand over my stomach. The soft curve that’s beginning to form is still small, but his fingers splay out like he’s already protecting something sacred.
The monitor behind us goes dim as the tech returns, smiling as she knocks lightly on the doorframe. “All good in here?”
Sergei and I glance at each other, still holding hands, still wrapped up in this new, shared world.
“All good,” I say, smiling softly.
More than good. We’re absolutely perfect.
EPILOGUE
NICOLE
Five Years Later
The late afternoon sun spills golden light across the backyard, warm and lazy as it stretches over the tops of the trees. A soft breeze rustles the leaves above us, and the scent of fresh-cut grass lingers in the air. I sink deeper into my lounge chair, resting my head against Sergei’s shoulder as the sound of our daughter’s laughter rings out over the lawn.
She tears across the grass, bubble wand aloft, a string of shimmering orbs catching the light in her wake. Her chubby legs pump as fast as they can, dark curls bouncing with every stride and a joy so pure it threatens to split me wide open.
Our daughter, Anya, is only four, but she’s already fearless and dramatic, and she knows exactly how to wrap her father around her little finger.
“She’s going to sleep hard tonight,” I murmur, smiling as she squeals after the last of her bubbles.
Sergei chuckles beside me, low and fond.
“I don’t know about that.” He sighs. “She’s got your energy.”
“And she’s got your stubbornness,” I concede. “Maybe we’ll let Grandma put her to bed tonight.”
He hums in agreement and presses a kiss to my temple, his lips lingering there a second longer than necessary. “You okay?”
I nod, a sigh slipping out as contentment settles deep in my bones. “More than okay. I’m happy.”
And I mean it. Completely, wholly, undeniably happy.
We’ve built something rare and precious with our little family. Anya is happy and healthy, and our son, Nikolai, has just turned one. Liliya is woven into their days, and Semion has stayed blessedly silent. I couldn’t ask for more.
Sergei shifts slightly and wraps his arm tighter around my shoulders, his fingers gently rubbing along my arm.