She takes one of my hands and pats it gently.
“You look so…” I think she’s looking for a word to say to me as her eyes roam my face approvingly, “beautiful.”
I blink, stunned.
“I am Davika, Alexander’s mother,” she says sweetly, “and I have heard a lot about you.”
I glance up at Alex, who doesn’t say anything. He just takes a slow sip of champagne. He’s been telling her about me? What exactly?
Alex’s mother leans closer to him, her voice low enough that I can’t catch the words. But then I see Alex nod. Her hand rests gently on his arm before she turns to me with another soft smile.
“Lucas, it was lovely to finally meet you,” she says. “I hope we’ll have time to talk later. I need to go greet the other guests.”
I nod quickly, offering her a nervous smile. She doesn’t linger—she glides away like a queen slipping through a ballroom, her presence never once dimming as she walks to another set of people who are gathered. From the corner of my eye, I see Anton walking away, too.
Alex turns to me. His voice is soft, almost apologetic.
“I need to go talk to my father. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
My fingers tighten around the thin stem of the champagne glass. I want to reach out, grab his hand, and tell him to stay. Don’t leave me here with all these people. Don’t leave me with my thoughts. But I bite down on the feeling and press my lips together, nodding instead.
Go. I’ll babysit Lucas.” Maksim says, stepping forward.
Alex gives him a flat look, and his gaze shifts to Viktor, who’s standing a little behind the others. They don’t say a word—just exchange a look. A brief moment. Viktor nods once.
Alex gives me one last glance before turning and walking away. I almost lift my hand to stop him. But I stop myself. I just stand there, watching his back disappear into the crowd.
My stomach knots.
“Don’t look so haunted,” Ivana whispers. “He’ll be back before the wine goes dry.”
She tries to ease the tension, and it almost works. She starts telling me things about herself, such as how she dislikes her university in Russia and plans to transfer to Blackwood soon, and how she struggles to get used to the pastries in America because they’re too sweet.
Just then, a woman’s laugh catches my attention in the small crowd. I search with my eyes, and that’s when my eyes land on her.
Vera.
She’s in a sleek, black floor-length dress, red hair swept back like she owns the world. Her laughter cuts through the chatter,high and sweet. Davika is laughing alongside her. They talk like they have been friends for years.
Does Alex introduce everyone he hooks up with to his family? Am I hooking up with Alex? I don’t even know at this point.
A strange tightness coils in my stomach.
“I didn’t know Vera was going to be here,” Maksim says, his voice all too casual, but I can hear the mischief.
“She’s one of the faces of your mom’s beauty brand,” Ivana replies, her voice flat. “Of course she’s here.”
“I get why Alex won’t stop fucking her,” Igor says with a smirk. “Look at those curves.”
The words slam into me. Something inside my chest goes sharp and cold. Viktor chokes on his drink. Maksim snickers. Ivana glares at Igor and mutters,
“Read the room, dumb ass.”
Igor looks at her, confused. I keep my face blank, but the ice inside me spreads. Then I pull out my phone and type:
Where’s the bathroom, please?
Ivana glances at it, then points.
