Walking past the living room, I saw Mark carrying a tray of delicate French Macarons toward the study. The colorful confections looked expensive, each one decorated like a work of art.
I was puzzled. No one in the manor ever ate these cloyingly sweet treats. Sofia and I didn't like them, and Alexander never touched sweets. He usually only drank black coffee with simple crackers.
"Mark," I called out, stopping him. "Who are these for?"
Mark paused respectfully. "Miss Tatyana is coming to discussimportant business with Mr. Volkov. These are her favorite refreshments."
Tatyana was coming again? My expression darkened. I'd thought that after yesterday's fight, Alexander would at least keep some distance from Tatyana for my sake.
Then I noticed Mark's hesitant expression.
"Mark, is there something else?"
Mark hesitated before speaking. "Miss Tatyana might be staying for a while. It's just a work arrangement, but please don't read too much into it, ma'am."
I felt like I'd been punched in the chest. Staying for a while? She was going to live here?
"How long?" I tried to keep my voice steady.
"I'm not sure exactly. It's Mr. Volkov's arrangement." Mark looked uncomfortable. "You could ask him for details."
I nodded that I understood, but inside, I was crumbling. She was actually going to live here—in mine and Sofia's home.
That afternoon, I watched the staff busily preparing a guest room for Tatyana. It was the finest room in the manor after the master bedroom, at the end of the second-floor corridor, with the best views and most luxurious furnishings.
Tatyana was there personally overseeing the arrangements, elegantly directing the servants on where to place vases and change the linens. She had specific requirements for every detail, as if this were her domain.
"This vase would look better on the windowsill," she said gently but with authority. "And could we change to Egyptian cotton sheets? I'm allergic to regular cotton."
She offered several suggestions about the room's décor, clearly intimate with every aspect of the manor. Her practiced ease made me realize she must have stayed here frequently before.
I stood in the doorway watching it all, anger rising at this invasion. This was my home, mine and Sofia's home, yet she was claiming it so effortlessly.
The dinner scene was even more suffocating.
Tatyana sat beside Alexander, wearing an elegant black evening dress, her manner refined and articulate. She and Alexander spoke in low voices about business matters, their easy familiarity making me feel like an unwelcome intruder.
"Sofia, did you have fun playing in the garden today?" Tatyana turned to Sofia warmly.
"Yes!" Sofia answered innocently. "I drew a picture of a rainbow! Miss Tatyana, are you going to live with us?"
"Yes, sweetheart," Tatyana smiled gently. "Alexander and I have some important work to handle, so I'll be staying here for a while. But don't worry about me, Sofia. Alexander and I are very good friends—I used to stay here often before."
Her words pierced my heart like needles. Used to stay here often? What did that mean? That before I arrived, she had been the lady of this house?
I stared at my food without tasting it, every bite like swallowing stones. Sofia chatted excitedly with Tatyana while Alexander occasionally joined in, and in this perfect family tableau, I was the outsider.
"I'm not feeling well," I finally couldn't bear it anymore. "I'm going to bed early."
Alexander glanced up at me, exhaustion flickering in his eyes. "Get some rest."
Back in my room, I could hear Tatyana's silvery laughter drifting up from downstairs. That carefree, melodious sound only agitated me further. I began to wonder whether Alexander had truly let go of the past, or if I'd been deceiving myself all along.
Perhaps in his heart, Tatyana had never really left. And I was just a temporary substitute.
Late at night, I lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The empty space beside me was a stark reminder that Alexander hadn't returned to our room again.
At two in the morning, parched with thirst, I decided to go downstairs for water.
