I was allowed to remain in the mansion.
Full access. Full protection.
Financial control over designated accounts.
Travel anywhere in the world.
Luxury. Security.
Freedom — technically.
The only condition:
Yannis stayed with me.
Everything was written legally.
Signed. Filed. No hidden clauses.
No obvious traps.
I still didn’t trust it.
There was always a deeper plan with Ruslan. Always leverage hidden behind generosity.
But I hadn’t left.
Not yet.
We parked.
Yannis unbuckled quietly and turned to face me.
His expression was softer now.
Grateful.
“Thank you,” he signed. “For staying.”
His words hit harder than anything today.
I reached over and gently ruffled his hair.
Not rough like before.
Gentler. “I promised to,” I replied.
He smiled faintly — a small light breaking through the seriousness that had settled over him.
He opened the door and stepped out.
Backpack slung over one shoulder.
He walked toward the house.
Confident.
But still a child navigating an adult world.
