"Thank you," I whisper. "Thank you so much for giving me this gift. Thank you so much."
I kiss her forehead. Her cheeks. Her nose. Her closed eyelids. Over and over.
Everyone else is just staring. Kirill has his mouth open. Roman looks stunned. Tessa has tears in her eyes. Radimir looks like he doesn't know whether to be happy or furious.
Iris stirs in my arms. Her eyes flutter open.
"Ilay?" Her voice is weak. "What are you thanking me for? Did you do something wrong while I was passed out?"
"No, baby." I smooth her hair back from her face. "Just rest. Okay?"
"What's going on with me?" She tries to sit up. "Am I dying? Was it an allergic reaction?"
The doctor steps forward. "You're pregnant."
Iris' eyes go wide. Then they roll back in her head and she goes limp in my arms again.
I whip my head toward the doctor. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything!" He holds up his hands. "She just asked me what's wrong. I said she was pregnant and I don't know why she fainted again."
"Get me some water or something." I adjust her in my arms, making sure her head is supported. "Now!"
Chapter 49
?
IRIS
One month later.
I'm standing at the entrance of the estate's garden with my arm looped through my father's, staring down the white aisle runner stretched across the grass. Rows and rows of lavender and yellow roses line it bringing my vision to life.
White chairs are arranged in neat rows on either side, filled with the faces of people who matter. Not many. Ilay wanted it intimate.
Tessa stands at the front in a dark green dress, holding a small bouquet. Beside her is Natalya, Ilay’s sister, wearing the same color. Ilay's mother, who I finally got to meet, but that’s a story for another time, sits in the front row with tears already streaming down her face.
Ryuji and his girlfriend flew in from Tokyo. A representative from the German syndicate sits three rows back. Roman and Kirill are standing with Ilay at the altar.
And then there's Ilay himself.
He's in a black suit, crisp and perfect, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that makes my knees weak. He looks like he's barely restraining himself from walking down the aisle to get me.
The music starts.
My father squeezes my arm. "Ready?"
"Ready."
We start walking. Every step feels surreal. The faces blur together as we pass. Tessa is crying. Natalya is grinning. Ilay's mother is full-on sobbing now.
When we reach the altar, my father stops. He turns to Ilay and leans in close enough that I can hear him whisper.
"You hurt her, I will kill you."
Ilay doesn't blink. "You don't even need to do the killing. If I hurt her, I hurt myself. And that is a pain worse than death."
My father's expression softens. He smiles, just slightly, then places my hand in Ilay's.
