But old habits die hard as I search her face for any signs of fear, regret, or maybe even coercion. Anything that might justify all the work I’ve done to get her back. I find none of it.
Only quiet confidence, contentment, and love that I always wanted her to feel.
She’s at peace in this life, and there’s nothing to rescue her from.
It’s bittersweet, but I’m not a man who goes back on his word.
Lily takes another deep breath, adjusting her hold on Anya. Her expression is kind despite the direct tone she uses. “I know all of this might look convenient, but I need you to understand something. I chose this. I chose to stay with Mikhail even if I could’ve left a long time ago. I stayed because I wanted to.”
As the last of my preconceived notions comes crumbling down, I nod. “I believe you, Lily.”
She studies me again, vaguely wary as she lifts a brow. “You’re not here to try and take me away?”
“No,” I answer, words more certain than the confusing emotions moving through me. “If I didn’t know better, maybe I would. But I’m not.”
Lily exhales, and her shoulders relax a bit more. “Good, because I wouldn’t have gone.”
“I know.”
The brief pause sits between us, lighter than it had been, but still full of many unspoken things. Then, she begins again. “I was angry for a long time. I was angry with mom and dad, then for you. I hated that I was left alone.” She glances at her daughter, and her eyes soften with a light pull of her lips before gently placing her back down again. “But I survive, and I built something worth keeping. Something good. And now, you’re standing here, and I don’t know what to do with that.”
“I don’t expect you to, and I don’t expect forgiveness either. I just needed to know you were okay.”
As Lily looks at me with that warmth of hers, I kept close to my heart ever since I had to disappear, the last of my defences fall, and I let myself soak it in completely. She was always the kind one. The one who understood even when she had every right to be furious.
“You should meet Mikhail properly.”
Even if the thought is still a bit grating, I brace myself and nod.
With one reason for me being here addressed, the other still needs attention, and the sooner it’s over, the better.
As we leave the room and head down the hall while Anya holds her mother’s hand, a new revelation settles in slowly, both unsettling and profound.
Even if I built my plans on everything I’ve been clinging to from the past, reality moved on without me. And now, surrounded by the very proof of that, my perspective is changing in real time.
It’s sharp, disorienting, and almost painful to come to terms with, but it’s real, even if this isn’t how I expected things to pan out at all.
But maybe it’s for the better. Maybe it’s all to make way for something new.
Chapter 18 - Elena
The first thing Roman does is pull me into his grasp like he can’t stand the thought of me vanishing again.
Rather than rough or frantic, the hug is solid, grounding, and achingly familiar. His hand cradles the back of my head the way it always did when I was little and needed some sort of comfort after nightmares, or if I had a bad day at school.
“You’re alright,” he murmurs, not a question. I can’t tell if the reminder is meant for him or me.
“I am,” I say gently, heart squeezing at the thought of finally seeing my family again, and the fact that they know I’m alright. “I promise.”
Roman holds me a second longer, breathing me in before letting go. He steps back, making room as his eyes scan me for injuries I know he won’t find. His jaw clenches only slightly at my calm, steady posture.
Mikhail claims his hug next, followed by Sergey, then Ivan, who keeps a hand on my shoulder after the fact, like he’s anchoring himself.
“You should’ve called sooner,” Sergey tells me, not unkind or demanding.
“I couldn’t,” I reply honestly, glancing between them. “Not without making things worse. I had to go through the motions.”
Roman inspects me further, giving me a look that says he understands, but still doesn’t necessarily like it. “He didn’t hurt you?”
