Genevie threw herself at me. Her hands were ice-cold, nails digging into my skin like a drowning person clutching a lifeline.
"Save me... save me and the baby, please. You're all I have. Kirill."
Baby?
My eyes shot to her stomach.
Rage exploded in my skull. Julian Dante. That bastard.
That lunatic had beaten a pregnant woman? Whatever grudge they had, abusing a pregnant woman, beating her to this—he'd crossed the line. Even in our world, this was unforgivable.
"I'm pregnant, Kirill." She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her flat stomach. "Three months. I can't let Julian kill this baby. I couldn't go anywhere else. You're the only one I know, Kirill.For what we had, for how much I loved you—please. Save my baby..."
I caught Genevie and used the movement to pull my hand back from her stomach. The gesture felt too intimate. Wrong. This wasn't five years ago when we were still together.
"Stop." I cut off her sobbing. "This isn't five years ago. As long as I'm here, Julian Dante won't touch you again."
I turned to the doctor, eyes sharp. "Use the best medicine. Get Genevie the best nutritionist."
The doctors nodded frantically and scrambled out to prep medication.
Just me and Genevie left in the room.
I stood by the bed and suddenly felt... uncomfortable. Strange.
Five years ago, being alone with Genevie never felt like this. Back then, she was the only one who made me feel relaxed and safe. But now, I felt off. Like I was standing where I shouldn't be.
And... I frowned. A blurry shadow flickered through my mind, but before I could grasp it, Genevie's voice cut through.
Genevie leaned against the headboard, emotions settling slightly. Then a smile worse than crying crossed her pale face.
"Am I interrupting? I heard... you got married."
I nodded stiffly. "Yes. Recently."
Tears flooded Genevie's eyes again. This time, she cried silently, and it was more heartbreaking.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." She covered her face and wept. "If I hadn't been so weak back then, if I'd refused to marry Julian... would everything be different now? I lost you, Kirill. This is what I deserve..."
She cried with such regret, such pain, and it deepened my guilt.
"Stop crying." I sighed and awkwardly reached out, patting her shoulder. "It's over."
Genevie collapsed into my arms, wrapping herself around my waist.
"Let me hold you, just for a moment." She choked. "It's so cold here, Kirill. I'm scared."
Ihesitated.
My hand hung in the air, never falling. A voice in my head reminded me: You're married. Your wife's name is Harper. Harper's waiting for you.
But another voice fired back: Genevie's pregnant. She's been abused. She just needs comfort. Pushing her away would be cruel.
Finally, my hand fell. I held her lightly.
"Don't be afraid," I said quietly.
The door slammed open.
