(Flashback)Anastasia’s emotions on that day were far from happiness. Rather, she was overwhelmed with nerves, bordering on sheer terror. As she fixated on the pregnancy test, time seemed to stretch endlessly, and she felt a numbing sensation spreading through her body, accompanied by knots tightening and loosening in her stomach. It had only been three months since their wedding, and except for a few days in a month, Ivan and she were intimate almost every day, sometimes even twice.It was almost inevitable that she would become pregnant. But the question was: how would Ivan react? Would he even want kids this soon? They never really talked about it. Not explicitly at least. Ivan was always either too busy with his work—whatever that work entailed, as he never went into details—or he was home, occupied with his hands on her.Don’t get her wrong, she loved her husband more than anything. She loved the way he cherished her, made her feel and how careful he seemed to be while rocking he
(Flashback)They found themselves on the 16th floor of the Smolensky Passage department store, immersed in the mesmerizing panoramic view of the bustling Moscow city. Ivan placed his hand gently on the small of his wife’s back, guiding her towards the seat that offered the most stunning vista.Ana gasped in awe, her eyes sparkling beneath the dimly lit ambience as she absorbed the breathtaking scenery and the spaciousness surrounding them. “What is this place, Ivan? It’s absolutely stunning,” she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.For the occasion, he had booked the entire restaurant so he could treat his wife the way she deserved to be—like a queen. After the recent crossfire with the Yakov gang just a few days prior, Ivan couldn’t afford to be seen in public places with his wife. It wasn’t a matter of shame or embarrassment; it was simply a matter of safety. He hoped to keep their personal lives somewhat discreet until the intense conflict between the rival gangs subsided.How
(Flashback)Anastasia was confident that she had caught the sound of a scream. Upon their return home after dinner in Moscow, she had fallen into a deep sleep. However, upon hearing the piercing scream, she jolted awake.The scream was far too horrifying, sending shivers down her spine. Fearing that Ivan had somehow injured himself where his fresh wound was, she reached out to touch his side of the bed only to find it empty.A chilling sense of dread settled in the depths of Ana’s stomach. She couldn’t explain why, but she was consumed by intense fear. Hastily switching on the lights, she hurriedly got out of bed and made her way downstairs to search for him in the kitchen.He was not in the kitchen.Ana turned around and rushed to see if he were somehow in his office.He was not in his office either.“For the love of God, Ivan—where the hell are you?” she muttered under her breath, feeling a mix of anger and frustration that he would leave the house without informing her. It was incr
(Flashback)Ivan entered the fancy mansion and discovered Anastasia restlessly walking around the living room. Her face displayed a deep frown, and her body appeared tense, indicating she was preoccupied with something. Intrigued and unable to comprehend the cause of her distress, he approached her and positioned himself in the archway, leaning against the frame.“What’s happening here?” he inquired softly, mindful of not startling her with his sudden presence.Anastasia glanced up from her thoughts and abruptly halted her pacing. “Ivan, when did you…?” she trailed off, seemingly questioning the relevance of the timing. After all, he was here now, and she should be grateful for his safe return.Ivan shifted away from his previous spot and moved closer to her, bridging the gap between them and enveloping her petite waist in his arms. “Why are you so tense, malysh? Is everything alright?”Anastasia bit her lip and swallowed hard. “I have…I wanted to tell you something.”Ivan arched an e
(Flashback)Ana, five months into her initial pregnancy, was overwhelmed with anxiety. While her mother had warned her about morning sickness, nobody had mentioned the accompanying mild headaches, swollen ankles, and constipation. It wasn’t until she confided in the doctor, who Ivan had contacted, that she realized these were normal parts of the journey. However, admitting that these reassurances made her any less anxious and troubled would be dishonest, because she knew that she and her baby were doing well, yet other concerns started to plague her.So far, Ana had successfully concealed her true feelings about Ivan’s mysterious business dealings. He might have believed she was too naive or foolish to see through his deceit, but perhaps he didn’t truly understand her. She couldn’t really blame him for that. Initially, she hadn’t been thrilled when her father informed her that she would marry a man of his choosing. At that time, she was still in college, working towards completing her
(Flashback)“Tell me a secret,” Ivan whispered, his intense gaze fixed upon her as they sat in yet another restaurant. It was only their second encounter, but Anastasia sensed a growing attachment to him, faster than reason allowed. Ivan Volkov possessed a charm that stirred her heart and sent pleasant shivers through her body. The few times his touch brushed against her, it ignited a delightful burning sensation that made her imagine his hands exploring uncharted territories.Anastasia tilted her head slightly, allowing her dark hair to cascade over her shoulder, while her eyes shimmered in the subdued glow of the diner’s lights. The familiar murmur of the surrounding people faded into insignificance, no longer disturbing her. All she desired was to maintain a façade of normalcy on the outside, while an irresistible urge gnawed at her to lean in and kiss him. The need to taste him drove her to the brink of madness.She shrugged her shoulders. “There is nothing worth telling.”“Come o
(Flashback)“So, what do you think of Ms. Novikoff?” Ivan’s younger sister, Marina Volkov, asked with evident curiosity, her eyebrows raised so high they practically touched her forehead.“She’s good,” Ivan replied, realizing that a simple “good” couldn’t do justice to the breathtaking Anastasia Novikoff. She possessed long, dark hair and piercing hazel eyes that exuded a certain innocence, kindness, and thoughtfulness. There was something about her that made his entire chest radiate like the sun, igniting a desire for her that surpassed any other woman he had ever longed for. Even hours after their second meeting, he was still buzzing with the overwhelming need to see her again. His fingertips tingled with an insatiable craving to touch her soft, pale skin, to trace the delicate curve of her jaw and the tantalizing glimpse of her collarbone peeking above her modest neckline.“Just good?” Marina prodded.“Eta ne tvoe delo, Rina.” he retorted, shaking his head, longing for her to leave
(Flashback)“Where are we headed?” Ana inquired, her eyes fixed on Ivan with a flicker of curiosity dancing between her brows. It had been a few days since he clandestinely slipped into her room, gifting her with a kiss that she could only describe as the epitome of perfection. True, she had never been kissed before, but there was an undeniable certainty that he possessed a mastery of the art, pouring his every skill and passion into that singular moment.Ivan guided her towards the waiting car stationed by the restaurant’s entrance, their lunch spot. Standing before the vehicle was a familiar figure she had encountered on numerous occasions, even during her initial encounter with Ivan. His name was Dimitri, and Ana thought he seemed decent enough.With a warm smile, Ana acknowledged Dimitri as he opened the backdoor for them. However, instead of reciprocating her friendly gesture, he merely nodded and sealed the door once she was comfortably settled inside. Ivan joined her from the o