Chapter 205

Alexei left, carrying with him the cup of tea Natasha had carefully bought after her meal.

Your

When he noticed the drink in her hands, a faint warmth seemed to soften his otherwise icy expression.

All things considered, it was fortunate they parted without bitterness.

Natasha’s hectic, multifaceted life returned to a simpler, two–point routine.

Yet each time she went home, she would instinctively glance back at the shadow that once followed her.

Other than the doubled balance in her bank account, no one knew he had ever been there.

The anniversary of Emilia’s death came once more with relentless rain.

Unwilling to return home, she slipped into the apartment she had yet to vacate.

Collapsing on the bed, she feigned the stillness of a corpse–silencing her thoughts, her breath, her awareness of the world.

After an indeterminate stretch of time, a cold hand brushed her forehead. A voice spoke, “Natasha, what sort of morbid game are you playing, hiding away here alone?”

Natasha’s eyes flew wide open.

Standing before her was Alexei, covered in wind and rain.

His hair was damp, his clothes were still dripping, and his face was flushed from running.

“Alexei!” Natasha cried with joy. She didn’t know why, but she was suddenly very happy and hugged his waist.

“Why did you come back?” Still wet from the embrace, she looked up at him and asked.

Awkwardly averting his eyes, Alexei drew a small box from his arms, protected carefully from the rain. He answered, “I suddenly remembered someone’s birthday is coming. I think I once promised to spend it with her. To prove I keep my word, I came back.”

He spoke as though it were casual, but in truth, returning so suddenly was an enormous risk.

Natasha opened the box to reveal an exquisite pair of dance shoes.

Her eyes curved into a smile, “I’m so happy.

“Alexei, thank you.” She rushed forward to hug him once more.

On a day when the whole world abandoned her, at least he remained.

Alexei watched her smile, and in that instant, the shadow of regret disappeared.

7:17 Mon, Sep 8

Chapter 205

Natasha,” he whispered,

1355 vouchers

the end, that small room

Alexei quietly bought it.

that, they

he refused to drag her into his dark, bloodstained

word reached him from a subordinate: Natasha had been in a car

himself had sent the protector. Even though he had concealed every trace of their connection after

never regretted that

bodyguards‘ quick response, Natasha’s leg

a girl who lived for dance lose her

and found her, forgotten by her family, lying alone

she saw him, her tearful eyes resembled a stray cat’s,

would be better off without me, but clearly, I was wrong,” he

her and

nurturing this fragile rose

*****

used Rhea’s

process is

had always coveted and hinted that

a day before

her way home from school, leaving her with an injured leg, and was

the die was cast; Natasha had even transferred her household registration to the house her

Chapter 205

that Alexei was listed as Natasha’s

boy not yet twenty thus began raising a little girl more than three years younger

did Alexei realize he had taken

leaving the Turner family, Natasha began cautiously testing boundaries. But once

imprinting on the first figure it sees as mother, even though she grew close to Rhea, deep down,

day, she called to demand his whereabouts. If he returned even slightly injured, she interrogated

Alexei lived under her

lying gravely injured in the ruins, listening to her chatter

would protect that delicate little

sense his struggle; her voice softened, tinged with tears. “Alexei, you must live and come back to see

were mere pretenses. But her fear

but

the worst: if death came, at least she would know where

back.

Alexei did return–bloodied, battered,

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