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

whispered, gently stroking her

1355 vouchers

that small room was

Alexei quietly bought it.

they never met

was dangerous, and he refused to drag her into his

reached him from a subordinate: Natasha had been in a

their connection after her birthday, he still insisted on

never regretted that

quick response, Natasha’s leg injury was

who lived for

from a war–torn country and found her,

saw him, her tearful eyes resembled a stray cat’s, and she called out his name

without me, but clearly, I

hand to her and

this fragile

*****

used Rhea’s name to make Natasha leave the

process is not

had always coveted and hinted that Rhea, childless

day before sending Natasha and

but she had a car accident on her way home from school, leaving her with an injured leg, and was still hospitalized

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

Chapter 205

knew that Alexei was listed as

began raising a little girl more than three years

did Alexei realize he had taken in

boundaries. But once she discovered the depth

mother, even though

demand his whereabouts. If he returned even slightly injured, she interrogated him endlessly. When he

if Alexei

her chatter through the phone, the realization struck him:

who would protect that delicate little

of miles away, seemed to sense his struggle; her voice softened, tinged with tears. “Alexei, you must live

questions, her clinginess–those were mere pretenses. But her fear for his

was powerless–she knew nothing but dance and painting. So she could only whisper over and over: “Alexei, I’m waiting for you to

worst: if death came, at least

back.

did return–bloodied,

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