Chapter 26
RADIMIR MIROSLAV
"Father, you need to rest." Kirill stands in the doorway of the private hospital suite in the mansion, looking at me with the same exhaustion I know is mirrored on my own face. I don't look away from her hand.
"No."
"You’ve been sitting in that chair for six hours," Kirill says, walking further into the room. "You need to eat something. You need to sleep. You're no good to her if you pass out."
"I said no."
"Father…"
"What if she wakes up?" I interrupt him, sharply, but keeping my voice low, I don’t want to disturb her rest.. "She doesn't know us, Kirill. If she wakes up in a strange room with tubes in her arm and no one is here, she’s going to panic. I’m not letting that happen."
Kirill stops, realizing he isn't going to win this argument. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "I’ll stay with her. Or Roman. You need to take care of yourself."
"I’m not leaving." I look at him then, letting him see that this isn't a debate. "She is my daughter. I missed the first twenty seven years of her life. I am not missing the moment she opens her eyes." He nods slowly. "I'll have some food brought up. Don't argue with me on that."
He leaves, closing the door quietly. The room is silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the hum of the AC.
I turn back to her and brush a strand of red hair away from her face.
She looks so much like her mother it’s painful.
It’s been twenty seven years, but seeing Iris is like seeing Elizaveta all over again.
God, I miss her.
I messed up so bad.
I was young and stupid, and I let my father control me. He wanted more power, so he sold me off to Evelyn's family and chased Elizaveta away. He treated my life like a business transaction. I didn't know he threatened her until it was too late.
I looked for her for years. I never stopped looking.
But I failed.
Now Elizaveta is dead, and I’m sitting here with the daughter I didn't know existed, wondering if she’s going to hate my guts when she wakes up. And honestly? I wouldn't blame her. I wasn't there to protect them. I was living in my mansion while they were struggling.
I should have been smarter. I should have protected Elizaveta from my father instead of letting him run my life.
And now Elizaveta is dead. I missed my chance to fix it with her.
All I have is Iris.
I’m terrified she’s going to wake up and tell me to get out. Why wouldn't she? I wasn't there when she needed me. I wasn't there for her birthdays or her graduation or when she scraped her knee. I’m just a stranger with a lot of money who failed her mother.
I squeeze her hand, hoping she can feel I'm here.
"Please," I whisper. "Please don’t hate me. I know I screwed up. I know I wasn't there. But just give me a chance to fix it."
I lean my forehead against our hands. "I promise I’ll do right by you, Iris. I’m going to be the dad you should have had from the beginning. I’m not going anywhere."