Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Anna
Morning sunlight filtered through heavy silk curtains into the room. I woke slowly in the unfamiliar king-size bed—twice the size of mine back home. The silky sheets felt divine against my skin, making it impossible to want to get up.
What made me want to stay even more was the warm embrace beside me.
Alexander's arm wrapped tightly around my waist, his breath soft against my neck, his whole body enveloping me from behind. This feeling of being protected felt so safe, so perfect, I almost forgot last night's terror.
I tried to slip out carefully to check on Sofia—as a mother, even in the most comfortable surroundings, I couldn't completely relax knowing my daughter was alone in a strange place.
But the moment I moved, a strong arm pulled me back.
"Don't move," Alexander's sleepy voice rumbled in my ear, rough with that just-woken rasp. "The housekeeper will take care of her. Sleep more."
He nuzzled into my neck, the intimate gesture making my heart race. His unique masculine scent surrounded me, mixed with hints of cologne, both comforting and intoxicating.
"But Sofia—"
"Sofia's safe," his voice grew gentler. "Mark will make sure she gets the best breakfast. You need rest. Yesterday was traumatic enough."
His hand stroked my hair so tenderly, so soothingly. In his arms, last night's fear seemed to fade away. This was his manor, his territory. Under his protection, we were safe.
I settled back into his embrace, feeling his steady breathing and heartbeat. Soon, I drifted off again.
When I woke the second time, he was gone, but the sheets still held his warmth. A note lay on the nightstand in his familiar handwriting.
"Come down for breakfast when you wake up. Yours, Alexander."
The note made me smile. Even his notes radiated warmth and care.
I quickly washed up and changed, then descended the elegant spiral staircase. Before I reached the dining room, I heard Sofia's bell-like laughter.
The scene that greeted me at the dining room doorway melted my heart instantly.
Alexander sat beside Sofia, patiently teaching her proper table manners. He elegantly cut his scrambled eggs with knife and fork while gently correcting how she held her fork.
"No, sweetheart, like this," he said softly. "Thumb and forefinger, light grip. Don't squeeze too tight."
Sofia studied intently, her little face serious with concentration. Her small hands tried to mimic Alexander's movements—clumsy but determined.
"Like this, Alex?" she asked.
"Perfect," Alexander smiled warmly. "You're a quick learner. In Europe, elegant table manners are essential to noble education."
"Am I a noble lady?" Sofia asked curiously.
"You're my little princess," Alexander stroked her hair. "Even more special than royalty."
Sunlight streamed through the massive windows, bathing this tender father-daughter scene in golden light. Watching this, I felt a satisfaction I'd never experienced before.
This was the family picture I'd always dreamed of—a patient father teaching his daughter, the daughter learning eagerly. This peaceful, beautiful daily life was something I hadn't experienced in five years.
I quietly pulled out my phone to capture this precious moment. The shutter sound echoed clearly in the quiet dining room.
Alexander looked up at the sound. I thought he'd be annoyed—I hadn't asked permission to take photos. But he didn't stop me. Instead, he smiled warmly at the camera.
That smile was so warm, so genuine, my heart skipped a beat. In that moment, I didn't see the powerful figure from the New York underworld—I saw a father who loved his daughter, a man who cared about me.
"Good morning," he said. "Sleep well?"
"Very well," I walked to the table. "Thank you for letting me sleep in."
"Mommy!" Sofia said excitedly. "Alex taught me to use a fork! Look, I learned!"
She proudly demonstrated her new skill. Still not quite graceful, but definitely getting there.
"You did great, baby," I kissed her forehead. "You've always been so smart."
After breakfast, Sofia was drawn to butterflies in the garden and skipped outside. As if I'd been given permission, I pulled my professional camera from my bag.
This manor was too beautiful—every corner deserved to be captured.
I photographed Sofia chasing butterflies in the garden, her dress floating in the sunlight, her laughter crystal clear.
I captured Mark's kind smile as he trimmed roses with elegant, practiced movements.
I shot the fountain in sunlight, water droplets refracting rainbow light.
Everything felt dreamlike, almost too beautiful to be real.
When I'd shot to my heart's content and was ready to put the camera down, I realized Alexander was leaning against the study doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with an amused expression.
My heart jumped. I walked toward him somewhat shyly. "Sorry, I shouldn't have been taking pictures everywhere. It's just... I wanted to capture all this. It's so beautiful here, like something from a fairy tale."
"This is your home," he approached, his voice low and gentle. "Shoot whatever you want."
Hearing him say "your home" sent warmth flooding through my chest.
"But," he stopped in front of me, mischief flickering in his eyes, "that's it?"
I looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
He raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "What about me? Don't you want to photograph me?"
I froze, then couldn't help laughing. This usually imposing Pakhan was actually asking me to take his picture. The contrast was both adorable and amusing.
I laughed. "Then you have to cooperate."
I raised the camera toward him. Alexander moved to the window, sunlight streaming through the blinds, casting dappled shadows across his face. He leaned casually against the frame, one hand in his pocket, the pose relaxed yet elegant.
Click.
When I lowered the camera to check the shot, I suddenly froze.
Through the camera's LCD screen, I stared at the photo I'd just taken—sunlight and shadow playing across his face, his profile perfect and mysterious, that mature masculine charm and allure...
This angle, this lighting, this expression...
Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind—five years ago that night, in the bar's dim lighting, a stranger leaning against the bar, the same profile, the same light and shadow effect, the same heart-stopping appeal.
"What's wrong?" Alexander noticed my reaction and came over.
I showed him the photo on the camera screen: "You know, five years ago in that bar, when I first noticed you, this was exactly the angle."
He looked at the photo, his gaze growing intense: "You remember that clearly?"
"How could I forget?" I said softly. "That was the first time I saw you. You were leaning against the bar with whiskey in your hand, looking so... mysterious and dangerous."
"Dangerous?" He raised an eyebrow, slowly moving closer.
"Yeah." I nodded. "Just like now."
He was right in front of me now, his hand gently stroking my cheek. "Do you know what I was thinking that night?"
"What?"
"I was thinking, 'why does this beautiful photographer keep stealing glances at me?'" His thumb brushed my lips. "I was thinking how I could walk over and talk to her."
"You were so confident then," I recalled. "You came right over and asked if I was photographing you."
"Because your staring was so obvious," he chuckled softly. "Just like now, always stealing looks at me through that lens."
My face flushed. "I wasn't staring..."
"Really?" His voice dropped lower. "Then why were you just staring at my lips?"
Being called out so directly made me more flustered, but I couldn't look away. His lips were right there, perfectly shaped, impossibly sexy...
"Anna..." He whispered my name, his voice pure temptation.
I looked up at him, seeing the same desire and heat in his eyes as that night five years ago.
He took the camera from my hands, setting it aside, then cupped the back of my head and leaned down to kiss me.
This kiss was fierce and urgent, just like five years ago, making me instantly surrender.
His tongue invaded my mouth possessively, making thought impossible—I could only surrender to this overwhelming emotional assault.
My legs went weak. Without the wall behind me, I would have collapsed. His hand gripped the back of my head while the other pressed against the wall, trapping me completely between him and the wall.
"Alexander..." I gasped his name between kisses.
His kiss grew more intense, as if he wanted to devour me completely. I felt myself drowning in this overwhelming emotion, rationality slipping away bit by bit...
"Mommy, where are you?"
Sofia's voice suddenly called from the garden, like cold water thrown over us.
We broke apart frantically. I smoothed my disheveled hair with trembling hands, my cheeks burning like fire. Alexander was also steadying his breathing, but the fire in his eyes hadn't completely faded.
"Mommy?" Sofia's voice got closer.
I quickly stepped away from Alexander, trying to look normal. But I knew my face was probably tomato-red and my breathing still unsteady.
Sofia ran into the study, saw both of us flushed and breathless, and her little mouth formed an O.
"What were you doing!" she shrieked, then covered her eyes with her hands. "I didn't see anything!"
She spun around and ran off, shouting as she went, "Shame, shame! Shame, shame!"
Alexander and I looked at each other, then both burst out laughing.
At lunch, Sofia kept stealing glances at us, her bright eyes darting around, obviously thinking about something.
Alexander and I tried to act normal, but when we occasionally made eye contact, we'd remember that kiss and inevitably blush.
Suddenly, Sofia put down her little fork and looked at us very seriously.
"Mommy," she said, "am I going to have a little sister?"
I was drinking water and choked violently at her question. Water sprayed from my mouth—pretty embarrassing.
Alexander immediately got up to help, patting my back while handing me a napkin.
"You okay?" he asked with concern.
I waved that I was fine, but my face couldn't get any redder.
When I finally caught my breath, I looked at Sofia helplessly. "Baby, why would you ask that?"
Sofia said proudly, "That's how it happens in cartoons! After mommy and daddy kiss, there's a baby!"
Her words made me even more embarrassed. I didn't know how to explain this complicated subject.
"And," Sofia continued, eyes sparkling, "if I have a little sister, I'll take really good care of her! I'll teach her to draw and sing, and protect her from bad people!"
After saying this, she skipped away, obviously excited about the impending "little sister."
Only the two adults remained in the dining room, staring at each other.
Then we both couldn't help laughing.
"Looks like we've been figured out by a five-year-old," Alexander teased.
"She's too smart," I shook my head, laughing. "Sometimes I think she's more perceptive than adults."
"She really is special," Alexander said gently. "Just like her mother."
His words sent warmth flooding through me again. In this beautiful manor, under his protection, we really did feel like a complete family.
Maybe Sofia was right. Maybe we really would have more children, a truly complete home.
The thought made me both excited and shy, but mostly happy.