Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lilith
My face pressed against Andrei's chest, tears soaking a wide patch on his shirt front.
His arms locked tight around my waist. I breathed in that familiar cedar scent mixed with just a hint of blood.
A few hours ago, that blood smell would've made me shake. But now, I accepted it as part of Andrei.
Elena's words suddenly circled through my head. She'd said I couldn't blame Andrei for what those monsters did just because he was also part of the mafia.
My sister was right. She always was.
I thought about Andrei with his hands raised, afraid to come near me.
Thought about his tears burning on my hand just now, tearing open his deepest wounds to show me.
All of it made my heart ache too much to ignore.
I couldn't lie to myself anymore and say I didn't love Andrei. I really—couldn't leave him.
And I'd promised Andrei I'd accept his world and be with him.
"Andrei." My voice came out muffled. "I want to go back to the hospital first. I need to tell my sister about my decision and pack up my things."
"Okay, I'll have Dmitri take you."
Screams still echoed from the basement.
When I grabbed my bag and walked out, I instinctively glanced toward that door. My steps hesitated for a beat, then I pulled my gaze back and kept walking. I didn't look back again.
When I pushed open Elena's hospital room door, she was propped against the headboard, drinking water. Seeing me come in, she set down her glass, her eyes sweeping across my face. My sister was always like this—she could read everything off my face without me saying a word.
"You forgave him." A statement, not a question.
"Yeah."
"You're not afraid of him anymore?"
I thought for a moment. "Still a little—but what scares me more is whether he'll be okay in that dangerous world."
Elena's lips curved into a smile, then she reached out to tuck my stray hair behind my ear. "My Lily's grown up." Her tone made my nose sting. "You used to run to me with everything. Now you've learned to make your own decisions."
"Elena..."
"I'm not blaming you." She smiled, her eyes still holding traces of moisture. "I told you—you had to decide whether Andrei was worth it. You've made that decision. I trust you."
I hugged Elena, burying my face in her long hair. She was still like when we were kids, giving me that incredibly safe embrace, her hand gently stroking my hair, soothing my heart.
I stayed with Elena through dinner, then squeezed into bed with her. I told her about everything that happened today, and talked until I fell asleep.
The next day, I finally carried my suitcase to the car heading back to the manor.
The car stopped at the manor entrance. Andrei came out to meet me, taking my suitcase and heading straight upstairs. "Baby, I'll take this up for you. Just wait in the living room a bit, okay?"
I nodded with a smile, then walked into the living room—only to see Rebecca sitting on the sofa.
She was settled in one corner, a beige cashmere blanket draped over her knees, hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. She saw me and smiled.
"Lilith, you're here. Come, sit."
Her tone made it sound like she owned the place and I was just a guest. It reminded me of what happened on Andrei's birthday. I knew that was a misunderstanding, but somehow... her presence still made me feel vaguely threatened.
Faintly, also uncomfortable.
Just then, an arm reached around from behind, gently circling my waist. Andrei had appeared beside me. He'd changed into a clean dark shirt, his hair still slightly damp—probably just showered.
"Rebecca got hurt at our wedding," Andrei explained. "Things haven't been safe at her place these past few days. I promised Lev I'd protect her, so she's staying with us temporarily."
"Yes, Lilith, I'm just borrowing a room for a few days," Rebecca added. The blanket slipped down from her knees a bit, revealing gauze wrapped around her calf. "Don't worry, Lilith. As soon as my leg heals, I'll move out immediately. I don't want to be a third wheel either, honestly."
She winked at me playfully.
Maybe I was overthinking it. I nodded and smiled. "It's fine. Stay and heal up properly."
Rebecca's arrival didn't really affect my life with Andrei.
Over the next few days, Andrei made breakfast every morning. The smell of pancakes drifted from the kitchen up to the second floor, luring me out of bed. I'd come downstairs wearing his shirt, and he'd turn around, smile first, then hand me hot coffee and press a kiss to my forehead.
"Good morning, Mrs. Volkov." Same first words every morning.
We'd sit across from each other at breakfast. He'd look through stacks of documents I couldn't understand while I mindlessly scrolled through videos, occasionally glancing up to catch his eye.
The second day after I moved into the manor, I quit my job at the company. My sister and I had decided to open a restaurant. Andrei had already picked out the location, so these past few days Elena and I had been discussing the layout and menu and things like that.
Coming back from the hospital, Fiona had just finished making dinner—roasted lamb chops with potatoes.
"Lily, this piece is the most tender."
Andrei cut a piece of lamb. He was about to fork it onto my plate when Rebecca naturally extended her plate toward Andrei.
"Oh my god, thank you, Andrei. I can't believe you still remember I only eat the most tender parts." Rebecca's smile was lovely. "You used to do this too—whenever we had lamb chops, you'd cut the best pieces for me first. I thought you'd forgotten."
Used to do this too... Rebecca and Andrei—had they always been this in sync? Somehow, thinking about their past intimacy made something sour rise in my stomach.
I looked at Andrei. His hand with the fork froze. He frowned. "This is for Lilith. You have your own hands."
"And when did I ever cut lamb for you? That was the servants' job."
Rebecca's smile froze on her face.
I was stunned too. I hadn't expected Andrei to be so blunt with Rebecca. The sourness in my stomach faded, replaced by an indescribable satisfaction.
"Sorry." Rebecca's eyes reddened. "I remembered wrong."
"It's okay," I said, forking that piece of lamb onto her plate. "Here, take it."
"Thank you." Rebecca's smile was faint. "You're the best, Lilith."
Andrei glanced at me, then picked up another piece of lamb and put it on my plate. "This cut is even better, baby. Try it."
I chewed a bite. Rich lamb flavor instantly filled my mouth. "Mmm—delicious."
"Right? Fiona's lamb is excellent. She's still so good at these things." Rebecca spoke in a nostalgic tone. "I wish she'd make me those syrniki from when we were kids again. Remember those, Andrei? We haven't had them in forever."
"Mm—vaguely. You can ask Fiona to make some tomorrow morning. Lilith hasn't tried them yet."
"Oh, right, that Doberman loved them too! What was his name? Bear? He was so fierce, but I remember he'd roll over for Lev every time. How's he doing now?" Rebecca rattled off a long string of Russian.
Andrei smiled, like he was remembering something. "Sent to retirement. Still alive and well, living like a general every day."
"Really?" Rebecca got excited. "I remember Bear was so playful—he'd chase me, and I'd jump into your arms, then he wouldn't dare move. Back then, to keep him from scaring me, you and my brother would always carry me in and out of this manor."
"I miss those days."
Rebecca talked animatedly about the past. Andrei responded occasionally. The atmosphere between them was so natural it left me with nothing to add.
I ate my lamb quietly, feeling somewhat unhappy.
Just then, Andrei suddenly looked at me. "Lilith, do you like dogs? Let's get one."
"Bear's puppies are all beautiful. I think you'd like them."
"Sure, once Elena moves in too, we'll get one. We both love big dogs." I smiled. "But will it be mean to me?"
"Will you carry me in and out of the manor then?" When I said this, I deliberately glared at Andrei.
"Ha—"
Andrei laughed out loud. His lips curved. "Of course. It would be my pleasure."
"Rebecca's exaggerating. Carrying her around was Lev's thing. I was busy back then—half the time I wasn't even at the manor."
After Andrei finished, Rebecca's face went pale. She didn't say anything more. After dinner, I was about to head back to the room when Andrei suddenly swept me up in his arms.
"Andrei, what are you doing?" I grabbed his neck, startled.
Andrei raised an eyebrow. "Didn't my little princess just say she wanted me to carry her?"
Without waiting for my response, he carried me straight upstairs.
As soon as we entered the room, he carried me into the bathroom. He turned on the shower—instantly, my clothes were soaked through.
He kissed my lips, his hands exploring my body, then suddenly tore open my shirt.
"Little princess, I've been hard ever since you got jealous at dinner."
Andrei breathed against my neck. "You like being carried? Tonight, how about I hold you while we do it?"
Hold me while... I'd never done it that way before. My face flushed.
I was about to agree when a sudden loud knocking came from outside.
"Andrei?" Rebecca's voice carried a timid tremor. "Are you there? I think someone broke into my room. Could you come check?"
"Please, I'm scared!"
Andrei's brow furrowed tightly.
"Get Dmitri. And get downstairs. I told you clearly—don't come up to the second floor unless there's an emergency."
"No... Dmitri's not here. Please, brother, I only have you." Rebecca's voice broke into a sob.
Andrei looked at me, apology and helplessness in his eyes.
"Wait here, baby. I'll go check. If someone really broke in, it's a security breach for the whole manor.
Stay put. Don't come out until I confirm everything's safe.
" He kissed my forehead, changed into clean clothes, then pulled open the door and left.
I came out of the bathroom and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, taking several deep breaths to tamp down the heat still unsatisfied in my body.
Andrei's manor was so secure—how could someone suddenly break in? And right at this moment?
I felt irritated.
Before long, Andrei came back, looking annoyed. "She's fine. She just misplaced a few things and assumed someone came in and stole them."
"Is she always this paranoid?" I was puzzled. "Was she like this before?"
"No idea." Andrei shook his head. "I promised Lev I'd look after her, but I haven't spent much time with her actually."
"Not much time, yet you two chatted about the past like old friends!"
"She brought up Lev, so I said a bit more." Andrei laughed. He pinched my nose. "Little jealous thing. Why would you be jealous of Rebecca? I'm not into her. To me, she's like a kid. Nobody goes after kids—that's what animals do."
When Andrei finished, my heart dropped.
Andrei had reminded me of something.
He was not into Rebecca. But what if Rebecca had a crush on him?