Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lilith
"Ma'am, what are you looking for?"
Dmitri's voice came from behind me as I stood on my tiptoes, rifling through the study's shelves.
The afternoon sun was streaming in, and I'd been searching for an old photo album—I wanted to see what Andrei looked like as a kid.
Instead, my fingers found a small velvet box tucked in the far corner of the top shelf.
"I wanted to see some childhood photos of Andrei." I turned and smiled at him. The box was already open in my hands.
Inside lay a silver cross brooch, beautifully crafted, its edges worn smooth like someone had rubbed it over and over.
Dmitri's perpetually stoic face flickered with surprise when he saw the brooch, though he recovered quickly.
"Ma'am, that brooch needs to go. It can't stay here. Let me take it down and destroy it. I'll come back and help you find the family albums—" Dmitri reached for the brooch, his expression tense. Something was off. I blocked his path.
"Why destroy such a beautiful brooch?"
"The boss hates anything with crosses. They remind him of the past and make him angry."
"What?"
I froze. "That's impossible. The birthday gift I gave Andrei had a cross on it. He loved it. He still wears it."
Dmitri went silent for a moment.
"He can't possibly love it. If he's wearing it, it's only because you gave it to him." Dmitri looked at me.
His bluntness made my heart race, but confusion lingered. I frowned. "But... Rebecca suggested I give him something with a cross. She told me crosses were Andrei's favorite thing."
"Crosses were the boss's ex-wife's favorite thing. The boss hates that woman. You think he'd like what she liked?"
Dmitri paused, then pressed his lips together. Finally, like he couldn't hold it in anymore, he said, "Ma'am, when you asked about the boss's birthday, why didn't you just ask me what he actually likes?"
"I... you..." His words hit me like a slap. I knew he was thinking I was an idiot.
Dmitri sighed softly.
"Ma'am—Miss Ivanova was on the boss's matchmaking list. The family elders put that list together. Everyone on it confirmed they wanted to marry into the family. The boss just didn't want them." Dmitri spoke each word carefully.
I caught his meaning. Cold spread down my spine. My suspicions weren't paranoia. Rebecca had feelings for Andrei. She still did. She'd deliberately chosen the wrong gift so I'd unknowingly make Andrei hate me.
Thank God she'd underestimated Andrei's feelings for me. Otherwise—I didn't want to think about it.
I dug my nails into my palms. The sharp pain cleared my head.
"I understand. Thank you for telling me." I took a deep breath.
I'd made a decision. Tonight, I'd confirm something.
Late that night, Andrei was still in his study working. I showered, then opened the bottom drawer of the closet. Inside was lingerie I'd bought but never worn—black lace, sheer material, straps thin as thread. I put it on, wrapped a robe over it, and sat on the bed waiting for Andrei.
When Andrei walked in, I was leaning against the headboard, the robe's tie loose and casual. His gaze lingered on the skin below my collarbone for a second. His eyes darkened.
"Is today a special day?"
His voice was already rough.
I didn't answer. Instead, under Andrei's gaze, I loosened the tie. The robe slipped to the floor.
"Baby?"
Andrei moved closer, his hand settling on my waist. Just as he bent to kiss me, I pushed him away.
Then my hand traced down his chest to his belt. I heard his breath catch.
But I didn't stop. I undid his belt, slid down his pants, and gently stroked his cock.
"Ah, fuck!" Andrei's breathing grew heavier. He swore, then pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to my knees. My head was level with his cock.
"Lilith, help me."
I looked up at Andrei, raising an eyebrow. "Not yet."
Sure enough, as confusion crossed Andrei's face, familiar knocking came from outside the door.
Rebecca's voice filtered through, tearful. "Andrei? Are you there? I had another nightmare. Someone was standing by my bed... Can I talk to you? I'm so scared..."
Andrei's cock was still hard.
I knelt before him. I smiled, my hand never stopping. I even licked him once, then asked, "Are you going to check on her?"
"Fuck!"
Andrei's body shuddered. He grabbed my head and forced me to take all of him.
"Good girl, Lilith. Open wider."
The knocking came again, more urgent. Rebecca's crying grew louder. "Andrei, please, I'm really scared... I dreamed about my brother. He was covered in blood, asking why I didn't go with him... I feel awful, please..."
She'd brought up Lev. That heart in my chest pounded hard and fast. A thrill of finally catching the truth surged through me. Rebecca could hear what we were doing. She knew. And she chose this exact moment to knock.
I was certain Rebecca was doing this on purpose.
"Don't drift off." Andrei's hand threaded through my hair. His movements in my mouth grew rougher. Finally, he came.
Before I could catch my breath, he scooped me up and tossed me on the bed.
He kissed my neck. His tongue traced my ear. Tingling pleasure shot to my brain. I couldn't help but whimper.
The crying outside paused.
Then Andrei's hand slipped between my legs. I was soaked. When his fingers pushed inside, my head fell back, moans spilling from deep in my throat. I didn't hold them back.
"Andrei—" The voice came again from outside.
Andrei didn't answer. He lowered his head and took my nipple in his mouth, circling with his tongue, teeth grazing. Pleasure and pain hit simultaneously. I cried out.
Andrei moved lower, burying himself between my legs, hungrily drinking the wetness flowing from me. I grabbed his hand, gasping and moaning, the sounds mixing with his rough breathing. Andrei lifted his head, his lips still glistening. He looked into my eyes, voice husky. "Baby, do you want it?"
"Yes." I panted.
"Say it louder."
"Yes—I want you."
I knew the person outside heard every word. I caught the shadow under the door. Rebecca hadn't left. She was still there.
She wanted to listen? Fine. Let her listen.
Andrei covered me again, pinning me beneath him. When he entered, the mattress groaned and shook. My hands grabbed his shoulders, nails digging into skin. His movements were bigger than ever before—each thrust deep and hard. The headboard slammed against the wall in a steady rhythm.
My legs wrapped around his waist, toes curling. He swallowed my moans with kisses, but they escaped from the corners of my mouth. Our kissing made wet sounds.
The entire second floor was filled with our sounds.
Then the shadow under the door finally disappeared. Footsteps retreated in a panic, fading down the hallway.
But I'd already stopped caring about her.
Andrei's movements never paused. He flipped me over and entered from behind.
My fingers clutched the pillow, face buried in soft cotton.
Pleasure rolled over me in waves. His palm covered my fist, fingers lacing through mine.
He bent down and kissed my sweat-dampened neck.
"Lily—I love you," he said against my back, voice low and rough.
When the orgasm hit, my whole body trembled. Andrei held me, circling me completely. His burning warmth enveloped me. We shook together, panted together. "I love you" shattered between our lips and teeth, dissolved into wet heat.
The next morning, Andrei woke me with kisses.
He carried me to the bathroom, bathed me, and dressed me. The whole time, his mouth held a satisfied smile. Every muscle ached. I couldn't even lift my arm to hit him, just let him handle me.
"Time for breakfast, princess." He pulled me from the bed and led me by the hand to the dining room.
Rebecca was already at the table.
Sitting quietly. When we sat down, she looked up. Her eyes were red and swollen, like she'd cried all night.
"Good morning." Her voice was hoarse.
Andrei pulled out my chair. I sat across from her. Rebecca stood, picked up the juice pitcher, and carefully poured me a glass of orange juice. When she pushed the glass toward me, her hand trembled slightly.
"Lilith," she spoke, voice barely above a whisper, "I'm sorry."
I picked up the orange juice and took a sip. Said nothing.
Rebecca's eyes reddened. Tears pooled, but she didn't let them fall. Her fingers twisted together.
"I know I shouldn't have knocked last night," she said, voice growing smaller. "I didn't mean to. I just... I had a nightmare. I was so scared. I dreamed about Lev. He... he was standing by my bed, covered in blood, asking why I'm still alive... I felt awful."
Her tears finally fell, dropping onto the tablecloth, spreading into small wet spots.
"I've always thought of Andrei as my brother, you know? Since I was little, whenever something happened, my first thought was to find my brother. He was my only support. My parents died young. My brother raised me. Now he's gone too. Andrei is the closest person I have left in this world..."
She wiped her tears, revealing a thin wrist. She'd lost a lot of weight recently—collarbones jutting out, chin sharp. She looked like a wilting flower slowly dying.
"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be like this. Andrei isn't my real brother. He has you, his own family. I shouldn't dump all my emotions on him." She looked up at me, eyes swollen, tears still clinging to her lashes. "I'm sorry, Lilith. I'll be more careful. I won't bother you two anymore."
Her apology sounded utterly sincere. If I hadn't seen that shadow standing at the door last night, eavesdropping, I might have softened.
"Thank you for taking me in and protecting me all this time.
My leg's almost healed. I... I'll move out now.
" She finished speaking, braced herself on the table's edge, and stood.
She'd barely taken a step when her body swayed sideways.
She instinctively grabbed the chair back.
Her injured foot hung in the air, not daring to touch down. Her whole body teetered.
Her ankle was still wrapped in bandages, white gauze peeking out from her slipper.
Once steady, she gave me a weak smile. I could even see something pleading in it.
"See, I'm much better already," she said, limping forward a step. "If I go slow, it's fine."
Watching her struggle to move, I felt something unclear lodged in my chest.
Logic told me Rebecca was manipulating me. She deliberately mentioned Lev, deliberately laced her apology with dependence on Andrei, and deliberately stood up so I'd see her injured leg and fragile state.
But emotionally, watching her limping back, her protruding shoulder blades, her careful fear of making another mistake—I couldn't harden my heart enough to immediately throw her out.
She was right. Her injury hadn't healed. Whoever was stalking her was still looking. The gunshots at the wedding hadn't faded. If I kicked her out now and something happened to her—
The moment that thought surfaced, I knew I'd softened.
"Rebecca," I called her name.
She stopped and turned, eyes holding cautious hope—like a dog that knows it messed up, unsure if its owner will forgive it.
I was silent for several seconds.
"Sit down and finish breakfast."
Her eyes brightened.
I lowered my gaze, keeping my voice flat. "You can stay until your injury heals."
Rebecca's tears fell again, this time crying while smiling. She came back, started to reach for my hand, then pulled back. She just stood beside me, repeating "thank you, sister-in-law."
Andrei had been silent the whole time, just watching me, brow slightly furrowed. I knew what he was thinking—he didn't want Rebecca to keep living with us either. But he didn't contradict my decision. Because last night I'd initiated with him. That was my way of telling him—I trust you.
Breakfast continued. Rebecca ate her toast quietly, didn't say another word, didn't even glance at Andrei. Afterward, she even helped Fiona clear the table.
Over the next few days, Rebecca seemed like a different person.
She stopped coming upstairs. She was quiet during meals. She even volunteered to cook a dish or two.
Once when I was reading in the living room, she brought over a cup of warm milk, set it beside me, and left without a word. Another afternoon when the sun was nice, I fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up, there was a blanket over me.
Her change made me start doubting myself. Had I been wrong? Maybe Rebecca didn't have feelings for Andrei. Maybe she was just too dependent on him, afraid someone would take him away.
Most importantly, there were no issues between Andrei and me. We trusted each other. Our marriage was built on solid feelings. No outside force could shake it. Rebecca's little moves posed no threat.
If I kept nitpicking, I'd be the petty one. Plus, she carried Andrei's guilt and responsibility toward Lev.
I pressed my lips together. As long as Rebecca stopped causing trouble, I could forget the unpleasant things from before.