Chapter 111 Chapter 111
Chapter One Hundred and Eleven
Irina
The car ride felt endless.
I sat in the backseat of Alexei's black SUV, clutching Nikolai to my chest. He was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that our entire world had just been ripped apart.
Alexei sat beside me, looking out the window with that satisfied smile on his face. Like he had just won the greatest prize.
I wanted to scream at him and hurt him the way he was hurting me.
But I stayed silent. Because what good would it do?
We drove for what felt like hours. Far away from Moscow. Away from Dimitri. Away from everything I knew.
The city disappeared behind us, replaced by forests and empty roads.
"Where are we going?" I asked finally. My voice was hoarse from crying.
"Home," Alexei replied simply.
"Your estate is near Dimitri's," I said. "This is not the way there."
"We are not going to that estate," Alexei explained. "It's too close to my dear brother. I have another property that's much more private."
My stomach sank. He was taking us somewhere remote. Somewhere Dimitri would never find us.
Nikolai stirred in my arms. His little face scrunched up. He was getting hungry and would start crying if I didn't feed him.
"I need to feed him," I said.
Alexei glanced at me. "So feed him."
"Not here," I replied, eyeing him. "Not with your men staring at me."
Alexei's jaw tightened. But he leaned forward and tapped the driver's shoulder.
"Pull over," he ordered.
The car stopped on the side of the road. Alexei and his men got out, giving me privacy.
I quickly fed Nikolai. Tears streamed down my face the entire time.
"I am so sorry, my baby," I whispered. "I am so sorry I brought you into this."
Nikolai just nursed contentedly, his tiny hand resting on my chest. When he was done, I knocked on the window. Alexei got back in.
"Finished?" He asked.
I nodded.
We drove for another hour. Finally, we turned onto a long driveway. At the end was a massive villa. It was beautiful, all white stone and tall windows.
But to me, it looked like a prison.
The car stopped in front of the entrance. Alexei got out first, then held the door open for me.
I stepped out slowly, still holding Nikolai.
The front door opened. Servants lined up to greet us.
"Welcome home, sir," an older woman said. She must be the head housekeeper.
"Thank you, Lucia," Alexei replied. Then he turned to me. "This is Irina. And my son, Nikolai."
The servants all nodded respectfully.
I expected Alexei to show me to a room. A nursery for Nikolai. Somewhere we could rest after the long journey.
But what happened next shocked me to my core.
A young woman stepped forward.
She was beautiful, with long blonde hair and a slender figure, tall and elegant.
She walked straight up to me and reached for Nikolai.
"I will take the baby now," she said.
I pulled back instinctively. "No. He is fine with me."
The woman looked at Alexei. And he nodded.
"Let her take him, Irina," Alexei said calmly.
"Why?" I demanded. "I can take care of my own son."
"This is Svetlana," Alexei explained, his face devoid of emotion. "She is a trained nanny. She will be caring for Nikolai from now on."
My heart stopped. "What? No! I am his mother!"
"And she is his nanny," Alexei said.
His voice was getting colder now. "Let go of the baby, Irina."
"No!" I clutched Nikolai tighter. He started to fuss, sensing my distress.
"Now," Alexei ordered.
His tone left no room for argument.
But I could not let go. I could not hand my baby to a stranger.
"Please," I begged. "Please do not do this. He needs me. He is just a baby!"
"He needs proper care," Alexei corrected. "Which Svetlana will provide."
Svetlana stepped closer. "I promise I will take good care of him," she said gently.
"I do not care!" I cried. "He is my baby!"
Alexei sighed. Then he snapped his fingers.
Two of his men grabbed my arms, holding me still.
"No! Let me go!" I screamed.
Svetlana carefully took Nikolai from my arms.
"NO!" I fought against the men. "Give him back! Please! He needs me!"
Nikolai started crying, oud, and desperate wails.
"My baby!" I screamed. Reaching for him. "My baby! Please!"
But Svetlana was already walking away. Carrying my screaming son into the house.
"Nikolai!" I sobbed. "Nikolai!"
The men let me go. I collapsed to my knees, crying so hard I could barely breathe.
Alexei looked down at me with disgust.
"Get up," he ordered. "You are embarrassing yourself."
"You monster," I spat through my tears. "You said I could stay with him! You promised!"
"I said you could stay in the same house," Alexei corrected. "I never said you would be raising him."
"But I am his mother!"
"You are a slave," Alexei said coldly. "That is what you were before. That is what you are now. And slaves do not raise their masters' children."
The words hit me like a physical blow.
"Lucia," Alexei called to the head housekeeper. "Show her to the servants' quarters."
Lucia stepped forward. "Of course, sir."
"No," I whispered, looking at him with desperate eyes. "No, please. You cannot do this."
But Alexei had already turned away, walking into his beautiful villa without looking back.
Lucia gently helped me to my feet.
"Come, dear," she said quietly. "Let me show you to your room."
"I want my baby," I sobbed. "Please. I just want my baby."
"I know," Lucia said sadly. "But we must follow Mr. Volkov's orders."
She led me around the side of the house to a much plainer building in the back.
The servants' quarters.
We went inside, down a narrow hallway. She stopped at a small door and opened it.
The room was very tiny. It has a single bed, a small dresser and one tiny window. It was hot and dusty.
It was nothing like the grand room I had been expecting.
"I am sorry," Lucia said. "This is all we have available."
I walked into the room numbly.
Everything felt like a nightmare.
"Can I see him?" I asked. "Can I see my son?"
Lucía's face fell. "I... I do not know. You would have to ask Mr. Volkov."
"Please," I begged. "Please just ask him. He is just a baby. He needs his mother."
"I will ask," Lucia promised. "But I cannot guarantee anything."
She left, closing the door behind her.
I sank onto the bed. The mattress was thin and lumpy.
From somewhere in the house, I could still hear Nikolai crying.
He was crying for me.
He must be scared and confused.
And I could not go to him.
I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.
This was my life now. Separated from my son. Treated like a slave in the house where my baby lived.
Dimitri had been right.
This was worse than death.