Chapter twenty one

Chapter twenty one


Heather as Millie

Eight years ago

The scent of roasted lamb filled the dining room. My brother, Nikolai, and my sister, Nadia, sat beside each other's whispering something in hushed tones.

From the look on my brother's face, I could tell he wasn't pleased with the conversation. My sister probably didn't know or didn't care enough to stop.

I didn't want to intervene in their conversation. Not that they would listen to anything I had to say anyway. I had never shown interest in their ‘business’ so they've cut me out.
The air in the room seemed to drop as heavy footsteps approached. Nikolai and Nadia's conversation stopped abruptly. They stood up to welcome our father.

“Papa.” They said, their heads hung low.

I didn't bother to stand up to welcome him. He wasn't going to notice me anyway. I just had to keep my head low and suffer through another depressing family breakfast. Then, I'll go to campus and everything will be fine. For the few days I'd stay on campus anyway.

One of the many conditions Papa gave me before I started my degree was to come home every weekend. Failure to adhere
meant automatic withdrawal. I wasn't some nerd who loved going to school, I didn't even like the course I was studying, but being on campus was the only time I could get away from my family. The only time I had the illusion of freedom.

But luck didn't seem to be on my side today. Because as soon as Papa sat down at the head of the table, he shifted his heavy gaze on me.

“Milena.” I flinched when I heard his gruff voice.

I've lived with my father my entire life, and not once have I not flinched when he was talking to me, which thankfully, wasn't a lot of time. Papa reserves his attention for Nikolai and Nadia. They were more his children than me. Their mother was Russian and very invested in the ‘family business’, my mother was the half Russian half American who ran away and left me.

I didn't know why he called me but it couldn't be for something good. He couldn't possibly remember that today was my birthday, right?

“Papa.” I answered, keeping my head and voice low.

wlI didn't want to be punished for raising my voice. He could forbid me from going to school today. I didn't want that. I needed this whole week to myself. Not that my family would remember why. They hardly remembered me most of the times.

“Your brother will take you to school today and come fetch you. You are meeting with Kosolov family tomorrow.” he said.

My heart thrashed loudly in my chest. Everyone in our world knew what it meant when the head of the family introduced a female to another family. They'd finally had enough of me and wanted to dispose.

Nadia escaped the fate of being married off because of her involvement in Papa's business. But since I was too weak and too soft to be involved, they'd finally decided to pawn me off.

Only Nikolai seem to sympathize with me at the announcement. Nadia simply smirked and continued eating her food.

I nodded, trying so hard to blink back the tears the swelled at the corner of my eyes. I couldn't afford to cry in front of them. Papa would punish me for it.

“Okay, Papa.” was all I said with as much fake enthusiasm as I could muster.

The roasted lamb suddenly lost its taste as I shoved it down my throat, wishing I could storm out of here. My hand gripped the fork a little too tight.

I could feel my brother's gaze on me but I didn't look at him. If he wanted to grant me one of his “once in a lifetime” favor, I would really appreciate that he took me away right now.

As if hearing my thoughts, Nikolai rose from his seat.

“Milena?” he called and gestured to the door.

I nodded, flashed him a faint smile and stood up. We walked out of the house to the parking lot, not saying a word to each other. I clutched my purse just as tightly as I had gripped my fork earlier. I was pissed but there was nothing I could do.

Nikolai and I got into one of his favorite sport car. I've always hated it, but my brother loved it. And since he was the only person in the family who sometimes paid attention to me, I had to love it too. But even he didn't remember my birthday.

“Papa means well.” Nikolai started. “He might seem…intense sometimes, but he loves you so much.”

I wanted to tell him not to lie to me. The lie had worked when I was young. Nikolai would tell me that Papa was just busy and he would come carry me later. Or that my mum went on vacation and she was going to come back. I believed everything he said. Because the alternative was listening to Nadia. My sister hasn't always been nice.

“There are some issues with the Kosolov family that Papa needs to resolve. Once your marriage gets finalized, it will be done.”

Right. My family told me on my twentieth birthday that I was to be married into a dangerous family in order to preserve peace. What a nice birthday gift.

I tried not to roll my eyes and cringe at the thought. Thankfully, before Nikolai would ask anymore questions, we arrived on campus.

“I'll pick you up at four.” he said and drive off.

I kept my gaze trained on his car till it I couldn't see it anymore. Truth was I had no intention of going to class today. Not after everyone forgot my birthday. Twenty is a pretty big deal. So I've decided to celebrate myself, the rest of the world be damned.

I turned around and headed for the university garden behind the science facility. Just as I expected, the garden was mostly empty.

I sat on the bench, facing the small pond ahead, and brought out the tupperware I'd hidden in my bag before leaving home. The moment I opened the container, the rich scent filled the air.

“Happy birthday, Millie.” I said, my lips stretched into a smile.

I didn't remember much about my mum, except that she called me ‘Millie’. Papa always hated the name. According to him, the name sounded very American. When I was still very young, Nikolai used to call me that too. But slowly, that name was erased from existence.

I took my first bite and made a sound of satisfaction. I had no idea my little moment if rebellion would taste so good.

I heard a soft groan. My hand froze halfway to my mouth. I sat on one of the two benches that had their backs to each other. I hadn't noticed the guy lying down on the other one.

He sat up slowly, messy blond hair, headphones around his neck, and the most handsome face I’d ever seen. He blinked, sniffed the air, and then looked over the side of his bench.

“Is that... lasagna?” he asked, voice low and half-sleepy.

I swallowed, clutching my fork like a weapon. “Yes?”

He stretched, cracking his neck like he’d been asleep for hours. “It smells great.”

“Thank you?” I frowned. I didn't know how to talk to him. Iwasn't used to talking to any male who isn't Nikolai or Papa. The other men in my house did their best to avoid me unless absolutely necessary.

“May I ask why you're eating such a delicious meal alone in an empty garden?” he smiled.

Maybe it was his blond hair, or maybe it was because my day had started out horribly, but the sun suddenly seemed brighter when he smiled.

It took me a few seconds to gather my thoughts and stop myself from nearly drooling.

“No reason. It's just…” I swallowed.

There was something about this man that just drew me in. It didn't seem like he was from around here either. Definitely an international student or a staff. There was no chance of us ever crossing paths again. And honestly, I didn't want to be alone on my birthday.

“I made it for my birthday, but I didn't really have anyone to share it with. So I came here.” I said, my head hung low. He wasn't Papa but I was still afraid to look him in the eye.

The guy was quiet for a while, just staring at me. Then he stood up and came to sit beside me.

“Good thing lasagna is my favorite food. I think you just found someone to share your birthday food with. A quick warning though, I eat a lot.”

I chuckled and handed him the spoon. I held my breath as he took his first bite.

“Wow, this tastes even greater than it smells.” he said, a genuine smile on his face.

A strange satisfaction filled me as I watched him take another bite and nodded. He wouldn't know, but he was the first person to ever compliment my cooking.

“Well, happy birthday, delicious lasagna girl.” he smiled. My heart did that strange flip again.

“I'm Ethan Hart.” he stretched his hand out to me.

I stared at it for a while, contemplating whether to accept it. If Papa finds out that I'd shook a man's hand, he will make sure he lost the hand. But for some reasons, I pushed back the image of my Papa's murderous face.

“Millie.” I said as I took his hand.

For some reasons, I didn't want this stranger to know me as Milena, the youngest and weakest daughter of the Karpova family. I wanted to maintain this current illusion that I was just a girl who shared a delicious lasagna with a handsome guy on her birthday.

So instead, I told him the name that would definitely get me killed if anyone found out. My mother's name.

“Millie Clark.” And when the man smiled again, everything just felt right.