Chapter 26

Anna

I glanced down to the ring shining under the light and smiled. Soon, I would be Mrs. Anna Alexeev. Everyone seemed to be happy when he proposed, except for one. The only one that seemed unhappy was Vladimir. I would gladly forgive him if he would only accept that Luka and I were together.

Vladimir had no right to decide if we were together. He lost that right a long time ago. He had years to confess, but never did. Not once did he tell me the truth. I can see his reason for not telling Nikolai in fear that Mikhail would do something, but not me. He could’ve told me and I wouldn’t have told a soul.

“Baby girl, I need you to do something for me.” Luka said wrapping me in his arms.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You need to take this for me. The suspense is killing me.” He held out a box to me.

I knew I kept putting it off, but I was afraid. I didn’t even know if I would know how to take care of a child. I sighed taking the box as he kissed my forehead. “What are you going to do for me, Papa if I take this?”

“Please…for me, baby girl.” He smiled revealing his dimples.

Not fair, Luka.

Pulling out one of my weaknesses.

He was playing dirty and he knew it.

“Now who’s torturing who, Luka? Playing so dirty with me.” I cupped his balls and massaged them through his pants.

“There’s plenty time for that in the near future, but right now you need to pee on that stick. Plus, we’re having lunch with Lydia and your brother. I want to be able to tell them if they ask if you’re carrying my child.”

I kissed his cheek and stepped away to got into the bathroom. I pulled down my panties and sat on the toilet as I tore open the box. I emptied to box and pulled out the packet. Tearing it open, I threw the box and packet in the trash. I held the stick between my legs and urinated on it. I put the test on the sink and cleaned myself while I waited for the results.

“Anna, you okay?” Luka asked through the door.

I pulled up my panties and smoothed down my dress as I opened the door for him. He raised an eyebrow and I shook my head. “Not yet, the box said a few minutes.”

I glanced down to the stick and I could hardly believe my eyes. I was in fact pregnant. “Luka, I’m pregnant.”

“Good, that’s exactly what I wanted.” He said turning me around and pulled me up on the counter. “You’re going to look so sexy carrying my baby.”

“Luka.” I blushed as he rubbed my flattened stomach.

“What, it’s true. I’m not going to be able to keep my hands to myself knowing my seed is growing inside you. Fuck baby girl, we better get downstairs before your brother wonders what happened to us. He’s expecting us.”

Just as Luka had said, Nikolai and Lydia was waiting on us along with Vladimir. This wasn’t going to end well. I could feel it in my bones. Vladimir cleared his throat as I sat down. “Anna and Luka, I want to apologize to both of you. I wasn’t angry at either of you for being together, I was angry at myself. I was jealous of what you two had and for that, I’m deeply sorry. I’m hoping if you will allow me that I could walk my daughter down the isle…if you’ll let me. You have my blessing, both of you.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Vladimir?” I faked a gasp.

“Let’s just say, I had a wake-up call. Now, we all have to know. Are you pregnant or not?” He smiled as he sipped his water.

“I am, we just found out a few minutes ago.” I smiled to him as Luka squeezed my hand under the table.

My brother cleared his throat and raised his glass and grinned. “To family.”

“To family.” Everyone said in unison as we raised our glasses.

“Where’s Valentina?” Vladimir asked.

“She’s resting upstairs.” Lydia said rubbing her swollen belly.

I knew that my mother was probably just trying to avoid Vladimir by the look on his face. He frowned pushing his plate away. “I’m sorry, but I just remembered there’s something I have to do. Congratulations Anna and Luka.”

“So, when’s the wedding?” Lydia grinned to us.

“We haven’t decided yet, but I’m hoping to have one soon.”

***

“Mother, are you in here?” I asked cracking the door open.

My heart ached when I seen her on the bed with fresh tears staining her face. If it’s one the I hated, it was to see someone in pain. My mother seemed to be in a lot of it.

“Anna, I didn’t see you there.” She wiped her face sniffling.

“Mama, what’s happened?” I asked sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Oh Anna, I’ve ruined everything. I should’ve never came back. Vladimir, h-he’s leaving because of me and it’s all my fault.”

Realization washed over me as I remembered how sincere he seemed to be earlier. He was walking me down the isle as a way to say goodbye to me. To us.

Did my brother know of this?

Vladimir cleared his throat as I sat down. “Anna and Luka, I want to apologize to both of you. I wasn’t angry at either of you for being together, I was angry at myself. I was jealous of what you two had and for that, I’m deeply sorry. I’m hoping if you will allow me that I could walk my daughter down the isle…if you’ll let me. You have my blessing, both of you.”

“Who are you and what have you done with Vladimir?” I faked a gasp.

“Let’s just say, I had a wake-up call. Now, we all have to know. Are you pregnant or not?” He smiled as he sipped his water.

“I am, we just found out a few minutes ago.” I smiled to him as Luka squeezed my hand under the table.

My brother cleared his throat and raised his glass and grinned. “To family.”

“To family.” Everyone said in unison as we raised our glasses.

“Where’s Valentina?” Vladimir asked.

“She’s resting upstairs.” Lydia said rubbing her swollen belly.

Holy shit.

It all makes sense.

He came to tell my mother and that’s why she’s upset.

“When is he leaving? Where is he going?” I asked.

“He probably already did. He’s going to stay with Giovanni for a while and said he didn’t know when he’d be back. Oh, why did I have to push him away? I loved him, but we just wasn’t right for each other. I let him go so he could find someone better…he deserves better.”

“Mother, don’t say that. You’re the most beautiful person I know. You deserve to be happy, too. I’ll come check on you later. I have someone I need to talk to.” I hugged her kissing her cheek.

I stormed down to my brother’s office and slammed open the door causing Nikolai and Vladimir to freeze. “You asshole, you knew and didn’t tell me.”

“It’s not forever, Anna. Just until things cool down between mother and Vladimir.” My brother stated.

“Oh really? Then, why is mother crying her eyes out like Vladimir’s leaving forever?”

“Just leave it alone Anna, it’s complicated.” Vladimir said with a cold expression.

“Is it because you and Markus was arguing?” I asked.

“Anna, I said leave it. Don’t worry about it, everything is going to be fine.”

I huffed and stormed out of my room angry at them for leaving me in the dark. One question though, did Luka know what it was?