Chapter 25 Innocence in the Snow
I am sitting on the bed inside the room, my head lowered. Right beside me, little Ira is sitting quietly, as if she is trying to understand everything around her. In front of me, Michael is sitting on a chair, his face clearly showing anger. The atmosphere in the room feels heavy, as if even the air has stopped moving.
In a deep and stern voice, Michael asks, “What did Diana say to you? You will tell me.”
I reply softly, exhaustion and helplessness clear in my voice, “She didn’t say anything… this was my own decision.”
Hearing this, Michael’s anger rises. He leans forward in his chair and says sharply, “Sara, tell me the truth.”
I look at him and reply helplessly, “If she didn’t say anything, how can I tell you something she never said?”
Michael stares at me, suspicion and anger burning in his eyes. Then he turns to the bodyguard and orders coldly, “Go… shoot Diana.”
The moment I hear this, I stand up in shock, my heart pounding hard, “Mr. Wilson…?” I whisper in a trembling voice.
Without blinking, Michael says in an icy and cruel tone, “Go now… shoot her immediately.”
I look at the bodyguard, tears filling my eyes, “No… please don’t go. I’ll tell you everything.”
At my words, Michael stops the bodyguard, “You can go.”
The bodyguard leaves the room. Crying, I look at Michael and beg, “Please… don’t kill her.”
Michael steps closer and wipes my tears with his hand. His voice is still deep, but there is a slight softness in it now, “No… tell me what she said.”
In a trembling voice, I say, “She told me that Ira is your daughter… and that you get intimate with women and then leave them.”
Hearing this, Michael’s expression changes completely. His face turns hard, pain and anger flashing in his eyes. In a deep voice, he says, “Ira is not my daughter.”
I fall completely silent. I have nothing left to say. I am too disturbed, too overwhelmed to hear or understand anything anymore.
Michael watches me for a few moments, then speaks softly, “You’re tired… get some rest. Don’t think about all this. I am here with you.”
Saying this, he gently kisses my forehead. Then he carefully lifts my legs onto the bed and lays me down.
I say quietly, “I want Ira with me.”
He looks at me and replies, “Let her sleep beside you… I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Michael walks to the sofa and lies down there. He switches off the light, and the room sinks into darkness.
I pull little Ira close to my chest. Slowly, she snuggles against me and falls asleep, her breathing matching mine.
After so many days, sleeping alone feels unbearably heavy. My heart feels weighed down, but in silence, I close my eyes… and slowly drift into sleep.
I wake up in the morning. Soft light is spread across the room. The exhaustion of the night still lingers in my body, but I steady myself and get out of bed. I freshen up, get ready, and then lift little Ira into my arms.
Playing with her, I slowly walk downstairs. Today I am wearing slightly warm, loose, comfortable clothes, because these days I need to take special care of myself. With every step, I am not only aware of myself, but also of the life growing inside me.
Just then, a bodyguard approaches me. With great respect, he says, “Ma’am, sir is calling you outside.”
Holding Ira in my arms, I walk toward the outside. The moment I step out, my gaze freezes there.
Michael is standing there wearing a black jacket, jeans, and sunglasses. In the morning light, he looks even more handsome. For a moment, I can’t look away. My heart starts beating faster for no clear reason, as if some unfamiliar feeling stirs inside me.
As I come closer, he looks at me and says, “Come, sit.”
Saying this, he opens the car door. I carefully sit inside with little Ira in my arms. From the other side, Michael gets into the driver’s seat and starts the car.
The car begins to move. After a while, he reaches his hand toward the back seat and hands me a shawl, saying, “Here, wrap this around yourself.”
I softly reply, “I’m already wearing warm clothes.”
Without looking at me, he simply says, “Still, wear it.”
I don’t say anything. Quietly, I take the shawl and cover myself and little Ira with it. The softness of the shawl gives a strange sense of protection.
The car continues moving forward. Ira looks outside the window with great excitement. Her eyes sparkle, her face glowing with an innocent smile. In her tiny, babbling voice, she starts talking to me sometimes pointing at things outside, sometimes bursting into laughter.
Holding her close to my chest, I keep listening. Her innocence, her laughter, makes my heart feel lighter for a few moments. Somewhere deep inside, there is pain and confusion… but in this moment, during this quiet car ride, little Ira’s happiness becomes my entire world.
He suddenly stops the car at one spot. I look out of the window in surprise. In front of me lies a completely open area, covered in snow on all sides. In the middle of that white blanket stands a small house. It is entirely made of wood simple, yet its beauty touches the heart. Standing alone in the snow, the house looks like something out of a dream peaceful far away from the world.
Michael steps out of the car. With a cold gust of wind, he comes to my side and opens the door. I slowly step out, the snow making a soft crunching sound beneath my shoes.
Looking at me, he says, “You wanted to play in the snow… don’t you want to play now?”
Instead of looking at him, I lower my head. I have nothing to say. My heart is filled with so many emotions, yet no words come to my lips.
Just then, little Ira looks at me and says in her innocent, lisping voice, “Aunty… come on, let’s play, please.”
Hearing her voice, my heart melts. I gently lift her down from my arms. Ira happily starts tossing the snow around, laughing as she makes little snowballs with her tiny hands. Her laughter fills the icy silence with a soft warmth.
Michael watches her play for a while, then turns his gaze toward me. This time his voice is softer, less commanding.
“What’s wrong with you?” He takes a step closer and asks, “Are you worried about something? Is there any reason you’re upset?”
I remain silent. My eyes stay fixed on the snow, as if the answers are hidden somewhere within it.
He speaks again, this time with even more sincerity, “Please… tell me.”
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!