Chapter 49 Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Irina's POV
The car drove for hours through the night, leaving the city far behind.
I watched through the window as buildings became smaller, as streets became narrower, as lights became fewer.
We were going somewhere rural, somewhere quiet, somewhere far from everything I knew.
My tears had dried up finally, I had no more tears left to cry, I just felt empty inside.
The baby kicked suddenly. It kicked strongly against my ribs, reminding me that I was not alone.
I placed my hand on my stomach gently. "I am sorry," I whispered. "I am sorry I could not give you a better life."
Mikhail sat across from me in silence, he had not spoken since our last conversation.
His face was unreadable, cold, like always.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the car slowed down.
We were driving through a small town now. It looked charming and peaceful, with cobblestone streets and old-fashioned street lamps.
There were small shops with colorful awnings, a church with a tall steeple, houses with gardens and white picket fences.
It looked like something from a postcard, like a place where nothing bad ever happened.
The car stopped in front of a bakery. the sign above the door read "Marina's Bakery" in cheerful yellow letters.
Even though it was late at night, the lights were on inside, and I could see people moving around.
"We are here," Mikhail said simply.
I looked at the bakery, at the warm lights, at the wholesome appearance.
This was going to be my new home? This was where I would spend the rest of my life?
A guard opened my door and helped me out carefully, my legs were stiff from sitting for so long.
The night air was cool and fresh, it smelled like bread baking, like cinnamon and sugar.
Mikhail got out of the car and walked to the bakery door. He knocked firmly.
The door opened immediately and a woman appeared, she was in her fifties maybe, with kind eyes and a warm smile.
She was wearing an apron covered in flour, her hands were dusty with it.
"Mikhail," she said warmly. "You made it, come in, come in."
Mikhail gestured for me to follow him inside.
I walked into the bakery slowly, taking in everything.
It was cozy and warm. There were wooden tables and chairs, shelves lined with fresh bread and pastries.
Everything smelled amazing.
A man appeared from the back, he was tall and broad with gray hair and a friendly face.
"Welcome," he said with a genuine smile. "You must be Irina, we have been expecting you."
Behind him was a young boy, maybe seven or eight years old, with bright curious eyes.
"This is my family," the woman said. "I am Marina, this is my husband Roberto, and this is our son Carlo."
The little boy waved at me shyly. "Hello," he said in a small voice.
They seemed nice, genuinely nice. They weren't faking it.
"Hello," I managed to say, my voice was hoarse from crying earlier.
"Please, sit down," Marina said, pulling out a chair for me. "You must be exhausted from the journey."
I sat down carefully, my pregnant belly made everything awkward.
Marina immediately started fussing over me. She brought me water and fresh bread with butter.
"Eat, eat," she insisted. "You need to keep your strength up for the baby."
I collected it with gratitude. I have been starving. I took a small bite of the bread. It was delicious, warm and soft. The butter melted perfectly.
Roberto sat down across from me. "We know this must be difficult for you," he said gently. "Coming to a new place, leaving everything behind."
I nodded, not trusting my voice to speak without breaking.
"But we want you to know," Roberto continued. "You are safe here, you are welcome here, this is your home now for as long as you need it."
Tears threatened to fall again but I blinked them back. "Thank you," I whispered.
Mikhail stood near the door watching everything, his face was still unreadable.
"She will need rest," Mikhail said to Marina. "And a doctor to check on the baby."
"Of course," Maria said. "We have a room ready for her upstairs, and Doctor Rossi will come tomorrow morning."
Mikhail nodded. "I will leave her in your care then."
He turned to leave but I stood up suddenly. "Wait," I called out.
Mikhail stopped and looked at me.
"Please," I said desperately. "Please tell Dimitri... tell him I am sorry, tell him I love him."
Mikhail's face softened just slightly. "He will never know you existed," he said quietly. "It is better that way."
Then he walked out. The door closed behind him with a soft thud.
I stood there feeling like my heart had been ripped out of my chest.
Marina came to my side immediately, she put her arm around my shoulders gently.
"Come," she said softly. "Let me show you to your room, you need to rest."
She led me up a narrow staircase to the second floor, we walked down a hallway to a small room at the end.
When she opened the door, I gasped quietly.
The room was beautiful, simple but comfortable, there was a bed with a handmade quilt, a window with white curtains, and a small dresser with fresh flowers.
"This is yours," Maria said. "We fixed it up specially for you."
"It is perfect," I said, my voice cracking.
"The bathroom is just down the hall," Marina continued. "And if you need anything, anything at all, just call for me."
She hugged me gently, carefully avoiding my pregnant belly.
"Everything will be okay," she whispered. "I promise."
Then she left, closing the door softly behind her.
I stood in the middle of the room, looking around at this new life that had been chosen for me.
I walked to the window and looked out, the town was quiet and peaceful, a few street lamps glowed softly.
Somewhere far away, in another world, Dimitri was alive.
He was safe, he was being taken care of, but he did not remember me.
And I would never see him again.
I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling the baby move inside me.
"It is just you and me now," I whispered. "We will make it through this somehow."
I lay down on the bed, exhausted beyond words. My body ached, my heart ached.
I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, trying to forget.
But just as I was drifting off, I heard voices downstairs.
Marina and Roberto were talking, their voices were muffled but urgent.
I got up quietly and opened my door listening silently.
"Are you sure about this?" Roberto was saying. "Keeping her here could be very dangerous. It could put our lives in danger."
"Mikhail said she would be safe," Marina replied. "He said no one would look for her here."
"But what about the father?" Roberto asked. "What about Alexei Volkov? What if he finds out where she is?"
My blood ran cold at the mention of Alexei's name.
"He will not," Marina said firmly. "Mikhail made sure of that."
There was silence for a moment, then Roberto spoke again, his voice was lower, and harder to hear.
"I saw someone watching the bakery earlier," he said quietly. "A man in a black car, he was parked across the street for almost an hour."
My
heart started pounding.
"Did you get a look at him?" Marina asked nervously.
"No," Roberto said. "But he left before I could approach him."
"It was probably nothing," Marina said, but her voice did not sound convinced.
I stood there frozen, my hand clutching the doorframe.
Someone was watching the bakery?
Was it Alexei? Had he found me already?
Or was it someone else?