CHAPTER 73

CHAPTER 73
The world filters back to me in fragments: the low hum of medical equipment, the sterile scent of antiseptic, a stiff mattress beneath me. My eyelids open reluctantly, and an unfamiliar room swims into focus, bathed in the soft glow of fluorescent lights.

I’m in a hospital, that much is clear, but how I got here is a blur.

I turn my head slightly, wincing at the stiffness in my neck.

I find Maxim beside my bed. His head is bowed, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. He looks like a man carrying the weight of the world.

‘Maxim,’ I try to speak, but the word comes out as a barely audible rasp.

His head snaps up, his deep blue eyes meeting mine. There’s a storm there—relief, pain, and love all swirling together. He looks like he’s been through hell and back, his dark hair messy, his face tired and drawn, his usual polished exterior cracked and tarnished.

“Lastochka,” he whispers, reaching for my hand. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Like shit,” I croak, trying to sit up straighter.

He gently presses a hand against my shoulder, urging me to ease back onto the pillows. “Easy. You’ve been through a lot.” Maxim stands and reaches for a glass of water on the bedside table. Carefully, he supports my head, lifting the glass to my lips.

I drink slowly, the cool liquid soothing my dry throat. “How long have I been out?”

“Thirty nine hours, four minutes, seven seconds.”

Despite my throbbing head, a small smile grows on my lips. “Not that you’ve been counting.”

He sets the glass down, his gaze never wavering from my face. “Do you remember anything?”

Disjointed images flash through my mind, but everything is a jumbled dark mess. ‘Nadya… The cabin,’ I say, my voice still weak. ‘I remember fighting … and falling into the water.” I shake my head, ignoring the throbbing in my temples. “You saved me, didn’t you?”

Maxim reaches out to cup my cheek. The lingering terror in his expression tells me exactly how he felt about that moment. ‘When we got there, you were in the river. I thought I had lost you.’ His grip tightens on my hand. ‘But you fought, lastochka. You fought so hard.”

There’s something else dancing at the edges of my consciousness.

“The baby!” I shoot straight up but tubes restrain me, sending a jolt of pain through my body.

“It’s okay,” he says gently, his face softening. ‘Everything appears to be fine with the pregnancy. You’re both safe now.’

Relief floods through me, easing the tight knot of worry that had formed in my throat. I let out a shaky breath, tears welling in my eyes. “I want this baby, Maxim. I didn’t plan for it, but I want to keep it. I’m sorry if this isn’t what you want, but⁠—”

‘Stop,’ he interrupts, holding my face tenderly in his hands, his gaze intense. ‘You don’t have to be sorry. This baby is a part of us. I thought I was too broken to do this again, but you’ve turned my world upside down, in the best possible way. I want this family with you.” The words leave his lips with newfound softness, his thumb softly caressing my cheek. “I love you, Kira. More than I ever thought possible.”

Tears blur my vision. I’m not sure if it’s the pain medication or the ordeal I’ve been through, but I’m dumbfounded, never dreaming I’d hear those words from Maxim.

‘I love you too,’ I whisper. ‘I was terrified you wouldn’t want this … or us.’

Maxim gently wipes away my tears. ‘I’m fucking crazy about you. A life with you is more than I could dream of.”

A flicker of happiness ignites in my heart, basking in the promise of our future together.

“I’d never run away from you.” My hand glides down his face, coming to rest on his strong jawline. He briefly closes his eyes, savoring the contact, before opening them to meet my gaze. “I wasn’t sure if this is what you’d want, but I was always going to be honest with you.”

“I know. And I’m sorry I didn’t realize it earlier.” He pauses, his gaze tenderly sweeping over my face. “Nadya killed your aunt, didn’t she?”

I nod, a pang of sorrow bubbling deep within. “My father did the torture and killing. But she was the one who lured her to the warehouse under the guise of helping her. She promised Masha your protection, but of course, it was all lies.”

‘I’m so sorry for not seeing what she was earlier.” His voice is calm, but his shoulders are tight. “She will pay. I promise you that.’ A quiet fury radiates from him.

My stomach turns as reality sinks in. “Where is Nadya now?”

His jaw clenches, and when his eyes meet mine, the raw intensity in them makes my breath hitch. “Still alive. I will deal with her in time.” Maxim changes the subject, his voice softer now. “Are you tired?”

“A little,” I admit, feeling the weight of exhaustion tugging at my eyelids.

He smiles, a glimpse of tenderness. “Your whole family is here. They’ve taken over the waiting room. Luckily, we’re in a hospital I built.”