SASHA’S POV
I fled to my old bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. The sound echoed in the quiet apartment, but I didn’t care.
My legs gave out as I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. The sobs came hard and fast, wracking my body as I let the pain pour out.
I cried for everything, for the confusion and betrayal that had poisoned my relationship with Sebastian, for the overwhelming guilt I felt for dragging my father into this mess, for the crushing loneliness that had settled in my heart.
My muffled cries filled the small room, a stark contrast to the silence outside. I pressed my face into the pillow, hoping to stifle the sound.
I didn’t want my father to hear me. I didn’t want him to worry any more than he already was.
But deep down, I knew he could hear. He always could. My father had an uncanny way of sensing my pain, even when I tried to hide it.
Still, he didn’t come. He didn’t knock on the door or call out to me. He let me cry, giving me the space I needed to break down and piece myself back together.
Minutes turned into hours, and my sobs eventually quieted into soft sniffles. My head throbbed, and my eyes felt swollen, but the release brought a strange sense of relief.
For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe again, even if it was only a shallow, shaky breath.
As the night deepened, I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
My mind raced with thoughts of Sebastian, of the love we had shared and the walls that now stood between us.
I thought about the way he had looked at me outside the hospital, his eyes filled with a vulnerability I hadn’t seen in a long time.
But even that wasn’t enough to erase the doubts and fears that had taken root in my heart. I didn’t know how to move forward, how to heal the wounds between us or even if it was possible.
All I knew was that, for now, I needed this space. I needed to remember who I was outside of him, outside of us.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me into a restless sleep, my dreams filled with fragments of memories and unanswered questions.
Somewhere in the apartment, my father stayed awake, quietly standing guard over my broken heart.
SEBASTIAN’S POV
The weight of anger settled heavily in my chest as I parked my car in the driveway of the mansion.
The quiet opulence of the estate, which usually gave me a sense of control and power, now seemed suffocating. The cool evening air did little to calm the storm brewing inside me.
I slammed the car door shut, my jaw tightening as I strode toward the grand front doors.
Hours of simmering frustration after leaving the hospital had already taken their toll on me.
The homemade dishes I had meticulously prepared for Sasha had ended up with the nurses instead. She hadn’t even been there to accept them.
Her absence felt like a glaring wound, a confirmation of her decision to walk away. And now, the questions swarming in my mind had multiplied tenfold.
When I entered the house, Roland was already waiting in the living room. My most trusted confidant stood at attention, his face a mix of calm professionalism and slight unease.
He knew me well enough to recognize when I was furious, and tonight, my anger was palpable.
I didn’t bother with pleasantries. Tossing my coat onto a nearby chair, I turned to face him, my gaze piercing.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice was low but sharp, each word cutting like a blade.
Roland blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Tell you what, sir?”
I stepped closer, fists clenching at my sides. “About Sasha’s father.”
The color drained slightly from his face, but the confusion in his eyes didn’t waver. “I don’t understand. What are you referring to?”
My temper flared further at his response. I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the room as I struggled to rein in my emotions.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Roland. You’ve been by my side for years. How could you not know?”
Roland straightened, his expression hardening slightly as he tried to piece together what I was talking about. “Sir, if you’d explain”
“Don’t make me spell it out!” I snapped, my voice rising.
“Sasha’s father. You didn’t think it was relevant to mention who he is? Do you have any idea what kind of position you’ve put me in by keeping this from me?”
Roland’s face shifted into genuine surprise. “I swear, I have no idea what you’re talking about. If I’ve missed something important, it wasn’t intentional.”
I stopped pacing, planting my hands on my hips as I glared at him. “You’re telling me you didn’t know Sasha’s father was Alexander Romanov?”
The name hung in the air like a thunderclap.
Roland’s eyes widened, and he staggered back a step, his face a mixture of shock and dawning realization. “Alexander Romanov? Sasha is his daughter?”
I nodded curtly, my lips pressing into a thin line. “You didn’t know?”
He shook his head, his voice trembling slightly. “I… No, sir. I had no idea. I knew the Romanov name, of course, but I never made the connection. Sasha never mentioned it, and you…” He trailed off, wringing his hands together.
Frustration mixed with my anger. “You should have known. It’s your job to know these things, Roland. How could this have slipped past you? You’ve been handling my affairs for years. I trusted you to keep me informed.”
Roland looked down at the floor, his shoulders sagging. “I failed you, sir. I failed to see the connections, and for that, I’m deeply sorry.”
I turned away from him, gripping the back of a chair as I fought for composure. The room fell silent, tension thick enough to “choke on.
“Do you have any idea what this means?” I finally said, my voice quieter now but no less intense. “Do you understand the position this puts me in? Sasha is gone, Roland. She left me.”
“And now, I’m standing here trying to piece together the puzzle of her life while she’s out there, God knows where, dealing with things I should’ve known about.”
Roland took a hesitant step forward, his voice filled with regret. “Sir, I truly didn’t know. If I had, I would have told you immediately. This was never something I intended to keep from you.”
I turned to face him, my expression a mix of exhaustion and frustration.
“Your intentions don’t change the fact that I’ve been blindsided. Do you have any idea what it’s like to realize the woman you love has been keeping secrets because she doesn’t trust you enough to share them?”
To my surprise, Roland suddenly lowered himself to his knees, bowing his head and placing his hands on the floor in a gesture of deep apology.
“I am so sorry, sir. I failed you, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right. Please forgive me.”
I stared at the man kneeling before me, my anger flickering as I took in the sincerity of his gesture. Roland wasn’t prone to such dramatic displays. This was genuine.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I reached down and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Get up, Roland. I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you. This isn’t all on you; it’s on me too.”