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I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the edge of the bed where the man who had won my son’s heart—and my own—now lay.

“The doctor is here, Grigori,” Sasha called from the hallway, and I heard Grigori step out to join his wife at Roman’s side.

“I’m going to check on Roman,” Sienna said, squeezing my shoulder before leaving and quietly closing the door behind her.

Alone now, I slowly lay down beside Nikolai, facing him, pressing my face against his arm as I began to cry.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Nikolai. Forgive me,” I sobbed, clinging to his arm, trembling, lost, terrified.

I held on to him—the one person who had reached for me despite the darkness I was trapped in, despite my resistance and fears, despite my wounds and scars. He had never let go. Not once.

He had held me in his arms. And in his heart.

I knew what he felt for me because I felt the same. And I also knew he hadn’t said it yet because he was afraid—afraid that his love might scare me away.

But right now, it wasn’t his love that terrified me—it was the hatred he would feel when he realized what I had done.

As night fell, I gently knocked on Roman’s door before entering. Elif was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl of soup.

“Roman,” I said softly as I saw him propped against the headboard, covered in bandages, stitches, and bruises.

“Hey, beautiful,” he greeted me with a smirk—but immediately grimaced in pain. I hesitated before stepping closer… and suddenly, I didn’t know what to do.

He was in this state because of me. Antonio had tortured him because of me. My thoughts scattered when he reached out his hand.

I took it carefully, mindful of his injuries.

“I’m so sorry, Rom…”

“No, Selina. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m sorry that you had to live—no, survive—that bastard for all those years,” he rasped, his voice hoarse. “I don’t know how you did it, Selina. I don’t know how you raised Rafael under the same roof as that monster. But if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that you have nothing to be sorry for.”

My lips trembled as I fought back my emotions.

“And don’t worry about me. I’ve been through worse. A few broken ribs and some cuts won’t put me down,” he said, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing it.

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. He gently pulled me closer, guiding me to sit beside him on the bed next to Elif.

“Two beautiful women in my bed,” he teased with a weak chuckle. Elif punched his knee, making him groan.

“They should’ve hit you in the mouth instead,” she grumbled, shoving another spoonful of soup into his mouth. Roman writhed dramatically.

“It’s hot ! It’s hot !” he whined after swallowing. “I don’t need enemies when I have you,” he muttered, gulping down some water.

I smiled at their bickering, feeling warmth bloom in my chest. Elif looked like she had found her soul again.

And soon, I would find mine too.

Chapter twenty-eight

Selina

I climbed into the back of the SUV with Sena and Velma while Sasha and Sienna continued arguing outside the vehicle.

“You have no business being there !” Sasha exclaimed as my sister tried to dodge around him to get into the car, but he held her back. “And what if you have a seizure over there, huh ? You’ll ruin everything !”

“Go fuck yourself, Ivanov ! I survived just fine on my own for over twenty years—I don’t need some arrogant asshole telling me what to do !” my sister snapped, shoving him hard before climbing into the front seat.

Sasha stood still for a few seconds in front of the car, probably cursing under his breath, then punched the hood before getting behind the wheel. He started the engine in silence, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel too tightly.