Page 30 of The Last Hope

“Enough. Shut up and sit down,” Sasha ordered, his cold gaze locked onto her. “Or what? You’ll knock me out again?” she fired back.

Sasha pushed to his feet, but before he could act, several voices sounded from the hallway.

“No, Ivan ! Give it back !” Roman yelled as Ivan burst into the room, clutching Roman’s phone. My brother followed close behind, with Dimitri clinging to his back like a monkey.

Ivan hid behind his father’s legs, taunting Roman.

Roman yanked Dimitri off his back, holding him up so their faces were level.

“What did I say about sneak attacks? They’re the best—but not on family.”, he set Dimitri down and strode toward Ivan, extending his hand.

Ivan pouted but eventually handed the phone back, though not without sticking out his tongue. Roman mimicked the gesture but then froze as he registered the tension in the room.

“Well, seems like we’re all in great spirits,” he joked, “shut up, Roman,” Grigori and I said in unison.

My twins entered the room, followed by Mikhail and Rafael, who held a sheet of paper. The moment his eyes found his mother, he beamed and ran to her side.

“Mamma! Look ! I did a coloring page with math problems. Mikhail showed me how, and Andrei lent me his crayons.”

“It’s beautiful,Angelo mio,” Selina murmured, kissing his forehead.

“Mom ?” Andrei’s voice suddenly rang out from behind Rafael, “did you find me? Because moms never abandon their children?”

I clenched my jaw at the hope in his voice and prepared to intervene, but Selina gently took his hand, pulling him closer. “That’s true—moms never abandon their children. But I can’t be your mama, Andrei. I have to leave.”

“But why ?! I need a mom! Everyone has one!” my son exclaimed. Selina smiled gently and kissed his cheek. “How about a trade?” she suggested.

“A trade ? What kind ?” he asked excitedly.

“You can call me Mama if, in return, you promise to eat all your meals. You’re much thinner than your twin. Don’t you want to grow big and strong like your big brother?”

“Really?! I can call you Mama?!” Andrei shouted with joy, throwing himself into her arms.

“The table is set for the children in the kitchen,” Sena announced as Ivan and Dimitri rushed past her.

“I’ll eat everything! You’ll see, Mama!” Andrei called before joining his cousins.

“Are you coming ? Let’s eat ?” Mikhail asked Rafael, motioning for him to follow.

Rafael glanced at his mother with wide eyes, and Selina simply stroked his neck reassuringly. He grinned before following my son. She watched him go, lips pressed together, clearly hesitating to follow, but ultimately stayed seated.

“This is a bad idea. He’ll be even more miserable when you leave,” Sasha said, unfolding a napkin onto his lap without looking at her.

“Maybe. But at least he’ll eat—even if only for two days. Something that doesn’t seem to matter to you, considering how thin he is,” Selina retorted coldly.

A heavy silence settled. My brothers and Elif all looked at me as Selina stiffened before turning toward me, hesitant.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mea—”

“No, you’re right. Lately, Andrei and I have struggled. He won’t even let me near him. Maybe you could help, at least while you’re here. Until your fingers heal.”

“What ?!” both sisters exclaimed at the same time, making Roman chuckle. But my focus remained on Grigori, whose dark gaze was locked onto me.

“What are you saying, Niko ? These women cannot stay here !”

“We have no intention of staying anyway, so don’t worry about it !” Sienna shot back, making Sasha growl.

“They will stay until I see Selina’s fingers healed—”