Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Belle's POV
I went downstairs wearing the clothes Nikolai made me wear. I decided to oblige just to stay away from
trouble. Just when I feel like forgiving him, he would do something like this to make me think twice.
I went straight to the living room and was surprised to see Sawyer. So he's already here and my very
nice husband did not even bother telling me.
Nikolai and Alexei are sitting on both sides of the poor kid. Nikolai is pretending to read the news paper
while Alexei is smoking his cigar almost blowing the smoke towards Sawyer. The two looked devilishly
handsome as always while Sawyer is wearing a jacket, college tee, and jeans. The typical college jock
look. His sparkling blue eyes are looking straight at Matushka as they talk.
I've got to say, Sawyer doesn't looked intimidated by the two. He's sitting up straight, placing his hands
on top of his knees while talking to Matushka.
My bestfriend is also here, I can see that she's all smiles obviously enjoying the situation. She's sitting
beside Matushka observing everything in front of her. Nikolai's other men are scattered around the
house sporting their frightening presence.
When Sawyer finally saw me he instantly stood up from his seat which made me gasp in response. Oh
my god, he can stand. Sawyer can stand!
"Belle!"
I ran towards him and hugged him so tight. To be honest, I'm already holding back my tears. I can't
believe it! He actually recovered!
"Sawyer! You can stand!? You can walk!? You did it!"
Sawyer smiled from ear to ear while looking down at me. "Uh. Surprise!" He said.
"Oh, come on!!!!!" Nikolai inserted while looking straight at the news paper, pretending to react to an
article, but we obviously all now why.
I pulled Sawyer to the seat across and gestured him to sit beside me. He is holding my hand and so did
I to him.
"How have you been Sawyer? How's Loraine? How are you?"
"Mum is doing good. She's busy with work. She still stays across the street."
"Yah? How about you?"
"Well, I got a call up from The Hawks to play for them I took the offer and I guess Ill be staying in New
York for good."
"Really? I'm so happy for you Sawyer! Oh wait, I'm sorry. I haven't introduced you to my family-"
"No worries my dear, we have been introduced. We will just prepare our dinner. We will see you at the
dinner table in a while." Said Matushka. She then signaled everyone to exit the living room but her
stubborn sons did not oblige.
"It's okay Matushka, they can stay if they want." I said.
"Actually Belle, do you want to go outside? Ill buy you your favorite bagel." Said Sawyer while reaching
for my hand.
"I can buy her a whole bagel factory. Sit the fuck down." Inserted Alexei. Here we go.
Nikolai on the other hand looked at Sawyer with his usual do as I say or your dead look. The two
remind me so much of bullies in school, only this time these two are the real world bullies.
I made an excuse to refuse Sawyer's offer to go outside. As much as I would want to spend more time
with him based on what my two boys have been behaving, I just can't risk it. The kid can now walk and
play football and I don't want to be the reason why he goes back to the wheelchair and completely ruin
his life.
The dinner has been pretty fun and enjoyable. No Volkov tantrums have been recorded. There were a
few laughs here and there courtesy of my bestfriend. Thank goodness she's here.
Sawyer gave me his football shirt with the number 7 on it with his last name Mcgregor at back and a
fotball helmet thingy before he left.
Me and my bestfriend went to Yelena's room after dinner. I wore what Sawyer gave me so that I can
send a picture of me wearing his presents.
"How do I look?"
"You look hot. I hate you for being over attractive. You make me look like a homeless person when
you're beside me."
"A! I'm being serious here!"
"B, your the most beautiful pregnant bitch I have ever seen. If you're going to send these pictures to the
kid I'm pretty sure your gonna be included in his nightly ritual if you know what I mean."
"I don't." I retorted as a matter of factly.
She gave me a are you kidding me face and continued, "Sexual beings masturbate. And when they do
they need visual help. Imagination, pictures, and stuffs. Just like - this!"
"Well, I know Sawyer, he will not do such a thing to me."
"Eh, the boy likes you B! Probably he has objectify you many times before. Never mind. I sent the
pictures already, it's done." She said while typing down at the screen of the cellphone Nikolai gave me.
I am tempted to tell my bestfriend about my marriage to Nikolai but I feel like this is not the right time to
do that. So I distracted her with other things to talk about.
We are lying down and cuddling each other on Yelena's bed.
"Hey A, do you have a boyfriend? Why haven't I heard anything about someone you fancy?
"Uh well because my prince charming got hit by a missile or something. I think he's dead."
"A!"
"What? I dont know B."
"What do you mean you don't know? You are the most beautiful nutjob I know. Men dig girls like that, I
guess."
"Well you're right. Ahh, don't pressure me B!"
I just giggle at her honest response. But what she said next gave me a mini heart attack.
"You know Yuri is cute."
"Oh no! Not from the Russian Mafia A!"
"Well hello there hypocrite! Why the hell not from the Russian Mafia? You're in bed with the Russian
Mafia Bosses, why can't I have Yuri?"
"Because Yuri and Nikolai's other security details are not allowed to have a relationship. They can't
have girlfriends and they can't marry. It's some kind of a rule made by Nikolai's father."
"I just said he's cute. I did not say I will marry him!"
"Hmmm... okay. Hush... but I agree, Yuri is indeed cute."
"I know right? He's the dangerous kind of cute."
~
~
"Matushka, have you seen Alexei? I can't find him in his room." She's reading a book near the window
right next to the lamp. Her eye glasses fell down her nose while looking at me with her bare eyes.
"They went to the warehouse my dear. They said they left you a message. Do you need anything?"
"Uhm, I'll just wait for Alexei to come home."
"Okay."
I was about to go back upstairs when Matushka spoke again. "Do you love him?"
I turned around, "P-pardon me?"
"My son Alexei, do you love him?"
I decided to sit right across her on the sofa. "Yes." I answered without hesitation.
"Hmm... are you willing to give him his own child?"
"We've talked about it and I said that I want to have a baby with him someday. So yes."
"Hmm...how about Nikolai, do you love him?"
"Matush-"
"It's a simple question princess."
"I hate him."
"Hmm how much do you hate him?"
"I don't know. I just hate him for everything that he has done."
"What if he dies - say tomorrow, would you still hate him in his grave?"
"He will not die."
"What if he -"
"I said Nikolai will not die! He promised me that he will not let that happen to him!" I answered back
almost scowling.
She then let's out a content smile. I swear this woman has this power to make you feel things. And her
line of questioning made me think about Nikolai and the possibility of him leaving me and my baby. I
cannot even bear thinking about it.
She then took her phone, dialed someone and placed the phone on top of the table.
"Matushka?" Nikolai answered on the other side of the line. We can hear some groaning in the
background and I could swear that whoever that is, is being beaten down or something.
"Nikolai enough with that. Wrap it up and go home. Somebody is waiting for you."
"Who is?"
"Your wife." Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
Without hesitation my husband answered, "I'll be there."
Matushka took the phone and placed it beside her. "Life is too short to keep on running away from what
your heart really wants. Do not wait until it's too late princess. I dont want you to go through what I went
through when Vyacheslav and Viktor were taken away from me in a snap. "
~
I'm sitting in front of the mirror, combing my hair. I wore a see through white nighties and white lace
panties underneath and nothing more.
I thought about what Matushka said and perhaps it's about time I start forgiving and trusting Nikolai
again. I would be living in a lie if I keep on shutting him out when in truth all I really want is him beside
me and with me forever.
I love him. I could not imagine my life without him especially now that we are having a baby.
I took the phone Nikolai gave me and dialed him, after two rings he answered.
"Baby? Matushka said-"
"Come home Nikolai. " I interrupted him.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing, I just want you to come home. You're baby and I are waiting for you."
There's a moment of silence after I said that.
"Hello? Nikolai?"
"Yah, I'm still here. We're on our way."
"Okay... uhm Nikolai?"
"Yes baby?"
"Uh - can you bring me some pringles? Jalapeño flavor."
I can almost hear him smile on the other side of the line. "Sure."
"Thank you. And be safe."
"I will."
I looked down at the screen and realize that he still hasn't hang up so I place the phone back to my ear.
"Uhh Hello?"
"Hi." He answered almost coyly. Well that's a first.
"Why haven't you hung up Nikolai?"
"Because I don't want to. I don't want this to be over. I don't want to lose you again." He answered
almost jittery.