Page 21 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

Ivan wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close. I went rigid, not daring to move. My brain kept looping that one sentence—"we've been separated for three years."

The heavy stone crushing my chest suddenly dropped away. Even breathing felt lighter.

His palm burned through the thin fabric at my waist. His chin rested playfully on top of my head. "That little cat brain can't hold this much worry. Got a problem? Just ask. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

The words left my mouth, and my ears immediately burned.

He chuckled low, then kissed me again. This time I didn't push him away. And he didn't deepen it—just pulled me tight into his arms and asked softly, "To celebrate your birthday, I've prepared music and dinner. Will you dance with me, beautiful?"

Birthday?

Such a foreign concept.

After Mom left, my birthday got erased from the calendar. No one mentioned it, no one remembered, and eventually even I forgot.

My nose started stinging. "You know my birthday?"

"Of course. The day a cute kitten came into this world? That's worth remembering."

He took my hand and led me deeper into the garden. Evening breeze swept through the roses, their sweet fragrance wrapping around us. String lights lined the stone path, warm yellow glow stretching all the way to a long table draped in cream cloth. On it sat my favorite lemon cake, the frosting sprinkled with fine edible gold leaf, twinkling in the candlelight.

Violin music drifted from somewhere hidden.

My eyes grew hot. In all my years, I'd never had a birthday this deliberate. Someone actually cared about me—remembered a day even I had forgotten.

He turned to look at me, candlelight reflected in his eyes. "Will you dance with me, beautiful?"

"But I don't know how."

"That's okay. Follow me."

He placed one hand lightly on my waist, the other holding mine, and we swayed to the violin's melody.

Evening wind carried rose fragrance into my hair. Candlelight flickered in his eyes. I followed his lead, clumsy and curious. He stayed calm, patiently correcting my every misstep, guiding me steadily.

Later, I couldn't remember what that cake tasted like.

I only remembered being pinned to the bed, keeping him company for a long, long time.

After we made love, I didn't fall asleep like before. I turned my head, studying Ivan's profile. His lashes were long, breath steady and soft.

I couldn't help touching his brow bone. He frowned slightly in his sleep but didn't wake—just nuzzled closer, arm tightening around my waist.

Everything Ivan gave me was like Cinderella's pumpkin carriage—beautiful, magical, but destined to disappear. I couldn't stay here forever. I had my studies to finish, my life to get back on track.

But this moment—

I'd tuck it away in my heart and treasure it forever.

Chapter Seven

Ivan

My kitten was giving me the cold shoulder again.

She was deliberately shutting me out. Even after I'd explained that Victoria was just my ex-wife, that we'd been done for three years, the kitten still wouldn't snap out of it.