Page 96 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

I'd always thought Anna only felt disgust toward me.

"Of course."

He continued, "That picture I drew—Mom takes it out to look at all the time. Ivan, you and Mom knew each other a long time ago, didn't you?"

In that moment, I felt something hot surge up, making my eyes sting.

Alex's words hit me right in the chest.

I crouched down and pulled him into my arms. "Yes. We knew each other a long time ago. It's Dad's fault. I missed every day of watching you grow up."

Alex looked up, his small hands clumsily wiping at my tears.

"It's okay. We still have the future. You have to stay with me and Mom forever now."

I nodded hard, held him tighter.

"Yes. Yes. We'll always be together."

I let go and stood up, eyes still burning.

I was grateful to God after all.

He gave me back my kitten. And my son.

I took Alex's little backpack.

"Come on. Let's go home."

Alex smiled sweetly. "Yeah! Home!"

He slipped his small hand naturally into mine. His hand was tiny, soft, gripping my fingers tight.

That was trust like nothing else. A son's hottest recognition of his father.

I held his little hand, walking step by step toward the car.

Sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves, casting dappled shadows on us. For the first time, I felt like a man who truly had a home.

Anna

I stayed.

We seemed to have actually formed a family.

Even though Ivan restricted where I could go, he took care of Alex with meticulous attention.

He made us warm breakfasts, told Nadia and Alex half-true stories before bed.

Every day I sat by the window in the sun, watching the three of them chase and play in the living room.

I felt happiness. Real happiness.

Ivan tried many ways to win me over. He baked my favorite croissants—golden, crispy crusts dusted with powdered sugar. They tasted amazing.

But to punish him just a little for keeping me captive, I finished them, washed the plate, and gave him zero warmth.

Nadia watched from the side, looking at him sympathetically. "Dad, your way of making up with girls is so old-school."