Page 75 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

The room finally fell silent. The wall sconces still cast warm yellow light across the carpet, softening the trampled edges of the rug.

Ivan walked over to us. He lifted his hand, brushing away the loose strands of hair at my cheek.

"It's over." His voice was low. "She won't come back."

I snapped out of that chaos, heart pounding hard, thumping against my ribs until they ached.

I looked down at Nadia hiding behind me. The little girl clutched my dress tightly, face still pale, but her eyes were bright—no tears at all.

"Nadia," I crouched down, taking her cold little hand, "you did amazing just now."

Instantly, Nadia's eyes reddened.

She leaned forward, pressing her small head against my shoulder. "Anna, I protected you. What I couldn't do five years ago, I did it now."

Those words brushed against my heart like feathers—soft and ticklish.

Turned out I wasn't the only one trapped by five years ago. This child was too.

My eyes burned. I couldn't help pulling her close, kissing her forehead. "Yes, you were so brave. You protected me."

I raised my head, my gaze traveling over her crown to Ivan standing a few steps away. He was looking at me too. Those gray-blue eyes were like an ocean that wouldn't dissolve—deep, clearly reflecting my image inside.

I didn't dare look longer, didn't want to analyze the meaning in his eyes. I was afraid if I thought too hard, I'd fall again, foolishly believing I deserved those looks.

Nadia's emotions gradually settled. Her fingers loosened their grip on my clothes.

She pulled back from my embrace, looked up, forced a smile—those shallow dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth.

"Anna, my dad wants to talk to you. I'll go upstairs first."

Before I could stop her, she'd already turned and trotted up the stairs. The wooden steps made tapping sounds under her feet, like a little string of notes struck, quickly disappearing at the end of the second-floor hallway.

Only Ivan and I remained in the living room. Warm yellow light spilled from the wall corners, stretching the shadows of the sofas long. The air still held the residual heat from that argument.

"Anna."

Ivan spoke my name.

My whole body tensed. I forced out some composure.

Then I looked up at him, smiled politely like I would at any former employer. "Yes?"

Ivan stared at my smile.

I knew it was fake—the curve of my lips didn't match the temperature in my eyes—but I just didn't have the energy to fake it better. Anyone who'd heard those filthy words would need serious mental strength to process them.

I was no exception.

He took a step forward.

I bit down hard, fighting the urge to run.

He saw my reaction. A darkness I couldn't read spread through his gray-blue eyes. He stopped where he was, didn't advance, just repeated quietly, "Anna."

I didn't want to hear him say my name in that tone.

I looked away. "I think today's tutoring should end here. I'll head home now."