<b>Chapter </b><b>162 </b>


    Elena’s POV:


    The next few days were a blur with Mom and Aunt Rose constantly fussing around me. Every time I reached for my phone, a hand would redirect me towards rest. I knew it came from a ce of love, but the constant attention. made it kinda hard to breathe.


    Fiona carved out what little time she had between her studies to visit.


    On the third day, I had pushed myself to walk on my own. It wasn’t an easy task. The first step felt very painful. But still, it had slowly gotten easier and better.


    Sergei, the one person I had expected to see, had vanished. He’dst visited two days ago, just as he’d promised, but since then, there had been nothing. No text, no message, no one mentioning his name. I felt a strange mixture of confusion and an awkwardness that made my skin prickle. It didn’t feel right to ask anyone about it, especially Niki. What would I even say? His dislike for Sergei was obvious, and after everything that had happened, I didn’t want to force him to tolerate him just because of me. He’d already amodated me a lot.


    Sergei’s promise echoed in my mind. I didn’t know how much he’d meant it. As much as I yearned for safety for myself and my son, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were going to get difficult if he actually did what he said he’d do.


    The thought of him “taking out” Andrey from the equation was both a relief and a terrifying prospect. The Vetrov family wasn’t a small one on par with the Morozovs. The sudden disappearance of both the son and the father would cause a massive stir, a shockwave that would surely ripple out and touch everyone connected to them.


    What about Natalie, Dmitr’s mother? What would happen to her? I had only seen her a few times. Our conversations were brief, and she was every bit the condescending mother–inw from a soap opera, all sharp words and cool nces. She didn’t have much power or a business of her own. Her life seemed to revolve around salons, shopping, and social lunches. But in a situation where she was left alone, with her son and husband gone, would her powerlessness make her more dangerous? Would she retaliate in some way? I was worried about all of it, about the ripple effect and the unseen consequences.


    Things I hadn’t considered before.


    Just as the anxiety was threatening to consume me, the door opened, and a familiar, calming presence filled the room. “Breakfast is here,” Niki said. He was followed by Beatrix, who held a small stic bag in her hand.


    I immediately sat up, my back protesting the sudden movement with a dull throb. “Please tell me that’s dessert,” I said looking at mom hopefully. She had been so strict with my diet, all nd foods meant for recovery.


    “You can’t have anything too sugary, alright?” Beatrix said. She ced a container of sorbet on the table beside my


    bed.


    A breath of relief escaped me. I had been craving sweets so badly that the thought of a in pear or another bowl of vorless oatmeal was enough to make me despair.


    “You’re going to have to eat some food first,” Niki said, a hint of a smile on his lips as he set down a tray of hospital food. I couldn’t help but cringe. Why did they have to make it all <i>so </i>tasteless?


    As I ate, Mom’s cheerful demeanor shifted. “I have to head back to Velhaven today…” she trailed off, her gaze meeting Niki’s. He gave a slight nod.


    “Your mom and I were discussing if it would be easier for you to just be transferred over to the hospital in Velhaven,” he said. “Since Haider would need to be in the NICU for the next three months. It would be easy on you as well as her. As for the internship, I can ask Seraphina to postpone it.”


    My fork paused halfway to my mouth. I quirked a brow in surprise. “Postpone an internship? That’s possible?”


    He smiled. “Anything is possible for you, Malishka. Just say the word.”


    I let out a breathyugh and shook my head, a feeling of awe settling over me. “I already talked to my manager yesterday and have sent a resignation letter,” I exined. “My internship was for six months, and five months have already passed. I’ll just take a break for the next couple of months and then consider the restter.”


    “So, you’ll be moving to Velhaven then, right?” Aunt Rose asked, her voice filled with a hopeful anticipation. “Gosh, as nice as this hospital is, my back has been aching. I’m not used to such soft beds.” She stretched and winced, making me smile.


    I gave her a helpless smile and nodded. “Yes,” I said.


    Niki checked his watch. “Alright. I have some things to take care of today. We can move tomorrow.” He addressed Mom and Aunt Rose. “Benjamin is waiting in the car downstairs. Just let him know when you’d like to leave, and he’ll take you.”


    I watched their interactions, the easy back–and–forth, thefortable way Mom looked at him. A strange warmth blossomed in my chest. She looked better, more at peace than she had in months. It was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.


    She was interacting with Niki with the same easy familiarity she had right after our marriage. I was d things had finally worked out, and that they were progressing well.


    I watched as Mom packed her small handbag with her clothes, Aunt Rose doing the same.


    “When will you be back?” I asked Niki, my spoon scooping up the first glorious bite of sorbet.


    He frowned, looking at his phone, his thumb tapping the screen. “I will try my best to be back by evening. Don’t worry too much. I have guards outside. The staff here is very good. You can go to the NICU anytime you want; it’ll be open for you 24/7,”


    I smiled and nodded, a quiet gratitude filling me. “Alright. Take care,” I said.


    He seemed a little roughed up. Of course, he had work to do. He’d spent thest three days only hovering around me. His men had been bringing him documents here to work on, along with clothes to change into. Even his five o’clock shadow had turned into a full–on beard. Not that it didn’t suit him.


    12:31 Thu, 21 Aug


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    In fact, it only made him look better, adding a rugged, dangerous edge to his already intense features. But I could see the fatigue etched around his eyes. He needed a breather, and so did I. I felt stuffy here, cooped up in the sterile environment all day. I wanted to go out too, but since I was still recovering it would be better if I didn’t voice


    this out and burden him.


    Soon after, Mom left with Aunt Rose. Then Niki, with onest, soft kiss to my forehead and a whispered “I’ll be


    back soon,” was gone too.


    I was alone. A deep, unsettling silence settled over the room, aplete contrast to the lively chaos of the past few


    days. Maybe it was because of Andrey, or maybe it was because of someone or something else entirely.


    I still felt a little on edge. When I was surrounded by the people I loved, the sensation of worry and fear always


    moved to the back of my mind. But now? Now<i>, </i>all alone, watching as the nurse pulled down the blinds for my


    afternoon nap, left to my own thoughts and devices, it felt like something was utterly wrong.