Alexei woke to find someone in his arms.
He subconsciously reached out and gripped the person’s neck.
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However, in the next moment, as he prepared to twist and break it forcefully, he suddenly realized that both he and the other person beneath the covers were
naked.
The womany with her back to him. Across her beautiful shoulder des, partially hidden by thick ck hair, were numerous deep and shallow marks, hinting at the intense devotion and obsession of the person who had left them.
His pupils constricted sharply.
He had just escaped an assassination attemptst night and returned to his room. He could not understand how he ended up in an entirely unfamiliar ce, with a woman next to him he would never touch.
He looked down at his hands.
Those hands were long, strong, with well–defined knuckles, but they were not the hands of an eighteen–year–old boy.
Even the indentation of a wedding ring, worn for a long time on his left ring finger, indicated that this body belonged to a mature man.
Alexei was agitated.
Just then, the sleeping woman showed signs of waking,
Feeling therge hand on her neck, she groggily removed it, muttering, “No more.” Her soft, pleasant voice carried a slight hoarseness from overuse.
Alexei’s hand was seized, and his body suddenly stiffened.
Reason told him that no matter the conspiracy, eliminating all potential threats was the correct course. Yet the faint scent of roses reaching his nose rendered him incapable of action.
15:53 Mon, Sep 8 <b>B </b>
***
The woman turned over and nestled directly into his embrace.
She murmured, “Alexei, why are you awake so early?”
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As she shifted, her smooth leg identally brushed against him. This triggered an unmistakable physiological reaction, like a great ship poised to set sail on calm
waters.
Alexei’s expression darkened.
This baffling woman, this body utterly devoid of restraint–he felt like a beast in heat.
His mind raced, ‘Impossible. Even while unconscious, I would never let any
woman close to me.
‘Did someone set me up? Is this a honey trap?‘
He struggled to push her away, but the other person was faster, wrapping around his waist, pressing a kiss onto the red spot on his chest, and whining with closed eyes, “Not anymore, I’m just so tired.”
As she spoke, the woman pressed even closer against him…
Alexei’s hand again brushed against her sensitive spot.
Just then, urgent, continuous knocking sounded.
However, it came from a surprisingly low position on the door.
‘Is there a dwarf in this room?
“That’s not right; there’s also a dog,‘ Alexei thought as he heard the patter of four
paws.
He found the morningpletely absurd.
Everything here was alien to his world,pletely foreign and detached from it.
Natasha, still drowsy, suddenly opened her eyes, shoved the dazed Alexei aside, and frantically searched for clothes on the enormous bed.
15:53 Mon, Sep 8 <b>G </b>
…
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Sheined, “It’s all your fault! Why didn’t you get me dressed? What if the door wasn’t closed and Joyce came in?”
With that, she angrily kicked him.
She searched long but couldn’t find any clothes. Any clothing she did find had been torn to shreds.
Shey down listlessly, then kicked Alexei again, whose expression shifted between frustration and resignation, and pouted, “Go find me some clothes.”
Seeing him not move, she urged, “Hurry up.”
Alexei stiffly got out of bed. Natasha nced at his very obvious anatomy, blushed, and looked away, then called out to him, “Why don’t you put on some pants first!”
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Alexei gave her a deep, silent look and did not retort.
Just now, he had noticed a photo on the nightstand on the far side of the bed. It was of him and this woman–or rather, an older version of himself.
Everything was unbelievable, and he had many mysteries to unravel.
Before that, he couldn’t act rashly.
Entering the bathroom, he studied his reflection in the mirror. His features had matured; some of the harsh coldness of his eighteen–year–old self had softened, and his eyes had deepened.
He had a faint suspicion deep down, and he thought, ‘Perhaps I had time–traveled
to his future self?
‘Is my future actually like this?‘
Alexeiposed himself. Natasha nced at him repeatedly, sensing his unusual
behavior.
In the past, he would have risen quickly, even letting her get dressed alone.
She secretly observed him.
*****
After finally sorting through his thoughts, Alexei, feigning calm, froze again when he opened the door and a small soft mass pounced on him, hugging his leg and shouting, “Daddy.”
His mind went nk, and heter thought, ‘What had this little one just called
me?‘
“Daddy!” The little girl, no more than three or four years old, repeated in her sweet voice.
She sat on his instep, pouting, “You and Mom arezybones. Daron and I have to wake you every day.”
She had grown ustomed to her parents not appearing immediately after she knocked. She would obediently sit cross–legged by the door on the small bear rug Dad had bought for her, ying with Daron and her toys, waiting for them to wake.
She said, “Dad, Dad, hurry up! You promised to take me pony riding today.”
Natasha emerged a momentter, noting Alexei staring intently at Joyce and seemingly unsure what to do with his hands. She picked up her daughter.
“We’ll leave after breakfast,” Natasha replied.
Joyce giggled as she hugged her mother’s neck and kissed her cheek, “Mom, Mr. Hampston, and I made your sandwiches. Aren’t I great?”
Charlie Hampston was the family chef, and they had hired him after Joyce was
born.
Alexei feared he couldn’t get the portions of baby food right; his meals were suitable only for adults.
“Of course, Joyce, you’re our best little one,” Natasha kissed her darling as she spoke.
Joyce immediately brightened and generously forgave her father, who waste waking. She reached out and said, “Hug me, Daddy.”
15:53 Mon<b>, </b>Sep 8
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She had grown strong and heavy, and she knew Mom’s arms would tire, but her Dad was strong enough to lift her high.
Natasha didn’t let go. Instead, she suggested, “How about Mom holding you today?”
Joyce did not respond.
Alexei spoke first, “I… I’ll carry her.”
He carefully lifted the child, treating her as a fragile, precious treasure. His movements were awkward yet gentle.
Natasha pursed her lips.
*****
After breakfast, Natasha sent Joyce, thrilled about riding a pony, back to her room to pack her small bag for the outing. Then she looked at Alexei and asked, “Honey, where’s your ring?”
Alexei’s mind raced, ‘Ring? How am I supposed to know about a ring?
‘And what had this woman just called me? Honey? It sounded sweet but almost too sharine.‘
Alexei averted his gaze, ears flushed, and coughed, answering awkwardly, “I’ve put it away.”
However, the lie was instantly betrayed.
The wedding ring was ced on the table.
“The ring is in the bedside drawer,” Natasha reminded.
Last night<i>, </i>when he was wearing the ring, she said it hurt. Worried that he would hurt her, he took it off and put it in the drawer.
As was his usual custom, he would put it back on the first thing in the morning.
Their eyes met, and the air between them thickened with unspoken tension.