Chapter 12
“Can I ask you something” Katerina asked, breaking of us sat in a
“ace between us as the two
cafe
It started pouring outside, and instead of going home, we decided to sit back at a café and get something to drink. But in all honesty, I never really expected for the rain to be as heavy as it was. Now, I somewhat regretted not listening to her in the first place before suggesting the cafe.
“Sure” I asked, shaking my head in question. I had noticed that she was a quiet girl, somewhat read and maybe emotionless, but that could be the way she wanted to act around me. Things could be different around other people that she was close to.
“If you’re already in a relationship, why did you agree to marry me? No offense, but doesn’t your girlfriend know about our marriage? And why is she okay with it?” She asked, and I sighed. The fact that Anastasia was not okay with this was something that I knew very well. She wasn’t even okay
th the fact that we were here at Bali, and having come here on short notice, I didn’t call to inform her of the situation, and then Katerina had made the post which went viral everywhere about us cuddling
She isn’t okay with it, that is for sure. And the two of us even broke up for a while. As for why I didn’t marry her. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. My parents wouldn’t allow it because she was a woman who had initially cheated on her ex when he refused to divorce, and claimed that it would be a scandal. They didn’t know the struggles that she’s been through with him or how hard she did try or how much she begged him to just sign the papers. When the two of us were together, media went wild, and my parents didn’t like. Eventually, they gave me a condition, either to marry you, or to choose Anastasia” I said, and she frowned
“And the consequences were?” She asked, making me smile at her smartness.
“I am no longer the heir, and they remove everything that they see themselves giving me, and though I do work my ass off for what I have, they think that I take it for granted and choose to want to take it off. I chose to marry you, and since it was an agreement, 1.
“Didn’t mind being with her?” She asked, finishing my sentence and I nodded.
“I was never really aware that anyone would follow us, nor did I put that in consideration. You know, people tend to have other things to tend to, but it seems like our fresh wedding, and how everyone had seen it live, our love, and all the talk about it seemed to get me more attention. I still don’t know how things are going to be when we get back, but I am aware that they won’t be fun and games at home” I said, and she nodded.
“And what does she think about us being here? I am sure that she must have seen the pictures as they have been posted almost everywhere on the media” Katerina asked the question that made
chest ache. My phone rang again for the hundredth time today, and pulling it out of my pocket, I showed it to her, making her frown.
“She has been calling me nonstop since the picture, and I can’t respond knowing that she would causing a tantrum without bothering to listen. Me speaking to her, face to face, might clear things
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sut, but talking on the phone would get the two of us nowhere.” I said, making Katerina frown.
“You could at least answer her, you know, assure her, or explain the situation to her.” She said, making me frown in confusion.
“I thought that you would be happy about her calling like this.” I stated.
“Why would I be happy over a broken woman’s heart?” She asked, shaking her head in question.
“You would be having a clear ground for yourself, you wouldn’t feel threatened…”
“Now, that is a retarded way to think of things.” She said, making me chuckle. “I wouldn’t be happy about something like this. First, the two of us are barely a couple on paper, and though I hate to admit that I don’t like the fact that I know that we might not be more than that, you know, we are married and getting a divorce would cause so much drama; I wouldn’t try to steal another woman’s love. The two of us are married, and have agreed for this to be a marriage on paper or contract.”
H
“You do realize that we might be asked about children one day, or about making our family grow, right?” I asked. I could swear that Katerina held her breath for a second, before nodding-
“I am aware, and though it has always been my dream to have my own family. You know, have my kids, and be called mum, it would be another thing to
sacrifice for the sake of this.” She said, making me frown. My chest ached for her, and smiling, she looked down at her cup of coffee for a second before looking at me. “What are your plans about building a family? Surely you thought about it?”
“I did, long ago, I did want to build my family, but it seems like now it would be almost impossible. Not that I mind though, the idea of being at peace is more important to me, but if I am lucky one day. I would be sure to protect my baby until he’s old enough to take my place. By that time no one would be able to tell me or him anything” I said, and Katerina nodded, not saying a word as she understood that I was referring to Anastasia by the mention of child. I wasn’t being rude to the woman, it was just me being completely honest, and thankfully, she understood that.
She didn’t say anything to respond for a while, and simply focused on watching the windows as the rain poured. It was starting to die down, but it hasn’t stopped completely just yet.
“I don’t think the rain would stopping completely anytime soon, do you want us to head to the house? I am guessing that we could find a cab somewhere.” She asked, breaking our silence.
“I take it that you are not enjoying my company anymore?” I asked, teasing her. She laughed and shook her head, and taking her hand in mine, I intertwined our fingers, squeezing her hand gently as I took her by surprise. “I won’t deprive you of building the family that you want to have.”
“What?” She asked, frowning in confusion.
“The two of us can get a divorce in a year. We can say that we couldn’t get along, or make up some story, but I won’t deprive you of having a happy home like you’re hoping to have.” I said, smiling at her. Katerina’s eyes softened and placing her other hand on mine, she brought my hand to her lips and kissed my knuckle, something that not even Anastasia, who I have been dating for years now, ever did.
“Don’t worry about me. Nikolay. The fact that you thought about it is something that I will be
Chapter 12
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grateful for, but don’t put yourself under that pressure for my sake, okay?” She asked, her voice softening. “I’ll go to the bathroom and the two of us can go home, yeah?”
