Page 22 of Forced Bratva Bride

“Oh, um, it’s nice,” I say, not sure how to answer that.

“Nice? That doesn’t sound like a passionate newlywed couple,” she laughs.

“It’s all so different, living with him. I am not used to it at all. I guess I'm a bit slow to adjust to change.”

Amelia nods, watching me closely, a faint smile on her lips.

“Take your time, Chiara. There's no rush. You will find he has a good heart, just like his brothers do. Don’t force yourself to try and feel anything, let it happen naturally, when you are ready. I know how it feels to be away from what you know, and confused, and even angry.”

“Angry?”

“Paval told me it was an arranged marriage between families. So I'm guessing it wasn't really what you had planned for your life?”

I smile. “It isn’t.”

“But sometimes life throws stuff at us, things we didn’t expect, and things we definitely didn’t want. Give it a chance. You might find that the man you're married to is actually the man of your dreams.”

“Funny, Maxim said something very similar to me the first night we met.”

“See, I'm not even the first person to tell you that. Give it a chance. You never know what might happen.”

I hear Maxim laughing as two of the kids scramble over him, pulling him onto the grass and wrestling him. I never imagined him being the type of guy who played games with kids. He comes across too serious in nature, too cold or controlled in most ways. I guess the image I had of him didn’t fit with someone who would be willing to let his guard down to play the fool like this, but he looks so natural with them. His wide smile and playful nature catches me off guard as I stare at them.

One of the other ladies walks over to him, laughing, and scooping up a little boy into her arms. I think her name is Kat. “They really are rascals.”

“No, don’t worry about it, let them play,” Maxim grins. He stands up again and swings the other little boy into his arms, tossing him over his shoulder and spinning him around as the kid squeals with laughter.

Kat and Maxim chat for a bit, and then one of his brothers joins them. They all look so relaxed, and he seems really close to his family.

Seeing this side of him gives me a different image of who he is.

The little birthday girl rushes over to me, and hands me a sticky sweet with grass stuck to it. “It’s for you. I opened it for you,” she says, pushing it into my hand.

“Leanna,” Amelia says, laughing. “I don’t think Chiara wants your opened sweetie, birthday girl.”

Leanna looks at me hopefully. “But it’s a grape one. It’s the best flavor.”

“I love the grape ones,” I say brightly, grinning at her.

“Yay!” she shouts, and rushes away again.

“Do you want to have children one day?” Amelia asks, taking the sticky sweet from my hand and pulling a wet wipe out of the packet next to her. “These are a lifesaver,” she smiles, handing it to me so that I can clean my hand off.

Do I want children?

I do, one day, and watching this big, beautiful, happy family today, my heart tugs at me, telling me that I might even want them sooner than one day. My eyes fall onto Maxim again.

But I don’t think it's meant for me. That's my husband, a man I don’t even know, and I didn’t get to choose. How can I dream of having a family with him?

“Chiara?” Amelia prompts, noting that I didn’t answer her.

“Oh, sorry, um, I don’t actually know if I want children. I love children, it’s just such a big decision.”

“I didn’t want children. I was horrified when I found out I was pregnant. But it turns out that it's one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life.”

“You mean, apart from being kidnapped?”

She laughs again. “Yes, you know, apart from being kidnapped.”

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