Page 49 of Between Power and Passion

As I step inside and start running the bathwater, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I look more excited than I realized.

I sink into the warm water, letting it soothe my aching muscles. The scent of lavender fills the air as I close my eyes and let myself relax completely for what feels like the first time in forever.

After bathing, I wrap myself in a plush towel and head back to our bedroom to find something to wear.

I stand in front of the closet, and frustration soon bubbles up inside me as I pull out dress after dress, only to find that none of them fit over my swollen belly. Each failed attempt makes my irritation grow, and I finally throw a dress onto the floor in exasperation.

"This is ridiculous," I mutter to myself, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill over.

Dmitri appears in the doorway, looking concerned.

"What’s wrong?" he asks, stepping into the room.

I sniffle, unable to hide my emotions any longer. "I can’t fit into any of my clothes," I say, my voice trembling. "Nothing fits me anymore."

His expression softens immediately. He walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. "Valentina, don’t cry," he says gently. "We can go shopping tomorrow and get you some new clothes."

I shake my head, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand. "But what about our date tonight?" I ask, looking up at him.

He pauses for a moment before a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "You could wear some of my clothes if you still want to go out."

I stare at him, incredulous. "Are you calling me fat?" The words come out sharper than I intend, but I’m too upset to care.

Dmitri looks flustered, clearly caught off guard by my reaction. "No, that’s not what I meant at all," he says quickly. "Valentina, you’re beautiful. I love your body just the way it is."

His words catch me off guard, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him. Then the tears come again, but this time they’re different—softer, almost relieved.

Dmitri steps closer and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a gentle hug. His warmth seeps into me, and I let out a shaky breath as I rest my head against his chest.

"We’ll figure it out," he murmurs into my hair. "We always do."

"Okay," I whisper finally. "We’ll go shopping tomorrow."

He pulls back slightly to look down at me, his eyes filled with a tenderness that makes my heart ache in the best possible way. "And tonight?"

I take a deep breath and give him a small smile. "Tonight... maybe we stay in and have that home-cooked dinner you mentioned."

Dmitri smiles back at me and nods. "That sounds perfect."

I sit in the living room, munching on popcorn, my eyes glued to the TV screen. The reality show I’m watching is ridiculous but entertaining, and it's the perfect distraction. Dmitri and Alexei are huddled on the other side of the room, intensely focused on their game. The sound of rapid game pad clicking and occasional curses fills the air.

“Dmitri, you’re going down!” Alexei taunts, a grin spreading across his face.

“Keep dreaming,” Dmitri retorts, his fingers flying over the buttons.

A particularly funny moment on the show makes me burst into laughter. As I do, I feel a sudden trickle of warmth running down my thigh. My heart skips a beat.

“Uh, guys?”

Both Dmitri and Alexei glance up from their screens simultaneously, concern replacing their competitive expressions.

“What’s wrong?” Dmitri asks, standing up immediately.

“I think the baby’s coming,” I say calmly, though my mind is racing.

Dmitri’s face goes pale, and he looks like he’s about to panic. “What? Now? Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I confirm, trying to stay composed. “My water just broke.”

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