Page 66 of Arranged to Marry the Bratva

"Hey, look at me," Boris says, grabbing my shoulder and turning me to face him. "You won't lose her. We're all in this together, and we'll do whatever it takes to make sure she's safe and healthy. Understand?"

I nod again, swallowing the lump in my throat. Their words give me a shred of hope to cling to, something to help me keep it together while I wait for news about Anoushka's condition.

"Thank you, both of you," I say, my voice stronger now. "For being here, for your support. I'm truly grateful."

"Of course," Damien replies, giving me a pat on the back. "We’re family now, Nikolai. And family sticks together, no matter what."

With that, I resume my pacing, my thoughts still consumed by worry but now tempered with a touch of hope. My heart aches for Anoushka and the child she carries, and I find myself praying to any god that will listen.

"Mr. Orlov?" The doctor's voice cuts through my thoughts, and I immediately stop pacing. My gaze locks onto him as he emerges from the emergency room, his face somber but not entirely grim. "Your wife and the baby are stable. We've managed to stabilize her condition, but she'll need to be monitored closely."

“What happened exactly, Doctor?” Boris asks.

“She seems to be in some kind of shock. Her blood pressure dropped. Apart from that, she’s quite alright. We can increase some vitamin supplements to support her during this pregnancy and, moving forward, try not to excite her too much. But, we will be keeping her under observation for a few days, just to make sure it’s not something we missed,” he explains.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, relief flooding through me. She’s stable. She was just in shock. There’s nothing wrong. "Thank you, Doctor," I manage to choke out. "Can I see her?"

Then, feeling selfish, I turn to look at her brothers.

Boris and Damien smile at me and give an encouraging nod.

“Tell her we say hello,” Boris says.

“And that we trust she’s in good hands,” Damien nods.

"Please, follow me, Mr. Orlov," the doctor leads me down the sterile hallway, my heart pounding with every step. As we reach her room, I take a deep breath before pushing the door open.

There she lies, looking so fragile and vulnerable, hooked up to various machines monitoring her vitals. It's a sight that both pains and relieves me, knowing she's still here, fighting.

"Anoushka," I whisper, rushing to her side. I gently take her hand, careful not to disturb the IV. Her eyes flutter open, and she gives me a weak smile.

"Hey you," she murmurs, her voice barely audible.

"Hey yourself," I reply softly, my heart swelling with love and relief. "You gave us quite a scare, Anoushka."

"Sorry," she says, her smile fading. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"Shh," I soothe, stroking her hair back from her face. "You don't need to apologize. All that matters right now is that you're safe and getting better."

"I'm glad you're here," she admits, her eyes searching mine. "I was scared when I woke up alone. Is… is the baby alright?"

"Anoushka, my love, the baby is fine. You are fine. Neither of you are alone," I vow, my voice thick with emotion. "Never were, never will be. Your brothers are outside, refusing to leave your side.”

"Thank you, Nikolai," she whispers, squeezing my hand. “Please, stay the night?”

***

The sunlight filters through the partially closed blinds, casting a warm glow over Anoushka's serene face. Over the past few days, I’ve remained by her side, attending to her every need and ensuring she is comfortable. I feel more at peace as her condition steadily improves.

"Anoushka, how are you feeling today?" I ask softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Better," she smiles weakly, her eyes meeting mine. "Much better, actually."

"Good," I breathe out in relief, my hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I've been so worried about you, and everyone misses you back home. The Orlovs and the Zolotovs."

"I’m sure," she replies with a small smile. "Thank you for never leaving my side. It means more to me than you'll ever know."

"And you mean the world to me."

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