Page 44 of Ruthless Serenade

"Really?" I furrow my brow.

Tania’s lips curve into a smile. "Well, Sharon made a new friend," she says. "A pretty handsome one, I have to say," she adds with a mischievous smirk. "Probably someone’s dad. They were talking for almost ten minutes."

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. My daughter? Talking to a complete stranger? Fortwentyminutes?

"Did you catch it on camera?" I ask surprised.

Tania shakes her head. "Only the performance," she admits.

Oh well. I guess Sharon will tell me all about it tomorrow. Still, the fact that my little girl stood on stage, told a story, received a standing ovation, and even made a new friend feels almost unbelievable. Pride swells in my chest at the thought. She’s exceeded every expectation and found her own voice. It makes me the proudest mom ever. I just wish I could have been there for her.

After Tania leaves and I lock the door behind her, a sense of loneliness descends upon me once more. Sharon is already sleeping in her room, andI’m just here, leaning against the wall in the living room, feeling… lost and unsure of what to do next. The silence of the room is like a heavy burden on my shoulders.

I collapse on the couch and pull out my phone, opening the video Tania sent me. And there she is, my amazing little girl, standing tall and proud on stage. She looks so tiny up there, her little hands gripping the microphone stand like it’s a lifeline.

At first, she’s silent and her eyes are wide as she stares out at the audience. The seconds tick by, and I can see the worry on her face. But then, something incredible happens. She steadies herself, takes a deep breath, and starts to speak.

"Once upon a time," her voice rings out, "in a cozy den nestled in the heart of the forest, there lived a mother fox and her seven little fox cubs…" Her tone is soft at first, almost inaudible over the rustle of the crowd. But as she begins to tell her story, her words grow stronger, more confident. By the time she reaches the end, her face is glowing as she beams out at the crowd. "…And they all lived happily ever after."

As soon as she finishes, the audience breaks out in a smattering of applause, clapping and cheering for her. Sharon looks surprised at first, but then she smiles proudly, and takes a little bow. I find myself crying tears of joy, regret, and love for my once-shy baby girl, who conquered her fears tonight and stood tall on that stage with a confidence I’ve never seen from her before. My heart feels like it could burst with pride.

I let out a raw sob that feels as if it’s being torn from the deepest part of my soul. The floodgates open, and I allow myself to cry and cry, letting the tears flow freely. They stream down my face, blurring my vision.

The stress of everyday life - trying to make ends meet and the humiliation I faced today - pours out in those tears. Years of being a single mother, fighting to keep my head above water, struggling to balance work and quality time with my daughter, and longing for a stable family I can’t have - all of it comes crashing down on me in this moment. I cry for Sharon, for the mother I couldn’t be for her. I finally allow myself to feel the emotions I’ve been holding back for so long.

But at the end of the day, only one thing matters: I have Sharon and she has me. She will always have me.

And I will continue fighting for her until my last breath.

Chapter Seventeen

Maron

Earlier that day

After another sad jerkoff session in the shower, I make my way to my wardrobe.

It’s time to get your shit together, Korolev.

I change into a pair of elegant trousers and a crisp white linen shirt. Today, I am heading to Willow Heights. It’s the elementary school I decided to sponsor a while back. I’ve been giving them generous donations for months now and they’ve been nothing but grateful for my support. They even invited me to their school event called ‘Story Night’, which is tonight.

"This event never could have happened without your generosity, Mr. Korolev," Mrs. West, the school principal, had said. "It’s going to mean the world to many of our children, and we’d love for you to be there, celebrating with us."

At first, I wasn’t sure about saying yes. After all, I’m living in incognito and I rarely show my face in public. Besides, me at a school event? I’d stand out like a sore thumb. There aren’t many six-and-a-half-foot-tall, tattooed dads in audiences like these. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the kids needed therapy after seeing me staring at them from the crowd.

But then again, supporting a struggling elementary school is a cause that’s been close to my fucked-up heart eversince my daughter, Cordelia, died. Many special-needs children attend Willow Heights, and the school looks after them well. Contributing to their efforts with some cash makes me feel like I’m doing something meaningful with my life besides just jerking off to Mindy’s memory and managing Bratva-related shit from the shadows.

Turning a corner on my way to the garage, I almost collide with Timofey, who’s just stepped out of our mother’s suite. I pull up short, cursing under my breath.

"How’s Mom doing today?" I ask him.

Timofey yawns and shrugs. "As good as she can,bratok. Same old, repetitive shit."

I give my brother a pointed look. "Little respect, Timo."

"Okay, okay," he relents. "You know how she is. She still brings up Cordelia one hundred and fifty-two times a day. Sometimes, I wonder if she even remembers that she still has two sons."

"She had a stepson too." It’s out before I can stop it.

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