Page 68 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

“But it feels like it is,” I said quietly, eyes dropping to the floor as self-condemnation crept into my tone.

He raised my chin and held my gaze. “In his selfishness and obsession, he wanted you to die with him.” Alexei's jaw clenched, a glint of anger flashing in his eyes. “The bastard got what he deserved.”

Hearing him explain it to me this way had a positive effect on me. Some of the weight of Bryce's death lifted from my shoulders as I realized my husband was right. Bryce was willing to kill me and my unborn baby so no one else would be with me. That was selfish and cruel, and I shouldn't blame myself.

A wave of gratitude washed over me as I stared lovingly into Alexei's eyes, only one question ringing in my head. A part of me knew the answer, but I needed to hear him say it.

“Can I ask you something?” I questioned, looking deeply into his eyes.

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Why did you save me?” I asked, my gaze unwavering. “Was it because you wanted to or because I'm carrying your baby?”

He pulled me closer, my hip against his. Our eyes were locked on each other's. “After I got notified of your location, I couldn't head home without making sure that you were okay.”

My eyes blinked, and my breath ceased as I watched him begin what seemed like a heartfelt confession.

“Lorena, for some reason, I just felt like you needed me. I couldn't shake the feeling that you were in trouble,” he said, his tone laced with emotion.

This was the first time he was speaking so intimately with me, and it warmed my heart, wrapping my soul with joy. It was like I was looking at a whole new person—a different and more affectionate version of the ruthless man I’d married.

Alexei continued, “And when I saw that house on fire and realized it was your location, I nearly lost my mind.” His fingers combed through my hair, his eyes never leaving mine. “I'd never been so afraid in my life, Lorena. I thought I'd lost you, and that feeling was awful.”

A lone tear streamed down my cheek, his sincere words stirring up my affection, toiling with my emotions.

“At first, I wasn't sure why I felt the way I did,” he said, wiping away that lone tear. “But now I do.” He paused and stared at me, his smile spreading across his. “It's because I love you, Lorena,” he confessed, eyes sparkling with mirth.

My heart skipped at his declaration, a wave of excitement washing over me, igniting every flame of emotion in me. I threw my hands around his neck, my lips curling into a smile as I pushed closer, my body pressing against his. “And I love you, Alexei Tarasov,” I confessed.

He leaned forward and gently claimed my lips, his tongue sliding into my mouth. Goosebumps crawled my skin, my senses awakening at his touch. We'd kissed before, more times than I could count, but this one was different. I could feel the spark between us, and it was, in all honesty, the best kiss we'd shared yet.

Chapter 27 – Alexei

It had been five months since the incident with the house fire, and now, my wife's pregnancy was more glaring than before.

Her belly had swollen in a rather majestic way. She'd gained more weight and wasn't as energetic as she used to be. But I'd be damned if I didn't admit that she was the most gorgeous pregnant woman I'd ever seen.

Lorena seemed like she was glowing anew every morning; her beauty radiated brighter whenever she smiled, and it always melted my stone-cold heart.

I didn't think I'd fall so deeply in love with this woman the way I had, considering thatPakhanArtem had practically cajoled me into marrying her. He'd once said that in due time, all would fall in place—all would make perfect sense.

At first, I’d doubted it despite respecting his wisdom and direction. It was hard to accept his words, especially because I hated Lorena and thought the Campbell girl was a spoiled little brat.

And indeed, she was.

Who would have thought that I, Alexei Tarasov, would fall so helplessly for the same Daddy's girl that I’d loathed so much? Who would’ve thought that she'd capture my heart and soul and even make me bend my rules?

What a woman!

I wouldn't change anything even if I could. No. All the pain, all the anger, and every argument I’d had with her had led to this moment of peace in our lives. It seemed like it all was orchestrated by life itself to add depth to our story. So, no, I wouldn't change anything.

PakhanArtem was right, after all; every cloud, indeed, had a silver lining.

I couldn't have asked for a better partner. Maybe it was still a little too early to draw this conclusion, but that was my opinion. It was how I felt. It was impossible to picture my life with some other woman.

Recently, it was as though Lorena and I were in perfect sync. We understood each other so well that we hardly ever disagreed on anything. Ever.

How we’d moved from always seeing things from different perspectives to having almost the same view about everything was amazing. I wasn't one to be easily impressed, but this growth in our relationship was quite impressive—something I couldn't deny.

---