Page 69 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

I'd never been happier in my whole life. I’d never felt so fulfilled and complete. It was as though Lorena's presence had turned everything around in my favor. She was like my good luck charm, making things easier than they'd ever been.

My affection, my love and adoration for this woman, blossomed every morning. In my heart, I was grateful that she hadn't died in that fire months ago. I wouldn't have known what I'd have done if she had. But one thing was certain: I would've been a lot colder than the fucking Arctic waters.

However, she was fine and safe, as was the baby in her womb.

A few years ago, the thought of settling down and raising a happy family was alien to me. I would admire my cousins and their wives. I would respect them but never envy or wish for what they had.

I used to be of the notion that sticking with one woman for the rest of my life was torture. I wasn't ready for any long-term commitment, wasn't ready to let go of my carefree life with my numerous lovers.

But today, here I was, stuck with one woman—the best of them all. I didn't think I would have eyes for only one woman. I didn't think I had it in me to be faithful to her, given the countless women at my beck and call, all eager to please me.

What Lorena had done to slip her way into my heart still eluded me till today. I couldn't pinpoint the exact thing she’d done, as it was a series of carefully orchestrated events. The woman wasn't just beautiful; she was also smart and brilliant.

Her ability to tame the beast in me, to soften my ruthlessness without even stressing, was a thing of marvel to me. I’d yet to fathom how she did it, how she pulled that off so effortlessly.

Confessing my feelings for her was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do. But it couldn't be helped. The feeling was overwhelming, especially because I hadn't felt that way before.

Everything had been better since that day, and I felt more fulfilled than I ever had. I'd managed to maintain a balance between my work and family.

To my business associates, partners, and rivals, I was still the same Alexei Tarasov who shouldn't be messed with. I'd learned to handle things better, to temper justice with mercy in some cases. This was a strange innovation, given my ability to hold a grudge for so long. My reputation for unforgiveness preceded me, hence the reason this change, however subtle, was obvious.

The difference in my leadership and approach to situations was significant. I was starting to think and behave likePakhanArtem and the rest of my married cousins in a way.

However, in spite of the positive change in attitude, I still maintained my signature aura of ruthlessness and cruelty. My enemies knew better than to take advantage of these slightchanges. They knew it'd be suicide because I'd obliterate each of them without hesitation.

My wife might have tamed the raging beast within, but the beast only answered to her and her alone. My protectiveness for my family was off the charts. I'd do anything to keep them safe. Anything at all.

My enemies understood this, and they all stayed the hell away from me. Nobody wanted to get in a fight with Alexei Tarasov.

These days, I was proud of the man that I'd become, all thanks to my wife. She'd stolen my heart, and honestly, I didn't want it back. It was safer in her possession, and she seemed to be using it better than me.

Lorena was the one for me, and I couldn't have asked for a better partner.

With a smile perched on my face, I glided through the hallway, my shoes clicking on the floor. I'd stepped out for an important meeting with some high-profile clients and had returned home, my heart racing with anticipation to set eyes on my wife.

I'd been gone for only a few hours, but it felt like days that I hadn't seen her. That was how attached to her I'd grown.

I grabbed the door handle, turned it, and it creaked open, revealing Lorena sitting on the bed, her back against the headboard.

She looked in my direction, her face lighting up with a smile, eyes crinkling at the corners. Her belly was swollen underneath the fabric of the flowered knee-length dress that shrouded her form. Lorena's smile was still as radiant as before, unaffected by her present condition.

I strolled inside, shut the door behind me, and shed my jacket, tossing it onto the nearest couch. As I headed toward thebed, my fingers loosened the tie around my neck, my eyes fixed on this charming woman who wouldn't stop smiling at me.

Her skin simmered in the soft lights, her face illuminated by the chandelier's warm glow. “Hey,” she greeted me, her sweet voice a mere whisper under the classical music playing in the background.

“Hey,” I replied with the same tone, taking off my tie and sitting next to her. I planted a kiss on her forehead, then her nose, and then her lips. “How are you?” My fingers toiled with the brown wavy hair that cascaded down her shoulders.

She let out a soft sigh, her eyes dropping to avoid mine. “I'm, uh…. I'm…I'm fine…I guess,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of anxiety, devoid of her usual confidence.

Alarmed, my brows knitted together as I gently raised her chin, my eyes meeting hers again. “What's wrong?” I asked, concern creeping into my tone.

She stared at me in silence, blinking with her hands resting on her lap in a way that accentuated the despair etched on her face.

“Lorena, what is it?” I edged closer, my heart pounding in my chest as I started cooking up scenarios in my head—thinking the worst. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” My eyes roamed her body and settled on her protruding stomach. “Is the baby okay?” My hands reflexively rested on her belly.

“The baby's fine—I'mfine,” she said, letting out a soft exhale.

“Okay, then, what is it?” I inquired, caressing her stomach over the fabric of her dress.

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