Page 72 of Forced Innocent Bratva Bride

“Anything for you,” I replied with the same tone, basking in the satisfaction etched on her face.

Tonight wasn't about me. It was about her. All I wanted was to pleasure her, make her feel good, and now that I'd done just that, her satisfaction was my satisfaction.

Epilogue – Lorena

~Four months later

My heart was overwhelmed with gladness, and tears of joy pricked at the corners of my eyes as I gazed upon our little miracle, cradled in my arms.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of baby shampoo and fresh linen, blended with the hospital room's soft beeps and muted hum.

I sat on the bed, eyes fixed on the infant nestled in my arms, unable to tear my gaze off the baby's tiny features. Our newborn son had me mesmerized. His delicate eyelashes, petite nose, and rosebud lips ignited an unimaginable joy within me.

A different kind of love stirred up inside of me. I'd never felt this way toward anyone before. This kind of love made me realize that I could give up my own life for this child. I would do anything, anything at all, to guide, protect, and make sure he never lacked or wanted.

I was exhausted, drained from the four-hour labor that had threatened to take my life. Yet, I felt strong enough to hold my baby. I would never be too tired for this child.

The doctors had said that some labors took longer than mine, especially when it was a woman's first. The pain was unimaginable, and at some point, I'd sworn never to carry another life in my womb again. I didn't think at that moment that I could go through such agony a second time if I survived this one.

Four hours of wailing in tremendous anguish, straining, pushing, weeping, my flesh tearing—ripped apart to allow the baby's head free passage. It was a horrible experience, one that drained me both physically and mentally. Yet, the end result wasappealing enough to wipe away those tears, to soothe that pain and replace it with an overwhelming joy.

How could something that brought me so much pain bring me even more happiness? It was as though I'd forgotten all about the agony of labor as I stared into those tiny pale blue eyes simmering in the lights.

I felt the tender touch of my husband's hand, gently massaging my shoulder as he sat by my side, watching our little miracle nestled peacefully in my arms.

I lifted my head, and our eyes locked in a moment. His lips curled into a bright smile I'd never seen on his face before, pride etched in his soft gaze. I mirrored his wide grin, my heart overflowing with love and gratitude.

What did I do to deserve a happy family?

Alexei had, over the past few months, transformed into the man of my dreams. I wasn't entirely sure how he’d managed to pull that off, but I was glad he had. I felt blessed to have him in my life.

Throughout the four hours of my labor, Alexei had never left my side. He was with me the whole time, gripping my hands and whispering words of encouragement. The few times I nearly gave up, it was Alexei who kept me going, urging me to keep pushing with a promise that it would all be over soon—that it would be worth it in the end.

I wasn't sure how my labor would have been if he wasn't there with me through thick and thin. Alexei was my anchor. His hands were like pillars that I held on to when slipping away. The nurses’ and doctor's words of encouragement were irrelevant, as all that I heard was my husband's voice.

It had beenhisvoice that echoed in my head, leading back to reality when I'd almost drifted unconscious. Alexei played a vital role in my safe delivery. If he wasn't there with me, something would have most likely gone horribly wrong.

I’d thought I was going to die from all that pain, and somewhere along the line, I’d blamed him for putting me in this condition. I'd hit him hard multiple times, my eyes shining with fury. But thankfully, Alexei didn't take me seriously; he understood the amount of pain I was going through.

However, now that it was all over, and all that suffering and the agony I'd had to endure had dissipated, everything seemed to have fallen into place. I felt relieved…peaceful.

The suffering of childbirth couldn’t be compared to the joy that came with carrying my baby in my arms. In spite of the anguish, I was glad to have pushed through regardless, thanks to my husband.

He was my better half, and we'd worked together as a team to make this a success.

I shut my eyes as he reached out and kissed my forehead, his fingers combing through my hair, moist from sweat. His touch still sent shivers down my spine, and I felt more connected to him than I ever had.

Ironic how we’d moved from enemies to lovers within a few months. I still hadn't been able to wrap my head around it yet because everything just happened so fast.

It felt like yesterday when my dad had informed me about his decision to marry me off to a man I used to see as nothing but a heartless mobster. I wasn't wrong anyway; he was, indeed, exactly the type of man I knew him to be: ruthless, arrogant, evil, and devilishly attractive.

Today, our story was different. Better in every way. The man I’d hated most in the world was now the one I loved most. Well, that was debatable, considering the arrival of our newborn son. But regardless, he'd stolen my heart, my love, and my affection. Now, I couldn't picture my life without him.

It was hard to remember the feelings of hatred, resentment, and disdain I used to harbor toward this man. Allof that was replaced by an amount of love my heart couldn't contain.

A house that was once my prison was now a place I referred to as home. the perfect place to raise our little miracle together as a family.

“Hey, buddy,” Alexei whispered, leaning in to stare at the baby in my arms. “Welcome to the world.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he shifted his gaze toward me. “This is the best gift I've ever received,” he said, his expression soft. “Thank you.”

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