Page 153 of Porcelain Lies

This kid!

I swallow a lump in my throat, then lean in and pull him against my chest. “And you will always be mine,malysh,” I say against the top of his head, grateful that there’s no one around to see me now. There must be dust in the air or something. My eyes are burning. Allergies.

Yeah, right, dolboyob.

It’s allergies.

Bobik pulls away and looks up at me. He grows thoughtful. “Did he talk about the risks?”

I admire his maturity. “He did. But Dr. Malhotra is good at what he does. We’ll ensure you’re in good hands.”

He nods slowly. “I’ve been reading about similar procedures. Nothing this advanced yet. But he’s the best in his field.”

I chuckle softly. “Trust you to study your own surgery.”

He grins. “Knowledge is power, right?”

“It is. And you have empowered yourself, boy. I’m proud of you,synok.”

He looks down for a moment, then back up. “Thank you for making this possible,Papa.”

Fuck.

How can he be so mature at just ten?

I cup his face in my hands and stare into his eyes. “Do you think that there was ever a doubt this would happen?”

He looks up at me silently, eyes wide.

“I would move the earth for you, Bobik,” I say fiercely. “Pull down the moon and turn it into a soccer ball if you want.”

“The moon as a soccer ball?” His eyes flash mischievously. He grins.

“If you want.” I grin back. A softness settles between us. “And you’ll be playing soccer before you know it.”

His eyes shine with hope. “Maybe you’ll play with me?”

Until your brother is old enough to play with you, I want to say. But now is not the time to raise the prospect of siblings.

“Of course,” I say, ruffling his hair gently. “Until you outrun me with your strong, young legs.”

For a moment, the weight of my other worries fades. Here, with Bobik, everything else feels distant. But a part of me knows I need to see Stella — not just because of Bobik, but because keeping my distance is becoming increasingly difficult.

“Rest now,” I tell him, standing up. “Big days are ahead.”

“Goodnight,Papa.”

“Spokoinoi nochi, Bobik.”

Leaving his room, I feel my heart swell with love for this small boy I helped bring into this world. And then I think of another… one who has yet to be born. And I feel a pull that’s hard to ignore.

Because she is having your baby…

But if I’m honest with myself, it’s a lot more than just that.

My steps turn toward the corridor leading to Stella’s suite. Each stride brings a conflict between duty and something more personal — something I’ve tried to suppress but can no longer deny.

I want to see her.

---