Kidnapped - A Beautiful Blessing

thout hesitation, she threw herself against Darius's chest. The impact was sudden and forceful, catching him off

t the way she shuddered, he exhaled slowly, lowering his guard. His l

murmured, his vo

inst him, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt. He

erocity replaced by a gentle patter of rain against the windows. Dari

he asked, his tone

espo

only to find that she had already fallen asleep. Her face, once

sition. He laid her back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her to keep her warm. His

s immediately aware of one

ack to her in vivid detail. The storm. The thunder. Th

widened i

wa

ainst her temples. Embarrassment flooded her, heating her face.

ner panic. A maid entered, carrying a warm

like for breakfast?" th

ll mentally cursing herself. "What do you

are eggs with bread for br

he blinked, her lips pre

decides wha

him, not me," she said coolly.

hen nodded. "Okay, ma'am." With th

bbing pulsed through her temples, making her wince. As she reached the

e hissed under her breath, pre

e drenched clothes... I m

en long, full of confusion, warmth, and a storm she ha

Sasha took it and walked outside, letting the weak morning sun warm h

ddenly, she remembered-s

ne, she quickly c

ea:

i.

u reach

p on your health. You we

bably tomorrow? W

messages for a momen

chance of gathering information-information that could work in her favor. More

response witho

ash

l me the time

came almos

ea:

' Park,

smir

rfe

kly type

ash

ka

ust one issue-in

his name, and pressed the call button. It

rst, clearing her th

ore his deep voice re

ock and winced. "Oh. I

e. Then, "Why

the point,

him. "She wants to meet me som

even hesitat

t a few questions, some level of resist

alance. Then, as an afterthought, she added

drawers nea

rig

already end

t it for a second. His responses were always abrupt,

and lay down for a while. The warmth of the blanket and t

was time to get rea

a stepped inside, scanning the cozy café until her eyes landed on Lea, who waved enthusiastically from a corner booth. Sunlight poured in th

Lea's excitement wa

illed with warmth as Sasha slid

n her friend's glowing expressio

tively resting over her stomach. "That's be

ed an eyeb

ng quickly until she found what she was looking for. She turned

d, her joy almost tang

can see that." A small smile tugged at h

he head?" Lea

e image but shook he

ing her finger over the tiny sha

ilting her head slightly as if the

um right now," Lea explained, her voice

ng, "Are you scared? I hear

Her lips curved into a tender smile. "He's my streng

's phone rang. Glancing at the

to tell you." Her voice wa

hing, and Lea giggled. "Okay, okay, don't wo

's expression shifted into so

nued. "So why should I? Remember what the doctor

ckling again. "We have your men, don't worry. I'l

mile as she set her phone down. Looking up, she me

sighed playfully. "But you know how our hu

escribe Darius's way of showing care. He wasn't the type t

Tell me, what do you think? Wil

't know. But they say

little princess. Leon keeps insisting it's a boy, but I told him what

ure happiness radiating from

They placed their orders, and as soon as

by shower," she announced. "

ed. "I'll

, a curious glint i

ned slight

day-it said that in India, wives usually don

r eyes. "That's

disappointment. "The arti

-are you planning to go to your moth

down briefly, her fingers fidgeting with the

pang in her chest. "I'm

d, offering a small

answering the same ques

emotion, as if she had repeated the words so

ith their food. Lea excused herself to the washroom, and when she

mells w

fresh glass of orange juice, and as Le

ain, tugging on he

brother or sister too!

soft, tired. "No, chi

"Why? What ha

faintly. "I'm just

uthority of a child. "You always tell me to eat

l sound. Her father chuckled beside the

nd Sasha blinked ba

ha, can you look at these? Tell m

ard Sasha, displaying a

panda design caught Sasha

ble! I'm adding it." She clicked on

-giggling over baby clothes, discussing name

s eyes flicker toward the entrance. Her face insta

ad arr

nto the seat beside her, his presence dominating the space. Lea's happiness was palpable as she le

r chest. Despite everything-despite who they were and

e darkest

a said, surprise evident in her voice as

I was just passing by this roa

ed toward the man beside her

is presence carried an air of quiet authority, his sharp eyes sc

you," Sasha

is focus still on the

selection of clothes in the cart. She spoke animatedly about the baby shower,

gh," he muttered, running hi

ke the baby is going to wear t

ough they appeared to be in sync, there was an unspoken tension

he turned her head slightly, sensing eyes on her-

n she s

ri

hrough his phone. His face was unreadable, cool, detached-like he hadn't just walked into the sam

ing in her gaze. Had he seen her? Had he noticed the

y his wife's choices, glanced toward the en

, finally looking up. "Yeah, somethin

as she turned to h

omposed as ever. Then, after a slight p

her expression, an excitement that softened the tension in the a

his head. "No

ne buzzed again. With an unreadable expression,

away, disappearing toward

lass of orange juice and turned to Leon. "Ca

you sure? You never leave

like drinking anymore." There was something distant i

Sasha's eyes followed as he lifted it to his lips-his mouth meeting t

imace. The intimate moment between husband and wife-though unintentional-was enough to m

mained impassive as he slid his phone back into h

dn't question it. Lea offered a sma

and Sasha stepped outside a

they drove. Sasha stole a glance at Darius, but he

quiet. "Lea invited u

replied without

t was obvious that Leon would have mentioned it to him. Still,

ing else, she quickly added, "

ad. "What about the dresses yo

"They won't suit the occ

argue. "When do

orro

possi

e asked, glan

ur rece

zation dawning on

before she asked, "Whe

week

led between

Something about the way Darius carried himself, the way he handled every situation

hing, she still found h

n n