Healing chains

Her healer: part 2 (her past and insecurities)

Thea sat on the couch in the balcony, gazing up at the dark, star-filled sky, her thoughts heavy. It was time. She would finally reveal the truth she had kept hidden—the secret part of her life, the part she wished she could forget. The humiliation, the betrayal... the people who were supposed to protect her, yet became the ones who—

Yaroslav interrupted her reverie, stepping out onto the balcony with two cups of coffee. The chill of the Russian night was creeping in, but his presence brought warmth. He settled beside her, handing her one of the cups, then, without a word, pulled her into his side. His strong arms wrapped around her shoulders as he gently lifted her legs, placing them across his lap. His hand grazed her clothed thigh, sending a shiver down her spine. The memory of their last kiss still lingered in her mind, unshakable.

His hand traveled down to her waist, making her breath hitch. He leaned in close, his breath warm against her neck, and whispered, "You don't have to tell me now. I can wait."

She shook her head, eyes filled with resolve. "No, you should know." Her voice was low, almost a murmur, as she revealed the bitter truth. "Mom and Dad aren't my real parents."

The words tasted sharp on her tongue, the reality weighing heavy on her chest. "It's Saira and Jacob Coleman," she whispered, the names leaving a more bitter taste behind. "They were devils pretending to be parents."

She took a deep breath, fighting the flood of memories. "Mom used to tell me that when I was born, Saira and Jacob were so happy. Their business skyrocketed, and they became even busier. So, Mom and Dad stepped in to raise me. They were overjoyed to finally have a girl in the family." A small, sad smile tugged at her lips. "Mom—Saira's sister—loved her, and they were so close. But Saira and Jacob... they were never around. The last memory I have of them being with me was when I was seven. We were at a restaurant, celebrating my win in a dance competition..."

Her voice trailed off, the weight of her past pulling her down, but Yaroslav's touch grounded her. His hand, still on her waist, squeezed gently, reminding her she wasn't alone anymore.

"We were laughing, we were happy... until we weren't," Thea whispered, her voice wavering. "After that day, they never had time for me again. Mom and Dad—my real parents—they took care of me like I was their own. It was okay, though. I thought Saira and Jacob were just planning my future, building something for me..." Her voice cracked as her eyes filled with tears. "But they threw it all away... for a little money."

Yaroslav's grip on her tightened, his body tensing as if bracing for what was to come. He held her close, his warmth and strength keeping her from crumbling under the weight of her past.

"I was fourteen when they came over with a business partner," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Two of them. I was used to the business dinners, the formalities... but this time, something was different. The way they looked at me... it wasn't right." Thea's breath hitched, and she could feel Yaroslav's sharp intake of breath, his body stiffening beside her.

"I stayed quiet," she said, her voice hollow. "I didn't want to make a scene. I thought maybe it was just in my head, but after dinner... I went upstairs to my room. They followed me."

Yaroslav's head snapped toward her, his blue eyes wide with alarm. His entire body tensed, his protective instincts flaring. Thea could feel his gaze burning into her, but she couldn't look at him. Her breathing grew shallower, her chest tightening with the memories that resurfaced, ones she had fought so hard to bury.

"You can do this, Thea," she whispered to herself, willing her heart to steady. She met his gaze, his piercing blue eyes searching hers, waiting for her to continue. The fear, the pain—everything she had tried to hide—was reflected in his eyes now.