Striving for Greatness: A Vladimir Chigvintsev Story

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As she began her story she had tears in her eyes.

"I was very sick, Vlad. I was dying, I would have died, but I was taken by some of the best doctors in the world and I was treated and cured. It was miraculous. I felt better and was ready to get back to my family, but I was forbidden. I didn't know where I had been taken."

My heart sank. I was furious that I was forced to grow up without my mother when she was alive all along. But if she wasn't taken she would have died.

"How are you here?" I asked her.

"I got away. I knew I had to plan it perfectly. I found out about a year after I was taken that I was in Paris and I have been here since. I found out you qualified for this competition and I had to see you and Alek. I got away, but I can't be seen. They could come for my family.. I love you guys too much to..."

Her eyes darted to the door where Maks had emerged.

I immediately grabbed him and pulled him to the corner of the little room to keep him from reacting worse than I had.

"Emma?" He said in disbelief. It was like a flame was reignited within his eyes that has been put out for the last 7 years.

"Maks," She cried and they slowly moved toward one another. My parents together again I'm seeing them as my parents for the first time. He grabbed her and pulled her close. Then he nearly passed out.

Maks had all the same questions that I did and she quickly explained everything once more to him. She kept smiling at him and I could tell she loved him more than anything. She had not mentioned Artem once.

"I just really want Alek and Artem to know." I said to her, "They deserve to know your still here on this earth and that you are going to be okay."

"Artem?" She said "Is he here? He wasn't down there. I haven't seen him yet. And why are you calling him Artem? He's your father."

"Um, Emma.." Maks said and then she knew her secret had been told.

"He knows? Oh honey, you know?" She spoke to Maks and them directly to me.

"For a little over a year now." I said, "I was angry at first and now I am grateful. I have two fathers now, and two brothers."

"Oh, how is Maddox is he big now?" She wondered aloud.

"He is wonderful." Maks said before walking back near the corner to cry. Then he decided to alert the authorities of what has happened and escort mom back to the hotel so she wouldn't be seen or be the topic of any headlines. She didn't deserve that after all she's been through. I almost didn't want to compete in the rest of this because I wanted to spend all of my time with her. It felt too good to be true. I walked back down to the other competitors and Macy was fuming.

"Where have you been?" She screamed, "You keep wandering off. You are scaring me!"

I couldn't tell her the truth. Not until we were safely back at the hotel and we were with her. But I had to make up something as to where Maks had gone because he wasn't coming back. I knew he could never leave her side. He is still in love with her.