Outside, soft snowflakes continued to fall, The cold wind brushed against the windows. A fire crackled in the stone fireplace, casting a golden glow across the room. Shadows danced on the walls, and the warmth of the flames wrapped around everything like a soft embrace.There, in the middle of the room, the young man lay unconscious on the bed. The snow kept falling outside, but in that quiet moment, time seemed to slow down. Only the soft sound of the fire and the gentle breath of the sleeping boy filled the room.
Vera Sokolova began to panic, Her eyes filled with a storm of emotions—hope, fear, and disbelief all at once.
Daisy stood there, puzzled and silently watching Vera.
A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind.
Why is she calling that stranger her son?
She glanced again at the unconscious boy lying by the fire.
He didn't move.
His face, though peaceful, held no familiarity.
What if he's not her son?
What if he's someone else entirely?
The thought made Daisy uneasy. But she didn't dare speak.
Vera's joy was so intense, so raw, that Daisy couldn't bring herself to question it.
Vera called out to Daisy in a hurried voice.
"Daisy, come here, dear. Sit beside him, just for a while. I need to go fetch some herbs and medicine. Stay with him until I return."
Daisy hesitated, how can I sit beside a boy I don't even know?" "He's not a stranger to me, Daisy. He's my son… I've waited all my life for this moment. Please, just stay with him until I return. Daisy hesitated for a second, then slowly walked toward the unconscious boy. She sat gently beside him, her eyes still full of quiet questions.
Daisy slowly stepped closer, curiosity tugging at her fear.
The boy still lay motionless on the bed, wrapped in a thick black cloak. His face, pale and flawless, looked like it had been carved from marble. And then—she noticed it.
A faint smile.
His lips, slightly parted, held a ghost of a grin. It wasn't warm or peaceful. It was strange… almost haunting. Like a secret he wasn't alive to tell.
The fire crackled behind her. Snow tapped softly at the window.
Daisy's heart beat faster.
He looked like a dead man.
Yet his lips glowed with something… something not entirely human.
Daisy took a cautious step closer, her eyes fixed on the handsome stranger lying still on the bed. The soft light from the fireplace danced across his flawless face, making his features look almost unreal—like a painting come to life.
She leaned in, her breath caught in her throat.
And then—
His eyes opened.
A sharp gasp escaped Daisy's lips. She froze where she stood, her whole body tense.
The boy looked straight at her. His eyes—icy blue, deep like frozen oceans—held an unreadable expression. And on his lips, a slow, beautiful smile formed. But it wasn't kind.
It was the smile of someone who knew things he shouldn't.
Dark.
Dangerous.
Almost… devilish.
Daisy couldn't move. The room seemed to grow colder, quieter, like the world held its breath.
Daisy didn't even know how long she had stood there, frozen in place. When she finally came to her senses, she hurried back into the room through the side door, her cheeks burning red.
She hadn't even been wearing her scarf. she felt terribly embarrassed.
Just then, Vera Sokolova entered the room.
She saw the boy sit up, a bright joy shining in her eyes as she hurried toward him, whispering,
"Ivan… my Ivan…"
You're my Ivan, aren't you? Where have you been all these years?"
Ivan looked at her with those piercing blue eyes, still calm but somehow alive in a way that made Vera's heart ache.
"I was lost… but I'm here now," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Vera reached out, trembling, to touch his hand. "After all these years, I never stopped hoping… never stopped praying." Daisy watched silently, the room heavy with unspoken emotions.
Outside, the snow continued to fall gently, as if blessing this fragile reunion.
"I missed you so much, Mom. But all these years, I couldn't come to you.