Maya tried pulling away from him.
The attempt lasted less than two seconds.
Rege simply tightened his hold slightly and buried his face deeper into the crook of her neck.
Maya laughed softly.
The sound carried through the quiet afternoon air surrounding the estate.
"Rege."
Nothing.
Not even an acknowledgment.
Only the steady warmth of his arms around her waist.
The fountain continued splashing nearby while leaves rustled softly overhead. Somewhere farther across the estate, birds sang from the ancient trees lining the winding driveway.
Everything felt peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
Maya smiled despite herself.
"We need to go inside."
Still nothing.
"Everyone is waiting."
Rege shook his head against her shoulder.
The movement was small.
Childishly stubborn.
Completely unexpected from a man like him.
Maya blinked.
Then laughed again.
Actually laughed.
Because if someone had told her months ago that the intimidating man currently clinging to her like separation would physically wound him was the same Rege who barely spoke entire sentences when they first met, she would've demanded proof.
"Rege."
"Mmm."
His voice vibrated softly against her neck.
Maya bit back another smile.
"That's not an answer."
"Mmm."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
He appeared entirely unbothered by the accusation.
Maya could practically feel his contentment.
Which only made her smile wider.
Unfortunately, she also knew they couldn't remain hidden outside forever.
Eventually someone would come looking.
Probably Olga.
And Maya had a strong feeling Olga would enjoy finding them far too much.
So she attempted a different strategy.
"Rege."
"Mmm."
"I don't feel so well."
The reaction was immediate.
So immediate it startled her.
Rege's head lifted instantly.
His arms loosened.
His eyes searched her face so quickly that Maya almost laughed again.
Concern flashed across his features.
Real concern.
Not casual concern.
The kind that made his jaw tighten.
The kind that made his entire focus narrow onto her.
"What hurts?"
Maya blinked.
"What?"
"What hurts?"
His voice had lowered.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
The way it always became whenever something involved her wellbeing.
Maya stared at him.
Then realization dawned.
"Oh."
The poor man thought she was actually unwell.
Immediately guilt flooded through her.
Before she could explain—
Rege scooped her into his arms.
Effortlessly.
Like she weighed absolutely nothing.
Maya squealed.
A very undignified squeal.
The sound escaped before she could stop it.
Both hands immediately flew to her mouth.
"Oh my God."
Several nearby guards turned simultaneously.
Maya wished the earth would kindly open beneath her feet.
Her entire face exploded into heat.
The guards immediately looked away again.
Professionally.
Respectfully.
Yet Maya knew they had seen everything.
Every single thing.
And somehow that made it worse.
She buried her face in her hands.
"Rege."
He was already walking toward the mansion.
Long strides.
Complete focus.
Zero embarrassment.
"Rege."
Nothing.
"Rege!"
He finally glanced down.
Those beautiful aquamarine eyes immediately searched her face again.
Still looking for signs of illness.
"I'm okay."
Rege continued walking.
Maya stared at him.
Then laughed in disbelief.
"I am actually okay."
Still walking.
"Let me down."
Nothing.
"You're making me embarrassed."
His expression remained completely serious.
As though public humiliation was a small price to pay for ensuring she was alive.
Maya groaned.
The guards had definitely seen.
The employees near the entrance had definitely seen.
Probably the security cameras had seen.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Meanwhile Rege appeared entirely unconcerned.
Which somehow felt very Rege.
Eventually Maya sighed dramatically.
"I can walk."
No response.
"Rege."
Still nothing.
"Please."
That finally worked.
He stopped.
His gaze lingered on her face.
Carefully.
Almost suspiciously.
As though trying to determine whether she was telling the truth.
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"I am not dying."
His lips twitched faintly.
A tiny crack in his composure.
Victory.
"Let me down."
For several seconds he simply stared.
Then finally—
very reluctantly—
he lowered her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like she was something precious.
Something fragile.
Something irreplaceable.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Maya felt his hands remain firmly on her waist.
She looked up.
Rege looked down.
Neither moved.
Maya couldn't help giggling.
Because despite finally being allowed to stand, she was still effectively trapped.
His hands weren't going anywhere.
"You know this defeats the purpose of putting me down."
The faintest smile appeared.
Maya's heart betrayed her immediately.
Because she loved that smile.
Loved earning it.
Loved seeing it.
Loved knowing it was becoming more frequent.
"Rege."
"Mmm."
"I can stand."
His hands remained exactly where they were.
Maya laughed softly again.
The sunlight filtering through the trees illuminated strands of her long dirty blonde hair while the breeze played gently with loose pieces around her face.
For a moment neither seemed in any hurry to move.
The tension from earlier had softened.
Not vanished completely.
But softened.
The conversation outside had changed something.
Trust wasn't magically fixed.
Yet understanding had begun replacing hurt.
And that mattered.
Finally they started toward the mansion.
This time side by side.
Though Rege's hand remained at the small of Maya's back.
Guiding.
Protective.
Possessive.
Entirely Rege.
The grand doors opened before they reached them.
Several employees stepped aside respectfully.
Maya smiled politely.
Rege didn't even seem to notice.
His attention remained exactly where it always seemed to remain lately.
On her.
The warmth of the mansion greeted them immediately.
Soft lighting reflected against polished floors.
Fresh flowers decorated nearly every visible surface.
The scent of lunch drifted faintly through the air.
Something delicious.
Something Olga undoubtedly had a hand in organizing.
By the time they reached the sitting room, nothing appeared different.
And yet everything felt different.
Perhaps because Maya now knew who Rege was.
Or perhaps because she now understood that despite everything—
he genuinely feared losing her.
The realization settled warmly somewhere inside her chest.
The room fell silent for half a second when they entered.
Only half a second.
But Maya noticed.
Olga noticed too.
And immediately looked delighted.
Roman looked calm as always.
Andrei looked amused.
Ivan remained unreadable.
Nadia's eyes moved briefly between them.
Observant.
Sharp.
Quiet.
Without a word, Rege guided Maya toward the sofa.
Then helped her sit down.
Gently.
Far more gently than necessary.
Maya rolled her eyes.
Again.
Though the bright smile on her face completely ruined any attempt at annoyance.
Rege noticed.
And just like that—
his entire day improved.
He sat beside her.
Closer than before.
Not subtly.
Not accidentally.
Simply because he wanted to.
Then he intertwined their fingers.
Naturally.
As though he'd been doing it forever.
Across the room, Nadia and Andrei exchanged a glance.
A very obvious glance.
Olga immediately noticed and looked even happier.
Roman remained focused entirely on Olga.
As always.
Ivan's gaze flickered briefly toward Rege and Maya before returning to the hallway.
Still waiting.
Still watching.
Still silently observing everything.
Several moments passed.
Then Nadia cleared her throat.
The sound drew everyone's attention.
Including Maya's.
Nadia looked surprisingly uncomfortable.
A rare sight.
"Miss Maya..."
She paused.
Searching for words.
"I am sorry for being rude earlier."
The room became quiet.
Not tense.
Just attentive.
Because nobody expected Nadia to apologize first.
Especially not Nadia.
Maya immediately shook her head.
"Oh no."
The response came so quickly that Nadia looked slightly startled.
"You don't need to apologize."
Maya smiled warmly.
Completely sincerely.
"I understand your sentiments perfectly."
Nadia blinked.
Once.
Then again.
Clearly not expecting that answer.
Maya continued softly.
"If I had a brother I loved that much..."
She laughed.
"I'd probably be worse."
Andrei immediately burst out laughing.
Olga covered her mouth.
Even Roman's lips twitched slightly.
Nadia looked horrified.
Which only made Andrei laugh harder.
Maya grinned.
The atmosphere instantly lightened.
"Thank you for giving me a chance."
The sincerity behind those words settled heavily across the room.
Because Maya meant them.
Every single word.
She wasn't pretending.
Wasn't performing.
Wasn't trying to win anyone over.
She genuinely meant it.
Olga practically glowed.
Because this—
this was exactly why she liked Maya so much.
Nadia stared for several moments.
Then finally—
for the first time since meeting Maya—
she smiled.
A real smile.
Small.
But real.
And unexpectedly beautiful.
Maya's eyes widened.
Then she grinned immediately.
A full Cheshire-cat grin.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
Completely Maya.
Something about the reaction made Nadia laugh softly.
And in that moment—
she finally understood.
Understood why Rege looked at Maya the way he did.
Understood why her mother adored her.
Understood why the room somehow felt warmer whenever Maya smiled.
Because Maya wasn't trying to impress anyone.
She wasn't trying to belong.
She simply existed exactly as she was.
And somehow that made everyone around her feel lighter.
Nadia slowly nodded.
A silent acknowledgment.
A silent acceptance.
Maya returned the nod immediately.
Still grinning.
And for the first time that afternoon—
the room truly felt comfortable.
Not because the tension had disappeared.
Not because every problem had been solved.
But because something important had happened.
The Hastings family had begun opening their doors.
And Maya, without even realizing it, had begun walking through them.