The comfortable atmosphere lingered long after Nadia's apology.
For the first time since arriving at the Hastings Estate, Maya felt some of the invisible tension around her beginning to ease.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough that she could finally breathe.
The elegant sitting room glowed beneath the soft afternoon light pouring through the towering floor-to-ceiling windows. Gold accents reflected faintly against polished marble surfaces while fresh white lilies arranged throughout the room filled the air with a subtle fragrance.
Olga seemed especially pleased.
Every few seconds Maya caught her smiling.
Not speaking.
Not interrupting.
Simply smiling.
Like someone quietly watching a dream unfold before her eyes.
Beside her, Rege remained unusually relaxed.
His fingers were still intertwined with hers.
His thumb occasionally brushing absentmindedly against her skin.
Small movements.
Barely noticeable.
Yet Maya noticed every single one.
Because somehow the intimidating billionaire sitting beside her had become frighteningly attached.
Not that she minded.
Maybe she minded a little.
Just enough to secretly enjoy it.
A movement near the hallway pulled her attention away.
Soft footsteps.
Measured.
Elegant.
The entire room seemed to notice simultaneously.
Maya turned.
A woman appeared from the hallway.
And immediately commanded attention.
She moved gracefully across the room.
Not hurried.
Not slow.
Simply confident.
Like someone who had spent years belonging inside rooms exactly like this one.
Her auburn hair fell perfectly over one shoulder.
Every strand appeared carefully arranged.
Her cream-colored dress was simple yet impossibly expensive.
The makeup enhancing her features was flawless.
Not dramatic.
Not excessive.
Perfect.
Everything about her felt deliberate.
Controlled.
Polished.
Maya studied her quietly.
Then glanced toward Ivan.
And immediately understood.
Because for the first time since she'd met him—
his expression changed.
His eyes softened.
Not dramatically.
Not obviously.
But enough.
Enough for Maya to notice.
The same way Roman looked at Olga.
The same way Rege sometimes looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention.
A warmth.
A familiarity.
A quiet affection.
The realization made Maya smile.
That must be his wife.
The woman approached calmly.
And just as Maya expected, she sat beside Ivan.
The moment she settled into the chair, Ivan reached for her hand.
Instinctively.
Without even looking.
Like he'd done it a thousand times before.
Her fingers slipped into his effortlessly.
Natural.
Automatic.
Comfortable.
Interesting.
Maya found herself liking that.
There was something strangely endearing about powerful men becoming softer around the women they loved.
"Maya dearest."
Olga's cheerful voice broke her observations.
"This is my daughter-in-law."
She gestured toward the elegant woman.
"Ivan's lovely wife, Eleanor."
Maya smiled immediately.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Eleanor turned toward her.
A smile appeared.
Perfectly measured.
Perfectly polite.
Perfectly...
Maya couldn't quite explain it.
Artificial.
Not entirely fake.
But not entirely genuine either.
The smile never reached her eyes.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too."
Her voice was soft.
Refined.
Beautifully controlled.
Almost rehearsed.
Olga beamed.
Clearly delighted by the introduction.
"Eleanor darling, this is Maya. Rege's—"
"Moya Krasota."
The interruption came immediately.
Olga stopped.
Maya blinked.
Nadia rolled her eyes.
Andrei nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Olga looked delighted.
Again.
Maya felt heat rise into her cheeks.
Rege, meanwhile, looked completely unbothered.
As though publicly claiming her in Russian was perfectly normal behavior.
Eleanor's eyes moved toward him.
Only briefly.
A second at most.
Yet Maya noticed it.
The glance lingered slightly too long.
Almost imperceptibly.
Then something else happened.
Ivan's fingers tightened around Eleanor's hand.
Not enough to hurt.
Not enough to attract attention.
Just enough.
Eleanor immediately blinked.
Her gaze returned to Maya.
And her practiced smile returned.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"The pleasure is all mine, Maya."
Her voice remained smooth.
"I hope I can call you that."
"Of course."
Maya smiled brightly.
The same bright smile she offered almost everyone.
Yet as she looked at Eleanor—
something felt wrong.
Not threatening.
Not dangerous.
Just...
Wrong.
Like seeing a beautiful painting with one brushstroke slightly out of place.
The feeling arrived instantly.
And Maya had learned long ago to trust her instincts.
They were rarely wrong.
Very rarely.
So when the little voice inside her whispered—
Careful.
She listened.
Even while smiling.
Especially while smiling.
Without realizing it, Maya's hand tightened around Rege's.
A tiny movement.
Barely noticeable.
Except Rege noticed everything about her.
Immediately.
His gaze dropped.
Searching her face.
Studying her expression.
Reading her.
The way he always did now.
Maya wasn't smiling the same way.
Something had changed.
Only slightly.
Yet enough.
His thumb brushed gently against the back of her hand.
Drawing her attention immediately.
She looked up.
Their eyes met.
And just like that—
some of her discomfort faded.
Maya smiled softly.
A real smile.
Only for him.
Rege's lips lifted slightly.
The smallest smile.
Yet somehow it transformed his entire face.
The effect didn't go unnoticed.
Not by anyone.
Andrei grinned immediately.
Olga looked moments away from emotional tears.
Nadia smiled faintly.
Roman glanced over briefly before returning his attention to his wife.
Ivan remained unreadable.
Eleanor watched.
Closely.
Far too closely.
The slight tightening of her jaw lasted only a second.
Then disappeared.
Hidden beneath another flawless smile.
"Mother."
Eleanor's voice broke the moment.
"Everything is ready for us to proceed."
Olga nodded happily.
"Wonderful."
She glanced toward the hallway.
"We're only waiting for Maxim and Nikolai."
Andrei checked his phone.
"They should be here soon."
"Thank you, Andrei."
Eleanor smiled sweetly.
The smile looked entirely different directed toward him.
Almost practiced.
Almost strategic.
Nadia visibly rolled her eyes.
Andrei completely missed it.
Maya nearly laughed.
A few moments of silence followed.
Not uncomfortable silence.
Just family silence.
The kind that settles naturally among people who know each other well.
Maya allowed herself to observe.
Because observing people had always fascinated her.
Olga was the emotional center.
That much was obvious.
Everything revolved around her.
Roman revolved around Olga.
That was even more obvious.
Andrei seemed to function as the family's sunlight.
Easygoing.
Warm.
Likable.
Nadia was far sharper than people probably realized.
And Ivan...
Maya found herself studying him.
Because despite sitting beside his wife—
despite holding her hand—
he remained distant somehow.
Controlled.
Watching.
Calculating.
Almost like Rege.
Except colder.
Much colder.
Then Maya noticed something else.
Something unexpected.
Rege hadn't spoken to Ivan once.
Not a single word.
Not since entering the room.
Not since she'd arrived.
She blinked.
Then thought back.
No.
Not just Ivan.
Roman either.
Her gaze moved between the brothers.
And suddenly she became aware of invisible lines running through the room.
Lines nobody discussed.
Lines nobody acknowledged.
Yet everyone seemed aware of.
Even Eleanor.
Especially Eleanor.
A strange feeling settled over Maya.
The same feeling she'd experienced when she first stepped into the mansion.
The feeling that she was seeing only the surface.
Only the polished version.
Only the version people wanted others to see.
Because beneath the elegance...
Beneath the wealth...
Beneath the perfect smiles...
Something else existed.
Something hidden.
Something unresolved.
The Hastings family loved each other.
That much was undeniable.
But they also carried secrets.
Old ones.
Heavy ones.
The realization settled quietly inside her.
And for the first time since arriving—
Maya understood something important.
Meeting Rege's family wasn't the end of discovering him.
It was only the beginning.
Because somehow...
She had the feeling the Hastings family had far more secrets than they were willing to reveal.
And Maya suspected she had only just stepped through the first door.