Chapter 26: Family Day

Chapter 26: Family Day Noelle barely had time to process everything before Alexei was tugging her toward the car with his tiny fingers wrapped tightly around hers. "W-Wait, Alexei—!" she tried to protest, but the little boy was surprisingly strong for his size, determined to pull her along. Valerian who was walking beside them with his usual unbothered grace, opened the car door for her. "After you, dorogaya," he said smoothly as his silver eyes glinted with amusement. Noelle hesitated. And yet, she couldn't exactly run away. Not with Alexei beaming up at her expectantly with his small hand squeezing hers. With a resigned sigh, she ducked inside the car, sliding onto the plush leather seat. The scent of expensive cologne and something subtly smoky filled the air. It was too luxurious, making her painfully aware of how out of place she felt. She remembered the day Adrian's mother had arrived at her flower shop in a sleek, black limousine. That day, Noelle had felt painfully small. Her f