A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Alena

Matteo and I were standing in front of my parents' house. It had been six months ever since we eloped, including the months we ignored each other. We spent a lot of time together whenever we weren't busy-if kissing and having sex were considered spending time. But

we talked more than usual, it became normal.

I had knocked and now we were waiting for someone to open the door.

As soon as I started to grow anxious, Mama came to open the door. She was smiling when she saw me, but her smile started to fade when she saw my husband.

"Mama, how are you?" I asked, pulling her in for a hug

"All good, sweetheart. How are you?"

""Never been better."

"You must be Matteo," she greeted him.

"Mrs. Orlov, it's nice to meet you. We picked these flowers for you," he smiled, showing off his perfect pearly whites as he handed her a bouquet of baby breaths. Mama had always loved baby breaths because she could keep them when dried and she didn't have to throw them away.

"Fresh baby breaths. Thank you, they're lovely."

"Can we come inside?" I asked.

"Of course, Come in, come in."

When we got inside the house, the three of us made our way towards the kitchen. Matteo and I took a seat on the stools while she moved around to fill in a vase with water. Then, she placed the baby breaths inside, a smile slowly forming on her face

"These are very lovely, Matteo. Thank you so much. Alena must've told you baby breaths are my favorite."

"I must say I was trying to impress, he replied, smiling back.

Mama laughed as she placed the vase on the dining table. Once she got back inside the kitchen, she was serving us puddings. Knowing Mama, she always knew how to fill her time to keep her busy-it was either shopping with her friends or spend the time at home cooking and baking. She expertly managed to gain her skills from all of that.

I always loved her cooking because she knew how to make my tummy full. I kept coming back for more.

"You did a good first impression." Mama said before turning to look at me, "I didn't know your husband's a charmer, Alena."

"Can't compliment him too much. He knows it already"

"Ah, aren't all men like that? I remember your Papa when we were younger. He was a romantic and he didn't hide it. He just got busy when we had kids and well, I kind of missed the younger us

I cleared my throat, "Speaking of Papa... is he home?"

"Your Papa and Alexel went out but I'm sure they'll return soon,

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I grabbed Matteo's hand to catch his attention, "Can you give us a minute, please?"

He didn't ask anything else as he nodded, placing a quick kiss oniny temple before walking out of the kitchen-leaving Mama and 1, on our own. Even though we could simply speak in Russian, but Matteo knew more than two languages. I couldn't risk him knowing Russian

"You seem restless, my dear, What's wrong? Mama asked, taking a seat beside me before grabbing my hand. She always knew when things were wrong.

"I'm scared. Mama. Tears were beginning to fill my eyes as I gripped harder onto her hands.

"Oh dear. What are you scared of, baby? Did he hurt you?"

"No. Mama. He would never," I shook my head before wiping away the fallen tears. "Matteo treats me so well, Mama. He's always there for me and he makes me so happy."

"I'm happy for you, Alena but what's wrong? Why are you scared?"

"I don't want to lose Papa."

Mama cupped my face, wiping away my tears as she smiled. "You have nothing to be scared of, Alena and you're never Josing your father. I know you're both in difficult spots with each other after what happened that night but you're still his daughter. He loves you more than you know."

I breathed, "What if he never wants to talk to me? What if he keeps avoiding me?"

Nonsense, sweetheart."

"Did you guys talk about me?"

"He tried avoiding you as a topic whenever I tried but I caught him in your room, sometimes. He misses you, Alena. He's just doing a good job at hiding it."

1 pulled her closer towards me, "I don't want him to hate Mattee, either."

-Honestly, I wanted Matteo to receive the same treatment from my family just like I did from his family. They were too nice to me, and I appreciated it, but I knew Papa and Alexei were bound to be rude to him-they were going to keep their weapons, nobody was going to get hurt but they weren't going to treat him nice, either.

She sighed, rubbing my back.

Not another word left her lips because she knew, if she tried to say nice things, they were lies.

"Let's just have lunch and forget about this, okay? I don't want to see you crying. I'm sure your husband doesn't want to see you crying, too. We'll figure out something when the time comes," she continued to rub my back even when I had pulled away.

"Okay, Mama. You're right,"

"Go and call your husband. I made borscht,"

I wiped away any fallen tears, trying to appear decent as I made my way to the living room, finding Matteo standing near the glass window. He was too busy watching the view outside but as soon as I entered the room, he turned to look at me. "What's wrong, Alena?" He asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Nothing. I'm fine,"

He cupped my face, staring into my eyes before caressing my cheeks with his thumb, "You were crying. Your eyes are red.

and your lips are swollen. What happened?"

"I was just talking to Mama about Papa"

""About what?"

"About me. About you."

"What about you. Alena? Tell me."

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He was comforting me by tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear, rubbing my back, and pulling me in close for a hug. He was genuinely concern about me and I appreciated it-even though he didn't have to.

"Papa and I haven't talked in months. I kind of missed the way we used to be," my fingers were playing with his shirt as I talked. "This was medical school all over again but worse."

"Mm, I'm sure he misses you too, Alena."

"You sure?" I lifted my head to look at him

Our eyes met in an instant and those brown eyes calmed me down. They were soft, reminding me of the chestnut horse, wild and free and untamed in its natural state. Whenever I looked into his brown eyes, I got a sense of security and stability because I knew he was trustworthy. "I'm very sure."

my surprise, he leaned in for a long kiss on my forehead.

It made me feel at ease.

"How did you do that?" I asked, looking at him.

"Do what, Alena?"

""Calm me downL

He raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk appearing. "I didn't do anything

"You did. I don't know what you did but you did something

The curves of his lips turned into a smile before he laughed, flashing his straight teeth. "I'm glad it worked to calm you down. I hate to see you cry again."

"I'm not crying anymore."

"You shouldn't. I miss that smile on your face," he leaned in, pinching the bridge of my nose playfully which caused me to instantly smile.

I didn't realize his treatment towards me. We were acting like a real couple, and I was beginning to grow comfortable. I didn't even notice we were never like this,

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

"Starving

"Let's eat."

1

Mama, Matteo, and I spent the next couple of hours in the dining room, talking. Apparently, Matteo was really good at keeping conversations, Mama was somehow cold towards him in the beginning but as time passed, she was laughing and

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smiling at everything he said. She was being extra talkative, too,

When Matt

complimented her cooking, she blushed.

1 never expected her to warm up to him as quick as she did.

Matteo was occasionally rubbing my thigh underneath the table, and I knew he did it to comfort me. As he was talking to Mama, he never made me feel left out. I appreciated his warm hand on my skin..

"Where did you hide this young man, Alena? I like him, Mama spoke.

"Oh, in my basement."

She laughed. "Speaking of young, how old are you, Matteo? You don't look any older than thirty-five."

"I'm actually turning thirty-five next week,

Matteo's birthday was next week. He was turning thirty-five soon and I didn't even know if Mama hadn't asked him. I was starting to think of what I could get him for his birthday he had everything already. Maybe, he needed a new car! That was ridiculous. I couldn't afford a luxury car.

"Invite me over if there's going to be any celebration." Mama replied, smiling

She loved celebrations. Parties.

""You're the first on our guest

guest list, Matteo said.

My body went rigid when I heard footsteps coming into the dining room. The laughter and chatters died down as soon as I caught a glimpse of Papa; he was looking at us

"Oh, you're home. Come and join us," Mama said as she patted on the empty seat beside her.

Papa didn't exactly ignore her. He made his way towards her before caressing her shoulders and kissing her cheek. It was a sweet gesture, but he was always known to show his love with Mama. So, it wasn't anything odd. Matteo rested his hand on my thigh, letting me know he was still here.

They began to speak in Russian, pretending as if I wasn't in the room. I understood Russian and I could speak it, but I was rusty. I hadn't spoken Russian in a full sentence in a while. It was going to sound weird. "Papa" I muttered, trying to catch his attention.

He turned to look at me, "I didn't expect to see you here, Alena

"How are you, Papa?"

"Good"

Instead of asking about me or greet me with a kiss on my forehead, he did nothing. He took a sip of his drink before he walked out of the dining room-leaving me heartbroken. I wasn't going down without a fight, so I went to follow him. Papa was making his way to his office, and I followed him inside.

He knew I was furious, but he pretended not to notice. He didn't even bother to pay any attention towards me as he went to read his emails on his laptop.

"Are you going to pretend I'm not here?" I asked.

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"I see you, Alena. I can't pretend you're not here."

Then, why are you ignoring the?"

"I'm not ignoring you." He shook his head, "I don't have anything to say to you. Unless we have business to talk, then you should join your mother and that man in the kitchen.

"That man is my husband"

"Oh. I know him, Alena I know him too well

"And he has a name. Papa"

"I told you. Alena. I know Matteo Lerclerc. Papa continued to scroll down his emails, ignoring me.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

My hands were shaking, and I was getting mad at him. I came to talk nicely because I thought I could solve things between us. I deserved an apology from him, but he wasn't going to give me one, so I decided to forgive and forget.

But not anymore. I was mad.

"So, you hate me now?"

He sighed, "What is it that you want, Alena?"

"I want to talk to you, Papa. I can't believe I came all the way to your house to beg for an apology, but I did. I know you're never going to apologize so I want to fix things between us."

"You made it very clear that your life doesn't involve me. Why did you come here to clarify that?"

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"I never made it clear that my life doesn't involve you, Papa. I tried to make it clear that I have the right to choose what I my life. I didn't want Viktor in my life, I didn't want you to control my choices and I didn't want you to stop me from pursuing what I love." I took a few steps towards him, trying to stop the tears from forming in my eyes.

"I only want what's best for you!"

"No, you only wanted what was best for you!"

Papa and Mama were always persistent in raising strong children They did it right because after years into adulthood, I realized just how strong I was. I never wanted to back down and give up because I wanted to thrive to achieve what I wanted.

I guess it came with cons that became a trouble for Papa

"I didn't raise you to disobey me, Alena."

Papa was walking around his desk as he made his way towards me.

"I'm not your girl, anymore. You don't get to tell me what to do

We were shouting at each other, and I knew I was pushing his limits.

"I thought you've changed. I thought you were proud of me, of what I achieved but I was so wrong. You never cared about me. All you cared about was yourself."

"Enough, Alena

"Alexei feels like he needs to bow down to you just because he's in the Bratva. Well, Ana? She's going to resent you. Just like I'm going to."

My eyes widened as soon as I saw him raising his hand. When I closed my eyes, I expected to come in contact with the hard

slap, but nothing came-Papa had never tried to hit me or any of his children. He knew his limit but maybe, I was pushing

his buttons too far.

He didn't seem to be in a good mood in the first place.

1 opened my eyes, seeing Matteo standing beside me as he fingers gripped tightly around Papa's wrist, stopping him.

I didn't realize him entering the room.

My eyes were red and watery, still in shock.

"I know she's your daughter but she's also my wife. I expect you to treat her with respect," Matteo said in a serious tone. His jaw was clenched, and he was trying hard not to push Papa away He knew he needed to respect him.

Even when he didn't want to. He could throw him across the room if he wanted to because he was strong. He just decided

not to.

When Matteo let go of Papa's wrist, it was red.

"You don't get to tell me how to treat my daughter, Lerclerc."

"I know buri get to tell you

how to treat my wife. If you ever try to raise your hand at her ever again, I won't hesitate to break the peace treaty. I don't care who you are. I don't care how much power you hold. I don't care if I go to war with the Russians. You need to respect what belongs to me."

Papa stood silently in his spot, trying to hold back his own anger

"You come into my house and threaten me?"

"I had no intention to. I lost it when I saw you tried to hit my wife."

"Matteo - you don't have to defend me, I took a few steps back, afraid of the man in front of me. He wasn't my father; 1 didn't recognize him. My father wasn't abusive. This man was consumed by anger-he wasn't the man who raised me.

Mama was standing near the doorway, her hand on her mouth as she tried to hold back her own tears. She didn't hold -herself back as she ran towards me, pulling me in for a hug.

""What were you

you thinking, Mikhail?"

Papa took a few steps back, looking away.

Mama wiped away the tears that had fallen on my cheeks as she pulled me closer. Matteo, on the other hand, was still trying to calm himself down from doing unspeakable things. He could lose it, but he chose to let it go.

"We're going home, Alena." He grabbed my waist, rubbing my back.

"Yeah, I think we should."

I pulled Mama in for another hug before walking out of the door with Matteo. We didn't take another glance behind, and I didn't bother to hide the tears anymore. He was protecting me as he kept me close by his side until we entered the car.

As soon as we got inside, I let it fall down my face.

I was crying everything out and hard, as if I was alone in the car,

Matteo wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me in for a hug. He didn't stop whispering soothing and comforting words in my car as he rubbed my back. He was trying to calm me down and I appreciated it-he knew what to do.

1 just couldn't help myself from crying, even though I didn't want to.

"Shh, it's okay. You're okay. I'm right here with you,"

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What a turn in events. When I left after seeing Matteo's mother, I was happy and she convinced me of coming again to see her whenever I wanted but when I left my parents' house, I was crying and heartbroken.

This wasn't supposed to happen. I didn't expect this.

I guess, I never had full control of what happens in my life.

"Hey, Alena look at me, you're fine." He rubbed my head, kissing my cheek.

For once in my life. I admitted not to be independent. I was clinging onto Matteo as if he had my life. For once in my life, I felt safe in the arms of my husband. I wanted nothing more but to be surrounded in his warmth.

I was tired of being on my own for so long. I never realized I needed another person with me.

Until he showed up

"Did he hurt you Was I too late to stop him?" He asked. looking straight into my eyes.

I shook my head, "No. You stopped him just in time,"

"You don't have to worry, Alena. I'll protect you. Always."

It was the sincerity that made me feel secure. When it came to Matteo, whenever he said something, he sounded genuine because he meant every word. He wanted nothing else but to ensure I believed him.

How did we become like this?