Chapter 21 I Don't Want To See My Blood Mixed With Yours

• Natalia closed her eyes, kept her breathing steady, and pretended to be asleep. The person entered slowly and stood by the bed. Their scent was unmistakable, a mixture of cedar, sage, and orange blossom. It was a seductive, spicy aroma, Vasil's, or rather, Kostantin's. They sat on the edge of the bed and remained silent for a moment, as if struggling with themselves. Then, they took hold of the edge of the sheet and pulled it away from her.
• Kostantin watched her, believing she was asleep, and sighed with regret in his heart.
• "Why did this happen? You should have told me that you didn't love me... I would have accepted it. However, making me fall in love with you only to despise me, that was an act too cruel... When I was crazy about you, I couldn't imagine my life without you. But now, I have been able to survive without your love... And since I was with you, I haven't been with anyone else, neither woman nor man. You have been the only one in my life."