Fated by a Single Night

ISABELLA'S POV :

For the past two weeks something had felt wrong. I was constantly exhausted.

The smell of coffee—something I used to love—made my stomach churn. Even my favorite desserts no longer tasted the same.

At first I blamed it on stress. The grief. The heartbreak. Leaving Spain and starting over in Russia.

But deep down I already knew the truth. I was just too terrified to admit it.

---

I stared at the calendar hanging on my bedroom wall. My fingers slowly counted the days.

"...No." I counted again. Then again. With every passing second, my heartbeat grew louder.

I was late. Almost six weeks late. My hands instantly turned cold. "No..."

"This can't be happening."

---

That afternoon I quietly slipped out of the mansion. Without telling anyone where I was going. The taxi stopped in front of a pharmacy.

Keeping my head down, I stepped inside. Trying not to attract anyone's attention. The cashier greeted me with a polite smile. "What can I get for you, Miss?"

I swallowed hard. "A..."

"...A pregnancy test." Even saying the words made my chest tighten. A few minutes later I walked out carrying a small paper bag. It felt far heavier than it should have.

---

ISABELLA'S POV :

Back in my bedroom I placed the box beside the sink. For several long minutes, I simply stared at it. Unable to move. "...Please."

"I know I don't deserve miracles..."

"But let this be negative." My hands trembled as I carefully followed the instructions. Then the longest three minutes of my life began.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I could barely breathe. When the timer on my phone finally rang. I slowly picked up the test. My vision blurred.

Two pink lines. Positive. The test slipped from my trembling fingers and hit the floor. "No..." A single tear rolled down my cheek.

Then another. Until the tears refused to stop. "I'm pregnant..."

---

I slowly slid down against the bathroom wall. Wrapping my arms around my knees
"What am I supposed to do now?"

"I don't even know his name..."

"I don't know anything about him..." The only things I remembered were his gray eyes. And some other small details of the tattoo on his arm

---

ELENA'S POV :

"Isa?" I knocked gently on her bedroom door. No answer. "I brought you some soup."

Still nothing. A wave of worry washed over me. Carefully, I pushed the door open. "Isa?"

She was sitting on the edge of her bed. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She quickly hid something behind her back. I walked closer. "What's wrong?"

She forced a weak smile. "Nothing."

A mother's instincts never lie. I gently took her hand. "Look at me." The moment our eyes met she broke down.

---

ISABELLA'S POV :

"I'm sorry..." I sobbed. "I'm so sorry..."

Mama wrapped me in a tight embrace. "What happened?"

I couldn't stop shaking. "I'm..." I looked at her through tear-filled eyes. "...Pregnant."

Silence. Complete silence.

Mama slowly loosened her embrace. She stared at me. Not with anger. Not with disappointment. Only shock. "You..."

I nodded through my tears. "Yes..." Another long silence followed. Then...

To my surprise she pulled me into another hug. Even tighter than before. "I'm here." Those two simple words shattered every wall I had built around my heart.

"I was so scared..." I cried into her shoulder. "I thought..."

"You'd hate me."

She gently wiped away my tears. "Never."

"You're my daughter."

"And no matter what happens..."

"You'll never go through this alone."

---

MIKHAIL'S POV :

The cigarette burned slowly between my fingers. I stood on the balcony outside my office. Watching the Moscow skyline disappear beneath the evening sky.

"Boss." Igor stepped beside me. "We've searched every hospital."

"Every hotel."

"Every VIP guest list."

"Nothing."

I remained silent.

"I even contacted our informants."

"No one has seen her."

It was as though she had vanished without a trace.

I slowly exhaled. "...Forget it."

Igor frowned. "Boss?"

"If fate wants us to meet again..."

"We will."

"If not..."

"...Then that's where our story ends."

Those were the words I spoke. But strangely I didn't believe them myself.

---

ISABELLA'S POV :

That evening, Mama and Papa sat across from me in the living room. Neither of them raised their voice. Neither of them looked angry.

Papa finally broke the silence. "Do you know who the baby's father is?"

I lowered my gaze. "...No."

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I..."

"I only met him once."

"I don't even know his name."

Papa closed his eyes for a moment. I braced myself for him to yell. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh. "I failed you."

My head snapped up. "What?"

"I wasn't there when you needed guidance."

"No, Papa—"

He gently shook his head. "I can't change the past."

"But I can protect you now."

Mama reached for my hand. "What do you want to do?"

Without thinking I placed my hand over my still-flat stomach. The room fell silent. Then despite the tears on my face a small smile appeared. "I..."

"I want to keep my baby."

Mama smiled through her tears. Papa slowly nodded. "Then..."

"We'll protect both of you."

For the first time since everything happened I realized I wasn't alone anymore.

---

ONE MONTH LATER

The hospital hallway smelled faintly of disinfectant. I sat nervously inside the ultrasound room. The doctor smiled warmly.

"Ready?"

I nodded.

She gently placed the ultrasound probe against my stomach. For several seconds she remained unusually quiet. Her eyebrows lifted. Then her smile grew even wider.

"Well..."

"I think I have some exciting news."

My heart pounded inside my chest. "W-What is it, Doctor?"

She turned the monitor toward me. "There isn't just one heartbeat..." She pointed at the screen. "There are two."

I blinked. "...Two?"

The doctor laughed softly. "Congratulations, Miss Volkov."

"You're having twins."

My eyes widened in complete disbelief.

Twins...