“Come here, Roza,” he beckoned to me as I dithered at the edge of the hospital bed.

“I…I can’t,” I was close to tears.

“Come on Rose, you can. We have to go home, remember? I am here,” he offered his hand to me.

I took it but still didn’t make an effort to move.

“You can do it. I will help you,” he urged.

I stood up awkwardly on my legs, which felt like they belonged to someone else. Immediately my head reeled and I had to grab his shoulder for support. He looked worried and turned to the doctor.

“Orthostatic hypotension. Probably due to bed rest. It will pass soon,” doc assured.

I was still not ready for that first step after almost two months in bed. It was as if I had forgotten to walk. As I wobbled on my legs, he struggling to balance me, I felt weak and helpless. The doctors agreed to discharge me and luckily the fracture had healed, but here I was, afraid to take my first step.

I burst out crying.

“I can’t,” I sobbed.

“Now, you are not trying,” he said angrily, “How will you walk if you don’t try?”

I took one step forward and felt a jabbing pain through my knees. Whimpering I dragged another leg and felt the pain of knives cutting through my flesh.
I winced.

“Ms. Lytton, there will be some pain. Take your pain medications if you want. The joints are still fragile but believe me, you have healed,” the doctor gave his reassurance.

Supporting on Dmitriy’s arm again, I took the second step. I bit my lip to prevent myself from screaming. He patted my hand as a gesture of understanding. The look of hope on his face was what kept me going.

The pain eased after a few steps but the sensation was not back yet. My legs still felt alien.

Limping my way through the hospital we came to the flight of stairs. The black Mercedes was waiting for us and so were a bunch of press reporters.

But to my surprise I saw the police had cordoned off the area. The media personnel was jostling in vain to get past their barricade.

Someone aimed their camera at us. Immediately it was seized by the police.

It seemed like Dmitriy had used his influence to the maximum. I was so very glad that he did. I practically hated the paparazzi as much as him.

“So what now,” I looked at him and pointed at the stone steps, “You don’t expect me to climb down these, do you?”

“No I don’t,” he grinned.
And then without any single warning he scooped me up from the ground, much to the horror of the onlookers.

I blushed red.

“Hey, put me down,” I demanded.

“Nope,” he gave me one of is mischievous smiles, and started walking down the steps, me on his lap. I felt all eyes following us.

I was so embarrassed that I wanted to mix to the ground. I huddled closer to him and almost melted into his chest.

Cradling me in his arms, he gently placed me on the back seat and then climbed in himself. The car started.

I looked at the crowd and the hospital. I had left two of my nightmares behind. At least for a while, I hoped.

As the car gathered speed, suddenly I asked, “by the way, where are we going?”

“To my house. You and your family will have the guest rooms there. No more hotel,” he answered, putting his arm around me.

As I nestled closer, I breathed in his perfume, the same lavender which soothed my senses.

I was losing myself in his closeness, feeling the thrill, when suddenly the car braked.

“Are we…” I began.

“At the Tiffany’s,” he interrupted.

“What? But…”

“I am getting you an engagement ring, silly,” he smiled.

All my protests about cost and stuff were lost on him. He didn’t utter another word and literally dragged me to the store.

There were an array of rings.

Oval diamonds, cushion cuts and in a variety of designs spiral and solitaire, gold and platinum…I was baffled by the variety and stood staring at the brilliance of each diamond. I had never seen it before.

“Now choose…”

“I…I can’t…”

“Fine, then I choose,” he made a face, “You girls are all alike. You never say what is in your heart.”
He looked for a minute at all the jewels and then held out one to me.

“See this…Like it? Or…” he enquired.

It was a platinum band with scintillating round brilliant diamond, complementing the pure radiance of a princess-cut diamond. It glimmered, throwing rainbows in all directions. It was beautiful, heavenly.

I couldn’t speak anymore. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
He immediately brushed them away and made him look at him.

“I want you to look special. The most special ring for the most special bride. This is a symbol of our love, Roza. Our love is much more costly than this ring. Our love is priceless. I would never undermine it.”

He gently took my hand and slipped the ring onto my middle finger where it sat in all its glory looking so innocent and blissful. I hoped that our married life would be as innocent and blissful as that ring.

He lifted up my hand to his lips and kissed my hand gently. Then in the grandest manner, he kissed the ring and let go my hand. I felt my cheeks grow hotter again.

“We want this,” he declared to all the people gaping at us in amazement.

I didn’t know why, but suddenly I felt proud, proud that he was mine, proud that I belonged to him. I felt as if I was the luckiest person in the world.

He guided me to the car and soon we were speeding to the outskirts of the city where his bungalow was.

“So, Mrs. Rosella Lytton Ivanov, how’s Russia?”

I looked at him amazed, “Rosella Lytton Ivanov?”

He looked at me, feelings clear in his eyes, “You are an amazing woman with a personality beyond comparison. I don’t want you to lose your identity by marrying me. This marriage needs to strengthen your sense of belonging. I prefer that you keep your maiden name.”

Tears shone in my eyes again. We understood each other so perfectly. He complemented me. We were the two sides of the same coin, two pieces that completes the same jigsaw, a jigsaw puzzle called life.

Suddenly he started humming a song…

Our song…

“It’s so rare to find a friend like you,
Somehow when you’re around, the sky’s always blue.”

I couldn’t keep quiet.

“The way we talk, the things you say,
The way you make it all okay, and how you know, all of my jokes, but you laugh anyway…”

And as we sung along, together, I placed my head on his chest.

He hugged me tighter as that beautiful voice, that heartwarming tone, that mesmerizing pitch, made me feel so calm and sleepy.

“I feel so sleepy,” I yawned.

“Sleep my darling, you need rest,” he kissed my cheek gently and began to sing a lullaby…
I lost myself in his dreams again…

A /N Thanks everyone for reading. With Love, a journey of love, life and promises ends here. This book has been a journey for me too. Thanks mystery Romancefor this opportunity.

Do you guys want cast? I never forced it on you because I wanted you to imagine the characters from my description. I didn't want to curb your creativity. But if you want cast, I will publish it.

Thanks MaryFahey my mentor and guide. Pipigrin morema_m teamhathaway pamirayo mampty Vampire_Rebel joharateregeyo StarBrightUser wattpawormss marthaeehathaway for being the best readers ever. Your support and votes, your comments are what makes my day. Thank you for supporting me throughout this journey.
 
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Love you all my readers. Please stay with me. With Love...... MASQUERADE....

Bye guys. That's me and well hope you will stay with me always. Bye for today. Is it? 😉😉😉😉😉Who knows what may happen tomorrow? I may come up with a sequel. Yup I am crazy sometimes. 😀😁Love you all guys. 😍😘😍😘😍😘