Chapter 216
KATYA POV
The dining room felt too large for just the two of us.
Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, softer than the morning light, warr—afternoon settling in like it had all the ti in the world.
The long table was set neatly, silverware aligned, plates already served. Lunch. Normal. Ordinary.
Nothing about what sat in my chest felt ordinary.
Nonna sat across from , calm as ever, lifting her spoon as if she hadn’t just turned my entire world upside down a few hours ago. She didn’t look at too much. Didn’t study my face. Didn’t ask.
And I was grateful for that.
Because her offer was still ringing in my head, loud enough to drown out everything else.
I would love to adopt you as a real family.
I stared at my plate, nudging a piece of food around without actually eating anything. My appetite had disappeared sowhere between shock and disbelief.
Well it wasn’t even there to begin with.
Adopt .
The word felt strange, foreign—like it didn’t belong anywhere near .
Did I even want that?
I stole a glance at Nonna. She looked so... natural here. Like she belonged in this house in a way I never had. In a way I never could.
I didn’t look like them.
Didn’t sound like them.
Didn’t co from them.
My hair—white as fresh snow—stood out in any room I entered. My accent never fully disappeared, no matter how long I stayed silent.
Russian. Always Russian. Always a reminder. And more than that... I had been their enemy.
Or at least, I was supposed to be. How did soone like get offered a family like this?
When Nonna had said the words, I had frozen. Completely. Like my body had decided it was safer not to react at all. I hadn’t smiled. Hadn’t cried. Hadn’t said yes or no.
And she hadn’t pushed.
Not once.
She hadn’t filled the silence with persuasion or guilt or hope. She hadn’t tried to sell the idea to like everyone else in my life had sold roles—weapon, pawn, liability.
She had simply let the offer exist.
That sohow scared more. Nonna took a sip of her drink, then glanced up, finally eting my eyes. Her gaze was gentle, unreadable.
"You should eat, mia cara," she said softly. "Food tastes better when it’s warm." I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure I could taste anything at all.
I took a small bite, more for appearance than hunger, chewing slowly. "Nonna," I started, then stopped. The word felt heavy on my tongue.
She didn’t rush . Just waited. "I don’t... have anything in common with you," I said quietly. "With any of you."
It wasn’t an accusation. it was just a fact.
"I don’t look like you. I’m not from here. I’m not—" I hesitated. "I wasn’t raised with love nor do I have any similarities." Nonna’s expression didn’t change. If anything, it softened.
"You think family is made of similarities?" she asked gently.
I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t know. "I did not offer because you are like us," she continued, her voice calm, trying to smooth all my worries "I offered because you are you."
But that didn’t help the confusion in my chest. If anything, it made it worse. I lowered my gaze again, fingers tightening slightly around my fork.
"I don’t even know if I belong anywhere," I admitted. "What if I accept... and realize I don’t fit? What if I ruin sothing that already exists?"
Nonna reached across the table—not touching , just close enough for warmth to carry. "Belonging is not about fitting perfectly," she said.
"It is about being allowed to exist without pretending."
I swallowed. Was I ready to be in a family again? The question settled heavy in my chest, pressing down on everything else.
Family wasn’t just a word to . It ca with expectations, with punches and harsh words .
If I said yes... what would that an? It wasn’t just Nonna.
It was everything that ca with her.
This house. This na. This world.
Roo.
I stiffened internally, annoyed at myself almost instantly.
Why was I even thinking about him?
If Nonna adopted ... would that make us family?
The idea felt wrong. Complicated. Twisted in ways I didn’t want to untangle.
I tried to imagine it—him looking at not as a problem, not as a responsibility, not as soone he controlled... but as sothing closer. Permanent.
The thought made my stomach knot. What would he think? Would he even care?
He’d already given the check. My freedom. A clean exit. That should’ve been the end of it. I should’ve been thinking about cities, borders, anonymity.
Not him.
Not the way his presence still lingered in my head like unfinished business. I exhaled slowly, frustrated.
Why did his opinion even matter?
He wasn’t the one offering a family. He wasn’t the one sitting across from now, patiently letting fall apart in silence.
And yet... the thought of him finding out—of him knowing—made sothing twist uncomfortably in my chest.
Would he see it as an inconvenience?
Or worse... relief? I hated that I didn’t know. I hated that a part of cared.
I pushed the food around my plate again, appetite completely gone now.
Nonna watched from across the table, not intruding, but not absent either. Like she could see the storm forming and had decided to let it rain itself out.
"How are your wounds?" The question caught off guard.
Not because it was intrusive but because it wasn’t. It was simple. Grounded. Safe.
I blinked, then let out a small breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Grateful. That was the word. Grateful she wasn’t pushing. Grateful she’d changed the subject before my thoughts could swallow whole.
"They’re... okay," I said quietly. "Healing. The pain isn’t as bad anymore."
Nonna nodded, satisfied, like that was exactly the answer she’d been hoping for. "Good"
"That is good. Very good." She reached for her tea again, then glanced at over the rim of the cup, a spark of sothing lighter in her eyes.
"Then," she continued, setting the cup down, "why don’t we do that mall date I promised you?"
I looked up, surprised. "Mall... date?"
She smiled, wide and mischievous now, the heaviness gone as if she’d packed it away neatly for later.
"Si. You rember. New clothes. Sothing comfortable, Sothing that you can pick after testing it physically"
A small, reluctant smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it, my chest loosened just a little.
"I... okay," I said, surprising myself with how easily the word ca out.
Nonna clapped her hands together once, delighted. "Good. We eat a little more, then we go."
††
Next Chapter, Roo pov?
Hahaha.
Tomorrows my birthday
If I get a castle as a gift, I would give 10 Chapters as bonus.
A spaceship= 20 Chapters
Crossed fingers 🥲
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