Chapter 180: Chapter 180

That day, the morning was quiet in the hidden room of the library. Tatiana’s eyes opened slowly, the soft light from the small window spilling across the floor. For a brief moment, she felt warm, safe, as though the world outside had disappeared. Her hand reached across the bed, expecting to find him there beside her. But her heart sank when her fingers touched only the cold sheet.

The spot where Ivan had been lying was empty.

She sat up quickly, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes scanned the little hidden chamber, but it was silent. He was gone.

Her chest tightened. She forced herself to get up, though her body felt heavy. Her hands trembled as she dressed. She tried to hold herself together, to stop the tears from rising, but her heart ached too much. She had thought—she had believed—that night meant something.

When she stepped out into the main library, she saw him.

Ivan stood by the window, his tall figure rigid, his hands clasped behind his back. The morning light fell over him, outlining his shape in gold, but his face was hard, unreadable. He didn’t turn when he heard her footsteps.

Tatiana’s voice was soft, almost shy. "Your Highness..."

But she was met with a tone so cold it froze her.

"This was a mistake," Ivan said without turning. His voice was sharp, firm, without even a trace of warmth. "A terrible mistake."

Her lips parted. She wanted to speak, to beg him to look at her, but before she could, he cut her off, his voice even harsher.

"Do not think of it as anything," he said. "I simply mistook you for Lydia, that is all. It would be best if you forget about it." Finally, he turned his eyes on her, but there was no kindness in them. "And I want you gone in a month. I do not understand why you are still here when there is no Grand Duchess to serve."

Her body shook. The words pierced her like knives.

She swallowed hard, her voice breaking as she tried to speak. "But, Your Highness... I thought—"

"Enough," he said coldly, and he left the room without a glance back.

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Tatiana’s legs gave way, and she sank to the floor. A sob escaped her lips, quiet but raw. She thought it meant something. She thought at last, after all these years, he had seen her. But it wasn’t her he wanted. It was Lydia. It had always been Lydia.

And in that moment, Tatiana knew if she did nothing, she would lose him forever.

She had been by his side for fifteen years. Fifteen years of waiting, of hoping, of loving him in silence. And still, she was invisible. She had to do something. She had to find a way.

Before she knew it, the month had passed. The day of reckoning came like a storm she couldn’t escape.

A knock sounded at her door. Her hands went cold.

"My lady," a servant said respectfully. "His Highness seeks your presence."

Tatiana’s heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears. She steadied her breath and walked down the corridors toward his study. Each step felt like walking to the edge of a cliff.

When she entered, Ivan was there, standing tall, his face serious. His eyes flicked over her once, then returned to the papers on his desk.

"It has been over a month," he said flatly. "Why haven’t you left? I thought I made myself clear." His tone carried no hesitation, no doubt. "I gave you a month so you could put things in order. I want you gone by the end of today."

Tatiana trembled. Her legs nearly gave way. She knew he was serious. There was no mercy in his eyes.

And in that instant, fear gripped her heart. She couldn’t let this be the end. She couldn’t leave. Not .

So she did the only thing left to her.

Her voice shook, but she forced the words out. "I... I understand, Your Highness. But there is something I must tell you."

He finally looked at her, his expression impatient. "What?"

Her throat tightened. She clenched her hands to stop them from trembling. And then the lie slipped from her lips.

Ivan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening. He said nothing, but the weight of his stare pressed against her like a mountain.

And that was how she caught him. With that lie.

But Lydia’s return... Lydia’s presence... slowly unraveled everything Tatiana had built. Every time Ivan saw Lydia, Tatiana felt the lie slipping further from her grasp.

Tatiana’s heart skipped a beat as the door to her room opened. Her whole body froze. She was terrified it would be him—terrified the truth had already found its way to him.

The relief was sharp, but fear still twisted inside her.

"My lady!" Yelena gasped, rushing to her side and closing the door quickly behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw Tatiana’s pale face and tear-streaked cheeks. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

Tatiana shook her head, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

Yelena’s voice grew urgent. "Is it the baby? Do you feel uncomfortable? Should I fetch a physician?"

Tatiana’s lips trembled. She shook her head again, forcing words past the lump in her throat. "I need... I need a bath. That’s all."

Yelena frowned, unconvinced. "I’ll prepare a bath for you. But tell me, please, what’s wrong?"

Tatiana reached out suddenly, clutching Yelena’s hands. Her grip was desperate, trembling. Her eyes searched Yelena’s as though begging her to understand.

"Please," Tatiana whispered. "Help me, Yelena."

Yelena’s heart pounded. She looked confused. "Help you? With what?"

Tatiana hesitated. Her whole body shook. Then, with trembling hands, she held up the stained underwear.

Yelena’s eyes widened. She covered her mouth, gasping. "Blood... Is it... is it a miscarriage?"

Tatiana shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Yelena’s voice faltered. "Then what is it? You can’t be on your period... you are pregnant."

Tatiana’s voice came soft, broken, but clear. "I’m not."

Yelena froze, her eyes wide in shock. "What do you mean?" Her voice dropped lower. "Everyone knows... you said it yourself."

Tatiana’s tears flowed harder. She bowed her head, shame heavy on her shoulders. "I lied."

The word hung in the air like a blade.

Yelena staggered back a step, whispering, "What?" The source of thɪs content is novelFɪre.net

Tatiana’s voice shook as she poured out the truth. "I know what I did is terrible. A terrible thing. But please, understand me. I had no choice." She clutched Yelena’s hands again, desperate. "He was going to discard me. Throw me away like I was nothing. I tried everything, everything, to make him look at me just once. To make him see me. But all he ever saw was Lydia. Always Lydia."

Her voice cracked into a sob. "I have been by his side for fifteen years. Fifteen years, Yelena! And still, I was invisible. I couldn’t think of anything else. I... I didn’t have a choice."

Yelena’s eyes filled with tears of her own. She shook her head, torn between pity and fear.

Tatiana’s voice dropped lower, trembling. "I only planned to pretend. Then once we were married, I would say I lost the baby... a miscarriage... and everything would be fine." She wiped at her tears, her voice bitter. "But Lydia came back. Lydia ruined everything."

Her hands shook as she squeezed Yelena’s. "Please... help me. I can’t do this alone. Help me."

Yelena’s breath came fast, panic rising. "My lady... what do we do? If His Highness learns of this—if he discovers you lied—he will kill you for sure."

Tatiana nodded, her lips quivering. "I know." Her eyes burned with a strange mix of fear and determination. "That’s why you will help me. We will make this lie a reality. No one has to know."

Yelena’s voice trembled. "But... when the time comes to give birth... how will you produce a child?"

For the first time, Tatiana’s lips curved into a small, unsettling smile. "I have everything under control."

Yelena stared at her, her heart sinking.

Tatiana’s voice softened, but her eyes shone with fire. "Go, Yelena. Fetch the things for my bath. And a sanitary towel. Wait here no longer."

Yelena hesitated, then bowed her head. "Yes, my lady." She hurried out of the room.

The door shut, and Tatiana was alone. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her hands still trembling, but her eyes burned with fierce determination.

She whispered into the empty room, her voice quiet but steady.

"You don’t have to worry, Your Highness," she muttered. "I will give you a son. An heir."

And her tears fell again—not out of weakness this time, but out of the dangerous promise she had just made to herself.