He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 29

In this chapter, Andrei attempts to seduce Natalia in order to get her to reveal the truth he senses she is hiding. Natalia firmly rejects his advance, reminding him that it is inappropriate for a married man to try to kiss another woman. She challenges Andrei by pointing out that their marriage was meaningless without a mate bond, and insists that her love for Damon is genuine despite lacking such a bond. Natalia also accuses Andrei of being incapable of love, which visibly angers him.

The confrontation escalates as Andrei bitterly remarks on Natalia’s supposed cynical view of love, implying it would negatively affect their child. Natalia coldly reveals that she had an abortion, shocking Andrei and leaving him speechless. This revelation deeply wounds him and fills him with confusion and anger, especially since Natalia had always loved children and their society reveres them.

Andrei begins to suspect that Damon, his weaker brother, manipulated Natalia into faking her death, changing her identity, and even aborting their child. He believes Damon’s influence has kept Natalia under control for years, including making her fall in love with him without ever marking her as his mate. Determined to uncover the truth and free Natalia from Damon’s manipulations, Andrei resolves to find a way to speak with her alone and learn what really happened to his wife and their child.

hapter 29

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Chapter 29

I knew what Andrei was doing: he was just trying to seduce me to get me to admit the truth, because he knew I

wasn’t telling him everything.

Well, he wasn’t going to get what he wanted. Not now, and not ever.

Composing myself, I pulled back just before his lips could meet mine and said firmly, “It’s not becoming of a man to try to kiss another woman when both parties are married.”

Andrei froze, but didn’t release me. His eyes flashed. “You? Married to Damon?” He jerked his chin toward the bare skin on my neck. “That means nothing when you’re not mated.”

I laughed out loud at that, although there was no humor in the sound, and finally shoved him away. Surprisingly, he staggered back a little, surprised that I had pushed him, and released me. “Then that would mean our entire marriage was a sham,” I said, smoothing down my rumpled dress.

Andrei’s jaw ticked, but I went on, “Besides, not all couples need a mate bond to know they care for each other. Damon and I are different–we love each other even without such a bond.” I paused for dramatic effect, then added, “You and I… Well, I don’t think you would have loved me even with a mate bond. I don’t think you can love anyone, bond or not.”

My words seemed to hit their mark, because a low growl rumbled in Andrei’s chest.

“If you raised our child with such a bitter outlook on love,” he snarled, “then I feel bad for the poor pup.”

I pulled my shoulders back and lifted my chin, refusing to show any reaction that might indicate that his words had stung–or that I had had our children at all.

“Well, you

don’t need to worry about that,” I said, turning on my heel. “I had an abortion anyway.”

Andrei

I couldn’t find the words to speak as Natalia left. I just stood there, frozen, unable to comprehend what she had just told me.

She had aborted our baby…

The thought both broke my heart and confused me. Natalia had always adored children when we were together, and besides… Children were sacred in our society, seen as gifts from the Moon Goddess herself. There was no way Natalia would have an abortion for the simple reason of hating me.

Did she really despise me so much that she would abort our child? Not only that, but faking her own death, changing her name, falling for my good–for–nothing brother… And now this.

Fury overcame me at the thought, but it wasn’t all directed at her.

Damon had always been inferior to me; he was the weaker brother even as a child, and he had no doubt built up decades worth of resentment over it.

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He must have manipulated her in some way, I decided. There was no other explanation for it.

It was too convenient that Damon just happened to find Natalia after her accident. And faking her death? Natalia was never that manipulative. He had to have planted the idea in her head and helped her pull it off for five years.

He probably even manipulated her into falling in love with him and aborting our child, and meanwhile he hadn’t even marked her despite half a decade of marriage.

I decided, then, that I had to do whatever I could to get Natalia alone. If I could just talk to her, make her see the light again, then maybe I could free her from whatever mental games Damon was playing with her.

And then, only then, could I find out what really happened to my wife and our child.

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The chapter closes on a profound emotional rift, revealing the depths of pain and misunderstanding between Natalia and Andrei. Their confrontation exposes not only the shattered remnants of their past but also the complex web of love, betrayal, and unresolved feelings that bind them. Natalia’s resolute denial of Andrei’s advances and her painful revelation about the abortion underscore her inner strength and the protective walls she has built around her heart. Meanwhile, Andrei’s turmoil and suspicion highlight the lingering shadows of mistrust and the desperate hope for clarity and reconciliation.

Amidst the turmoil, the theme of love’s fragility and resilience shines through. Despite the bitterness and heartbreak, there remains a flicker of hope in Andrei’s determination to reach Natalia, to understand the truth beyond the pain. Their story is a poignant reminder that love, even when fractured, carries the power to heal and transform—if only they can find the courage to confront their past and the forces that have driven them apart.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of emotions and hidden motives that bind Natalia, Andrei, and Damon. As Andrei grapples with the shocking revelation of the abortion and the fractures in their past, his determination to uncover the truth and reclaim what was lost will intensify. The emotional stakes are higher than ever, with lingering questions about loyalty, love, and manipulation poised to challenge each character’s resolve.

Tensions are set to escalate as Andrei seeks a confrontation with Natalia, hoping to break through the barriers Damon may have built around her heart and mind. Readers can anticipate a charged encounter where buried feelings and painful memories surface, forcing each of them to confront uncomfortable truths. The fragile balance between love and betrayal will be tested, leaving no one untouched by the unfolding drama.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.