The dim light of the coastal cottage illuminated the modest room, the scent of the sea wafting through the open windows. Andrei moved around the space with a quiet determination, his hands carefully folding Cristine's clothes into a travel bag. Cristine sat on the edge of the bed, her expression a mixture of confusion and anxiety. Her hands rested on her growing belly as she watched him, her mind racing with questions.
"Andrei," she began hesitantly, "why now? Why did it take you so long to find me?"
Andrei paused, his back to her, his hands gripping the edge of the dresser. After a moment, he turned, his eyes soft yet resolute. "Because I needed to make sure you'd be safe," he said. "There were... obstacles. People who didn't want us to be together. People who went to great lengths to k
