Page 148 of Porcelain Lies

She arches a brow, the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “It was… unplanned.”

I let out a soft laugh. “For me as well.”

She glances toward the window, fingers grazing the edge of the tray. “Perhaps we could do it again another time.”

“I’d like that,” I reply sincerely.

Her eyes return to me, and for the first time, I see a flicker of something resembling trust. Taking it as a sign, I decide to broach the subject that’s been on my mind since last night.

“Diana, I was wondering…” I trail off, searching for the right words.

“Yes?” she prompts, her tone cautious.

“I’d love to meet, Bobik,” I begin. “When he’s awake, I mean.”

A shadow crosses her face. “Bobik is… a very private child.”

“I understand,” I say quickly. “But given our circumstances, I thought it might be good — for both of us. Perhaps he’d enjoy some company.”

She studies me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she weighs my words. “Aleksei is very protective of him.”

“I get that,” I admit. “But maybe it would help, with the baby on the way. We are going to be… family.”

Diana’s lips press into a thin line. “It’s not that simple.”

“Please,” I say softly. “I have an interest in science, just like him. Maybe I could be a friend — or at least company.”

Her gaze softens just a touch. “Bobik doesn’t often take to strangers.”

“I’m willing to take things slowly,” I assure her. “Only if you’re comfortable with it.”

She exhales slowly, internal conflict clear on her face. “Chert voz’mi, Lyosha,” she mutters under breath. “Very well,” she concedes at last. “I suppose an introduction won’t hurt.”

Relief floods through me. “Thank you, Diana.”

She nods curtly. “Finish your breakfast. I’ll come for you in an hour.” With that, she turns and exits the room, leaving me alone with a fluttering mixture of nerves and excitement.

Exactly one hour later, true to her word, Diana returns. “Are you ready?”

I nod, smoothing down my blouse. “As I’ll ever be.”

We set off through the winding corridors of the manor, the grandeur still not lost on me despite having been here for a while. Marble floors give way to richly woven rugs, and the walls are adorned with gilded mirrors and paintings which are clearly worth a fortune.

“My brother is very concerned about security in Bobik’s part of the house,” Diana explains as we ascend the staircase. “It offers him privacy and ease of access. And safety.”

“I see,” I reply, noting the subtle architectural changes as we proceed — hallways widening, thresholds lowering, the floors becoming seamlessly smooth. “These modifications are impressive.”

“Aleksei made sure everything was designed so Bobik could get around easily,” she says, a hint of pride in her voice.

We reach a set of double doors painted a soothing shade of blue. Diana pauses, her hand hovering over the ornate handle. “I should warn you,” she says quietly. “Bobik is exceptionally intelligent. He can be… intense.”

I smile gently. “I look forward to meeting him.”

She studies me for a moment before pushing the doors open. The room inside is bathed in natural light streaming through expansive windows. Shelves upon shelves of books line the walls, interspersed with scientific models, telescopes, and intricate mechanical contraptions. In the center sits the young boy in a sleek wheelchair, his dark hair tousled and eyes focused intently on the tablet in his hands.

“Bobik,” Diana calls softly.

He looks up, and I feel a jolt — the resemblance to Aleksei is striking, from the sharp cheekbones to the piercing gaze.

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