Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen

Irina

Three days had passed.

Three days since I had held my son. Since I had seen his face. Since I had heard anything except his distant cries echoing through the villa.

Three days of hell.

I was assigned to cleaning duty. 

The other servants pitied me. I could see it in their eyes.

"The poor thing," I heard one whisper. "Separated from her baby like that."

"Mr. Alexei is cruel," another replied. "But what can we do?"

Nothing. They could do nothing. And neither could I.

Lucia, the head housekeeper, tried to be kind. She gave me extra food when she could and lighter...