Two hours later, Manhattan had long disappeared behind them.
The towering glass buildings had gradually given way to quieter roads, sprawling properties, and endless stretches of greenery.
Maya rested her cheek lightly against the window as she looked outside.
The scenery had changed so gradually she barely noticed when the city disappeared entirely.
"I've never been here before."
She glanced toward Rege.
"Where exactly are we?"
Rege briefly looked away from the road.
"Westchester County."
Maya nodded slowly.
The name sounded familiar.
Fancy.
Expensive.
Very expensive.
"It definitely feels fancy."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"I honestly thought we were going somewhere closer since you said one o'clock."
Rege's expression softened.
"My family has homes in The Hamptons and the Upper East Side."
Maya blinked.
Homes.
Plural.
Of course.
"But no one is ever there."
His attention returned to the road.
"They mostly stay here."
Maya nodded thoughtfully.
That explained a lot.
The place already felt different somehow.
Quieter.
Older.
Established.
Not flashy wealth.
Permanent wealth.
The kind that didn't need to prove itself.
She glanced around again.
"So are we still far from the house?"
Rege shook his head.
Almost as if he had summoned it, the Rolls-Royce slowed.
Ahead stood a pair of enormous wrought-iron gates.
The black metal stretched higher than Maya expected, adorned with intricate detailing that looked more like artwork than security.
Before she could ask anything, the gates began opening.
Silently.
Smoothly.
Effortlessly.
The car continued forward.
Maya sat up slightly.
"Oh."
The driveway seemed endless.
Ancient trees lined both sides, their branches creating a natural canopy overhead.
Perfectly maintained gardens stretched beyond them.
Stone lanterns.
Flower beds.
Manicured hedges.
Everything looked impossibly immaculate.
The further they drove, the more Maya realized this wasn't simply a family home.
It was an estate.
No.
Even that didn't feel quite right.
It felt larger than that.
Older.
As though generations of history lived here.
Then the mansion appeared.
Maya forgot how to blink.
"Oh my God."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
The structure rose from the landscape like something from another century.
Stone walls.
Towering windows.
Elegant architecture.
Multiple wings.
Turrets.
Balconies.
A fountain stood proudly before the entrance, sunlight glimmering across the water.
It looked less like a house and more like a castle.
Even the Lannister estate hadn't prepared her for this.
The Lannisters had wealth.
Influence.
History.
But this felt different.
This felt like a dynasty.
Rege glanced at her reaction.
A faint smile appeared.
His favorite kind of smile.
The one reserved solely for Maya.
The car eventually stopped before the entrance.
Immediately, a young man in a dark suit approached.
Professional.
Efficient.
Rege stepped out first.
The man accepted the car keys respectfully.
He then moved toward Maya's side.
Only to stop.
Rege had raised one hand.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing forceful.
The young man immediately bowed his head and stepped back.
Maya raised an eyebrow.
The corner of her mouth twitched.
Rege opened her door himself.
Like he always did.
Like it never occurred to him that someone else should.
Maya stepped out.
"Thank you."
The words were directed at both men.
The employee smiled politely.
Rege simply offered her his hand.
She took it automatically.
The action felt so natural now neither thought about it.
Together they climbed the entrance steps.
Another employee opened the enormous front doors before they reached them.
Maya smiled politely again.
Then stepped inside.
And immediately forgot what she had been about to say.
The interior was breathtaking.
Cream marble floors stretched endlessly beneath their feet.
Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead.
Rich wooden accents balanced the grandeur.
Massive paintings lined the walls.
Everything radiated wealth.
Yet strangely—
it didn't feel cold.
It felt lived in.
Comfortable.
Loved.
Like a home despite its scale.
Maya found herself staring.
Then staring some more.
She'd spent years around the Lannisters.
Years around aristocrats.
Years around unimaginable privilege.
Yet somehow this place still managed to surprise her.
Rege squeezed her hand gently.
Bringing her attention back.
And just in time.
Because someone was already approaching them.
" Maya dearest!"
Olga.
Beautiful as ever.
Elegant.
Radiant.
Happy.
Her aquamarine eyes immediately brightened upon seeing Maya.
Before Maya could react, Olga pulled her into a warm embrace.
The movement separated her hand from Rege's.
Maya didn't notice.
Rege did.
Immediately.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Maya smiled as she returned the hug.
"Likewise, Ma'am."
The moment they separated, Olga shook her head.
"Ma'am is far too formal."
Her smile softened.
"Call me Mum or Mother."
Maya blinked.
Then smiled.
A genuine smile.
"Yes Ma—"
She stopped herself.
"Mum."
The correction came quickly.
Olga looked delighted.
"There we are."
Maya laughed softly.
"You look beautiful every time I see you."
The compliment made Maya laugh again.
Before she could respond, Olga finally looked toward her son.
"Rege."
"Mother."
The response came almost immediately.
Sharp enough that Maya glanced toward him.
Olga merely chuckled.
"It's lovely to see you too."
She embraced him.
Rege returned it despite maintaining his usual expression.
When they separated, Olga immediately reclaimed Maya.
Taking her hand.
"Everyone is waiting to meet you."
Maya smiled politely.
Then looked back toward Rege.
Only to find him already watching her.
Closely.
As always.
Olga began leading Maya further into the house.
Rege followed.
Not even a step behind.
Almost attached to her shadow.
The deeper they walked, the larger the mansion seemed.
Eventually they entered a magnificent central hall.
Maya's eyes widened.
Twin staircases curved upward from opposite sides of the room.
Massive windows flooded the space with natural light.
Elegant seating areas occupied the center.
The room felt large enough to host a ballroom.
Before Maya could properly admire it—
she suddenly found herself moving backward.
Or rather—
being pulled backward.
Directly into Rege.
His arm settled around her waist.
Firm.
Certain.
Possessive in the quiet way only Rege could manage.
Maya cleared her throat.
Tried pushing lightly against his chest.
Nothing happened.
Not even slightly.
Olga noticed.
Of course she noticed.
The smile she hid was entirely unconvincing.
"Roman."
Her voice carried easily across the hall.
"They're here."
A figure emerged from the hallway to the left.
Maya immediately understood where Rege got it from.
Roman.
Handsome.
Distinguished.
Intimidating.
And carrying exactly the same unreadable expression his son wore.
He crossed the room calmly and sat down.
Olga joined him moments later.
Roman immediately kissed her cheek.
The small gesture softened his severe appearance.
Maya smiled.
Rege rolled his eyes.
Maya nearly laughed.
Rege guided Maya toward the large seating area positioned in the center of the hall.
The furniture alone looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine.
Cream upholstery.
Dark polished wood.
Elegant accents of gold.
Everything somehow managed to look both expensive and comfortable at the same time.
The moment Maya sat down, nervousness returned.
Not enough to overwhelm her.
Just enough to remind her that she was sitting in the home of Rege's family.
Meeting his family.
The realization felt significantly more intimidating now that she was actually here.
Beside her, Rege immediately shifted closer.
Not enough to attract attention.
Just enough for his shoulder to brush hers.
A silent reminder that she wasn't alone.
Across from them, Olga settled comfortably beside Roman.
The moment she sat down, Roman's hand found hers automatically.
The movement was so natural neither seemed aware of it.
Olga smiled.
Roman leaned slightly toward her.
For a brief second the intimidating man disappeared completely.
Maya found herself smiling.
There was genuine affection there.
Real affection.
The kind that didn't need to be displayed loudly because it had existed for years.
For some reason it reminded her of Tatiana and Daario.
The quiet certainty.
The comfort.
The familiarity.
The feeling that two people had chosen each other every day for a very long time.
Olga finally recovered first.
"Maya dearest."
Her voice immediately pulled Maya from her thoughts.
"This is Roman, my husband. Rege's father."
Roman's dark eyes settled on her.
Observant.
Unwavering.
The kind of gaze that missed nothing.
Maya immediately understood where Rege got it from.
"The father of all my children," Olga added proudly.
Roman's expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
"Nice to finally meet you, Maya."
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Emotionless.
And suddenly Maya understood something else.
If she had met Roman before meeting Rege, she would have been convinced he disliked her.
"The pleasure is all mine, Sir."
Maya lowered her head politely.
Roman studied her for another moment.
Then asked,
"British?"
Straight to the point.
No unnecessary conversation.
No small talk.
Just a question.
"Yes please."
"Where?"
"London."
Roman nodded once.
Silence followed.
A long silence.
Long enough for Maya to briefly wonder whether she had answered incorrectly.
Long enough for her to become painfully aware of how quiet the room had become.
Then Olga sighed dramatically and nudged Roman with her elbow.
The look she gave him was unmistakable.
Behave.
Roman looked at his wife.
Olga raised an eyebrow.
Roman stared back.
A silent conversation somehow passed between them.
One that had clearly happened many times before.
Finally Roman exhaled softly.
A faint smile appeared.
Barely visible.
Yet somehow it completely changed his face.
The severity lessened.
The intimidation softened.
And suddenly Maya saw traces of Rege again.
Without thinking, she smiled back.
A much brighter smile.
Olga immediately laughed.
"There we are."
Roman rolled his eyes.
The gesture was so unexpectedly similar to Rege that Maya nearly laughed herself.
Beside her, she felt movement.
Rege's hand found hers.
Warm.
Steady.
His thumb brushed lightly against her knuckles.
Maya glanced toward him.
He was already looking at her.
The faint smile on his face carried an unmistakable message.
You're doing fine.
The reassurance settled her nerves immediately.
Olga cleared her throat.
"Now."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Your siblings refused to appear until your father met Maya first."
Roman looked entirely unbothered by this information.
As though his children routinely staged small rebellions and he no longer found them surprising.
Olga smiled toward Maya.
"You finally get to meet Rege's siblings."
Maya sat a little straighter.
A mixture of anticipation and curiosity immediately replacing some of her nervousness.
"I promise they don't bite."
Olga paused.
"Most of the time."
Maya laughed softly.
Rege sighed.
Olga looked entirely pleased with herself.
She picked up her phone and made a call.
"Come now."
That was all she said before ending it.
She looked back toward Maya.
"Maxim and Nikolai are on their way, they'll be here soon."
Rege nodded once.
Before anyone could say anything else, footsteps echoed from the hallway Roman had emerged from earlier.
Everyone turned.
Three figures appeared.
Maya's breath caught.
The first man looked so much like Roman it was genuinely startling and unsettling.
The same dark eyes.
The same jaw.
The same posture.
The same air of authority.
If Roman had somehow become twenty years younger, Maya suspected he would look exactly like this man.
The second man carried features from both parents.
Roman's eyes.
Olga's softer mouth.
Olga's nose.
Yet he still possessed the unmistakable family presence.
Then Maya's attention shifted toward the young woman beside them.
And immediately stayed there.
She was stunning.
There was no other word for it.
Long legs.
Perfect posture.
Dark brown hair cascading down her back in luxurious waves.
Her face looked almost unreal.
Like she belonged on the cover of Vogue.
Or walking a runway in Paris.
The confidence she carried only made her more striking.
For one brief moment Maya thought of Anna.
There was something vaguely similar in their beauty.
Then the comparison disappeared.
Because this woman possessed an entirely different kind of presence.
The kind that made people notice her the moment she entered a room.
The kind that seemed impossible to ignore.
Maya found herself staring.
Only for a second.
Then she quickly looked away.
At that exact moment she became aware of Rege's hand tightening around hers.
Very slightly.
Almost imperceptibly.
Yet she noticed.
When she turned toward him, he was already looking at her.
And suddenly Maya realized something.
Since entering the mansion, Rege and Roman hadn't exchanged a single real conversation.
Not one.
The realization lingered and stayed with her.
Unanswered.
Quietly unsettling.
Not because either man appeared angry.
They didn't.
Yet there was a distance there.
A careful distance.
As though both of them had learned long ago how to occupy the same room while avoiding everything that actually mattered.
Something was there.
Something she didn't yet understand.
But she noticed it.
Rege's gaze remained fixed on hers.
Steady.
Grounding.
As though sensing exactly where her thoughts had gone.
Maya squeezed his hand gently.
A silent response.
And for a brief moment, surrounded by strangers, family expectations, and unspoken history, they became exactly what they had been all afternoon.
A source of support for each other.