I apologize for making you wait so long for this update. I could say many things in my defence but would rather not and will just get on with the chapter.

Many thanks to those of you who reviewed - you made me happy and put a smile on my face! I hope you will continue reading the story. I am also aware that I have not replied to Chapter 13's reviews and hope to be able to get to it shortly.

This chapter isn't beta'ed, so please forgive any mistakes.

The usual disclaimer is in force. I don't own the VA characters, just this story line.

Chapter 14

DPOV

I stared at the screen in disbelief for the third time in a row; I just couldn't believe my eyes and although I could see everything clearly my brain just couldn't soak up and comprehend the information Rose had finally revealed to me.

I closed the laptop softly and just sat there staring at nothing, numb. I didn't realize I had started shaking until I went to pour myself a shot of Russian vodka; the tremors shaking my body were so violent I gave up on the glass and drank straight from the bottle.

As the alcohol warmed up my body, it all finally started to sink in.

I have a daughter. No, scratch that, Rose and I have a daughter.

And she was beautiful. The perfect combination between Rose and me. At the age of twelve she was already almost as tall as Rose was.

I had missed on so much of her life. How could Rose not tell me about her? The more I thought the more upset I got. A sudden wave of undiluted rage almost drowned me as realization hit: she had never planned on following me when I left, never thought she'd see me or speak to me again. She had given me up the moment she left our apartment that morning thirteen years ago.

The more I thought, the angrier I got – with my own stupidity and the fact I had been so blind. I should have seen the signs; they were all their but I had been to occupied with everything else to notice what was going on with the only person who truly mattered to me. I got angry with Rose for deceiving me so easily, even though I knew she'd had her reasons and it couldn't have been easy on her.

As one more thought became crystal clear in my mind, the rage became an inferno colouring my vision in red – Tasha had been in on the whole plan. I wanted to go home and shake the truth out of her but for the sake of the kids checked in in a nearby hotel. I knew I'd have to wait till the morning for that confrontation.

More and more thoughts crowded my mind – Rose had met my mother and my sisters, my grandmother. How much did they know? They obviously knew our daughter, but did they know she was mine and Rose's? Had Yeva "seen" it all? When my mom and dad got divorced all those years ago, my mom took my sisters and moved back to Baia; I'd hardly seen them since. My dad bullied

her into leaving me with him and I'd never forget the day they left and all the tears they all cried.

I knew Mark and Oksana from the few visits my dad had allowed through the years when I was still growing up, but didn't know Oksana was Rose's aunt. And how did Rose manage to hide Dimitriya's existence from everyone? There was no trail left of her ever having another child or even being pregnant.

My head was reeling with all those questions I didn't have the answers to. I needed to see Rose. We needed to talk face to face after I had my little chat with Tasha, which meant I needed another day here and I had to spend another day travelling. I booked a ticket with the first airline I could find to Rose's city of choice and thought about calling her but decided against it; that would give her a chance to persuade me not to go and then hide and I chose not too. I knew there will be hell to pay once her shock wears off but this was the only way I was going to see her.

I created a new file and I wrote inside: I'll be in touch shortly. Give me some time to come to terms with everything. But Hecate, we need to talk. Soon.

Then I texted Tasha that I've been held up working on something and I'll be home in the morning. I also told her to take the day off, so we can spend it together.

WWO

I drove home the next morning, trying to mentally prepare for what was to come. I made a mental list of all the things I wanted to get out of Tasha. As I parked the car, I was happy to see that she'd left to take the boys to school and nursery and looking at the time I was glad I'd be alone in the house for at least half an hour before she got back.

I went straight upstairs and packed a suitcase with all the things I'll need for a week. After a quick shower I made my way back downstairs and cooked some breakfast, made some coffee and settled to wait for Tasha's return. I didn't want her to suspect anything till I started asking the questions.

It wasn't long till I heard the front door open and close and then: "Dimka, I am home!"

"In the kitchen," I heard her footsteps coming closer "I cooked us breakfast."

We made small talk while we ate our food but I couldn't help zoning in and out of the conversation. As I got up to clear the dishes away, I could feel Tasha's eyes on my back.

"So, Dimka, what are we doing today?"

"We need to talk, Tasha" I turned around to look at her and by the impression on her face I knew she could tell something was up. "I need some answers about what happened thirteen years ago and exactly what part you played in it and you are going to tell me everything you know."

"So the little bitch has finally been in touch," Tasha sneered. "I knew she wouldn't keep her promise to stay away forever."

"Don't call her that," I shot back angrily. "And what do you mean she promised you to stay away?"

"I mean exactly that, Dimka. She let you go. She came to me and told me she was giving you up; that I could have you. I only had to make sure you wouldn't go back for her."

Shock shot through my system and I knew she was telling the truth but somehow I didn't want to believe it. "And why would she do that? She loved me and she still does!"

"Precisely the reason she did it. She loved you too much and she thought you'd never be happy without kids in your life. So she let you go, she let me take you away. She could see I loved you and I could give you kids."

"How could you agree to that, Tasha? As my friend, you should have told me what she was planning. You say you love me, yet you could have put a stop to all my misery and torture a long time ago but chose not to! This is not love! You don't love anyone but yourself..." I turned to leave the room but Tasha's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"It was the only way I could be with you, why can't you see that Dimka? You would have never left her. My only chance was to make her let you go. When I got back after Christian's parents died in the fire, she was so vulnerable, scared and insecure. I took a chance and played on her insecurities. And it worked, Dimka... You spent thirteen years with me, we have too beautiful children. Why isn't it enough for you? What did she tell you? Why did she find you..." At this point I just had to cut her off.

"Tasha, just stop! She didn't look for me. She didn't find me. I did!" My anger finally got the better of me and my fist went straight through the kitchen door. "You should know Rose better than this after all the time you spent convincing her to leave me and make my life a living hell. There are many things that Rose can be blamed for but breaking her promises is not one of them!" I took few deep breaths in and exhaled slowly. "I will be away for the next four days at least. I have some business to take care of. We will talk about it when I come back, I have a plane to catch."

I changed quickly and headed to my car. As I slammed the door shut, I could hear Tasha's sobs from the kitchen but somehow couldn't bring myself to care...

WWO

The plane ride was hell. All eight hours of it. I tried to get some sleep but my brain was working overtime and wouldn't slow down.

Bleary eyed and extremely tired, I finally got off the plane, got a rental car and checked in a hotel close to Rose's office. After a quick shower, exhaustion finally took over and I managed to sleep for three hours.

A full English breakfast and two coffees later. I parked opposite Rose's building and settled to wait. At 7.55 a BMW pulled in the car park. It was silver and build for speed. I wasn't surprised when I saw her familiar silhouette behind the tinted glass. As I hurried out of the car picking up my laptop bag in the process, I noticed another car pulling in after Rose's. The glass tint was too dark making it impossible to see the person driving it and it was in this very moment I realized how stupid I had been.

Too late now, I'll just have to see it through and hope Rose is not too mad.

I had almost reached her car when she got out wearing a pair of sunglasses, her hair up in a tight bun and a pencil skirt and jacket that made her look absolutely stunning. I didn't even realize I had stopped breathing until I had to call after her as she purposefully started making her way to the building's entrance.

"Mrs Ivashkov," the named left acidic taste in my mouth, "Mrs Ivashkov!"

She froze mid-step for no longer than a tenth of a second and then turned around in a fluid motion so fast and unexpected, it almost made me take a step back. Her lips forming a shocked "O", she looked at me and I could feel the air around her vibrating with her fury. That, however, didn't stop her as she made her way to me and extended her small hand in my direction.

"Mr Freeman, Mr Ewan Freeman, right? Nice to meet you. I wasn't expecting you so early but seeing as you are here, shall we take this inside?" The firm handshake made me want to rub my hand but I ignored the pain. She was mad but she wasn't running.

My Roza.