Dangerous Husbands, Broken Wives [18+]

THREE: MAKE THEM HAPPY

Ivan's eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed Ana by the hair, yanking her head back to face him. "Ana!" he growled, his grip tight and unyielding. "Don't you dare lie to my face. Tell me where he is. Tell me now, and I promise I won't hurt you. But if you keep playing these games with me, I swear I'll burn this whole place to the ground!"

Ana's eyes filled with tears as she struggled against the pain, the sharp pull of her hair almost too much to bear. "I don't know anything," she hissed, her fingers clawing at his hand, trying to pry it loose. "I swear it. The fact that you even think I'd lie to you makes me feel like you don't know me at all. I love you, Ivan. But the way you treat me makes me wonder if you love me at all. What happened to us?"

[ANASTASIA]

"Hey there, little guy," I said to Ivan Jr. as I knelt down in front of him, my heavy overcoat weighing me down. His blue eyes shone with innocence and curiosity as he looked up at me. "I'm going to go get some groceries from the store. Tati is sleeping right now, and I don't want to wake her up. Her fever hasn't gone down much, so can I trust you to take care of her while I'm gone and get her some medicine?"

Ivan Jr.'s face lit up with pride at the responsibility I had given him. "Of course, Mama. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Tati," he said, his voice filled with determination. The way he looked at me made me feel like my heart was about to burst with love for him.

I smiled at Ivan Jr., feeling grateful for his willingness to help. "Thank you, my brave little man," I said as I leaned forward and planted a kiss on his forehead. "I'll be back soon, okay? And if you need anything, just call me."

Ivan Jr. nodded, a serious expression on his face as he took on his new role as Tati's caretaker. I stood up and made my way towards the door, feeling a sense of worry mixed with relief. It was the first time I had left the kids alone at home, but I knew I could trust Ivan Jr. to watch over Tati.

I stepped out of the warm cocoon of my house and was greeted by the frigid air that immediately seeped through my coat, chilling me to the bone. The snow was knee-deep, and with every step I took, the icy crystals crunched loudly beneath my boots.

The winter wind howled, creating a symphony of eerie sounds that filled the air. The sky was a muted grey, and the clouds threatened to bring more snowfall. It was a desolate place, with only a few houses scattered around, all of them looking abandoned.

It had almost been a week since we got to this place, so I knew that the nearest store was at least 10 km away. I made my way to the old car I had recently bought, hoping that it would start without any trouble. I was determined to get back home before darkness enveloped the landscape, and the snowstorm turned into a blizzard.

The freezing wind whipped at my face, making me pull the collar of my coat tighter around my neck. I fished the keys out of my pocket and slid into the driver's seat. I turned the key in the ignition, praying that the engine would roar to life.