Chapter 215: I Know The Truth

Yelena honestly didn’t know how long she’d been kissing Mika. Time blurred, minutes or hours dissolving into the heat of their embrace.

But for the first time since last night, she didn’t care—didn’t care about anything except the press of his lips, the taste of his mouth, the delicious feeling of his tongue dancing with hers.

Yesterday, Mika had been utterly dominant, overwhelming, unyielding, leaving her breathless beneath his weight and his want. She’d barely been able to move, barely been able to do anything except clutch him and surrender.

But now, something was different.

She was no longer pinned helpless. She could move, could act, and she did. Her arms slid up around his neck, pulling him down to her with desperate, greedy hands.

Without thinking, her legs curled around his hips, locking him to her as though she wanted to erase any space between them, to feel every last inch of him.

The peach she’d been holding was long forgotten. All that mattered was the man in front of her, and the way he made her feel, so alive, so wanted, so much more than she’d ever imagined she could be.

Compared to the fruit, Mika’s kiss was a revelation, intoxicating and impossible to resist.

And it was only when Yelena caught sight of the refrigerator over Mika’s shoulder—a door cluttered with family photos, snapshots of birthdays, family dinners, smiling faces—that reality crashed back into her.

The images, so familiar, so innocent, struck her with a wave of guilt so sharp it almost hurt.

Most of those photos were of Mika and her together, her proudest moments captured in simple, happy times. The kind of moments that, just yesterday, she would look at and smile while cooking.

Now, she felt horrified by what she was doing, how completely, shamelessly, she’d let herself give in.

She knew she loved Mika, had no more illusions about denying it, but some part of her, the part that remembered rules, propriety, everything she’d ever taught her own daughter, knew this love was not something that could be shown openly.

Not without consequence.

So, with a strength born of sudden panic, Yelena pushed Mika back with both hands, breaking their kiss so abruptly he stumbled away, confusion flickering across his face.

For a heartbeat, the kitchen was silent except for the sound of her own breath, ragged and desperate.

Her chest heaved. Her lips tingled. She felt exposed, guilty, and yet...achingly empty without him.

But still she knew she had to protest against his actions, so pointing a trembling finger at him, she tried to muster all her sternest authority.

"You—You! Mika, what, what do you think you’re doing? What do you think you’re doing to me?"

Mika blinked, still looking lost in the daze of the moment. She pressed on, trying to sound angry, but it came out more like a flustered girl than a scolding woman.

"You’re not supposed to be doing this! Just because...just because we did the same thing last night doesn’t mean you can do it again. You’re my son, the boy I raised. And I’m your mother. We...shouldn’t be doing this sort of thing with one another. It’s wrong!"

She crossed her arms, biting her lip, desperately hoping her performance would hide how shaken and needy she still felt.

But Mika, to her utter shock, didn’t look frightened, or ashamed, or even surprised.

Instead, a slow, knowing smile spread across his lips. He took a breath, stepped closer, and said with an ease that made her pulse skip.

"What’s wrong, Yelena? What’s so wrong with what I just did?"

He held her gaze, calm and utterly sure of himself.

"You might’ve forgotten, but I’m not the same old Mika you knew. The one who sees you as nothing but a mentor and mother who taught me everything in life and packed my lunchboxes."

"...I’m the Mika who’s completely, hopelessly enchanted by you right now."

Yelena’s breath caught in her throat. She felt the words as a physical thing, a shock of warmth that made her knees weak all over again.

He went on, softer now.

"You have to understand that I don’t just love you as my mother, Yelena. I love you as a woman. Just like I told you last night...whatever’s changed in me, it’s not going away. It’s only gotten stronger."

He let out a low, sheepish chuckle.

"And you know, Charlotte already warned you about this, didn’t she? She said when it comes to the woman I want, I can get...pretty passionate. So when I saw you, this morning, kissing that peach—God, you looked so adorable, I couldn’t help myself. I had to take those lips for myself. I really couldn’t hold back."

She turned even redder, lips quivering. "I-I wasn’t—!"

"I had to kiss you." He interrupted, voice deeper now. "I couldn’t stop myself. Seeing you like that...so flustered, so beautiful...I wanted those lips. I needed them. So I took them."

Yelena swallowed hard, heart thudding like a war drum. She couldn’t meet his eyes anymore.

Because he wasn’t lying.

Everything he said felt real.

His love...his hunger...his eyes, they weren’t filled with guilt or hesitation. They were filled with her. Only her.

It scared her.

But it thrilled her too.

Still, she had to stay firm. She furrowed her brows, straightened her back, and walked toward him with purpose. She poked his chest with a pointed finger.

"But still, Mika. I understand what you’re going through. I understand that you...might be in love with me. B-But that doesn’t mean you can just go around kissing me without so much as a warning!"

Her voice was stern, but the way she was trembling with leftover desire and embarrassment betrayed her. She then narrowed her eyes, pressing him further.

"Just think about it for a second, Mika! Just because you love a woman doesn’t mean you can just do whatever you want with her, does it?"

"Tell me? Did I teach you that? Is that how I raised you, to go around forcing yourself on women? Is that the kind of man you are?" She paused, searching his face for any flicker of shame or regret. "Because if it is, I’m really ashamed of you right now, Mika...Is that what you’re trying to be?"

She expected some embarrassnent, some level of shame. But to her shock, Mika simply grinned, utterly unbothered. He chuckled, a deep, amused sound that made her stomach flutter.

"Oh, come on." He grinned. "You really think I’d ever force myself on a woman?"

Yelena opened her mouth, then hesitated.

"Look, I might be ’proactive’..." Mika held up both hands. "But I do have my boundaries. I never make a woman uncomfortable. If you went around asking, I guarantee I’ve got five-star reviews across the board."

She stared at him. "...Reviews?"

"Impeccable track record with women." He winked. "Gentleman when I need to be. Devil when she wants me to be."

Yelena groaned and turned away, flustered beyond belief.

But before she could say anything else, he added.

"And as for why I kissed you without permission..."

He leaned forward, lips by her ear.

"I’ve got three answers to that. Three very good reasons why I kissed you without even asking."

Yelena’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Three?! You—You really have the audacity to say that?" She stammered, hands flying to her hips. "Well, then, go on! Tell me! I want to hear them."

"...Why exactly did you think it was all right to kiss me like that without even so much as asking for my permission?"

She said it with so much confidence, chin up, voice steady, gaze unwavering—but the moment Mika’s lips curved into that slow, knowing smile, she felt a pang of regret bloom in her chest.

That look on his face was pure danger. The kind of smile that meant he was about to tear through her defenses piece by piece until she was left sputtering, flustered, and completely defeated.

And indeed, that was exactly what he intended.

"Well then." Mika murmured, crossing his arms as his smirk deepened. "Let’s start with the first reason."

"Go on. I’m listening." Yelena stood firm, trying to look unbothered.

"The first reason..." He said casually. "...is actually not a reason but an excuse and it’s because..."

"...you’re quite an easy woman, Yelena."

Yelena froze.

For a heartbeat, she thought she’d misheard him.

But when she saw the teasing glint in his eyes, her entire face went red.

"W-What did you just say?!" She exploded, her voice rising an octave. "Easy?! Did you just call me an easy woman, Mika?!"

"That’s right." Mika blinked, feigning innocence.

"That’s right—?!" She sputtered, taking a furious step toward him. "How dare you say that to me, you little brat! That is the biggest insult I have ever heard in my entire life!"

"Do you have any idea who I am?! I’m Yelena Dimitrivitch Heavensblade, the Sword Maiden who took part in saving the World! The people of this world respect me! Admire me! They look up to me as their example of grace, discipline, and self-control, and you, you dare to call me an easy woman?!"

Her cheeks burned with outrage.

"I mean, what part of me do you think is easy, huh?! I’m probably the most unattainable woman you’ll ever meet! I’ve turned away countless men in my life, I’ve rejected more proposals than you can count, and I’ve never let anyone, anyone, get close to me like that!"

She jabbed a finger at his chest.

"So don’t you dare insult me like that!"

And in response to this outrage, Mika raised both his hands in surrender, trying not to laugh. "Calm down, Yelena. Calm down, before you burst a blood vessel. You’re going to scare the birds singing outside."

"Don’t tell me to calm down!" She barked, eyes blazing.

"All right, all right." Mika said, chuckling softly. "Just breathe, all right? Let me explain before you yell yourself hoarse."

She glared daggers at him.

"I mean it." He said, still maddeningly calm. "Take a deep breath. Then I’ll explain."

She exhaled shakily, trying to regain her composure.

"You’d better explain yourself, Mika." She warned, crossing her arms again.

"I will." He nodded, before going on to explain, "You’re right about what you said. You are at the pinnacle. The world sees you as something untouchable, what people call an unreachable flower."

"No matter what anyone offers you, status, wealth, devotion, you’d never be swayed. No one could win your heart. No one could even touch your skin if you didn’t allow it. That’s how proud you are."

At that, Yelena straightened proudly, her nose lifting slightly as a faint, proud smile tugged at her lips.

"Well, at least you know that much." She said haughtily.

Mika chuckled. "Yes, that’s true. But..."

Her eyes narrowed. "But what?"

He smiled. "But that’s only when it comes to other men."

"What?" Yelena blinked.

"When it comes to me..." Mika continued smoothly, taking a slow step toward her. "...you’re a completely different woman."

"W-What are you talking about?" Her pulse spiked.

"No matter what I do, no matter what I say, you let me get away with it. Even when you protest, you give in eventually. You always have."

"That’s not—"

"Oh, come on." He interrupted softly. "You know it’s true. You fight, you pout, you act angry, but in the end? You forgive me. Every single time."

Her lips trembled. "Mika..."

"And whether I kiss you..." He went on, his voice dropping lower. "...touch you, or even do things we probably shouldn’t say out loud, you might glare at me for a while—but eventually, you melt."

Her face burned red. "T-That’s not—! You—!"

"Which..." He said, smiling wider now. "...is exactly why I called you an easy woman." He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "Because when it comes to me, Yelena...you’re soft. Gentle. Forgiving. You let me do whatever I want. You don’t fight me. You can’t."

Each word hit her like a hammer, and she found herself backing up until her back brushed the counter again.

"T-That’s not true..." She stammered, but even to her own ears, it sounded weak.

"Ask yourself, then." Mika tilted his head, his tone teasing. "Be honest with yourself and you’ll find the truth."

She opened her mouth to yell at him, to tell him he was wrong, that she wasn’t that kind of woman—but no words came out.

Because deep down, she knew he was right.

Every time. No matter what he did, she never truly pushed him away. She’d always forgiven him. Always melted. Always let him back in.

And all she could do now was shut her mouth tightly, glaring at him with frustration that was equal parts anger and embarrassment.

"See? You can’t even deny it." Mika grinned.

He then reached out, gently patting her head like she was a sulking child.

"But it’s alright, Yelena. I know the only reason you’re so forgiving with me is because you love me so much. And honestly, I’m grateful for that."

She should have been furious. She should have slapped his hand away. But instead, her chest fluttered, because damn it, that sounded...sweet.

Her heart gave a little tremor, and that only made her angrier at herself. She finally shoved his hand off roughly.

"You—! You, little—!" She snapped. "You can’t just say things like that! And don’t think I’ve forgotten you still owe me two more reasons!"

"Ah, right. The second one." Mika chuckled under his breath.

He crouched slightly, pointing at the peach that had rolled onto the floor earlier. "It’s that."

Her eyes widened. "What? The peach?"

"Yes." Mika said with seriousness. "That poor, innocent fruit."

"I, what are you—"

"It’s because of the way you were kissing it, Yelena." He said with a sly grin. "You were thinking about last night, weren’t you? Reliving that moment. And you were using that peach to remember how it felt."

Her face turned bright red. "I-I was not! I was just—"

Before she could finish, Mika gently pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her.

"Don’t lie." He said softly. "Even a toddler could’ve figured out what you were doing."

Her eyes widened, the warmth of his fingertip on her lips sending a shiver through her.

"You wanted to remember that kiss." He murmured. "You wanted to feel it again. So I gave it to you. That’s the second reason. I only granted what you were already wishing for."

Yelena let out an incoherent sound of protest, half-groan, half-sigh, glaring up at him even as her heart thudded uncontrollably.

He wasn’t wrong. And that only made it worse.

"Fine, fine!" She shoved his hand away with a flustered huff. "Even though that’s not true, I’ll ignore that ridiculous reason!"

"But you’d better have something better for your last one! Because I’m not accepting some half-hearted excuse like that again!"

Mika smiled, the kind of smile that sent a chill down her spine and made her legs feel weak at the same time. He leaned closer, lowering his voice until it was almost a whisper.

"Oh, don’t worry." He said, eyes glinting. "The third one’s the best."

"I-It had better be." She swallowed nervously, feeling her breath hitch.

He paused for a moment, just to make her squirm, before finally starting the final blow:

"The third reason why I kissed you like that...is because I know you don’t just look at me as your son, Yelena."

Her breath stopped.

"I know..." Mika said softly. "...that you look at me as a member of the opposite, a man."

Her mind blanked. Completely.

"And just like how I’m in love with you..."

He continued, his eyes locking onto hers with quiet certainty.

"...I know the truth, that you’re in love with me too."

Yelena stared at him, her lips parting in utter disbelief. Her pulse roared in her ears. She couldn’t even breathe.

"M-Mika..." She whispered, her voice trembling.

But Mika only smiled, warm and unshakable, as if he had seen right through her soul, and found exactly what he was looking for.