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Misha shook his head. “You’re the one being stupid now.”
Vassi’s lips twisted. “I’m not even going to argue with that. If I had really loved her, I would have trusted her—-”
“Vassi.” When his younger brother stopped speaking, Misha said evenly, “It was precisely because you loved her – and even I know your love for her surpasses us all – that blinded you that night. It wasn’t right. But it wasn’t unforgivably wrong either. It’s the same for Papa. Both of you carried too much guilt inside you that when something did happen to make your fears come true – the two of you practically welcomed it because then you could stop feeling terrified and guilty. Then, you could tell yourself that things had really been too good to be true.”
Misha’s voice turned gentle. “But it isn’t like that. Sometimes, life can be as good – or even better than you hoped.”
“I just can’t stop thinking I should have trusted her more,” Vassi said tightly. “Do you know, when I first saw Rockford’s text to Seri – my first instinct was to think the worst of her? And she doesn’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve me.”
“Then leave her,” Misha said calmly.
Vassi stiffened.
“Let her go back to Rockford. Time will help her forget about you eventually. Time will have her gradually develop feelings for Max, and with him, she will have the kind of peaceful life she’ll never have with you. Let her spend the rest of days with another man—-”
“Never.”
Misha’s voice became just as savage. “Then make a goddamn choice.”
“I’ve already made my choice,” Vassi gritted back. “I’ve chosen to love her for the rest of my life even if she’s better off without it. I just don’t fucking know if I can be selfish enough to make her life worse by asking her to love me back—-”
“Stop being so fucking selfless,” Misha roared.
“How can I,” Vassi bit out, “when every time something good’s about to happen between us, something also happens to tear us apart? It’s almost like the fucking fates think we’re better off leading separate lives—-”
“Bullshit.” Stalking towards his brother, he snarled, “Can’t you see that’s what got you and Seri into this trouble in the first place? It doesn’t matter if you tear our family apart, doesn’t matter if it even destroys Papa. Because you don’t owe any of us, and you certainly don’t owe the world anything. But you do owe yourself to be happy, and you owe it to Seri to make her happy if she’s what you need.”
Ah.
Vassi stared unseeingly at the windows.
Could it really be that simple?
Could he really just be selfish in order to make Seri happy? In order to make both of them happy?
He said unevenly, “Then I’ll ask for it.”
Misha frowned. “Ask for what?”
He looked up to meet his brother’s eyes, and smiling crookedly, he said, “Your blessing. I want your blessing for me and Seri.”
“You’ll never have it.” Misha smiled. “But you don’t really need it to love Seri, do you?”
“No. I don’t.” After a moment, he said quietly, “Thank you, brat. I needed to hear that.”
Misha offered his hand to shake. “What are brothers for?”
Vassi was about to take it when Misha suddenly punched him in the face.
“What the hell, Misha?” He rubbed his jaw, wincing.
Misha gave him a feral smile. “You didn’t really think I’d just smile when you decided to make our baby sister as your girlfriend, did you?” He shook his head and heading to the door, he said over his shoulder, “I’m in need of a stiff drink right now. I have a need to drown my sorrows.”
Vassi followed his older brother outside, saying pragmatically, “It’s not that bad. Another man would’ve taken her away from home, but because she’s with me, you’ll still have Seri around.”
“Shut up. It’s depressing to think you’ll continue living under the same roof with my little dove.”
“Technically, she’s not your little dove—-”
Not wanting to hear that particular piece of truth, Misha turned his back on his younger brother and called out to Max. “Want to join us for a drink? I’m sure you’re as depressed as I am.”
After a moment, Max said, “Sure. And you’re right. I did get some pretty depressing news.” Taking his lab coat off the chair, he said matter-of-factly, “Your sister has bad taste in men.”
Misha nodded. “I agree.”
“You two know you’re just being sore losers, aren’t you?” Vassi eyed Max’s lab coat with a curl of his upper lip. “And do you seriously need to wear that when we’re going out to drink?” He glanced at Misha, who also had his lab coat on. “I’m asking the same of you.”
“Why not?” Misha and Max asked seriously at the same time.
Vassi shook his head. Whatever. The two probably just liked having their photos go viral on the Internet.
