Trina was quick to kneel down and pick up the food, putting the sandwich back together and rewrapping the foil. He despisedhow her tears came. Maxim felt little pity for her because her betrayal hit him hard, too. For years, he envied Lazar and Trina. They were the perfect couple, the kind that were typically fabricated in love stories. They met at a dinner party, and their love was instant. Maxim had been there for most of it, invited as a third wheel. He had been present when Lazar proposed and stood as the best man in their wedding. For a long time, he had been jealous that Lazar had met her first. Perhaps he had even felt something for her at one point, but it was snuffed out, quickly destroyed.
Now she was hideous, and he wished he didn’t know her.
Trina rubbed at her cheek and sniffed before she stood. “I ended it. It was a mistake, please understand. Lazar isn’t the easiest person–”
“Don’t talk shit about my brother. You don’t want to go there.”
She clamped her lips shut and bowed her head.
“I’m leaving for a month. If you don’t tell him by the time I get back, I will.”
Trina’s lip trembled. “He’ll kill me.”
“I can only hope.”
Chapter nine
Intimidate
“Thank you.” Kira hung up the phone and stared out her bedroom window. She had just gotten done trying to undo the damage Maxim caused to the dancer, but she doubted paying for all his medical costs would do anything for broken legs. It certainly didn’t make the guilt any less. She had to use her inheritance so Maxim wouldn’t find out.
It felt like everything she touched was poisoned. Every good intention was smeared with selfishness, and every act of goodwill was twisted into manipulation.
It’s one of the reasons she hated herself.
The other was more physical.
Kira removed her pajamas and stared at her body in the mirror. All her life, she fought with being overweight. She wasthe chunky kid that other parents would worry about for future diabetes. She was put on a diet at eight years old. But her parents didn’t pay much attention, and the servants weren’t allowed to chastise her. Luerna was the one to notice and didn’t believe that children could be overweight. “You’ll grow out of it when you hit puberty,” she would assure.
But puberty came, and the weight didn’t go away. That’s what caused the year of throwing up after eating, in the hope of keeping her size down. She got skinny for a while, but after passing out in the bathroom, she opted instead not to eat. But that didn’t last long either. She missed food so much that she’d dream about it.
Kira touched the spot on her arm where Maxim grabbed her. His handprint was fading after nearly a week. She had worn long sleeves and dresses. Thankfully, it was spring in Russia, so her outfits didn’t bring any attention. Not that Maxim would notice anyway.
A knock on her door spooked her, and she braced a hand against the wall as a wave of dizziness came over her. She was getting annoyed with these bouts. It wasn’t like she was starving herself completely. Her body just needed to get over it and move on.
Lydia came in. “Mr. Morozov would like to invite you to breakfast.”
“Oh? He’s home today?”
“Sundays are typically his only day off, so he can worship the Lord.”
Kira stifled a laugh. A man who tortured people worshiped the Lord.
How perfectly hypocritical. And just like Papa.
Glancing at herself in the mirror, she looked exhausted, and thought about trying to fix it. Maybe add some makeup around the eyes, and some hairspray to give her dull tresses some shine,but then she thought better of it. What was the point? He didn’t want her.
Kira found him outside on the patio, staring at the bird feeder in the corner. Chaffinches bounced around from the bannister to the feeder, tweeting. It was one of five she added to the property, and she intended to add more once the backyard garden was complete. But since she didn’t have access to her family’s funds, she had to wait for Maxim to generously donate, or at least increase her allowance.
He glanced at her, his brows knitting, before a scowl overtook his features, and he returned his attention to the birds.
Great greeting,she scoffed. “Good Morning.” She forced out and sat down. The servants went about putting a bunch of food on the table so she could pick from it like a small buffet. She was surprised. Maxim wasn’t typically so giving with meals. Kira simply reached for one boiled egg, if only to spite him.
“I’m leaving again.”
Kira snapped her head up. “What, to where?”
“It doesn’t matter. Should take me a month or so.”
