My father cleared his throat. “Konstantin has an interesting proposition regarding Simone.”
“Of course he does,” I said, the pieces clicking together. “So that’s why you’re really here. Not for me at all.” The betrayal felt fresh all over again. “Still playing both sides, I see.”
Konstantin stepped around the island and approached me, close enough to smell his cologne. The folder remained on the counter behind him.
For a heartbreaking second, I felt that dangerous pull to step into his arms, to feel the security of his arms just one more time. I caught myself, forcing myself to remember his lies.
“May we speak in private for a minute?”
“Why? There’s literally nothing more I have to say to you. Or you to me. You’ve made your choices, and so have I.”
I spun on my heel and walked away. I would have one of the staff bring breakfast to my room. But as I retreated, I couldn’t help wondering what had been in those documents.
26
Iwatched her turn away, and something inside me snapped. I followed, catching her just as she reached the staircase.
“Michaila, wait.”
My hand caught her wrist, and she froze at the contact. I wrapped my arms around her from behind before she could pull away.
Her body was warm against mine and the curve of her back fit perfectly against my chest. I breathed in her vanilla scent.
Kayla tensed in my embrace, though she didn’t pull away. For the briefest moment, her weight shifted back against me, offering me hope.
“Tell me what I can do to make this right,” I said against her ear.
Kayla extracted herself from my arms. When she turned to face me, her eyes were glassy.
“You want to know what you can do?” She let out a bitter laugh. “Give me back the trust I had in you. Make it so that every time I look at you, I don’t wonder whose feelings you’reprioritizing. Make it so my sister wasn’t hurt.” Her voice broke. “Make it so my child won’t be born into a family divided by secrets and pain.”
I stood silent before her demands, the weight of their impossibility settling on my shoulders.
“You can’t do any of that,” she continued. “No amount of apologizing can fix this.”
The finality of her tone ignited a spark of resistance within me. I’d been apologetic, understanding, patient. But perhaps what was needed now wasn’t more contrition.
“What would you have done?” I asked quietly.
“What?”
“If Simone had asked you not to tell me something, would you have betrayed her confidence?” I took a step closer. “If revealing her secret meant destroying your relationship with her, what choice would you have made?”
Her lips parted, but no words came.
“I made an impossible choice, Kayla,” I continued. “I should have found a way to stop Matthaios. But my silence wasn’t malicious. I wasn’t callous. I was trying to honor my aunt’s confidence while still building a future with you.”
“This isn’t about some small secret, Konstantin. This was about my family—”
“And Matthaios is my family,” I interrupted. “We grew up together. Shared everything. There’s no difference between him, Aris or Dimi to me.” I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to lower my voice. “What would you have done if revealing Simone’s secret meant betraying her trust forever?”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face, and she crossed her arms. Her silence was answer enough.
“I’ve arranged for Simone to be appointed CEO of Athanasiou Maritime Holdings,” I said, grasping at the one concrete thing Icould offer. “The paperwork is on the counter. Your father has already reviewed it.”
“What?”
“Matthaios has agreed to let Simone become CEO. She’ll have complete operational control. He’ll retain majority ownership, but she’ll run the company.” I resisted the urge to reach for her again.
