Page 76 of Duke of Pride

“I know.” Victoria squeezed his fingers. “I was there too.”

“You’re right. I stopped being your brother somewhere along the way. Became something else entirely.” His thumb brushed over her knuckles—a rare, unguarded gesture. “A tyrant, I suppose.”

“A protector. Just… an overzealous one.”

“Is that your polite way of calling me an insufferable arse?”

“Would you rather I say it outright?”

They laughed, but it faded quickly.

“You were so young, Vicky. You were spared the worst of it, in a way. It was late for me—I was scarred for life. But I’d be damned if I let you suffer. I only ever wanted you to be safe. All I ever did was make sure that you were happy.”

“I know, Max. And I thank you so much for everything. No matter what, I always feel safe as long as you are in my life.”

His eyes flicked up to hers. His throat worked hard, and he exhaled, as if he had been waiting for her to say those words. He squeezed her hand affectionately.

“But circling back to the insufferable arse,” Victoria joked, holding back her tears.

Another laugh.

Her body relaxed, some weight lifting off her chest.

“Happiness isn’t something you can arrange for someone else, Max,” she said with an even voice. “You never asked what would make me happy. You just assumed.”

Max nodded guiltily.

“You say you were scarred by our upbringing. It turned you into that ruthless, cutthroat businessman everyone feared. But I was scarred, too. I was young, yes, but I still remember our mother.”

She didn’t have to say anything more—they both knew what she meant by that. A flash of painful memories came to them.

“Seeing her like that… I do not want that for myself,” Victoria confessed. “I do not wish to marry, Max.”

Maxwell opened his mouth—once, twice—before any sound came out. When he finally spoke, his voice was raw.

“Christ, Vicky. I never stopped to listen, did I?”

Victoria shook her head.

“Let’s change that. What would make you happy?”

“Truly?”

“I have been working myself to the bone all my life. All for you. I never thought I would have Penelope or the twins. What was all that if it weren’t for you to live your best life, Sister?”

“You know the thing I love most.”

“Apple pies.”

“Aaaand?”

“Maths.”

Victoria nodded. “You know I studied on my own, read books, and tracked down any place I could get any knowledge. I want to learn more, and I reached the limit of what I can do on my own.”

“So… you want to go to school.”

“Yes.”