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“She is.”
I agree.
Together, Mikhail and I watch Chiara for a moment, taking in the sight of her as she lays there, unaware of the two of us admiring her from the foot of our bed.
I glance over at Mikhail, spotting the tenderness in his gaze that makes something inside me tighten.
After everything I’ve now found out…after everything that has happened to my brother…things have changed.
I look out for him a whole lot more now.
I should have been doing it right from the start.
Chiara shifts slightly, and I look back at her.
I find myself holding my breath, watching her face for any signs that she’ll wake up, but there are none.
She remains asleep, so still and so peaceful in that bed of ours.
Mikhail stalks forward, reaching out to brush his fingertips lightly against her arms. He traces the curve of her shoulders, dragging his fingers all along her soft skin.
I watch Mikhail as he does, and for a second, I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing that I am.
She. Is. Ours.
My brother finally speaks, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I never thought we would get here.”
I raise an eyebrow as our gazes meet.
“No?”
He shakes his head.
“No. Not like this. Not after everything that happened.”
Ah.
I know what he means.
I allow a beat to pass before I speak again.
“Do you think she’ll really be happy with us?”
I ask Mikhail quietly.
He only shrugs, a small smile tugging on his lips.
“I hope so. And if she’s not, we’ll make sure that she’s happy. Always. Forever.”
I nod in agreement, glancing back at her.
The peacefulness of this moment lingers, and I realise that despite everything—the past, the history, the secrets—this is the way it was always meant to be.
Together, Mikhail and I leave the room, silently closing the doors behind us as we make our way down the hallway. The quiet of our house envelopes us, the only sound being the soft sound of our footsteps against the floor.
Mikhail breaks the silence first.