“I’m not. For once, I’m not lying to you.”
Could my mind be any crueler? Conjuring up Matvey like this, making him say things he’d never say? Things I’ve been waiting all my life for someone to say to me?
“When you took—” A sharp inhale. “When you took her away, I was furious, yes. But I understand now why you did it.”
“No!” I shake my head. “You shouldn’t. I—”
“Back then, you weren’t taking her away from a loving father—you were taking her away from your own fate. You’ve been treated as a second choice all your life, and then I treated you that way, too. You thought I’d do the same to her, didn’t you? That’s why you took her.”
“And I was wrong! I should’ve talked to you.”
“Yes,” he admits, voice raw. “Yes, you should’ve talked to me. But I didn’t make it easy, did I?”
“It does. If
