Chapter 40

Katja~

M y grandfather just stared at me, and it was hard not to wither underneath his knowing gaze. It was obvious that I'd done my grandfather a disservice by underestimating his intelligence and astuteness. While he might not have known exactly what was going on, he knew that I'd lied to him, and that felt worse than anything that I'd ever felt before, apart from the deaths of my family.

"I'm sorry, Dedushka."

"You always were such a bad liar, Beda," he sighed. "I knew as you were telling it that the story about new management was a lie. However, it was either be here for you during whatever it was that you were going through, or else go back to Windmill Gates where I'd be of no use to you. So, I chose to remain quiet and wait for you to tell me the truth."

As soon as we'd shown up to the house this morning, my grandfather hadn't seemed shocked to see Maksim Barychev entering the living room behind me. He'd been having breakfast with Artur, and he'd been as polite as could be when he'd invited me and Maksim to sit with him and Artur at the table. Of course, Maksim had declined breakfast, and afraid that I was going to throw up everywhere, I had also chosen not to eat.

Once seated, Maksim began telling my grandfather the absolute truth about these past few weeks, and though he'd been wise enough to leave out the personal stuff, my grandfather was very aware that I had walked in here limping because I'd been shot.

"I wanted to protect you," I told him. "I…I didn't want you to worry. I didn't want you to…you've already had enough tragedy and sadness in your life, so I didn't want to add to it."

He smiled softly at me. "While I can understand why you felt that way, it's much worse to feel helpless when someone you love is going through a hard time and you cannot help them. That is not what we do, Katja. That is not who we are. You and I are family, and it's a very debilitating thing to prevent me from helping you when you needed it most."

Tears immediately started falling down my cheeks. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way, Dedushka . I swear."

"I know that, detishche , " he replied, and calling me child just made me feel worse. "I know you meant well, and I am extremely grateful that you are okay, and that the situation has been taken care of."

"There is more, Mr. Antonov," Maksim said, making my stomach tighten.

"And what is it, Mr. Barychev?" he asked calmly.

"While I understand that it may seem too soon by society standards, I would like to marry Katja, and I would like your permission to do so," he told him, the tone of his voice obvious.

"I know enough to recognize that my answer will not make a difference," my grandfather replied. "So, why ask, Mr. Barychev?"

"Because you are the only person on this planet that Katja loves and respects," he answered him candidly. "So, you deserve the opportunity to consent or object. However, you are correct. No matter your answer, you and Katja will be moving in with me soon, and she and I will be married as soon as her leg heals well enough to make it to the courthouse. I will not lie to you and let you believe otherwise."

"And how does Katja feel about you, Mr. Barychev?"

"She hates me," he answered honestly, and my heart sank to my knees as my secret stayed locked in my chest. "Again, I will not lie to you, Mr. Antonov."

"And you would marry a woman that hates you?" he asked, his brows furrowed in a bit of confusion. "That hardly makes any sense."

"Yes," Maksim replied confidently. "I love Katja enough to bear the weight of that burden."

My grandfather's brows furrowed deeper over his eyes. "And what of children? You would raise children in a household where their mother hates their father?" My grandfather immediately began shaking his head. "I cannot allow that, Mr. Barychev. The most important thing that parents can do for their children is to love one another, and since that is not the case here, I am going to have to refuse your request to marry Katja."

"Of course, I am sorry to hear that," Maksim replied graciously. "However, it changes nothing."

My grandfather looked so heartbroken over Maksim's claim that there was no way that I could let this go on. I'd always said that I'd do anything for my grandfather, and so that meant that I needed to put my pride aside and do the right thing. Unfortunately for me, the right thing at this moment was to tell the absolute truth, no matter the cost to my heart and soul.

"Dedushka, I do not hate Maksim," I finally said. "I'm angry with him, and I still have to work through a lot of hurt that I've experienced during these past few weeks, but I don't hate him."

"Then why does he believe that you do?" he asked, refusing to let me hide from this.

"Because he deserves to suffer for what he put me through," I answered, the truth finally breathing some air. "Because he doesn't deserve easy. Because I'm still angry at a lot of things."

My grandfather's face softened. "Which is your right as a woman."

"But I do not hate him," I repeated. "I do not."

"Even so, will he make you happy, Katja?" he asked. "I could not bare it if you were unhappy, detishche."

Proving once again that I'd do anything for my grandfather, I said, "He can once I'm no longer angry."

My grandfather smiled, and I could feel my lungs working again. It also helped that I wasn't lying this time. After I had cried all over Samara Kotov yesterday, I had admitted to caring for Maksim way more than any sane woman would, and Samara hadn't judged me, allowing me to finally come to terms with my own stupidity.

Still, the truth was the truth.

Looking back over at Maksim, he said, "Well, that changes things, does it not? Mr. Barychev, you have my permission to marry Katja and make a family with her."

"Well, now that we are to be family, it is Maksim, Mr. Antonov," Maksim allowed graciously.

"And you must call me Dedushka," my grandfather told him, tears stinging the back of my eyes again.

I watched as they shook hands, and once they were done, Maksim said, "The plan is to assign you an actual certified healthcare nurse to replace Artur, but Artur will still be your guard. As you know, your lives are about to change now that we are family."

My grandfather gave him an acknowledging nod. "I understand."

"Well, if that will be all, Katja and I have some things that need our attention," Maksim said as he stood up from the table. "We will keep you informed as the plans to move your home develop."

"I'm sorry?" my grandfather asked, confused again.

"As I understand the sentimental attachment that you have to your home, we will be moving the entire structure when we move you, Mr. Antonov," Maksim told him. "We will not be leaving your wife behind."

I watched my grandfather's eyes cloud with emotion, and I had to quickly wipe away a couple of tears of my own. No matter what was between me and Maksim, I was always going to be grateful for this moment and the consideration that he was showing my grandfather.

"Thank you," my grandfather replied, emotion clogging up his throat.

At that, I stood up from my seat, then walked around the table to give my grandfather a kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Dedushka."

"And I love you, Beda," he chuckled.

Neither Maksim nor I said a word as we walked back out towards his car, but the second that Jurik started up the engine, Maksim was reaching for me, pulling me over his lap, careful of my wounds. Once again, he didn't care that Jurik was driving, and I wondered if Jurik was going to be officially assigned to me now that Klive was dead and no longer a threat to Maksim or Akim.

"Once your leg is better, we are going to get married, and I am going to show you all the different ways that I am dying to love you, Katja," he said. "While I cannot undo what has been done, I can guarantee that only memories will ever make you feel like that again. For the rest of my days, I will do everything that I can to be worthy of you, even if you never come to be able to love me. I will accept you not hating me if that is all that you can ever give me."

"I'm just so tired, Maksim," I said, my feelings too jumbled up to know which ones were real and which ones were temporary.

"I know, baby," he said, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind my left ear.

Staring into his dark gaze, I told him the absolute truth of what I wanted, even though I hadn't really known it until my grandfather had mentioned it. "I want my children to grow up seeing me happy, Maksim. I want them to know that happiness is possible, even in the life that they're going to live."

"Tell me what to do, and I will do it, lyublyu," he said. "I will do anything."

Since I wanted to believe him so badly, I chose to, and it finally felt right.