Page 103 of Sapphire Tears

But there are still some parts of him that I do recognize. The way his eyes crinkle at the corners. The scar on his wrist. The gold ring that’s practically a security blanket at this point.

In the tiny little details, I still see glimpses of the boy I knew.

That just makes this all so much worse.

“What’s the matter, Milana?” Adrian asks, smirking at her as she slips in behind us. “Not happy to see me?”

“I was happy to hear you’d died,” she retorts. “You can make your own conclusions.”

He narrows his eyes at her, but the smile stays plastered on his face. It’s forced now, calculated. He came here with a plan.

But Adrian was never good at plans. Especially when he didn’t have his big brother on his side.

Milana remains on guard in the furthest corner of the room. Refusing to budge, but refusing to participate, either. She’s here for no other reason than for me. To watch my back. Despite her hurt, despite her anger, her loyalties haven’t shifted.

I have to remember to thank her after this. After I apologize, I’ll give her a raise, a car. Tattoo her name on my fucking forehead. Whatever she wants.

But that will have to come later.

My brother comes first.

“Adrian.”

The word surges through the air. And then his eyes meet mine, and I feel something kinetic pass between us.

We shared parents.

We shared a childhood.

And now, we’re on opposite ends of the same room, and our mother’s grand piano seems to be judging every single move we make.

“You found Mother,” I say, starting with the topic I dread the most.

“I would have told you,” he replies. “But I figured you were happy to let me believe that she abandoned us instead.”

“I was trying to—”

“Don’t!” he slices in with fury. “Don’t. Don’t fucking say you were trying to protect me.”

“You were so young when she left,” I say, shaking my head. “I thought you’d gotten used to her absence. I didn’t want to dig up old wounds, and for the longest time, all I had were suspicions.”

“Then you should have shared them with me.”

“Maybe,” I concede. “But so what? You were pissed that I didn’t tell you, so you decided to poison her against me?”

His jaw trembles with tension. If he’s wondering how I know all this, he doesn’t ask. “I didn’t want to lie to a dying woman.”

It takes everything in me to maintain my composure. “Cut the bullshit, Adrian. Who do you think you’re lying to now? I was there. I know all your demons. I know all your secrets. If you’re lying for Milana’s benefit, don’t bother. She knows you, too. And as for Geneva…” My gaze veers to June’s sister, who looks like she wants to be anywhere else but here. “She’s going to find out about you eventually. So why not now?”

“I-I just want to talk to my sister,” Geneva stammers.

I point to the exit. “She could be here by now. Go try to find her. You probably don’t want to be here for this next part anyway.”

She scampers away through the open door. Milana’s eyes follow her the whole way. But she still doesn’t budge from her spot in the corner of the room.

“Milana,” I say, “you don’t have to stay.”

“I know.” She makes no attempt to leave.

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