Finally the chapter you all were waiting for 😌

Tai went after Aleksei, hoping she can talk to him and change his mind. As she pushed through the crowd of people she passed by Aleksei's brother once again, this time another thing catching her eye, but she hurried to catch her runaway lover.

Outside the veranda door, there was a small balcony and a staircase was leading towards the garden. She climbed the stairs down and saw Aleksei leaning on the wall of the house.

He ran his fingers through his hair, tormented when he saw her. "Go back."

"There's no going back for me." Tai brought her dress up, walking carefully over the grass, her heels digging in the ground. "I already ruined a good pair of heels for you." She finally got next to him and let go of her dress with a dramatic sigh.

"You said that it wasn't because of me." She said.

"It's not." He crossed his arms and looked away.

"Then damn it Aleksei. Fuck your logic. Just tell me why you had to break up with me. Tell me why did everything go downhill the moment your brother showed up. Why do you let him torment you like this?"

"Tai.." He gave her a warning and then seeing the hurt in her eyes, his face relaxed. "I can't."

"Do you want me to beg?" Tai gripped his hand. "I'll do it. I can't handle this anymore." She grabbed her dress and lowered her knees almost reaching the ground.

Aleksei pulled her up and slammed her on the wall, trapping her between his arms. His eyes screamed with anger. Tai averted her eyes, realizing she might have crossed some lines.

"Look at me." He demanded with a harsh tone.

She met his eyes, uncertain if she could handle what he'll say. His hand dropped beneath her shoulder and he gripped her hard.

"You love me." He stated.

Her features softened and her lips curved in a defeated smile. "Very much."

His heart shattered into million pieces and the carefully built barrier broke. He pressed his forehead onto hers and closed his eyes. His lips brushed over hers as he whispered the words quietly. "I love you too."

Closing her eyes, Tai tiled her head, parting her mouth.

In a split second, he forgot reason and his lips clamped down on her lower lip.

Aleksei pressed his whole body against her. She had broken all his defenses so easily.

He pulled away taking a breath. "I can't..."

She pulled him right back. "You will.."

Her fingers ran through his hair and then gripped the back of his neck. Without faltering, she deepened the kiss and allowed him to lead the kiss at his pace, despite his on and off attitude. She understood his hesitation but recognized the desire. She sensed the pain in his actions but also felt the love.

She whispered his name over his lips. "Aleksei..tell me please."

He opened his eyes, looking at the raw emotion in her eyes.

If he turned his back on her now, after she told him she loved him, then he could go straight to hell. Nothing mattered anymore. No plans, no motives, no promises, no redemptions. He had to tell her, not just for her sake but for his. He didn't want to let her go. He was miserable without her and living life like that, and only thinking back on this moment with regret wouldn't be living at all.

He caressed her soft and worry wrenched face with the back of his fingers. "I'll tell you the story, but not here. And not now. I have to go back inside before they start looking for me and ask questions."

"Then after the party. I'll wait. I'll stay until the end." Tai gripped him closer.

Her little pull of desperation wiped away any hesitation. "Okay." He caught her chin and placed one last kiss over her lips.

***

Tai pressed her lips tight, telling herself she could bare with this torture for love. Her father had hit it off with Aleksei's parents and had abandoned her for more interesting conversation, Lev and Nikita were nowhere to be found and Zakhar who was with Aleksei's grandfather not long ago, was now also missing. Tai assumed he had followed Arya where ever she was. But the birthday boy was by the window taking pictures with other girl guests and making happy conversation.

She went to the catering table and asked for a glass of champagne.

"Underage people shouldn't drink." Someone muttered behind her.

"And killjoys shouldn't attend parties." She turned around bringing the rim to her lips and paused midway.

It was the dark hair and similar facial features that threw her off. Aleksei's brother looked like an older version of Aleksei. She had the very same thought when she first saw him in school. But he looked crude and tough, like a man who had little to no fun, unlike Aleksei whose childlike personality and teasing nature always broke through.

"I'm turning 18 in three months." She added and this time actually took a sip.

"And I'm not a killjoy." He brought his drink up, taking a sip and watching her like a hawk with his cold eyes.

"Are you having fun then?" Tai tilted her head.

"Why? Does it look like I'm not having fun at my brother's birthday party?" He smirked.

Tai gave him a charming smile. "Not at all. I think you're having a lot of fun. Particularly when you notice Aleksei is having fun. "

The smirk was wiped off his face.

Tai did a little hand walk with her fingers. "Your eyes keep following him around the room, like a watchful older brother."

He took a hard breath. "You're mistaken." He turned towards the crowd to see if anyone could hear then talking and then he straightened up. "I know you probably are aware that there is bad blood between me and Aleksei."

"Words lie, actions don't." Tai took another sip from her drink. "You behave bitter, but you are a caring menace."

Hearing the insult, Kasimir opened his mouth half way, rendered speechless.

Tai smiled. "I have a younger sister. I understand the burden of being angry at a sibling and worrying at the same time."

Kasimir scoffed. "You have no idea what you're saying. I have signed him out of my life, a long time ago."

"My mistake then." Tai smiled. "I just assumed since you're talking to me, you were slightly interested in your brother's life."

"I was being polite because you were alone, but I'm regretting the decision." He placed a hand inside the pocket of his suit getting ready to leave.

Tai turned towards him and placed her drink aside. "I'm sorry. I snapped at you. I'm just irked that Aleksei is with other girls. It worries me."

Kasimir raised his head, and being as tall as he was he spotted Aleksei by the other window. He turned towards Tai and smirked. "The men in this family don't cheat. Excuse me."

He continued the way he was headed, leaving Tai by the catering table. She picked up her drink and took a deep breath. That was one conversation she didn't expect to have, but she was oddly comforted by those last words.

"There you are Tai." Her father found her and brought her a plate of food. "For you."

"Thank you." She took the plate and grabbed a bite of the food with a desperate sigh.

"So you didn't achieve your mission?" He asked.

"Not yet." Tai said taking another bite. The whole day, out of excitement, she couldn't even eat one bite, but now her hunger was back.

"His parents are nice people. They invited us to stay over in this house tonight. His grandfather insisted."

In shock, she placed the fork down. Tai's dad took the drink from her and handed her a napkin.

"Thanks." She pressed the napkin to her mouth and swallowed the food. "You said yes right?"

"I said we'd be honored, if that works with your plans. Seeing how you failed, maybe you'll have time to talk to him tomorrow."

Tai grabbed his elbow and squeezed him with a good dose of love. "You're the best."

"Don't forget our wine deal. I already made plans with your mother and that bottle of wine." He added.

"Of course you pirate." Tai grinned, too happy with herself . "I'll keep my end of the bargain."

***

Once the party was wrapped up and the help had started cleaning up, Aleksei escorted his grandfather to bed, who was already dozing off half way. Everyone else who was staying overnight, were in their rooms. He headed towards his grandfather's work room and texted Tai to meet him there. It was the most private room and no one would have bothered them there. Minutes later, she knocked on the door and peeked her head inside unsure if she had the right room.

Aleksei was leaned on his grandfather's desk and just waved at her. She had changed into a pair of white shorts and a similar top which she probably wore to bed. It made her look so at home and comfortable in the house he considered a second home and that stirred warmth in his body.

She ambled towards him in silence, and leaned with her back on the work desk. She brushed shoulders with him unintentionally and suddenly became very aware of herself.

He noticed she was trembling slightly so he took off his coat and placed it over her shoulders.

"I'm not cold.." She said. "I'm just nervous.."

"I know.." He smiled with ease and leaned back onto the desk.

The silence was back. Decided she was going to give him the space to start the story where he wanted, Tai took slow deep breaths and practiced patience. Eventually, Aleksei spoke.

"Few years ago, when my brother was still high school, he was friends with this girl." Aleksei stared down at his feet. He had no courage to tell this story at all, but Tai was waiting and he couldn't let disappoint her when she was ready to go down on her knees for it.

"They often hanged out at our house and everyone knew he liked her, even though he never said it." Aleksei took a deep breath. "I bothered them a lot. I would demand they hang out with me and would often lurk around until they let me in the room."

"My sister was always nosy like that as well. Still is." Tai nudged him to encourage him."Most younger siblings are like that."

"I was fourteen. I should have known better."

"Age is irrelevant."

Aleksei raised his hand and rubbed his forehead nervously. "I had no right. Particularly when I knew it annoyed my brother. She had eventually started coming over less and less and at first I just thought they were in a fight, but I ended up overhearing a conversation between them the last time she visited. She was crying. She told him things were not going well in her life and that she was being bullied by her own friends. The things she said about herself, so many bad words she had gotten herself to believe in..So I eventually walked in the room and.." He paused.

Tai took his hand in hers. His fingers had gone cold, so she clasped both her hands over them.

"She was like an older sister and I got angry hearing all those things .." Aleksei's voice gave out so he cleared his throat trying to concentrate. "Of course I wanted to say something to help her. So being myself, I told her that she shouldn't let it get to her. To stop playing the victim and take her life back. I kept saying things about the situation and giving her my opinion. I didn't hold back at all. Kasimir chased me out of the room and I just left them to finish the conversation."

Aleksei clenched her hand. "And after that she left. She wasn't crying anymore and even thanked my brother for the talk with a smile. The next day, her parents found her overdosed on sleeping pills. She took her life away."

Aleksei brought his head up to look at Tai. Her eyes were holding back tears, but there was a determent look on her face. She gripped his hand back and unglued herself from the desk.

"It wasn't your fault Aleksei."

The words he had wanted to hear so badly from someone, what he needed to hear most, she said them without a trace of a doubt. Without a split second of hesitation.

"But I.."

"It wasn't your fault." Tai released her grip, letting his hand go and wrapped her arms around him. She patted his back. "Love, it wasn't your fault."

Aleksei buried his face in her neck and wrapped his arms around her. The coat over her shoulders slipped and fell on the ground. "I said some really harsh things."

"It wasn't your fault." She repeated and rubbed his back. "That's not why she did it."

"She was Kasimir's first love. He was heartbroken. He didn't want to eat for two days after the funeral. He went to therapy for a year."

Tai could feel the desperation in which he held her, so she held him tighter.

"It wasn't your fault."

"He blamed me for it and he was right. I stepped out of line. And it wasn't because I was careless it was because I've always known exactly what to say to shake people. I know where people hurt most and I go straight after the vulnerabilities without thinking."

Tai pressed her lips to his ear. "He was hurt and sad. He didn't mean it."

He pushed away from her and locked eyes with her. Tai was shocked at the tears gathering in the corner of his eyes.

"He meant every word. He hates me. I can see in his behavior that he despises me for it."

"Breathe." Tai caught his face into her hands and ran her thumbs beneath his eyes, wiping away tears. "He doesn't hate you." She whispered.

"You don't know him." He brought her hands down.

"I talked to him at the party today." Tai reached for his face again.

"When?" He grabbed her hands in shock.

"He was watching you like a parent watches a little child playing with other children. You know they let the child play along freely away from them, but always remain watchful just in case."

"What?" His brows raised up and his nose scrunched. "Tai, he shipped me off to Switzerland, and then pulled me a week before the graduation party and insisted I stayed here just so he doesn't see me."

Tai let out a long shaky breath. "There was this one time I snapped at my sister because I was so angry and we got into a huge fight. While she just tried to end the fight by ignoring me, I ended up being more annoyed and said some really hurtful things even though she didn't respond back with any insults herself. I didn't speak to her for three days and then guilt came over me. What the hell did I even get angry for? But I was too proud to just go and apologize. She felt awkward whenever she was around me so you know what I did. I ignored her for another few days." Tai sighed. "Thankfully she just talked to me and broke the tense atmosphere and later on, we resolved that with a talk I initiated. I'm not saying it's the same situation, but I really don't think your brother hates you."

Aleksei remained quiet.

Tai reached for him again. "Maybe he needed time in the beginning, but then things were too weird for him to fix it. Instead of letting him torture you, which I'm sure makes him feel even shittier, just talk to him. I swear to god, men and communication. Just talk."

To Tai's surprise he smiled. "Men and communication?"

"Yes." She laughed. "I had to beg for you to tell me this." She reached for his hand and held his index finger, unsure of how he would perceive her next words. "People are unhappy for many reasons and they don't make that decision on a whim. She didn't make that decision because of your words. I'm sure she knew, you had the best intentions at heart. It's not your fault."

Aleksei pulled her closer again and rested his chin over her shoulder. "Tell me again."

His reaction was so pure, she swore to herself she had to protect him forever. Tai brought her hands up, caressing his back. "It's not your fault."

"And?" He nestled closer.

"Your brother doesn't hate you."

"And?"

There was a small silence in the room and then she lowered her voice. "I love you."

Fighting back the need to press her even closer, Aleksei pulled away and touched her face. Just having her near him again, brought back all the excitement and happiness he hadn't felt in weeks.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked over his lips. "Did you not think I can understand?"

He shook his head. "That was never the issue Tai. I was embarrassed by my past. My personality. I hate myself so much for doing what I did and showing you how ugly and cruel a side of me could be..." His eyes darkened with regret. "Who would want to show that to the woman they love."

She leaned her head into his hand as he held her. "You should have told me because you love me. You tell me because I'm the girl you love. Have trust in me. To love you as you are. To accept you and your flaws. That's what you do in relationships. Everyone has trauma of a sort and they gather courage to trust the person they are in a relationship with to stay with them despite it."

"Do you think most people would want to date someone like me?"

"You don't need most people. You only need me. And trust that I'm more than capable to handle your personality." She grabbed his hand, showing him his snake tattoo. "Is this how you warn of people?"

He took his hand out and grabbed her face. She stared into his beautiful dangerous features.

"Did I seem like someone gentle when you met me? I remember seeing you shivering the first time I walked you back to your villa. Just leaning over you, made you jump back."

He wasn't gentle, she remembered. He always knew what to say or do to make her feel vulnerable and on edge.

"I remember." She replied. "But you didn't pull back after that. You kept pursuing me. Want me to tell you why?" She trembled with excitment. "Because I'm not fragile and you could trust to keep pushing until you won me over."

Bringing his hands down, she took a step back. She knew hurting her was what he feared most. " I allow myself to be vulnerable because I have a heart of steel. And I can take what you throw at me. So show me some gut again."

He slowly unglued himself from the desk and took one step towards her. He was dangerously silent and his look was equally thrilling and wicked. The yellow dimmed light in the workroom flickered. Tai's breath quickened as her nerves tingled. Anticipation and nervousness quivered through her.

He sunk his hands into her hair and then crushed his mouth over hers. She stumbled back and instinctively clung to him. Her lips trembled under his and her heart was drumming like crazy. But she kissed him back with equal passion and let her body press to his.

Aleksei's chest was filled up, in ways he never knew he could see so full and satisfied. His love was reciprocated, he heard words that remedied the pain and guilt he felt for years and he was equally needed and wanted. Life couldn't have been better.

There was just one thing left to do now.

He broke apart from her and picked up his suit from the ground. He dusted it off and then covered her shoulders with it. "Go get sleep. It's already pretty late."

"I want to talk more." She gripped the suit around her.

"I have to go talk to my brother before I change my mind and cower again. After that, I will tell you what happened no matter the outcome. I'm not leaving you behind anymore."

She exhaled a long tired breath. "Alright. But I won't sleep so come straight to me after it. No matter what happens with that talk."

"Alright." He kissed her forehead.

oh my god, finally....the reveal.

 I've been dying to post this chapter since... forever. I'm just so proud of this story ah..