I take a hasty step toward her, looming over her with my whole height. I’d grab her by the throat, but the child in her arms slows me down.
“Listen to me—you, I won’t look at the fact that you have a child in your arms, but conscience should be?”
“I’m not lying!”
“You’re lying!” I cut off her protest. “Nothing has happened between us and couldn’t have happened!”
“It did!”
“And you’re stubborn,” I exhale angrily. “Life doesn’t teach you anything. You got your money and go—don’t look back.”
“This isn’t for me,” the girl suddenly bursts into tears, “it’s for Vasylyska.”
“What a name,” I frown back, “so cat-like. Come on—no sentimentality. I gave it to you already. Don’t come again.”
From the author: the story of Maxim’s sister in “Betrayal. You won’t be able to forget me.”