A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

10 GIFT Chapter 50 Alena

The next couple of days began to take a toll on me. It had almost been two weeks since I left home and Matteo.

I had been alone most of the time except for when Mama or Alexei came to visit. They never came empty handed and I appreciated that, as much as they came to give me endless advices, they didn't want me to starve. My days were spent in the living room watching TV or in the bedroom, reading books. I had thought it was best to keep my phone away even though I wanted to turn it on and check my socials. Alexei came walking in with another bag of groceries, heading straight towards the kitchen.

Ever

since Mama and Alexei came to stop by regularly, I had gave them the passcode to the door. It was easier for them to drop by whenever they wanted to; especially when they decided to come early in the morning, sometimes I was still asleep in bed. Then, I began to realise just how much they ended up invading my privacy. Mama always knocked on the door or rang the doorbell when she came even though she knew the passcode but as for Alexei, he treated it like his own house. "You surprised me," I muttered as he sat on the sofa beside me.

Alexei sighed deeply before staring ahead at the television.

"Why?"

You

could've knocked."

gave me the passcode."

"Well, you're using it really well."

He smirked, turning to look at me before pointing at my bowl of fresh strawberries. "Can I have some of that?"

"No."

"No.

My dear brother decided to ignore my answer as he took the bowl away from me. He didn't have to ask in the first place if he decided it was better to just eat them without my permission.

We had a lot of things in common. One of it was that we both loved strawberries.

"I bought these so technically, they're mine." He shrugged, dipping in the chocolate sauce before eating them.

"You left them here. So, they're not yours."

Whatever."

"Do you

mind sharing?"

"You should learn that first."

I groaned," "Give them back."

We managed to compromise by sharing the strawberries as we watched the television. None of us said another word and we decided it was best to enjoy the silence rather than throwing another batter.

I had made myself comfortable on the sofa with my legs being wrapped with my blanket, it felt nice even though Alexei was

Chapter 50

here to distu

to disturb my peace.

"Just admit it, Alyosha... you miss me." I glanced at his direction.

He scoffed, "You know me too well."

true?

we didn't have to

worry about nothing but

Alena. Explain why I'm here,

89%

то

+6

than here but I continued to stare at my brother, knowing for a fact that was true. He could be in New York or here he was, stocking up my fridge and keeping me

just had a different way

Mama a

here, didn't she?"

didn't.

smile plastered on my face. "Thank you,

passed and we didn't realise just how fast time went by. Alexei was busy scrolling on his phone as he answered a few calls while I finished the rest

come home?"

"Not yet. Why?"

away long

"Not enough...

I guess."

me the remote,"

hand, he quickly changed the channel. My eyebrows furrowed at the flat screen and it didn't take me long to realise what or to be exact, who

was having a press conference regarding his company. My eyes kept focusing onto him, even though the words he uttered were unclear. I didn't pay much

trying to hold back

he had lost some weight. The darkness under his eyes were visible, the shape of his face was slightly sunken and his brown eyes seemed lifeless. They used to be full of

see my reaction but I pretended

!

his face as

Alexei broke the silence,

"Was that intentional?"

to

B***t." Admit

him.

of your

how much I hated him when he first came into your life but I saw the way he treated you, Alena. Saw the way he was there for you. How could you look pass that?" "Why are you saying all of this

1

yourself. He looks

he hadn't slept

that? You're fine with seeing him like

hardest to wipe them away, they were too much; it had been awhile since I cried and I had thought on maintaining that but I guess I failed

torturing

was a different person. He seemed out of place, confused and even drained. I hated seeing him like that, knowing I was the cause

Just shut

"You're

not listening to me."

heard every word you

yourself, Alena. You're hurting the people

know what, Alexei?

"What?"

Just f*****g leave because I don't want you

few steps backwards. The words must've felt like

Eine."

Then,