A lump rose in Kasimir’s throat.
“I should have waited for you,” Vladimir said in a low voice, “all those days we walked to school in the snow.” Glancing behind him, he gave a sudden snort. “And I should have listened when you said Bree Dalton was a wicked creature, not to be trusted...”
“Hey,” she protested behind him.
Lifting a dark eyebrow, Vladimir gave her a sensual smile. “You know you’re wicked. Don’t try to deny it.” Then he looked back to Kasimir, his expression serious. “I was wrong to cut you out of my life,” he said humbly. “Forgive me, brother.”
Kasimir’s world was spinning. He gripped the contract like a life raft. “You can’t mean it,” he said. “You’ve put your whole life into Xendzov Mining. How can you just surrender? How can you let me win?”
“For the same reason that, an hour ago, you were willing to let it go.” Vladimir gave a crooked smile. “I’ve won a treasure far greater than any company. The life I always wanted. With the woman I always loved. You reunited us in Hawaii. And I have you to thank for that.”
“I was trying to hurt you,” he said hoarsely.
His older brother’s smile lifted to a grin. “You did me the biggest favor of my life. Now you’re taking the mining company off my hands, I’m off to Honolulu. I’ve just bought the Hale Ka’nani resort for Bree.”
“You did what?”
“Oh, Bree,” Josie breathed, clutching her sister’s arm. “Just like you always dreamed!”
“I dreamed of running a little bed-and-breakfast by the sea.” Bree’s lips quirked as she looked at Vladimir. “Trust you to buy me a hundred-million-dollar hotel for my birthday!”
“It was way easier than trying to buy you jewelry,” he said, and she laughed.
Kasimir’s throat hurt as he looked down at the signed contract in his hand. He had the company he’d always wanted. He’d soon have Josie’s land in Alaska. He even had his brother’s apology.
He’d won.
And yet, he suddenly didn’t feel that way. He looked past Vladimir and Bree to the only thing that mattered.
“Can you forgive me, Josie?” he whispered. “Can you?”
She looked up from Bree’s shoulder. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, her face pale.
His heart fell to his feet. He tried to smile. “It’s in the marriage vows, isn’t it? You have to forgive me. For better, for worse. Can’t we just agree that you’re the better, and I’m the worse—”
Josie held up her hand, cutting him off. He stared at her, feeling sick as he waited for the verdict. She’d never looked so beautiful to him as she did at that moment, when he knew all he deserved was for her to walk out the door.
“I was willing to give up everything.” She sounded almost bewildered. She put her hand to her forehead. “Everything. How could I have been so stupid?” She looked up, her eyes wide. “I was willing to give up everything for you. My family, my home, my life—everything that makes me me. For a romantic dream! For nothing!”
Kasimir’s heart stopped in his chest. “It’s not a dream. Josie—”
“Stop it!” Her sweet, lovely face hardened as her eyes narrowed. “It was a dream. I knew you were ruthless. I knew you were selfish. But I didn’t know you were a liar and more heartless than I ever imagined!”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. He swallowed. “If you’ll just—”
“No!” She cut him off every bit as ruthlessly as he’d once done to her, again and again. He flinched, remembering. She took a deep breath, and her voice turned cold. “As soon as my land in Alaska is transferred to your name, there’s only one thing I want from you.”
“Anything,” he said desperately.
Josie lifted her chin, and for the first time, her brown eyes held a sliver of ice. He saw her soul there, what he’d done to her, in a kaleidoscope of blue and green and shadows, glittering like a frost-covered forest, frozen as midnight. “I want a divorce.”
CHAPTER TEN
ALMOST FOUR WEEKS later, Josie watched her sister and Vladimir get married in a twilight beachside ceremony in Hawaii.
Seeing their happiness as they spoke their wedding vows, a lump rose in Josie’s throat. The sun was setting over the ocean as they stood barefoot in the sand, the surf rushing over their feet. Bree wore a long white dress, Vladimir a white button-down shirt and khakis, and they both were decked in colorful fresh-flower leis. As the newly married couple kissed to the scattered applause of friends and family surrounding them on the beach, Josie felt a hard twist in her chest. She told herself she was crying because she was so happy Bree had found love at last.