Page 171 of Capuleto

"Speak to me with respect."

"Haven't I? I'm just concerned about your health." I turned my face to my sister, whose eyes looked like they were watching a ping-pong match. "Explain yourself."

"Well, I tried to look as much like you as possible, considering that the clothes I had that weren't mine were in our mother's closet. I figured if one of the warehouse workers crossed paths with me and saw me in that outfit, they would think it was you. It was a 'just in case'; the time I arranged with the university student was during breakfast. The day you took mom and me for a tour of the factory, I memorized the workers' schedules. If I was quick, I could get the goods out in half an hour while the workers were on their breakfast break. As for the code..." She bit her lip. "I just needed a phone call to your warehouse manager. Don't blame the poor man; I tricked him. I pretended to be you and told him we needed to change the security code because the police had contacted me about a security breach and that when he had it, he should send it to you by email." I was more than surprised by her story; my little sister was much sharper than I had imagined. "I did it the day you were shot in the car. Mom told me what happened and that you'd be at the golf club, so it was perfect. Don't kill me, but I know your email password, not that I know it on purpose, but one day when I passed by, I saw you typing it by accident and, considering the word and the date, I couldn't forget it." It was Yuri's name and the year of his death. "I stood in front of the phone with your session open, and as soon as I received the code, I congratulated myself mentally because there was no need to delete the message. It seemed like the warehouse manager himself had changed it and provided it to you for security." I remembered that message, and it hadn't seemed strange to me.

"And the money?"

"Cryptocurrencies. It was the safest and least traceable option. Also, with the market price, the amount has doubled. I promise I didn't expect to take so long to tell you, but things kept getting complicated. You were kidnapped, that guy self-immolated, I realized it was all my fault, and I didn't know how to face it. Telling you or mom made me feel extreme shame. Everything was turning against me. Nothing could go right for me, even if the intention was good! Because deep down, I'm not like you, no matter how hard I try! We're as different as vinegar and oil."

I felt pity for my sister. She condemned herself too harshly, and her plan wasn't entirely bad; she had kept us on our toes without us suspecting her for a moment. It wasn't bad at all, not bad at all. That made me feel proud, and I felt the need to tell her.

"Oh my God, Irisha! Don't you see? You've acted like a Koroleva!" She lifted her head abruptly, and I gave her a genuine smile.

"You're not mad?"

"No! I'm proud that you planned all that without anyone's help! Well, maybe you should have talked to me or mom when you saw things starting to go wrong, but I admire your courage and appreciate your concern for my happiness. Few people have done such a selfless act for me. I'm sorry I wasn't the best big sister in the world and didn't realize I made you feel so bad."

"You've been the most inspiring," she murmured happily, "and I promise I'll talk to Romeo and Massimo myself and tell them that..."

"You are not going to say anything," my mother interjected. "You've done enough. I personally made sure Irene took the blame, and you’re not going to undermine my effort. To the Capulets, she was the culprit, and that redhead will never open her mouth again thanks to Romeo, who finally gave her the place she deserved by making her pig food. I would like this matter to remain between the three of us. The secrets of the Koroleva women should stay among them."

For once, I agreed with my mother; Irisha's intention was good, and there was no need to stir things up. And if Irene had taken the blame, so be it, she deserved no less.

"That sounds fine to me," I agreed.

"Then, do you forgive me?" Irisha asked.

"Only if you invest the cryptocurrency profits well. Make good use of them."

"Don't worry."

Irisha hugged me so tightly that it hurt. I didn’t complain.

I had admired the wrong sibling and disregarded the sister who deserved all my support.

"And since we're on the subject of confessions and guilt, I also need to tell you something about what I did last night, which you might never forgive me for." I took a deep breath. "Yuri..."

"Your brother died two years ago to all of us; we already went through his death and the subsequent mourning. It's not good to unearth the dead. Last night you did what you had to do, I have no doubt about that."

My mother fixed her determined gaze on mine, and I saw my reflection in her eyes.

It was her way of telling me that she was on my side, that even though my actions deprived her of being with her other son, I had done the right thing.

I felt a great relief.

After all, as she herself had said, we were Koroleva women, and we covered for each other.

71

I want to see her

Since I woke up, I hadn't been able to shake off the unease. Not losing the baby was a relief, but what worried me most was how she was doing.

When I recovered from the anesthesia, I turned my head and saw that wrinkled being connected to a respirator in the bed next to me, and I feared the worst.

My first reaction was to press the button for the nurse to come, and she arrived promptly. She informed me that my wife was still alive and that the baby hadn't suffered any harm.

I didn't understand why she wasn't in my room. I asked if it was because she was on a different floor or because she was in critical condition.