"Why did she feel unwell?" I ask the most important question.
My voice trembles, as if I am walking on ice, unsure whether it will crack beneath me or hold. Though I am afraid to hear the truth, my heart desperately seeks answers.
"It turns out Katrin is pregnant. And I'll answer immediately — yes, by me."
His words pierce me, like sharp shards of ice driven into my chest. It is not just a blow — it is a storm, sudden and merciless. As if someone has flung open a window in the dead of winter, and the icy wind crashes in, ripping the breath out of me.
I didn't think it would happen so quickly between them. Fragments of memories, details, glances, pauses in conversation that never seemed suspicious before, now merge into a single, burning picture. Foolish — I knew what he was like. I knew how he forgives, how he reaches for warmth even if it burns. I knew… and still hoped that this time it would be different.
Maxim has forgiven her. I feel it with such clarity, as if he just said it aloud, which, in essence, he does. Not with words — with tone, pause, a gaze softened. He has already forgiven. He still loves.
Love cannot be broken by logic. It cannot be dissected, reasoned with, counted, or convinced of what the heart does not want to hear. And this understanding simultaneously burns like boiling water and makes me tremble — with fear, pain, and hopeless tenderness that seems no longer to exist.
"So… I am not at fault?" I rejoice in this understanding, though I do not dare fully trust the relief. It is a small spark of light in the dark tunnel of doubt and pain.
"You are at fault. Katrin didn't tell me she has heart problems. So it is precisely your quarrel that triggered her feeling unwell," Maxim disappoints me.
The world collapses a second time. If he says this — then I truly am to blame. He wouldn't accuse without being certain. And that is the scariest part — the feeling of helplessness and my own mistake, which could forever change the fates of all of us.
"Will you punish me for this?" I ask with anxiety, my voice trembling as if reflecting all my inner uncertainty.
My heart races wildly in my chest, as if anticipating the worst, and my breathing becomes shallow and sharp. Dark thoughts swarm in my mind: of course, this will not be physically harmful, but I fear he might fire me or cut my salary for a whole year. This fear, like a heavy stone, sits in my soul, squeezing it in iron clamps, not letting me breathe freely, not allowing me even a second of relaxation.
"Yes, I cancel all your bonuses for this year. Also, so you spend less time on foolishness, I've practically shifted almost all the club work onto you. I cannot leave Katrin alone for long, since there is a chance she could faint again. It is dangerous for her and our baby. I think you should understand this."
His words sound strict, without pity, like a cold sentence pounding in the heart, impossible to ignore. Every word cuts like an icy knife, making me feel guilty and simultaneously powerless. For me, this punishment is not terrible, but it significantly affects my free time, taking away the rare respite I had hoped for. I feel a faint hope for rest and peace vanish instantly, replaced by oppressive fatigue and anxiety, rising like dark clouds before a storm.
"Also, if I hear one more bad word about her, you are fired. And it does not matter to me whether you say it to her directly or to a friend on the phone, understand? I will no longer tolerate such obscene behavior toward her. My being upset with her was my business, and it has nothing to do with you, Alice!" Maxim's voice is sharp, full of determination and strictness, without any pity, like an impenetrable wall.
His words hit me not only with fear but with inner turmoil, evoking deep anxiety and, at the same time, respect. I understand how important this woman is to him, and how fiercely he wants to protect her even from me — it makes my heart tighten with conflicting feelings.
"I will treat her with respect, as if she were your wife," I promise him. "Maxim, forgive me. I really didn't mean this. I thought we would quarrel and then part again," I admit to him, my voice trembling from sincerity and regret, my eyes filling with heavy drops of remorse.
At that moment, I feel especially vulnerable, as if I am opening my soul wide, yet ready to acknowledge my mistakes, hoping for understanding and forgiveness. It is like a bold step into the unknown, full of hope and fear.
"I understand, and that is exactly why I give you a chance rather than firing you immediately," he reassures me with a quieter voice. "Okay, you may go. I need to call Tim about the alcohol delivery. I will tell you the outcome of the conversation later."
I leave the office and finally exhale. The air feels lighter, as if I have freed myself from a heavy burden, yet a weight remains in my soul, burdened with thoughts and feelings mixed with hope and fear. Inside me, new decisions and aspirations swirl, but uncertainty does not leave. I change my opinion about Katrin, and now I want to personally apologize to her. This impulse of sincerity warms my heart, gives me strength, and makes me hope for peace and reconciliation.
Since Maxim is here, I decide to go to their home. I know they live together in her old apartment — a place that now feels almost sacred to me. Every moment of waiting is filled with excitement and anxiety, my heart beating fast, then seemingly stopping in my chest, as I prepare to take a step toward what once seemed impossible but now feels necessary.
I know how to admit my mistakes and draw conclusions. And also, if necessary, to ask for forgiveness if I am at fault. This sense of responsibility and maturity fills me simultaneously with courage and doubt, but I am ready for it because I know: this is how one preserves what is truly valuable — trust, respect, and possibly friendship.