Chapter 30 Even after all these years , he still loves her . I dont know the details of their story . Elias never shared the painful bits , and my grandma always got this bittersweet , far off look in her eye whenever the topic came up . All I have is guesses : wrong place , wrong time , wrong family . In the end , Mala Toussaint didnt marry Elias Turner . She married Augustus Flowers , gaining another womans son in the process . And then , eventually , me . I dont know what I would have done without you , I say . I mean that . After she died … After she died , I was alone . My parents had new families , and I didnt fit into either one . If you hadnt been there … I feel a gentle touch on my hand and I look up . Elías is there , smiling at me like the father I never had the father I wish Id had . But , in a way , I guess I did . Eventually . Maia was the light of my world , Elías says , his voice just on the wrong side of steady . And you were the light of her world . Now … We both glance at my belly . Now , he concludes with a watery smile , youre going to meet the light of your world , too . We hug goodbye . Im still fighting the urge not to bawl like a child by the time Elias says , with one foot out the door , You let me know if you need anything , you hear ? He side eyes the bodyguards as he says it , which makes me suppress a snort . Eighty year old tailor Elias Turner , threatening the Russian mob with a distinct lack of subtlety . Ill be here lickety split . I nod , smiling . Thank you , Elias . I watch his back grow smaller in the corridor . Matveys words come back to me : Theres no such thing as family without blood ties . That may be true for him . But for me , blood has never once meant family . 05:52 My Atonement : The Death of His Fir 30.2 % Chapter 30 To me , family is the people I chose . The people who chose me . Now , I sigh to myself , retreating inside , where do you fit in all that , Matvey Groza ? APRIL By the time family dinner comes around , I still havent found my answer . Evening , Matvey greets , the picture of perfect courtesy . Hes wearing a tailored anthrax gray jacket and a crisp burgundy shirt . His cologne wafts through the air with every step , nearly overpowering the delicacies on the tray . God in Heaven above , one question for ya : why did You make Your biggest asshole so fucking hot ? I shake myself . This is not the time to be ogling the enemy . Hi , I offer back , polite but distant . Matvey arches an eyebrow at me . Then he motions for whatever poor waiter he plucked from his shift downstairs to push the cart inside . The victim in question isnt quite shaking , but I have a feeling Ill hear the cutlery rattle soon enough . Thank you , I say , hurrying to commandeer the cart . I can take it from here . The waiter shoots me a grateful look . Then , once Matvey finally nods , he cant duck out fast enough . You dont have to do that . Matvey frowns . Its his job . Hes paid to do it . And Im paid to take measurements and make suits , I counter , gliding by with our trays . But I think we both know customers can overstep . Matvey stops just shy of a Touché . Theres an amused glint in his eyes , but I force myself to pay it no mind . If I start appreciating all the little ways hes secretly charming , I wont survive the night . Then he pulls out my chair . I die a little inside . How was your day ? he asks , settling across from me. To think that , just hours ago , it was me and Elias here , having tea and pouring our hearts out … Fat chance of that happening . If Matvey has a heart at all , he has yet to show the symptoms . Good , I say , spying the menu for the night . Im a girl of simple needs … and , apparently , a way finer palate than I imagined . I cant bring myself to splurge on anything fancy for lunch though the salads here will make you cry for the opposite reason than most salads do but part of me was already looking forward to this . For the food , of course . Certainly not for the company . 05:52 My Atonement : The Death of His Fir 30.6 % Chapter 30 How was yours ? I ask before digging into my smoked salmon risotto with asparagus cream . The lemon zest on top practically melts in my mouth . I swear , Ive never had to try this hard not to moan . Almost never . Good , Matvey echoes . I wait for him to say something else , but he doesnt . Its not fair of me to expect it I was the first to choose the hermit life but man … if this is gonna be the level of conversation , this family dinner thing is gonna be even more awkward than I feared . I never had family dinner before , I find myself blurting out . Or , well , not at the table . Matveys eyebrow shoots up . Hows that ? Great job , April . Way to trauma dump . We werent really … traditional Its not completely true : at least one half of my family is traditional to a fault . So traditional , in fact , they used to send the bastard daughter to cook with the help . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!