Chapter 93 You can have her
Max's POV:
"Don't freak out... don't freak out..." Theo kept repeating in my ear, his hand gripping my shoulder like he thought I might physically explode out of pressure that I was feeling inside.
"How can I NOT freak out?!" I shouted back at him, not caring who heard it anymore. "I'm literally getting duped by some girl I barely know! My father is going to announce my engagement to the entire New York elite without even asking me!"
"I know, I know," Theo said, calmly despite all that. "But we need to think. We need a plan. We can't let this engagement announcement stand."
"It has already happened in my father's head!" I gestured wildly toward the corner of the hall where Laura was still basking in the applause my father was giving her, looking like she'd just won the fucking lottery. "Everyone will know it soon. How the hell do we walk that back?"
"What if..." Theo's tone said lower, his mind was clearly racing through options. "What if we change the girl?"
I stared at him. "What?"
"What if we get Veronica up on that stage instead?" Theo continued rapidly. "Make a counter-announcement. Say there was a misunderstanding, that the engagement is actually to Veronica. It would..."
"Are you insane?" I cut him off. "We can't involve her in this! This is our problem... mine and Father's. Making an announcement like that would bring massive trouble for Veronica when she eventually chooses you later."
Theo went very still. "About that," he said quietly. "I've been thinking about it. And I just... I give up, brother. You can have her."
I actually stumbled backward, like his words had physical force.
Never in a million years did I think I would hear something like that from him.
"Are you kidding me?" I demanded, searching his face for any sign of sarcasm or manipulation. "Is this some kind of joke?"
"No, I'm not kidding," Theo said, and his expression was completely serious. Painfully sincere. "I've thought about it a lot, actually. And I've realized something important."
"What?"
"You became this changed man because of Veronica," Theo said, his green eyes holding mine with steady conviction. "Max, I used to be so worried about your self-destructive behavior. The drinking, the fighting, the way you seemed determined to destroy yourself slowly. I thought there was nothing that could transform you, that you'd chosen this path and there was no pulling you back."
"Theo..."
"But Veronica," he continued, talking over me. "She really changed you, brother. She made you stop drinking. Made you more responsible. Made you want to be better. Just because of her. Just because you wanted to be worthy of her."
I felt something twist painfully in my chest. Because he was right. Veronica had changed me in ways I hadn't even fully acknowledged to myself.
"So you should really have her," Theo concluded. "Not me."
"And look where that responsibility brought me," I said bitterly, gesturing at the disaster unfolding around us. "Here. Trapped in an engagement I don't want. Being used as a pawn in Father's games again. This is what happens when I try to be my good son, Theo. This."
"I know," Theo said quietly. "And I'm sorry. I pushed you to step up, to take on responsibilities, and now..."
"No," I interrupted. "That's not your fault. I made those choices. I wanted to help you, to share the burden. I just... I can't do this, brother."
I looked across the ballroom, finding Veronica's face in the crowd. She looked devastated. Lost. Like she'd just watched something precious shatter.
"I mean, Veronica... I do love her," I said, the admission feeling raw and exposed. "But no. I won't let it be that you sacrifice her for me. That's not how this works."
"It's not a sacrifice..." Theo started.
"It is," I cut him off firmly. "You love her too. I can see it every time you look at her. The way you supported her through the expo, taught her meditation, helped her find her center. You've been good for her in ways I never could be."
"And you've been good for her in ways I never could be," Theo countered. "You showed her passion, helped her reclaim her power, made her feel alive in a different way. We've both given her different things. Important things."
"Which is exactly why it should be Veronica's decision," I said. "Not yours. Not mine. Hers. She must make the choice..."
Theo was quiet for a long moment, his jaw working like he was trying to find the right words.
"But what if she's too scared to choose?" he finally asked. "What if the pressure of disappointing one of us keeps her paralyzed forever? What if she ends up choosing neither of us just to avoid the guilt?"
The question hit harder than I wanted to admit. Because I'd seen exactly that happening over the past weeks. Veronica pulled between us, stressed to the point of blackouts, unable to move forward because every choice felt like a betrayal.
"Then that's her choice too," I said. "Even if it hurts. Even if it means we both lose her. At least it would be her decision."
"You really believe that?" Theo asked.
"I have to," I said. "Because the alternative... us deciding for her, manipulating the situation to push her one way or another... that's exactly what our father does. What her father does. And I refuse to be that person, even if it means losing."
Theo looked at me with pride, or respect, or sadness. Maybe all three.
"When did you get so wise?" he asked, a slight smile tugging at his lips despite the surrounding chaos.
"About five minutes ago," I admitted. "And I might change my mind in another five. But right now, at this moment, I know this is right. Veronica deserves to choose. And we have to respect that choice, whatever it is."
"Okay," Theo said finally. "Okay. Then we fix this mess with Laura together. And we let Veronica make her own decision. In her own time."
"Okay," I agreed.
We turned back toward the stage, where my father was already getting started...
"So," Theo said. "How do we actually get you out of this fake engagement?"
"I have no fucking idea," I admitted. "But we better figure it out fast before they start making the announcement to the entire hall..."