Thirty one

Andrey.

Sometimes, I enjoy being with my family, but there are times when I could go ages without giving them much thought. Privacy is a treasure, especially considering the risky life I lead. You never know who's with you or against you. It's all about playing your cards right and being clever.

My father is the eldest in his family, always arranging gatherings to bring us together. I despise these events, loathe the crowds, yet I still show up. Since his passing, those gatherings died down, until tonight. Mamma organized a dinner to unite both sides of the family, avoiding any awkwardness.

Initially, I had no plans to attend, but Hazel persuaded me. She's my plus one tonight, and suddenly, I'm looking forward to it.

Just having her by my side changes everything. Despite not knowing where we stand, her actions speak volumes. She's constantly around—visiting me at work, crashing at my place, even cooking for me. But she keeps up the game of playing hard to get, and it's driving me