Outside, the afternoon sun cast its glow on Leonid's face as he sat motionless on the wooden chair his body still, but his chest boiling with a frustration that had no outlet.
Behind him stood Daniel like a heavy shadow, his eyes on the sky, wishing he could fix everything with a single word.
"You know… sometimes Charlotte can be really rude—"
"Tsk."
Leonid interrupted with a sound of irritation, making Daniel blink in surprise before clearing his throat, trying to recover.
"You push her too hard, and you know it. So why do you keep—"
"That's enough."
Leonid said it in a cold tone, exhaling heavily as he leaned back in his chair.
"She crossed the line…"
"And so did you."
Daniel replied firmly, unafraid of his anger.
Leonid stayed silent for a moment, then slowly turned his face away.
"Are you angry because she threw away the cigarettes?"
"Not at all."
The reply was sharp and final.
"Then why all this anger?"
Leonid didn't answer immediately. He stared into the distance, then spoke slowly, as if forcing himself to admit it:
"She's becoming more insolent… and it annoys me. And I like it at the same time. But don't get me wrong this time, I don't understand. Why did she deliberately try to make me angry?"
Aside from her fluctuating hormones due to her period, Leonid couldn't find another reason for Charlotte's behavior.
Daniel sighed and said calmly:
"As I told you before, Charlotte never acts deliberately. She just acts on how she feels in the moment without calculation, without thinking."
He paused for a second, then added, nodding toward the cabin:
"If you go back now, you'll see her crying with regret over what happened."
Daniel was sure. He knew Charlotte well. Given the many times he'd seen her argue with Kaiser, he was convinced she was now, inside that wooden cabin, crying bitterly over what she'd done without thinking of the consequences.
"In any case, what she did is in your best interest. So try to be more understanding."
"I know."
Leonid replied briefly, then took a deep breath.
"Smoking is banned here. Besides, it's bad for your health."
He rested his head on his hand, leaning on the armrest, then added in a tone that was more sad than angry:
"But there's no reasoning with her."
"You're exaggerating."
Daniel said firmly.
"Did you forget why you came here? I know you don't care much about me, but you couldn't leave Charlotte alone because you worry about her. Don't let all of that go to waste."
Daniel crossed his arms and looked at him for a long moment before asking quietly:
"By the way… have you still not forgiven her?"
Leonid slowly turned his head toward Daniel, studying him for a few seconds, then said:
"Did I seem like I haven't forgiven her?"
Daniel hesitated, a bit flustered, and replied uncertainly:
"Umm… sort of. Especially when you said she's good at lying… it felt like you hadn't let it go."
A heavy silence fell. Leonid turned his face away again and lowered his head slowly. Then he raised his palm to cover his face, as if guilt had finally crept in.
"I didn't mean anything by it…"
He replied hoarsely.
"Forget it… and leave me alone."
Daniel raised his eyebrows and gave Leonid a critical look. It was, perhaps, the first time he'd seen him so pale even while sitting under the afternoon sun.
Could it be… that his feelings for Charlotte were deeper than he ever imagined?
He remembered the moment Leonid took him to the jewelry store, when he insisted on helping him choose a ring worthy of proposing for Charlotte's engagement.
That day, Leonid hadn't cared about the price, as long as he could buy a beautiful ring that expressed his sincerity the one he ultimately did buy.
And Daniel could still clearly recall that strange spark in his light eyes a genuine kind of concern he never expected from a man like Leonid.
"I'm going. But don't take too long. We're starting lunch prep."
"Mhm…"
Leonid muttered without lifting his head. Daniel hesitated, then turned and walked back toward the cabin.
In the silence, a gentle breeze stirred around him, dancing lightly, as if to console his solitude. Slowly, Leonid lowered his hand from his face and stared quietly ahead.
He knew he couldn't go on like this.
Sarcasm did nothing. Coldness brought no peace.
Maybe… it was time to try something different.
Something not rooted in distance, but in something softer.
and far more dangerous.
Time passed, and when lunchtime arrived, they gathered around the wooden table.
Charlotte sat across from Leonid, with Lyudmila by her side.
Daniel sat next to Leonid, facing Lyudmila in reserved silence.
The dishes were simple but appetizing. Charlotte kept her eyes fixed on her spoon, not daring to lift them toward Leonid… and he, in turn, never looked at her.
"Is the salt alright?"
Lyudmila asked, trying to break the silence with a casual question though it carried a clear intent to open the door for reconciliation.
"I tried to add more, but Charlotte insisted it was salty enough."
She said with a faint smile, glancing at Daniel.
"For me, I think the taste is balanced,"
Daniel replied after a moment's thought, then asked:
"What about you, Leonid?"
At the mention of his name, Charlotte lifted her head slightly to steal a glance at him.
Leonid was silent, staring at his plate, then said quietly:
"Excellent."
His tone was sincere, yet cold.
Charlotte's eyelashes fluttered briefly, and her eyes shimmered with a feeling she couldn't voice.
She quickly lowered her head again, trying to hide her expression, but Lyudmila, silently observing her, didn't miss the trembling of her lips as if words were stuck inside, searching for a way out but too afraid to escape.
Was she trying to apologize?
Lyudmila, who knew Charlotte well, didn't doubt it for a second.
Time passed in heavy silence, and eventually, they dispersed until the sun set and they gathered again for dinner.
This time, a cake was placed in the center of the table, surrounded by plates of food and cold drinks like beer and soda.
Charlotte approached the table, hesitating slightly before asking Lyudmila:
"Why the cake? Are you celebrating your birthday today?"
Lyudmila responded with a warm smile:
"Yes. Today I'll celebrate with you all… and tomorrow, I'll order another cake."
Inside, she had already planned to use this moment to mend what had been broken between them.
Everyone sat around the table, clapping and singing a birthday song for Lyudmila.
After blowing out the candles with a happy smile, she began cutting and serving the cake.
She gave the first piece to Daniel, then Charlotte. When she reached Leonid, he simply shook his head and said calmly:
"No need. I'm not a fan of sweets."
Charlotte's eyebrows furrowed slowly, uncertainty written on her face.
His words didn't convince her.
She clearly remembered how he once enjoyed pancakes in the morning.
Still, she chose not to comment, keeping her thoughts to herself.
As time passed, a gentle calm settled, with soft music playing in the background.
Lyudmila spoke animatedly, complaining about customers at the hair salon, saying they never stopped talking or fidgeting.
Charlotte sat beside her, forcing herself to comfort her, gently patting her shoulder.
"You're too kind, Charlotte… Pass me the beer. Tonight I'll drink until I fall asleep."
"Alright… Here you go."
Charlotte handed her a few cans, but was surprised when Lyudmila opened one, then another, and offered it to her with a wide smile:
"Let's drink together, come on!"
Charlotte froze for a moment, hesitated, then slowly reached out and took the can.
"Come on! Come on!"
Lyudmila cheered enthusiastically, handing out cans to Daniel, then to Leonid.
"I'm making a birthday toast! Everyone stand up let's clink our cans together!"
"You got it!"
Daniel stood up with a smile, while Leonid remained seated for a moment before reluctantly rising to his feet.
As for Charlotte, she was still thinking.
The hesitation in her eyes was clear her body already exhausted, still in the midst of her period.
"What's wrong?"
Lyudmila asked, her brows furrowing with slight concern.
Charlotte paused her thoughts for a few seconds, then shook her head gently and gave a calm smile:
"Nothing... I'm fine."
She stood up quickly, as if fleeing from hesitation.
Lyudmila smiled at once and began her short speech, thanking them with gratitude and expressing her deep love for Daniel.
Amid the chatter and laughter, Leonid quietly moved from his place and approached Charlotte without anyone noticing.
He handed her a bottle of juice and whispered near her ear:
"Beer contains alcohol... it's not suitable for you especially in your current condition."
His words were simple, but his tone carried just enough care to reach her heart without making a sound.
Charlotte felt warmth creep into her cheeks as they flushed red with embarrassment. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes fixed on the juice bottle.