- 33 -

VIKTOR

I slowly pushed the door and entered his room. The lunch tray was lying by the side of his bed, untouched while my brother sat on the bed with his face turned away.

Stef did register my presence, but he simply refused to acknowledge it and stubbornly looked away. Stalking closer, I perched on the side of his bed and exhaled heavily. The road to his recovery was getting tougher every day now with his defiance.

"This madness has to stop now," I sighed. "You need to eat, Stef."

He didn't move a muscle and continued to stare blankly. As much as I wanted to keep my anger in check, it lashed out every second with this unappreciative brat.

Pissed, I grabbed his jaw and forced his attention on me. "You know the silent treatment won't work with me."

"Fuck you." He wrenched his face away and looked away once again.

It made me chuckle a little. "Yeah, that's more like my brother. Cursing is better than your brooding silence."

This time, he turned to me on his own accord. "If I am cooped u