Page 96 of Twisted Pact
“Alexei! I’ve been worried sick. Dmitri told me about Mila’s father and the pregnancy and everything that’s happening. Is she okay?”
Her voice is warm and genuinely concerned, not the detached tone I’ve come to expect from people in this world.
“She’s here. In the hospital. High blood pressure from stress.”
“Oh, honey. That’s terrible. Can I talk to her?”
Alexei looks at me questioningly. I nod.
“Hi Sasha. I’m Mila.”
“I’m so sorry about everything you’re going through. Pregnancy is hard enough without all this drama.”
“Drama is one word for it.”
She laughs. “Trust me, I know how overwhelming this family can be. They mean well, but they have zero concept of stress management.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Are you getting proper medical care, at least?”
“Dr. Orlov seems competent. He just wants me to eliminate stress from my life.”
“Good luck with that while dating a Kozlov. It’s like trying to eliminate water from the ocean.”
Despite everything, I smile. “Exactly.”
“Can I give you some advice? From someone who’s spent her entire life managing anxiety in this family?”
“Please.”
“Control what you can control and let go of everything else. I know that sounds simplistic, but it’s the only way to survive in this world without losing your mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“You can control whether you eat regularly, get enough sleep, and take your vitamins. You can control whether you listen to news updates or remove yourself from stressful conversations. You can’t control whether your father gets rescued or whether your boyfriend makes smart tactical decisions.”
“How do you just stop caring about the things you can’t control?”
“You don’t stop caring; you just stop trying to manage outcomes that aren’t yours to manage.”
I think about what she’s saying. It makes sense, but putting it into practice feels impossible.
“I have anxiety attacks,” Sasha continues. “They started when I was sixteen and figured out what my family does for a living. The panic attacks were so bad, I couldn’t breathe.”
“How did you handle it?”
“Therapy. Medication when needed. And boundaries. Lots and lots of boundaries.”
“What kind of boundaries?”
“I don’t listen to details. I don’t get updates on threats or security issues. I love my brothers, but I don’t involve myself in their business decisions.”
“That seems easier when you’re in London.”
“Geography helps, but it’s about mental discipline. Training yourself not to engage with information that causes anxiety.”
“Dr. Orlov said something similar. No discussions about rescue operations or threat assessments.”
