I was stunned by what Luther said. Rozzean highly values his company! I know the challenges he faced, as he shared with me the difficulties before their eldest sibling passed away!
I need to talk to Dad!
"But Cyron just kept his head and told your father that if he's afraid of losing someone or something important in his life right now, that would be Tali."
I sobbed. I couldn't hold back the pain.
I-I was wrong... I made a big mistake.
"And now, about me..."
"Why I replaced my brother."
I looked up at Luther, still wiping away tears from both my cheeks.
That's what I wanted to hear. Since earlier, but I couldn't ask; I let him share everything.
"When Cyron turned his back after he talked to your father, I remained there standing. I talked to your father. I don't want my brother to lose everything, Thaliana. Cyron worked extremely hard for it all. I know he doesn't want to lose Tali, and I'm well aware that he doesn't want to lose the company he and our brother Aloncious worked so hard for."
"I said that I could be your fiance."
I was too stunned to speak while looking at Luther. He smiled at me slightly.
"Your father knows me. He's familiar with who I am, but Cyron won his favor. I'm just grateful that your father agreed. He mentioned that he wouldn't pull out his shares, but he wouldn't take back the relationship he has because Cyron made him lose his trust. Your father loves you so much, Thaliana."
I-I know... I know that Dad loves me dearly, but he shouldn't have done that. Especially since he knows how hard Rozzean worked for that company.
This is all my fault.
"I-I didn't know this would happen, Luther. I didn't know it would get worse."
Luther stood up, turned to face me, and sat in the chair next to me, holding my hands.
"I told you before, Thaliana... Cyron has endured a lot of pain. He suffered enough, and I don't want him to lose the things he worked hard for over the years. I'll help him as much as I can."
"D-Did you bring me home because you're now my fiance?"
That's what I thought when I heard what he said.
Luther shook his head. He wiped away the tears that fell from both my cheeks.
"I don't want my brother to suffer any longer. I agreed with you, and I respected what you wanted to stay at my brother's house because I know you love him too. But I also know it's enough, Thaliana. Cyron loves Tali so much. I saw that he really changed. He's smiling often. He's doing things he doesn't usually do. He was talking to me casually, and that made me happy."
"I was afraid that if you stayed longer at Cyron's house, something might happen. That's why I messaged you and called to help you leave. You want to explain everything to him as Thaliana, right?"
I nodded. I will explain everything as Thaliana when we meet, but I didn't expect that Luther would be the one I'd face and become my fiance.
"I got worried when you stopped responding to messages, and your number couldn't be reached. Then I learned from Manang that you were no longer at home and couldn't be found. I took a chance that maybe you had returned, so I tried ordering a bouquet from Tinatangi, specifically requesting you to make it."
T-That's the reason?
"When I received a message that the order was being processed, I immediately went to your shop. It meant the owner was there because there was no message that the owner couldn't fulfill the requested order."
"I didn't just casually pass by that afternoon. I was actually in a meeting, but I went outside in case you were leaving without me seeing you. I'm sorry; I lied."
I couldn't take my eyes off Luther as he spoke.
"And then, I only found out recently that you left without saying anything because your family was looking for you. If there's one more thing I should ask forgiveness for, it's not telling you that I'm your fiance. I wanted to talk to Thaliana, not to Tali. I wanted to explain everything that happened with Cyron and the changes our parents made."
I nodded at Luther's words. I-I understand now... I understand.
When our eyes met, Luther's gaze was serious, conveying all he said. While looking at him, I didn't feel that he was lying in everything he said.
Everyone got involved just because of one decision I didn't think through. You're so foolish, Thaliana.
I deserve this pain. Whatever regret I feel now is just fitting for me. No matter how much I regret it, I can't bring everything back to the way it was.
"I don't want fights in my family, Thaliana. I'm doing everything to improve the relationship between Cyron and Dad, but then this happened. I was trying my best to tighten my grip on them, hoping we could be a happy family again. Aloncious wants the same for us."
I tightly held Luther's hands when I heard him speak.
I felt embarrassed... I used to be annoyed with him, but when I learned that he sacrificed for his family and to save Rozzean from my father's anger, my perspective on him changed.
Luther loves his family so much, and that alone is reason enough for me to give him my full respect.
"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
My chest tightened with pain as I apologized to Luther.
"You don't need to apologize to me, Thaliana. Apologize to Cyron and explain what you did."
I nodded repeatedly.
"T-Thank you, Luther, t-thank you so much..."
I saw him smile again, but this time, the smile he gave was genuine.
"Everything will be alright, okay?"
I nodded again.
"I will try my best to help you. Explain everything to everyone, that way our parents might reconsider. Your father might still accept Cyron."
That's what I want to happen. No matter how difficult, I will do it.
"By the way, about my brother, he wasn't working. The doctor told him to take a rest after the accident."
I stood up in surprise when I heard Luther's words.
"D-Doctor? W-What happened?"
"I just found out from Manang. I called her, and she told me that Cyron didn't want to let us know what happened. But because Manang was worried about my brother's condition, she told me that he had an accident last night."
W-What?
"Cyron was drunk. His foot was cast, and he had wounds. He was really hurt when you left him without words, Thaliana. Think about it, even though he knew he would lose everything, he chose Tali. The woman he fought for against our parents and George Dela Vezca, and then, she suddenly disappeared?"
I tightly held Luther's arms.
"T-Take me to him... p-please."
"N-Now."