I could see the confused but curious looks on Louis and Lennox's faces as they both stared at me—waiting. For a moment, I wanted to take it all back, to keep playing the game. But I saw no point anymore. I had already achieved what I wanted.
"Actually… I have two confessions to make," I said.
Lennox raised a brow, clearly intrigued. Louis folded his arms, the muscle in his jaw tightening as he waited.
I took a deep breath, stepped into the center of the room, and stood there. A moment of tense silence stretched between us before I finally spoke.
"I've been the one sending those gifts," I said, loud and clear.
Lennox blinked. Louis frowned. Both looked utterly confused.
"There is no secret admirer. Olivia doesn't have a lover." I paused. "It's been me. This whole time. The flowers. The teddy bear. The lingerie. All of it. I sent them."
Then Lennox's eyes narrowed. "You what?"
"I sent them," I repeated, slower this time. "I just… I wanted to see if she'd smile. I wanted to remind her she was loved—even if it had to be anonymous."
Louis stared at me like he didn't recognize me. "You let us believe someone else was trying to steal her. You made it look like she had a lover." Google seaʀᴄh novęlfire.net
"Yes," I responded firmly. "And I had my reasons for doing that."
Lennox frowned, his jaw tightening. "And what's your fucking reason, Levi?"
I met both their eyes, no longer backing down. "To make you two jealous."
The words hit the room like a slap.
Louis stiffened, eyes narrowing dangerously. Lennox scoffed, disbelief flashing across his face.
"To make us jealous?" Louis repeated, stepping forward. "You played games with her emotions—for us?"
"Don't twist it," I shot back. "I didn't play with her emotions—I played with yours."
Lennox crossed his arms. "Why?"
"Because neither of you were doing anything!" I barked, my voice rising with frustration. "I wanted you two to realize that you still love her no matter what!"
Louis looked like he wanted to argue, but I didn't give him the chance.
"You both noticed the gifts. You both reacted—hell, it wasn't until you thought Olivia had a secret lover that you even considered stepping up. You suddenly wanted to fight for her. You started sending your gifts, checking in on her more, being present. I saw it. She saw it."
Lennox glared at me. "So this was all a setup?"
"Call it whatever you want," I said. "But it worked."
They both looked furious—but deep down, they knew I was right.
"And that brings me to my second confession," I continued, looking at my brothers. For a moment, I wanted to keep it to myself. But I couldn't anymore.
"I have decided to forgive Olivia for what she did to me," I announced.
Their eyes widened—Louis's brows shot up, Lennox's mouth parted in disbelief—but I didn't stop.
"I realized that I never stopped loving her. And I never will stop loving her… I want Olivia back in my life."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Louis was the first to speak. "Are you serious right now?"
I nodded. "Dead serious."
"But after everything, she—" Lennox started, but I cut him off.
"I know what she did. I remember the pain. The heartbreak. The months I spent trying to hate her. But every time I looked at her… every time I saw how broken she looked, how lost she seemed—I just knew. I have hurt her too by my actions. I don't know why she did what she did to me… why she hurt me so much, but I want bygones to be bygones. And I'm done punishing both of us for the past."
Louis ran a hand through his hair, pacing. "This is insane, Levi. You forgave her just like that?"
"No," I said quietly. "Not just like that. It took time. It took everything in me. But yes—I forgave her. And I want to fight for her now. Not from the shadows. Not through tricks or games. For real."
Lennox let out a breath, shaking his head. "You're telling us this now… because you want us to? Join you? Forgive her too? Do you know what she did to me? I bet you have no idea."
I looked at him, my voice calm but unwavering. "No. I'm not asking you to forgive her. That's your decision to make. I don't know what she did to you two, so I have no right to tell you what to do. But I'm letting you know—I'm going after Olivia. I want to love her the way a mate should. I'm done living in the past."
Their angry eyes locked with mine, but I continued.
"I know you both love her too. I've seen it. I feel it every time one of you looks at her. But I'm done sitting on the sidelines pretending I don't care. I do care. More than anything. And if she's willing to give me a second chance… I'll take it. I'll take her."
Louis was quiet, his fists clenched. Lennox looked like he'd just been punched in the gut.
I took a step back, my voice softer now. "I don't know what she did to you two, but I want you to think about it… Olivia was just fourteen. Think of it as a mistake of a little girl, not just as men who feel hurt."
Louis frowned. Lennox's jaw tensed, but neither said a word.
"I'm not here to beg you to do what I'm doing," I added, voice low. "But I am here to say that I'm done hating her. I'm done running. I still love her. And I'll be damned if I lose her again without a fight."
"I'm going to court Olivia," I declared. "Openly. Honestly. No more secrets. No more games."
"I'm not hiding how I feel about her anymore. I'm going to show her that I still want her. That I never stopped." I paused, letting the words sink in. "And I'm telling you this now because I respect you. Both of you. You're my brothers. I love you. I don't want to do it behind your backs."
Louis's jaw ticked. Lennox's brows were furrowed so deep they practically touched.
"I'm not asking for your approval," I said quietly. "But I'm asking for your understanding. You want to keep hating Olivia—fine! But I've made my choice. I'm forgiving her."
After I spoke, I waited—for one of them to say something. Anything. But neither of them did. They just kept staring at me like I'd completely lost my mind.
Maybe they were right. Maybe I had lost my mind. I was going back to the same woman who had nearly destroyed me.
So yes, I was insane.
"With no comment, I'll take my leave."
And with that, I walked out on them.