A suffocating silence filled the room. None of us spoke. None of us even looked at each other. The air was heavy with guilt and pain—so thick it was hard to breathe.
Levi stood by the wall, both palms pressed flat against it, his head hung low like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. He looked like a man torn between two impossible choices.
I turned my eyes to Lennox. He was at the window, arms folded tightly across his chest, his back turned to me. From the way his shoulders were stiff, I knew he was holding everything in—his anger, his pain, his shame.
We didn't need words to understand each other. Whatever they were feeling… I was feeling too. The regret. The confusion. The ache that came with losing her.
But we couldn't keep standing here forever.
Someone had to speak. And since they wouldn't, I did.
"I didn't know you guys sent her a confession letter too," I said quietly, breaking the silence.
Levi slowly raised his head, but didn't turn.
Lennox didn't even move.
"I thought I was the only one," I continued. "I thought I was being smart. I saw how you both looked at her. I knew Lennox liked her… he always lit up when she was around. And Levi… you practically worshipped the ground she walked on."
My voice cracked, just a little.
"And maybe that's why I did it," I admitted. "That's why I wrote that letter to her without telling either of you. I was scared. Jealous. I didn't want to lose her to either of you."
I laughed bitterly and shook my head. "But fate played us all, didn't it? Because none of us knew… none of us had any idea… that we all sent our letters to her on the same damn day."
I sighed and shook my head as regret filled my entire being. "And when I got that forged reply, I was pained. Those words in that letter almost made me hate you two," I said, revealing a truth I never thought I'd tell them.
When I got that forged letter, for days I hated my brothers… I hated that Olivia loved them and not me… it took serious self-reflection before I realized I couldn't hate my brothers for it.
But then it became confusing why they didn't end up with her like I thought they would. Rather, they seemed to hate her. I was confused. Why did Olivia fall out with them, but Lennox and Levi refused to say anything? I racked my brain… trying to think of reasons they'd hate her, just like I did, but I couldn't pinpoint it. But now it was clear… they also sent her a confession letter and got a brutal, forged rejection—just like me.
"I also almost hated you two," Lennox finally spoke, his back still turned to me. "Those words in that letter made me want to compete with you both… but after much thought, I realized it wasn't worth it. You're my brothers, and it wasn't your fault if Olivia wanted you two and not me…" He paused, sighed, and shook his head. " That letter… it felt off. Why didn't I notice it? Why didn't I take a critical look at it?" Lennox spat in regret and kicked a stool away.
A heavy sigh left Levi's lips as he continued to face the wall. "When I first got the letter, I refused to believe it was our sweet, loving Olivia who said such things."
He finally turned around, his eyes red and glossy, filled with everything he had held in for so long.
"I read it over and over again," he said slowly. "Trying to convince myself that maybe… maybe I misunderstood. Because the words were so cruel. Hurtful. Not like her at all." He paused, his eyes dark with memory. "It shattered something in me."
He walked slowly to the chair and sat down, burying his face in his hands. "What made me believe it was the handwriting… it was exactly hers. I had to pick out one of the funny notes she used to send me and cross-check. They were exactly the same. And that's what made me believe. I'm such a fool."
Lennox leaned against the window frame, the morning sun casting long shadows across his face. "I think we were all broken in our own way after those letters. I kept asking myself… why her? Why would she hurt me like that?" He turned his head slightly, just enough to look at us over his shoulder. "And the worst part? I didn't even ask her. I didn't confront her. I just… believed the lie."
I sank down onto the edge of the table, my heart aching. "Same. I let one stupid letter end everything I felt for her. I didn't even try to confirm anything. I just let myself believe that Olivia said those hurtful words."
Again, we went silent as we all fell into our thoughts, and this time it was Levi who broke the silence. "We have a lot in our hands. First, we need to find out who forged those letters. Second—Uncle Damien… I just hope he was joking. He can't be serious with his claim over Olivia… he can't be…" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel fire.net
Lennox cut him off. "He is serious, Levi… I can see it in his eyes… he wants Olivia…"
Levi shook his head again, this time more firmly, rising from the chair. "No. You're wrong. Uncle Damien loved Sofia. He still does. Everyone knows that. He won't go after another woman. He wouldn't—"
"He would," Lennox snapped, cutting him off. He turned around fully now, his face hard. "You're still blinded by who you think he is, Levi. But I saw it. I saw the way he looked at Olivia. The same way he used to look at Sofia."
"That's impossible," Levi said, stepping forward. "Sofia was the love of his life."
Lennox scoffed bitterly. "Exactly. And Olivia is just like her. The same kindness, the same spark, the same spirit. Damien doesn't just see Olivia—he sees Sofia in her."
Levi's eyes flared. "Don't say that! Don't you dare compare them like that. Uncle Damien would never cross that line—he's our uncle, for God's sake!"
"And yet he's already claiming her," Lennox shot back, his voice rising. "You think that's something a normal uncle does? He looked our father in the eye and said he wanted her for himself!"
"He was probably joking! You know how he is!"
"Wake up, Levi!" Lennox barked. "This is not a joke. He wants her. And if we don't do something, he's going to take her—just like he takes everything he wants."
"That's not true!" Levi shouted. "He's not like that!"
The tension in the room was boiling now. Both of them were breathing hard, standing just a few feet apart, their hands clenched, and their eyes locked in a silent war. I could see where this was going, and I had to step in.
"Enough!" I snapped, rising to my feet and stepping between them. "Both of you, calm down!"
They both froze, the room falling silent again except for the sound of our uneven breathing. "Arguing about it won't solve anything. We're all angry. We're all confused. But fighting each other isn't the answer."
They both turned their eyes on me, still brimming with emotion.
I took a breath and spoke more calmly, "Let's wait for Father. He's having a talk with Damien. If Damien is serious about claiming Olivia, then we'll know what to do."
Levi muttered something under his breath and turned away again, raking a hand through his hair.
Lennox shook his head, still fuming, but he didn't argue.
"I'm not losing her," I said quietly, looking at both of them. "Not to some lie, not to fate, and definitely not to Damien. But we have to stay united."
Lennox scoffed and shook his head. "And you think Olivia will want to forgive us? That woman practically hates us now… and with Anita claiming to be pregnant… it's worse now…" Lennox spat.
I frowned, but he wasn't wrong…
Levi sighed as he massaged his forehead. "Where do we begin from? How do we even start apologizing? We hurt her. We hurt her for a crime she didn't commit… damn it."
I opened my mouth to speak, but just then the door pushed open and Father walked in. We all turned to him, and I took a calculated look at him. The look on his face told me whatever he was about to say… wasn't going to be news we'd like.