A suffocating silence filled the room. None of us spoke, nor looked at each other. The air was heavy with guilt and pain—so thick it was hard to breathe.

Levi stood by the wall, palms pressed flat against it, his head hung low. He looked like a man burdened by impossible choices.

I turned to Lennox. He stood at the window, arms folded tightly across his chest, his back to me. His stiff shoulders betrayed his suppressed anger and pain, and his shame.

We didn't need words to understand each other. We all felt the regret, the confusion, the ache of losing her.

But we couldn't remain like this forever. Someone had to speak. 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 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 slightly.

“And maybe that’s why I did it,” I admitted. “That’s why I wrote that letter 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 on the same damn day.”

I sighed, regret filling me. “And when I got that forged reply, I was pained. Those words almost made me hate you two,” I said, revealing a truth I never thought I'd share.

For days after receiving the forged letter, I hated my brothers. I hated that Olivia loved them, not me. Serious self-reflection was needed before I realized I couldn't hate them for it.

But then it became confusing why they didn't end up with her as I'd expected. Instead, they seemed to hate her. I was confused. Why did Olivia fall out with them, yet Lennox and Levi refused to speak of it? I racked my brain for reasons they might hate her, like I did, but couldn't find one. Now it was clear—they also sent confession letters and received brutal, forged rejections, just like me.

“I also almost hated you two,” Lennox finally spoke, his back still turned. “Those words 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 escaped Levi’s lips as he faced 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, his eyes red and glossy, filled with pent-up emotion.

“I read it over and over,” 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 a chair, sat down, and buried his face in his hands. “What made me believe it was her handwriting… it was exactly hers. I had to cross-check it against one of her funny notes. 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. “I think we were all broken by those letters. I kept asking myself… why her? Why would she hurt me like that?” He turned slightly to look at us. “And the worst part? I didn’t even ask her. I didn’t confront her. I just… believed the lie.”

I sank onto the table’s edge, 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, silence fell as we contemplated this. Then Levi broke the silence. “We have much to do. First, we need to find out who forged those letters. Second—Uncle Damien… I just hope he was joking. He can’t be serious about claiming Olivia… he can’t be…”

Lennox cut him off. “He is serious, Levi… I can see it in his eyes… he wants Olivia…”

Levi shook his head 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 fully, 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 boiled. Both breathed hard, stood close, hands clenched, eyes locked in silent conflict. I saw where this was heading and intervened.

“Enough!” I snapped, rising and stepping between them. “Both of you, calm down!”

They froze, silence returning except for our uneven breathing. “Arguing won’t solve anything. We’re all angry. We’re all confused. But fighting each other isn’t the answer.”

They looked at me, still brimming with emotion.

I took a breath and spoke calmly, “Let’s wait for Father. He’s talking with Damien. If Damien is serious about claiming Olivia, then we’ll know what to do.”

Levi muttered something and turned away, running a hand through his hair.

Lennox shook his head, still fuming, but 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 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; he wasn't wrong.

Levi sighed, massaging his forehead. “Where do we begin? 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 the door opened and Father entered. We turned to him. His expression told us the news wouldn't be good.