Lennox’s POV

“Lennox, is there a problem?” Olivia asked the moment she noticed I had fallen silent, just staring at her.

My lips parted, and I forced myself to speak. “Thank you… for what you did back there,” I said sincerely. I never thought a day would come where I’d feel grateful—truly grateful—to the same woman I once vowed to hate.

Olivia didn’t flinch at my appreciation. She simply shrugged. “No need to thank me. I would’ve done the same for anyone else in your shoes,” she said flatly.

Her words tore at my heart more than I expected. I didn’t know what hurt more—her coldness to my gratitude or the cold truth behind what she said.

“Anything else?” she asked, tilting her head slightly as she stared at me.

But I couldn’t say a word. There was this strange feeling of pain… of longing. I missed her… God, I hated to admit it, but I missed how things used to be when we were still… us. I missed her ridiculous jokes, the way her laughter lit up a room. Despite everything, I missed her presence.

“Nothing else,” I finally managed to say.

She nodded once. “Good night.” She didn’t wait for a reply before shutting the door in my face.

I stood there like a fool, not knowing what to do or even how to feel. My wolf whined within me, restless and hurt, but I shut him out and limped back to my room in silence.

Once I reached my bed, I pulled the blanket over myself and lay there, staring at the ceiling. Olivia’s voice played on a loop in my head. “I would’ve done the same if it were anyone else in your shoes?” Why did those words feel like knives in my chest? Why did I expect her to say something different? What did I want to hear from her? For her to tell me she saved me because she still cared? Because I’m her mate? Was I hoping for her to say that I still meant something?

I sighed heavily and shut my eyes.

Four years ago, she shattered me. I’d sworn I would never forgive her. Never let her back in. Never feel this way again. But lying there, haunted by the scent of her and the echo of her laughter in my mind, I realized the one truth I’d been avoiding—I didn’t hate her. I missed her. And worse… I was falling for her again.

“Then don’t fight it… talk to her about it… tell her how she hurt you and…”

“No!” I cut my wolf off. “I’m not doing any such thing,” I grunted, closing my eyes tighter, forcing myself to sleep. All this was just fleeting emotion because of her selfless act of saving me. By the time I wake up tomorrow, they will all be gone.

The next morning, sunlight streamed weakly through the curtains, but I felt no warmth from it. A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, and before I could say anything, the door opened. Anita walked in with a tray in her hands.

I frowned instantly, not even bothering to hide it.

“Good morning, Lennox,” she said gently, flashing that ridiculous, overly sweet smile. It used to work on me. Now it just irritated me. It baffled me, really, how I ever chased after her. Maybe it was because she was the perfect pawn to make Olivia jealous. She was never the kind of woman I truly wanted.

“I brought you breakfast. Thought you could use something warm.”

I didn’t move from the bed. “You know how much I hate being disturbed while sleeping.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “I just wanted to—”

“I want to be alone.”

Her lips parted like she wanted to say something else—maybe apologize—but I turned my head away. “Please leave.”

She lingered for a few seconds longer before setting the tray on the nightstand and walking out without another word.

I stared at the untouched food, sighed, and forced myself out of bed. After freshening up, I got dressed but ignored the breakfast entirely. When I finally stepped out of my room, the mansion was already buzzing with activity. I limped slightly as I made my way to the living room, still sore from yesterday, but better.

Suddenly, my heart gave an odd jolt when I saw Olivia there, flipping through a file on the couch. She looked up, our eyes met for a second, and she gave me a blank look. “Good morning,” she said plainly, without stopping what she was doing.

“Morning,” I replied, but she was already walking past me. Just like that. No smile. Nothing. And yet… my chest ached.

I sank into the couch she had just left, inhaling the faint trace of her scent lingering on the cushion. Damn it. I was wrong. I was wrong when I told myself last night that these feelings were temporary. That I’d wake up, and they’d be gone. They weren’t. If anything, they were stronger now.

Sitting on the couch, I buried my face in my hands and dragged a hand down my tired face. My chest felt tight. I didn’t want to feel this way. I didn’t want to want her. But I did. I wanted her attention. I wanted her to look at me the way she used to before everything fell apart.

I stared at the hallway she disappeared into, tempted to follow her. To grab her arm and demand she talk to me. Ask her why she hurt me, why she broke me. But I didn’t move. I just sat there like a coward, gnawing at the inside of my cheek and pretending I didn’t care.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a heavy sigh.

“Lennox,” a voice called behind me.

I looked over my shoulder. It was my brother, Louis, with his usual concerned look.

“You okay?” he asked, eyeing the untouched tray in his hands. “Anita said you kicked her out.”

“She shouldn’t have come in,” I muttered.

He shrugged and sat on the opposite couch. “You know, she’s trying hard to apologize.”

“I’m not interested,” I snapped, rising from the couch and storming out of the living room.