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As my footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, it felt as if the walls were closing in around me, suffocating me with the deafening silence that followed in the wake of our shattered love. The bitter taste of anger and betrayal lingered in my mouth, a stark reminder of the gaping chasm that now lay between us.
Behind me, I could hear Alexander’s ragged breaths growing fainter, each one a haunting melody of loss and regret. But it wasn’t enough. It couldn’t be enough, not after everything we had endured. And so, with tears streaming down my cheeks, aching with unspeakable grief, I left behind the remnants of a love that was once so beautiful, so pure, and braced myself for the storm that lay ahead.
“Olivia, please,” his voice drifted toward me, a ghostly echo that wrapped itself around my very being like a vice. “I didn’t mean… God, I’m so sorry.”
But it wasn’t enough. It couldn’t be enough, not after everything we had endured. This wasn’t just about him standing me up or lying about a dinner out. This was about how we didn’t trust each other, how neither of us could let the other in.
We would never have worked.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alexander
I hadn’t been able to stop shifting since I got into bed, unable to escape the vice-like grip of guilt and regret. My chest tightened with each breath, the air growing stale within those four walls.
I sat up and a sudden burst of anger swelled within me. How did I let things spiral so far out of control? How could I have been so blind to the pain I caused her?
“Olivia,” I whispered, the sweet taste of her name on my lips like an elixir. Even then, her presence lingered in every corner of that room—the lingering scent of her perfume, the indentation on the pillow where her head lay, the soft hum of her laughter echoing in my ears.
I slammed my fist into the mattress, feeling the weight of my decisions pressing down on me. The consequences of my actions had left a trail of destruction in their wake, and there was no one to blame but myself.
My mind replayed the last moments we had spent together—her eyes, red-rimmed and glistening with tears, the hurt written across her face like an open wound. It was a reminder of the pain I had inflicted upon her, a testament to my own selfishness.
But there was no going back, no erasing the damage done. All I could do now was accept the consequences and find a way to move forward.
***
The cold wind brushed against my face, chilling me to the bone as I paced back and forth on the balcony. The knowledge of what I had done settled like a dense fog in my chest. The city below, once a symbol of opportunity and success, now only served as a reminder of the price I had paid for it.
It was in that moment, alone with my thoughts, that I realized how much I had sacrificed for a facade of power and control.
“Alexander?” A voice interrupted my introspection, and I turned to find my brother standing at the doorway. His concerned gaze met mine, and I couldn’t help but feel exposed under his scrutiny.
“Hey, Christopher,” I managed, forcing the words out past the lump in my throat.
“Are you alright?” he asked, stepping onto the balcony and closing the door behind him. “You seem… off.”
“Do I?” I responded, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “I guess I’m just realizing how much I screwed up.”
“Come on, man,” Christopher said, clapping me on the shoulder. “We all make mistakes. But if there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you’re not one to give up without a fight.”
“Thanks, Christopher,” I said, taking a deep breath.
“Anytime,” he replied, giving me a small smile before heading back inside.
As I returned my gaze to the cityscape, I questioned my priorities. My relentless pursuit of power and success had left me empty, devoid of what truly mattered. What good was it to have everything in the world if I had lost the person I cared about most?
I turned away from the cold embrace of the night and stepped back inside, ready to confront my demons and mend the fractured pieces of our relationship. Time was of the essence, and I refused to waste another moment wallowing in regret. Olivia deserved better, and I was determined to prove it to her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Olivia
The moment the elevators opened on my floor, something was different. I stepped in, spotting Ethan, and his eyes were wide. They darted to the side, and I saw Alexander standing there in front of my desk, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
The air in the office seemed to thicken as Alexander’s gaze met mine, his eyes revealing an unfamiliar vulnerability. I tried to keep the anticipation and anxiety churning within me from showing but I don’t know if I managed it.
Slowly, I walked forward until I was standing just in front of him, my breath catching in my throat. I could see the pain in his eyes, and it made me want to reach out to him. But I didn’t.
