Chapter 611
Lennox’s POV
Levi’s shoulders shook harder now.
The glass slipped from his fingers and hit the floor, spilling its contents, but he didn’t notice.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
The words came out broken. Barely there.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Lennox p>
My heart stopped.
“I was jealous,” he went on, his voice cracking. “I was jealous of you. Of how easy it was for you to love her. Of how she looked at you like the world made sense when you were around p>
He pressed his palms into his eyes like he could push the memories away.
“I told myself I was protecting her,” he said. “I told myself I was doing the right thing. But I was lying. I was protecting myself p>
He sucked in a shaky breath.
“I didn’t want to watch her choose you again,” he confessed. “I didn’t want to stand there and smile while my heart broke over and over p>
My chest burned.
“So I made choices for her,” he continued. “I decided what she should hear. What she should know. Who she should see.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I stole her right to choose p>
Tears slid down his face freely now.
“And when you came back,” he said, his voice full of pain, “I panicked. I saw everything slipping out of my control. And instead of being happy that my brother was alive… I fought you p>
He shook his head, disgust clear on his face.
“I treated you like a threat,” he said. “Like you didn’t belong anymore. Like you were in my way p>
His voice broke completely.
“You died thinking I hated you,” he whispered. “You died thinking you were unwanted p>
That nearly destroyed me.
“I failed you,” Levi sobbed. “I failed Olivia. I failed the pack. I failed myself p>
He looked up at me then, eyes red, filled with shame.
“I don’t know how to fix this,” he said. “I don’t know how to live with what I’ve done p>
The room felt too small.
Too heavy.
Levi’s lips trembled.
Then his voice broke completely.
“I miss you, Lennox,” he whispered.
The words sounded raw. Bare.
“I miss you every day p>
My throat closed.
“I wake up and wish I could trade my life for yours,” he went on, tears spilling freely now. “I wish it was me in that grave instead of you p>
He shook his head, crying openly.
“You were the perfect one,” he said. “You always wanted everyone happy—even when you weren’t. You carried us. You carried me p>
His shoulders shook harder.
“I don’t know how to be that person. I never did p>
My chest cracked open.
“I miss you so much,” he sobbed. “I don’t know how to live without you p>
That was it.
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I stood up and pulled him into my arms.
Levi froze for a second—then he broke.
He clutched my shirt like a child, crying hard against my chest. Years of pain poured out of him. Guilt. Regret. Fear. Everything he had buried came crashing down at once.
I held him tightly.
It felt wrong.
And right.
My heart shattered all over again.
After a while, his crying slowed. His breathing evened out. I gently pulled back, keeping my hands on his shoulders so he could see me.
“You can still be better,” I said softly. “You’re not beyond saving p>
He looked at me with red, swollen eyes.
“You really think so?” he asked quietly.
I nodded. “Yes p>
He swallowed hard. “Then I’ll start by telling Olivia the truth p>
My heart skipped.
“The truth?” I asked carefully.
Before he could answer—
The door opened.
Olivia stood there.
Her eyes moved between us, confused. Worried.
“The truth about what?” she asked.
The room went completely silent.
I swallowed hard and exchanged glances with Levi, who looked panicked because of what he was about to do.
Olivia’s frown deepened. “What truth are you talking about, Levi? What is going on here p>
Levi slowly got to his feet and made his way toward her. He stopped where she stood by the door and stared at her with pain-filled eyes. I could see the fear in his gaze. He knew what this meant—telling Olivia that he had lied was going to be a bomb, and heaven knows how Olivia was going to take it.
Levi stood in front of Olivia for a long moment without speaking.
His mouth opened… then closed again.
He looked like a man about to step off a cliff.
“I know,” he said finally, his voice low and rough, “I know I’m not the man you thought I was p>
Olivia’s brows pulled together. “Levi… what are you talking about p>
He swallowed hard. His hands were shaking at his sides.
“I’ve changed,” he said. “I’ve changed so much that sometimes I don’t even recognize myself anymore p>
He shook his head slowly. “And none of those changes were good p>
Olivia glanced at me again, confused now. “Levi, you’re scaring me. What is going on p>
Levi’s chest rose sharply. He looked like he was fighting himself.
“I need to tell you something,” he said. “Something I should have told you a long time ago p>
Silence fell.
“When Lennox was dying,” he began, his voice cracking, “when you were unconscious… I told you something p>
Olivia went still.
“I told you that Lennox wanted you to reject him,” Levi continued. “I told you those were his wishes p>
Her lips parted slightly.
“That was a lie,” he whispered.
The words hung in the air.
“Lennox never said that,” Levi went on, tears spilling freely now. “He never asked for that. He never wanted that p>
My heart felt like it stopped.
“It was my idea,” Levi said, his voice breaking. “Mine. The healer suggested it might be easier for you. Said it would protect your heart if he didn’t survive p>
He let out a broken laugh. “And I agreed p>
Olivia’s face drained of color.
“I told myself I was doing the right thing,” Levi said desperately. “I told myself I was saving you from pain p>
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“But the truth is… I was scared p>
He looked at her, eyes full of regret.
“I didn’t want to lose you,” he said. “Not to death. Not to grief. Not to him p>
Tears ran down his face unchecked.
“So I chose for you,” he continued. “I made the decision for you. I took away your right to choose p>
Olivia stared at him.
Her face didn’t show anger.
It didn’t show tears.
That scared me more than anything.
Then she turned.
She walked past Levi without a word.
Past me.
Straight out of the room.