Chapter 66: He Heard
"Liz. I’m sorry about what happened."
Silence stretched between them as the soft whistle of the night breeze passed by. Lynsandra held his gaze, catching the longing in his eyes.
But... she felt nothing.
Even if his words sounded sincere for a moment, and even if the look in his eyes seemed genuine, she felt nothing at all.
Slowly, Lynsandra pulled her hand away from his. The movement made him glance down at his hand still resting on the railing. He sighed heavily before lifting his eyes to meet hers again.
"I know I said some things back then that I wish I hadn’t," he admitted. "I was angry, frustrated, and I let all those emotions get the better of me. But I didn’t mean everything I said. If anything... if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have said those things."
He paused and shook his head. "No. If I could turn back time, I would’ve avoided the mistake that broke us apart."
"Lizzie." Victor drew in a deep breath, looking into her eyes. His lips parted, but for a moment, no words came out.
He wanted to ask how he could fix this or if there was still a chance they could. Deep down, he knew it was already too late. Years had passed. But his heart still screamed for her.
Since the night she reappeared in front of him at the launch event, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Her status was one thing, but that wasn’t the reason for the longing he had suppressed for years.
When they broke up, Victor convinced himself it was for the best. He had been angry at her for not trying to understand his situation. He told himself maybe they simply weren’t meant to be. He believed that for months.
But when the thrill of his new relationship with Katarina faded, he found himself thinking about Lynsandra again. Around that same time, he discovered that Katarina’s pregnancy had been a lie.
"She fooled me," he said after a long pause. "Katarina. She wasn’t pregnant. She only said that to force me to commit."
Lynsandra remained quiet before replying evenly, "But you still married her."
"I know." He let out a hollow laugh and shook his head. "I was already too deep in it. Grandpa liked her. Everyone did. Her father expected me to ask for her hand."
Victor didn’t elaborate on the mounting pressure that had eventually forced him to propose.
"Even knowing that I don’t... I don’t love her, but I still did it," he lifted his gaze to meet hers. "Maybe to justify that I didn’t break your heart for nothing. I’m... sorry."
"You should be sorry," she hummed, nodding. "But not to me, Victor. You should feel sorry for your wife."
She didn’t like Katarina, but that woman had been crazy about Victor. The fake pregnancy was new information, but it didn’t surprise her. Katarina had been infatuated enough to do anything to make him hers.
And she had succeeded... because Victor allowed it.
"Vic." Lynsandra drew in a slow breath and looked away, her eyes drifting toward the dark landscape beyond the veranda. "What happened in the past belongs in the past. I don’t hate you anymore."
That was the truth.
Victor now existed only as a memory—the only person who had ever hurt her in a way no one else had. Because of him, she had experienced heartbreak unlike any other.
Yes, she had briefly acted out of pettiness, inviting Cassian into her harem as a way to get back at him.
But she had quickly realized how wrong that had been.
Perhaps that was why she agreed to Cassian’s request today. No matter how reckless or annoying he was, she didn’t want him to become collateral damage in her unfinished emotions. Since he was already part of the harem, he deserved fairness. Consideration. The same privilege as the others.
"You made your choices, and I made mine," she continued, still not looking at him. "Stop holding on to the past. You’re the only one clinging to it."
Finally, she turned to face him. "Besides, if you truly care about your little brother, you should let go of whatever feelings you think you still have. He would be hurt if he found out his brother still harbors feelings for the woman he promised to marry."
"Lizzie, we both know Cassian is in that harem because of me," Victor stepped closer. "Move on? I don’t believe you. If you hadn’t been thinking of me, you wouldn’t have sent that invitation."
Well, that was partially true.
But Victor would never understand what went through a person’s mind when they believed they were dying.
"Lizzie." He took another step forward. "Let’s not pretend. I know you still love me. Somewhere deep down, I still have a place in your heart. I know that... because you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved like this."
Another silence settled between them, filled only by the faint hum of the night breeze.
Then...
"Victor?"
Victor’s breath hitched. His eyes widened as he caught a figure standing at the edge of his vision. Lynsandra’s brows twitched as she turned.
Cassian stood at the entrance of the veranda, holding two glasses of wine.
He stared at them, shock flickering across his face as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.
Victor straightened and turned toward him. "Cassian."
Cassian pressed his lips together, his gaze flicking between them. After a deep breath, he walked forward.
"Cassian, let me explain—" Victor began, only to trail off when Cassian walked past him and stopped in front of Lynsandra.
Cassian smiled at her.
"Lizzie," he said softly, "I think it’s getting late. Do you want to go home?"
Her brows lifted slightly. He wore the same bright, charming smile he always did.
"Sure," she replied gently.
He set the wine glasses down on the railing and offered her his hand. She took it, which he held firmly.
As they walked away, Cassian paused briefly and glanced back at Victor.
"Bro, Lizzie and I are heading home. Bye-bye."
Then he didn’t wait. He simply walked on. Lynsandra followed beside him, watching him quietly, while Victor remained frozen, staring at the empty doorway long after they disappeared.
"Damn it," Victor muttered under his breath, resting both hands on the railing. He bowed his head, eyes shut. "He heard."
When he opened his eyes again, he exhaled slowly.
"I guess... he should know," he murmured. "Maybe then he’ll leave the harem."
This time, Victor was certain. Cassian would voluntarily walk away.
