CHAPTER SEVEN

Clause’s POV

The silence in the room pressed down like fog, thick and choking. Alvin still stood with his phone clutched in his hand like a weapon, but the fire in his eyes had started to flicker. Not gone, but confused, raw, desperate for footing.

Gary’s hand stayed wrapped around mine. Steady and warm. And I didn’t let go, I couldn't.

Alvin’s breathing was uneven. His eyes darted between us, as if expecting us to pull apart. To laugh. To say it was all a prank. But we didn’t, no one moved.

Finally, Alvin laughed. But it wasn’t real. It was hollow and sharp, like glass cracking under pressure. “This is a joke, right? You’re messing with me. Both of you.”

Gary’s voice was calm, too calm. “No, Alvin. We’re not.”

Alvin’s eyes narrowed. “So what, you’re in love now? You and Clause? My best friend?”

“I didn’t plan for this to happen,” Gary said. “We didn’t.”

“And that makes it better?” Alvin’s voice rose. “You think just because you didn’t plan it, it’s okay? Clause, my own best friend? My sister-in-law...”

“Don’t,” I cut in quietly. “Don’t bring her into this.”

“She’s dead!” he exploded. “And you’re sleeping with her husband!”

His words echoed in the high ceilings of the sitting room like thunder. I didn’t flinch, but Gary did. He looked like someone had slapped him.

“I know she’s gone,” I said, my voice shaking, “and I think about her every single day. But what happened between Gary and me… it wasn’t betrayal. It just kind of happened. Slowly, painfully. And maybe we’re still trying to understand it, but we didn’t set out to hurt anyone.”

Alvin stared at me. “How long?”

“What?”

He stepped closer. “How long has this been going on?"

Alvin scoffed. “So you’ve been lying for a while.”

“No,” Gary said firmly. “We weren’t lying. We were scared. You don’t know what it’s like. To want something you think the world will crucify you for. To look at someone and see peace but know that if anyone else sees it too, they’ll tear you both apart.”

Alvin blinked hard, his jaw tightening. “So you thought you’d keep it a secret forever? Just sneak around while smiling at Mom and Dad? Let Clause shake my hand and pretend nothing’s happening?”

“I never pretended with you,” I said, voice raw. “I just didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t even know what this was at first.”

“And now what? You figured it out after sex?”

“Alvin,” Gary warned.

But he was already pacing, running both hands through his hair like the world was tilting. “This is insane,” he muttered. “This isn’t you, Gary. You’re not like this. You’re the responsible one. You do what’s expected. You don’t… do this.”

“What is this exactly?” Gary asked, stepping forward. “Loving someone you weren’t supposed to? Doing what makes you feel alive again instead of just existing? I’m sorry if that disappoints you.”

“You don’t get to talk about disappointment!” Alvin shouted. “You were married to my best friends sister!”

Gary’s mouth tightened. “And I loved her. I always will. But she’s not here anymore, and that hole she left, it was tearing me apart. I didn’t even know I could feel anything again until…”

He glanced at me.

Until me.

Alvin followed his gaze and let out a cold, bitter sound. “Wow, just wow.”

He sat down on the edge of the couch like the weight of it all finally pulled him down. His hands trembled as he set his phone aside.

“I don’t even know who you are anymore,” he said, staring at the floor. “Either of you.”

“You still know me,” I said gently. “I’m still Clause. Still your friend. Still the guy who was there when your dad kicked you out for wrecking his car. The guy who covered for you in school when you skipped math for the third time in a week.”

He didn’t look at me.

“I’m still that person, Alvin,” I continued. “But I’m also someone who fell in love when I wasn’t supposed to. And maybe that makes me selfish. Maybe it makes me terrible. But it also makes me honest, finally.”

The room fell into a fragile quiet again.

Gary rubbed his face, his exhaustion suddenly evident. “We didn’t expect it to get this far. I didn’t expect to feel this strongly.”

“And what do you think happens now?” Alvin asked after a long pause. “You think you just hold hands and walk into the sunset? You think Mom and Dad will understand? That the press won’t chew you alive?”

“We don’t know,” Gary admitted. “But we know we’re not hiding anymore.”

Alvin shook his head, a low breath escaping him like a deflating balloon. “I can’t believe this…”

He stood again, less angry now, just… lost.

“You two want to ruin your lives? Fine. But don’t drag me into it.”

“We’re not trying to,” I said.

“You already did,” Alvin snapped. “You made me watch. You let me find out like that.”

And finally, I saw it.

The anger and the betrayal, it wasn’t just about morality or family.

It was about trust.

We had broken something in him.

Gary took a step closer. “Alvin, we’re not asking you to approve. But please… don’t turn this into something worse than it already is. We’ll deal with Mom and Dad. The company. The consequences. Just… don’t make this uglier.”

Alvin looked at him, something unreadable flashing in his eyes.

Then he looked at me.

“You better pray this doesn’t get out,” he said coldly. “Because if it does… I won’t be the one protecting you.”

He walked past us, not saying another word, and disappeared down the hall.

The door slammed shut somewhere in the house.

And just like that, he was gone.

Gary turned to me, his face drained. “He’s not going to stay quiet.”

I nodded, the ache settling deep in my chest. “I know.”

We stood in silence, shoulder to shoulder, surrounded by the ruins of everything we’d tried to hide.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

Gary’s hand found mine again.

“I’m not,” he whispered.

And neither was I.

Even if it meant the storm was only just beginning.