LOGINChapter 190: Olive's POV"What?" he finally said, but his voice was wrong, too careful, too controlled."Was Klaus gay?" I repeated, louder this time, enunciating each word. "Was my brother gay? Did you know?""Olive, I don't know where this is coming from, but—""Answer the fucking question!" I screamed, all my carefully controlled composure shattering. "Was my brother gay? Yes or no?"Another long silence, and in that silence I heard my answer."How did you find out?" Walter asked quietly, and my entire world tilted again because those words were as good as a confession.He'd known.My father had known Klaus was gay, had kept that secret for over a decade, had let me grow up thinking I knew my brother when I'd actually known nothing at all."You knew," I breathed, tears streaming down my face now. "You fucking knew. How long? How long did you know?""Olive, this isn't—this has nothing to do with you. What Klaus was or wasn't, that's not something you need to concern yourself with—"
Chapter 189: Olive's POVI stumbled through Judy's suite and out into the hallway, my vision blurring at the edges as I tried to navigate through a house I didn't know while my entire understanding of my childhood was crumbling around me.Klaus was gay.Klaus had been in love with Judy Byron.Klaus had kept this enormous secret from me, his little sister who'd thought she knew him better than anyone.My hands were shaking so violently I could barely hold my phone, and somewhere behind me I could hear Michelle calling my name, her voice getting more distant as I moved further away, as I desperately searched for somewhere I could be alone.I found a door that led outside and pushed through it without thinking, stumbling out into what appeared to be some kind of garden area—perfectly manicured lawns, flowering bushes arranged in artistic clusters, stone pathways winding through the greenery.It was quiet out here, blessedly empty, just the sound of birds and the distant hum of voices fro
Chapter 188: Olive's POVI stared at the photograph on the first page of the album, my brain struggling to process what my eyes were clearly seeing, trying to make sense of an image that didn't fit with anything I thought I knew about my brother.It was Klaus and Judy together, but not in any casual, friendly way.They were at what looked like a beach, the ocean visible in the background, and they were close, closer than friends should be, closer than acquaintances, their bodies angled toward each other in a way that spoke of intimacy and familiarity.Klaus had his arm wrapped around Judy's shoulders, pulling him in tight, and both of them were laughing at something, their faces lit up with genuine joy that made them look younger than I remembered either of them being.But it wasn't just the closeness that made me freeze.It was the way Klaus was looking at Judy in the photo—the way his eyes were fixed on Judy's face instead of the camera, the expression of pure adoration written acro
Chapter 187: Olive's POVI followed Michelle deeper into Judy's suite, my eyes taking in every detail of the space that had clearly been his sanctuary, the modern furniture that somehow managed to look both expensive and comfortable, the bookshelves lined with titles ranging from business textbooks to classic literature, the photographs carefully arranged on various surfaces showing Judy at different stages of his life.But what struck me most was how lived-in it all felt, how personal, like Judy had actually spent significant time here rather than treating it as just another room in his mother's massive house.Michelle walked across the living area toward what looked like a blank wall, and I watched with growing confusion as she ran her fingers along the surface until they found some kind of hidden seam."Judy was always very secretive about certain things," Michelle said, her voice quiet. "Even as a child, he had this need for privacy that went beyond normal. I used to think it was
Chapter 186: Olive's POVThe funeral service passed with a blur of tears and eulogies and hymns that felt like they were being sung underwater, muffled and distant, while I stood near the back trying to make myself as invisible as possible.I watched as Michelle stood at the front, her posture perfect despite the grief clearly destroying her from the inside, accepting condolences from people who filed past her one by one with practiced expressions.When the casket was finally lowered into the ground, when that final moment of goodbye happened and Michelle threw the first handful of dirt onto her son's coffin, I had to look away because the sound of that earth hitting the wood felt too final, too real, too much like watching my own family bury Klaus thirteen years ago.The crowd began to disperse slowly after that, people lingering in small groups, speaking in hushed tones, and I was about to make my way back to my car when I felt a presence beside me."Oh my," Michelle's voice cut thr
Chapter 185: Olive's POVBut their whispers cut through the air like knives, each comment finding its mark with devastating precision."Isn't she the Mercer girl?" someone murmured, not even bothering to lower their voice enough that I couldn't hear."Isn't she the one dating that top hockey player? Zane Mercer?" another voice chimed in, this one belonging to an older woman wearing an expensive black dress and too much jewelry for a funeral."My daughter told me she stole her boyfriend," a third person added, and I recognized the voice as belonging to someone who'd been at Hunter's party, someone who'd probably witnessed the drama with Cole."Forget about that," yet another voice cut in, sharper and more pointed. "Didn't you hear? She was the last person seen with Judy before his death. They had dinner together the night he was murdered. Some people are saying the police questioned her."That was it—that final comment snapped whatever thin thread of patience I'd been holding onto.I t
Chapter 89: Olive's POVThe club was massive, with a tall glass building and lights and bodies pressed together at every corner, and Brenda was losing her mind the second we stepped out of the garage."This is insane," she said, practically bouncing on her heels as she stared at my new car. "This i
Chapter 118: Cole's POVA memory flashed through my mind. Unbidden. Unwanted.Two years ago. Before Olive. Before any of this.I'd been nobody. Just another decent hockey player trying to make it in the NHL. Talented, sure. But not exceptional. Not special.And then I'd heard about Grayson Sinclair
Chapter 122: Olive's POVMy fingers flew across the keyboard like I was trying to set a world record for fastest typing speed.Click. Click. Click. Click.The sound filled my new office, Senior Vice President of Strategic Development, the nameplate on my door read, but my mind wasn't on the quarter
Chapter 114: Zane's POVI didn't ask why. Didn't ask questions. I should have, but I couldn't bring myself to care about the reasons."I'll come pick you up," I said, already pulling up the number."No." Her voice was firmer now. "Send your driver. Don't come yourself. Please."That stung more than







