CHAPTER 59

Aaron’s POV

I should’ve stayed in my room.

That thought hit me halfway down the hallway, just before Lucian’s office door came into view. Too late now. The door was already open.

He was inside, standing by the window, back to me, sleeves rolled up, phone in his hand. Calm. Controlled. Like he didn’t just spend the morning dismantling me piece by piece without raising his voice.

I stepped in anyway.

“Close the door.”

I did. The click echoed louder than it should have.

He didn’t turn immediately. Just finished whatever he was reading, set the phone down, then finally looked at me. And just like that—everything from last night came rushing back again.

Talk, he said.

I let out a breath, You didn’t answer me.

His brow lifted slightly, You didn’t give me the chance.

I stepped closer, frustration building fast now. “I said something I’ve been holding in for thirteen years, Lucian. Thirteen. And your response is to drag me to the gym, ignore me for an hour, and act like—”

“Like what?” he cut in, voice calm. “Like it didn’t matter?”

“Yes.”

He studied me for a second.

Then—

His fist landed.

Hard.

I didn’t see it coming. My head snapped to the side, body stumbling back as pain exploded across my jaw. I hit the edge of the table, barely catching myself.

I touched my lip slowly.

Blood.

I looked back at him.

Confused first.

Then hurt.

Then angry.

“What the hell was that?” My voice came out rough.

Lucian didn’t move. Didn’t step forward. Didn’t check me,

Don’t say that shit to me again, he said coldly.

I blinked. what?

I stepped forward this time. Not backing down.

i...i don't understand..... the signs?” I demanded. “The way you act? The way you look at me? The way you—”

“Stop.”

I froze.

Lucian’s eyes are hard now. No softness,

“You’re Kael’s best friend,” he said. “That’s it. That’s all you’ll ever be.”

My chest tightened.

“…What?”

“I’m not like you,” he added, voice flat. “I’m not a fag. And I’m never going to have anything to do with you like that.”

That—

that hit deeper than the punch.

Everything in me just… paused.

But—my voice cracked,

you— you gave me signs—i..

Lucian let out a short breath. Almost like a laugh

“Yeah,” he said. “I did.”

My chest rose sharply. “So what was that?”

He tilted his head slightly, Fun.

“You had a crush on me,” he continued,

It was obvious, I played along. That’s it.”

I just stared at him.

Like I got hit again.

Harder this time.

“You’re lying,” I said quietly.

“I’m not.”

“You’re lying,” I repeated, weaker now.

He shrugged. “Believe whatever helps you sleep.”

My hands clenched at my sides.

“You don’t mean that,” I said, but there was no fight left in it now. “You don’t just do all that for fun—”

“I do,” he cut in. “And the protection?”

I looked up.

Hope,

Still stupidly there.

“That’s for my brother,” he said. “You matter to Kael. So I keep you alive. That’s it.”

Something inside me broke.

“…Right,” I said finally.

He didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t try to stop me.

I nodded once, Then I turned and walked out.

And behind me—

Lucian didn’t call my name.

---

The hallway felt longer than it was. Aaron didn’t know how he made it through it. His legs just moved, one step after the other, no thoughts, no direction, just distance.

Voices passed him. Someone said his name, but he didn’t answer. Didn’t even slow down. Because if he did, if he gave himself even a second to feel it, he knew it would hit, and he wasn’t ready for that.

He reached his room without remembering the walk. Closed the door. Locked it.

And just stood there for a second like his body hadn’t caught up with what had just happened.

Then his knees gave out.

He slid down against the door, the impact knocking the air out of him as he sat there, breathing unevenly, staring at nothing.

Just this tight pressure in his chest like something was trapped there, clawing, pushing, trying to break free and failing.

His hand came up to his mouth like he could hold it in.

But a broken sound slipped out anyway.

“Fun,” he repeated under his breath.

The word felt wrong.

Like it didn’t belong in his mouth anymore.

A shaky laugh followed, cracking halfway through.

“Thirteen years…” he whispered.

His head fell back against the door, eyes unfocused.

Every memory felt different now.

Every look, every touch, every moment he thought meant something had shifted.

His fingers curled into his shirt over his chest like he could rip it out. Like that would fix it.

It didn’t.

It only made it worse.

“I’m an idiot,” he said quietly.

Barely a sound.

And still — no tears.

That was the worst part.

Because this wasn’t something he could cry out and move on from.

And for the first time in a long time, Aaron felt it clearly.

Not anger.

Not confusion.

Just… alone.

---

Back in the office, Lucian hadn’t moved.

Not when the door closed.

Not after.

He stood exactly where Aaron left him, silent, still.

Then slowly, he let out a breath and dragged a hand down his face like he was trying to wipe something off that wouldn’t go away.

“Fuck” he muttered.

His jaw tightened.

His eyes dropped to the floor for a second before he straightened, picking up his phone like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t just broken something that couldn’t be undone.