Elias stood at the hospital room door, hesitating to step inside. Marcellus had fallen back into a deep sleep after his conversation with Livia.
Through the narrow gap in the door, Elias could see Livia sitting beside Marcellus's bed, her expression heavy with complex emotions. In her eyes, there was concern, heartache, and… perhaps even a deep affection she herself might not want to admit.
Elias's heart clenched.
He didn't want to acknowledge it, but the truth was undeniable—she had always loved Marcellus.
He should have expected it. He should have realized it long ago. Yet just hours ago, he had still believed he had a chance. At the top of the Ferris wheel, when he held her hand, she hadn't pulled away. He had even come so close… so close to kissing her.
But then, the explosion shattered everything in an instant.
A bitter thought crossed his mind—if that explosion had come just a few minutes later, would things have been different?
But reality didn't deal in "what-ifs."
His gaze fell upon Marcellus, the man who had always been strong, distant, and impossible to read. Now, he looked so fragile. His face was deathly pale, his lips drained of color, bandages wrapped around his forehead and arm, and his chest rose and fell weakly, as if even breathing caused him pain.
At that moment, Elias's emotions were a tangled mess.
He had always believed that all he felt toward Marcellus was resentment. Growing up, he had been trapped in his shadow—always the overlooked second son, always expected to be ready to sacrifice himself for him. Though they were not blood brothers, everyone had accepted Marcellus's strength without question, leaving Elias with nothing but his inferiority.
Yet now, seeing Marcellus so gravely injured, Elias realized something—no matter what, they were still brothers.
He thought he hated him. But seeing him lying there, so vulnerable, it felt as if a knife had been driven straight into his chest, making it hard to breathe.
He cared about Marcellus, far more than he had ever admitted.
—And yet, he also cared about Livia.
The most painful part was that he could see it now—Livia's feelings for Marcellus ran far deeper than she was willing to admit.
Elias closed his eyes for a moment before finally pushing open the door.
Livia, startled by the sound, looked up, momentarily surprised to see him.
Elias's gaze swept over her before landing on Marcellus. A flicker of unreadable emotion crossed his eyes. He stepped closer to the bed, staring down at the man who was both so familiar and yet so distant. His voice was slightly hoarse. "What did the doctor say?"
Livia gathered herself and replied softly, "He's out of danger, but he won't be able to walk for a while. He needs plenty of rest."
Elias nodded but said nothing, simply standing quietly by the bedside.
The silence in the room was suffocating. Livia sensed something off in Elias's demeanor, her heart tightening slightly. She was about to speak when Elias suddenly let out a low chuckle, his voice laced with irony.
"How ironic… The moment he falls, you're this heartbroken?"
Livia stiffened, her brows furrowing. "Elias, what are you trying to say?"
Elias slowly turned to look at her, his gaze layered with complexity and pain. "Livia, I just want to know… If the one lying here today was me, would you feel the same way?"
Livia's breath hitched, her heart clenching.
There was no blame in Elias's voice, only a quiet calm. But the more composed he seemed, the more it hurt.
She understood what he meant—of course, she would be worried if Elias were the one injured. Of course, she would be sad.
But it wouldn't feel like this.
She couldn't deceive herself. And neither could Elias.
Elias stared at her for a long moment before finally exhaling deeply. He forced a faint smile. "Forget it. I don't want to force you. And I don't want to force myself either."
With that, he turned his gaze back to Marcellus, his expression growing even more conflicted.
He had never truly acknowledged Marcellus's vulnerabilities before. But now, for the first time, he realized—he was afraid of losing him.
Slowly, Elias reached out and patted Marcellus's shoulder lightly, his voice low. "Get better soon. I don't want to see you lying around like this."
Livia watched him, an indescribable feeling stirring within her.
She knew that those words weren't just a casual remark—they were Elias's way of admitting something.
Admitting that their bond was not just about rivalry and conflict.
But that they were, at their core, truly brothers.
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the steady rhythm of Marcellus's breathing and the unspoken emotions lingering between them.
Then, suddenly, Marcellus stirred.
Livia's heart clenched, and she immediately leaned in closer. "Marcellus?"
His eyelashes trembled slightly, his brows furrowing as if he were in discomfort. His lips parted, and in a voice so hoarse it was barely audible, he muttered, "…Too noisy."
Livia froze, then let out a small, teary laugh.
Elias was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a wry smile. "Still the same as ever."
Marcellus's eyes slowly opened. His vision was unfocused at first, but as he took in Livia's face, clarity returned. His gaze swept over her tear-streaked eyes before shifting to Elias standing nearby. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"What, I get a little banged up, and you're already looking at me like that?"
Livia bit her lip, wanting to say something, but in the end, she simply reached out and held his hand tightly.
Marcellus felt the warmth of her palm, his expression flickering slightly. But soon, he masked it with his usual nonchalance. His thumb brushed lightly over her fingertips, his voice low and soothing. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Livia lowered her head, saying nothing, only gripping his hand tighter.
Elias stood by, silently watching the scene before him. After a long breath, he finally turned and walked toward the door.
Just before stepping out, he paused, glancing back at Marcellus one last time. A faint, unreadable smile played on his lips.
"Well, since you're awake, I guess I can stop worrying."