Chapter 25

"If it isn't my darling newlywed sister? To what do I owe the pleasure?" Abel asked.

Olivia couldn't help but laugh at her brother's words, feeling the warmth of their banter fill the room instantly.

She had decided to surprise him with an unannounced visit to his grand estate, and she made her way to his study, where she knew he'd be.

She chuckled, her eyes sparkling as she moved gracefully towards him, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace.

After exchanging other pleasantries, Abel's curious smile filled his face as he asked, "So, dear sister, how was your honeymoon? Did it live up to all your expectations?"

Olivia's smile widened as she reminisced about her time away. "It was a dream come true in its entirety, dear brother."

Abel's smile widened as he spoke, his voice filled with warmth. "I am delighted to hear that. Elliot truly is a good man."

Olivia raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes. With a playful scoff, she chuckled and teased, "And do you recall, dear brother, when you nearly thwarted my plans to marry him? Oh, how far we've come."

Abel shook his head, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "The past is but a distant memory, dear sister. We have both grown and learned from our experiences. It serves us not to dwell on what could have been."

As his words hung in the air, his expression dropped, and the jovial atmosphere suddenly settled into a brief silence. Sensing the change in her brother's demeanor, Olivia leaned in, her eyes locked on his face, silently urging him to share his thoughts.

She held her breath, her eyes fixed on him, waiting for his next words. The room seemed to hold its breath alongside her, the air thick with anticipation.

"I have found a woman, Olivia, and I have decided to take her as my wife," he finally declared, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

Olivia's eyes widened in shock, and his sudden announcement hung in the silence that ensued. She remained silent as her eyes inspected him. Aside from the weariness in his tone, she could see that he looked sick.

It was obvious he hadn't been eating well or getting enough sleep. He was heavily neglecting himself.

In a hushed tone, she spoke, her words tinged with reprieve, "Well, what is she like? Please, tell me more about this woman who has captured your heart."

Abel's gaze met hers, his eyes showing annoyance at her tone. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Her name is Lady Genevieve, a woman of impeccable lineage and beauty. She possesses all the qualities desirable in a future wife."

Olivia's brow furrowed. It was comically obvious that he was listing the woman's attributes based on the matchmaker's words. She studied her brother's face, searching for a glimpse of his true feelings.

A silence filled the room, and then, with gentle persistence, she asked, her voice laced with concern, "Brother, are you truly certain about this decision? It is your happiness that hangs in the balance."

"Yes, I am certain!" Abel's composure shattered suddenly, anger bubbling to the surface. He glared at her as he snarled, "Who are you to question me? Do not take liberties in our relationship, Olivia. I remain your elder brother."

Olivia's patience wore thin, and her voice was laced with frustration as she snapped back without missing a beat, "What on earth are you playing at, Abel? You're acting like a fool, and you know it!"

Abel's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in a simmering rage. "Excuse me?"

But Olivia wasn't finished. Her voice grew sharper, her words cutting through the tension in the room. "Do not pretend, Brother. I know the truth. You're in love with Bridget."

A flash of guilt flickered in his eyes, and he averted his gaze. His brow furrowed, his voice tinged with denial when he spoke, "I have never admitted to such a thing. What nonsense. You're conjuring up assumptions in your head, Olivia."

Olivia shook her head and scoffed, her voice rising as she pressed on, "Just tell me, Brother, why didn't you marry her after the scandal? You had every opportunity!"

Abel's expression darkened, a shadow crossing his features. He took a deep breath before responding, doing his best to keep calm. "You know not what you speak of, Sister. You shouldn't pretend to understand what you don't."

Olivia's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with accusation. "So what? You are going to claim you chose to protect her by sacrificing your own happiness? How noble of you, Abel."

"What are you even?—"

Olivia wasn't done. "Even if you like to keep up a strong front, marrying her now would have been an excuse to be yourself, wouldn't it? You could have hid behind the guise of fulfilling an obligation."

His eyes nearly popped out their sockets. "Olivia, you?—"

"Tell me why you couldn't just do the right thing, Brother! Why are you so addicted to pain?"

"I did propose to Bridget, Olivia! But she rejected me!! All right?!"

Abel's temper flared, his voice filled with anger as he snapped, sending angry reverberations across the room.

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise at this revelation. She had no idea. Her mind began swirling with different thoughts. She wondered why Bridget would reject him.

Abel's head bent, his voice trembled with vulnerability as he continued, "She doesn't even want to see me anymore. I was ready to marry her, to give her everything, but she turned me away."

Suddenly, he looked up, his eyes ablaze with fury. He declared, "I didn't ask for these feelings, and that is certain, Olivia! This is all Bridget's fault!"

Olivia arched an eyebrow, taken aback by his second sudden outburst.

He continued, his words pouring out in a torrent of frustration, "She came into my life and changed everything, and then she just rejected me. She's a callous woman, heartless!"

Olivia let out a weary sigh and shook her head. Her voice tinged with frustration, she said, "These are all just excuses, Brother."

His glare met her gaze, his mouth poised to speak, but she swiftly interrupted him.

"No, don't say anything yet. Hear me out," Olivia urged, her voice firm but compassionate. "You love Bridget, so you should fight for her. You cannot let this rejection be the end. True love is worth fighting for, even in the face of adversity."

Abel shook his head, a mix of resignation and pain etched on his face. "I cannot, Olivia. It's not that simple," he murmured, his voice heavy with defeat.

A sardonic laugh escaped Abel's lips, his bitter words dripping with self-deprecation. "Perhaps it's for the best that Bridget rejected me. After all, I had no intention of marrying a woman I love."

Her gaze remained fixed on him, her eyes filled with determination as she posed a question that weighed heavily on her heart. She had heard this notion of his once before but never got around to asking.

"Brother, why would you ever plan not to marry for love?"

However, his patience wore thin again, his voice laced with frustration as he snapped, "It's none of your business, Olivia. Just drop it."

Undeterred by his dismissive response, she persisted, her voice steady and unwavering, "I would like to understand. Why would you deny yourself the chance at true happiness?"

Met with his silence, she inquired again, "Surely you have felt the blissful emotions and wonders love brings to a soul. Why would you choose to consciously reject a lifetime of that?"

Abel's eyes met hers once more, a flicker of vulnerability momentarily breaking through his defenses. He let out a sigh, and his voice wavered as he admitted, "I'm scared, Olivia. Scared of what love does."

He hesitated, his fear seeping into his voice as he added, "What if I marry for love, and that marriage ends up like our parents'?"

Olivia's eyes widened. It all made sense. Her voice softened, assurance evident as she leaned closer. "Abel, our parents' marriage was a tragedy, but it doesn't mean our own love stories will follow the same path. We have the power to create our own destinies."

His gaze fell to the table, his voice filled with a solemn resignation. "And if I'm not strong enough to endure the pain, Sister? What if indeed I am destined to repeat their mistakes?"

Olivia reached out, her hand gently resting on Abel's, her voice filled with compassion. "You are stronger than you think, Brother. Love can be both beautiful and challenging, yes, but it's worth the risk."

Her heart ached for him, seeing the pain etched on his face. She gently reached out, her touch a comforting reassurance as she whispered, "Brother, you are not destined to repeat our parents' mistakes because your life is your own, and you have the power to shape it."

His voice was filled with vulnerability as he opened up further. "You don't understand the depth of my fear, Sister. I've always carried this fear. As the firstborn, I felt the weight of their legacy on my shoulders. As the firstborn?—"

"Brother, I stand firm on believing our parents' choices do not define us. We are individuals with our own paths to walk."

Her eyes glistened with empathy as she spoke from the depths of her heart. "Love may have its challenges, but it also holds the potential for immense joy and fulfillment. And you more than anyone deserve that happiness, Brother. You do."

Abel's eyes glistened as he leaned forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. His tone was filled with gratitude as he whispered, "Thank you, dear sister. Your words give me hope."

When they pulled away, Olivia's gaze lingered on her brother, uncertainty etched on her face.

After a moment of contemplation, she let out a sigh and decided to share the weighty news at last.

"Brother," she began apprehensively, "I came here today to share something with you." She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. With a heavy heart, she continued, "Bridget… is leaving, Abel. She's made the decision to go far away, and it seems she intends to stay away indefinitely."

As the words escaped her lips, Olivia watched his expression shift from confusion to disbelief. She could see the pain etched on his face as he struggled to process the news.

Abel's heart sank as her words hung in the air, the weight of her revelation hitting him like a ton of bricks.

"Bridget… i-is leaving?" he stammered, his voice filled with shock.

Olivia's gaze softened, her eyes brimming with sympathy. "I'm afraid it's true, Brother. She has made her decision, and she intends to depart indefinitely."

Abel's heart clenched in anguish as the realization washed over him like a crashing wave. He had convinced himself that he could bear the pain of Bridget remaining unmarried or even marrying someone else as long as he could still see her.

But the mere thought of never laying eyes on her again was unbearable. His desperation consumed him, and he turned to his sister with wide, pleading eyes.

"Where is she? Where is she now?!"

Olivia was taken aback by the intensity of Abel's desperation, her heart racing in response. She hesitated for a moment, then composed herself and replied, "Bridget… she's most likely on her way to their second estate by now, far from here."

Abel's breath caught in his throat as he absorbed her words. Without a second thought, he bolted towards the door, his determination fueling his every step. The weight of his emotions propelled him forward, his heart pounding in his chest.

He had to reach her. He had to express the depths of his feelings before it was too late.