Ryan sat in the veranda , scrolling through his messages when he overheard the maids chatting nearby . Their voices floated through the open windows like whispers of fate .
" Did you hear ? The famous Mrs blackwood is planning for her son's , Soren's engagement," one maid whispered excitedly.
" To the sweet girl, Vivienne. She always wanted a daughter."
Ryan's hand froze mid-scroll. The words hit him harder than he expected. Vivienne? Engaged? To Soren?
His jaw clenched as he looked out over the photo which had been viral. Soren kissing Vivienne. Ryan was completely dumbstruck. And for a second he was very jealous. Something twisted inside his chest . He couldn't name the feeling, but it wasn't new. It had been there for a while- ever since he first met Vivienne. Her quiet strength, her graceful silence, the way her eyes avoided attention but held so much depth.
He didn't understand it. He barely knew her . But she had left an impression. And now, she was being pulled further into Soren's orbit. Who he considers his as his enemy.
Ryan stood abruptly, ignoring the maid's curious glances . He then sat in his car and drove as fast as he can and reached his office , and walked towards the his room where he knew Soren would be. His steps echoed louder than usual on the marble floor.
Soren was inside , flipping through documents on the desk . He looked up when Ryan entered.
Soren gave a bombastic side eye look to him and said , " why are you here?"
"So... Engagement,huh?" Ryan asked , folding his arms.
Soren blinked , then smirked slightly. "What is that to do with you huh??? " He said .
Ryan chuckled, but the sound was hollow . " Funny how fast things move. First , a fake girlfriend, now a fiance."
Soren's expression darkened. " Whats that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing ", Ryan said , stepping closer. " Just wondering if you even care about her. Or if this is just another thing you're doing to please Mother."
Soren stood , facing him . " Carefully ,Ryan . Don't twist this . I may have made mistakes, but iam trying to fix them."
Ryan's fists clenched at his sides . His voice lowered. " You don't even see her . Not really."
"And you do?" Soren asked , eyes narrowing.
Ryan hesitated for a heartbeat - a single pause that almost gave him away . Then he smirked . " She deserves better than being part of your message."
Soren took a step forward, their faces just inches apart . " If you have something to say. Ryan , say it. Don't dance around it".
Ryan started at him , every muscle in his body tensed. Words hovered on the tip of his tongue - confessions, accusations, everything tangled together. But he swallowed them all .
He turned and walked away . " Just hope she knows what she's getting into ."
Soren watched him go , suspicion clouding his thoughts.
That night Ryan sat alone in the garden . The moon was high , and the air was still. His thoughts spun restlessly .
He remembered the first time he saw Vivienne. The way her pitcher fell into the mud and it got splashed onto his face and dress, and the way he held her hands ..... He couldn't even imagine that his hatred towards her turned into Love . But still he was unaware of that .
After the embarrassing party , He wanted to talk to her and ask her forgiveness . But she always seemed distant . And then Soren swooped in with his charm and his smooth lies , dragging her into his games.
Now she was being tied to him forever. Ryan didn't know why it made him feel this way . Was it jealousy? Was it something deeper?
He leaned back and looked at the stars .
But couldn't tell anyone. Not even himself.
But the one thing was certain - he couldn't watch this unfold without doing something.
Even if it meant going against his own brother.
Even if he never got to say the words that turned in his chest .
He would protect her, from now on.
Even from Soren .
And ask for forgiveness for his mistake and for what he had done to her and for being always rude .
The winds had shifted. And though no one knew it yet , the calm before the storm had already passed .
Trouble was brewing.
And it wore the face of silence.