Cereus
The soft jazz playing in the background seemed to mock the storm brewing within me. My heart pounded like a relentless drumbeat, each throb a plea for the truth. The door chimed, and my gaze snapped towards it. There he was, Leo, his usual casual attire contrasting sharply with the intensity in his eyes.
He slid into the opposite chair, his impatience evident. "Cereus, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I took a deep breath, my voice a mere whisper in the quiet cafe. "It's about Collin." The words felt like sandpaper on my throat.
His brows furrowed, a question mark etched on his face. "Collin? My... my brother?"I shook my head in agreement, the truth heavy on my tongue. "Yes. Yes, your brother. Your brother."
His eyes widened, shock replacing his initial curiosity. "What are you talking about?"
I launched into the story, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. About how Collin had been my math tutor, how we'd fallen in love, the promise of forever that had shattered into a million pieces. I described the day he vanished, the relentless search, the despair that had consumed me. The memory of those bleak months was a wound that refused to heal.
When I finished, the silence was deafening. Leo's face was a mask of emotions, shock, anger, and something else, a flicker of pain I couldn't quite decipher.
"Molly knows about this?" he asked, his voice low.
I nodded, my eyes meeting his. "She's been my rock through it all. She's the reason I managed to pick up the pieces.
"His jaw clenched. "She's angry. She feels betrayed. And I don't blame her."
I reached across the table, my hand finding his. "I know. And that's the problem, isn't it? The man who broke my heart is the brother of the man she loves."
His fingers tightened around mine. "I never meant to hurt her. I was scared. I didn't want her to see me differently."
I squeezed his hand. "I understand, Leo. But the truth always finds a way to come out."
We sat in silence for a long moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on us. As I looked at him, I saw a man torn between love and loyalty, a man who was as much a victim of circumstance as I was.
Leo stared at Cereus, lost in a whirlpool of memories. He saw his brother then, a carefree boy with a world of dreams. And then he saw him as the cold, calculating CEO. The transformation was jarring, but the pieces were slowly falling into place.He took a deep breath, his voice rough. "Cereus, I need to tell you something."Her eyes held a mixture of confusion and anticipation. He continued, "Six years ago, our lives changed drastically. Our parents died in a car accident. The driver disappeared. We suspected foul play, but there was no proof."He paused, his throat tight. "Collin was devastated. Overnight, he became the sole heir to Wusan Conglomerate. A world away from the math prodigy he wanted to be. I, on the other hand, retreated into myself, plagued by panic attacks and depression."His gaze met hers, a silent plea for understanding. "Collin was my rock. He shielded me from the vultures circling our family, the ones after our wealth. He worked tirelessly, building the company into what it is today."His voice softened as he continued, "After six months, I started to heal. And so did Collin, in his own way. One day, he told me he was going to see his sweetheart, the one who'd been his support system through the ordeal."He closed his eyes, the memory sharp. "I dismissed it, lost in my own world. When he returned, I asked about her. He simply said it was a joke, a way to escape the pressure for a while. Then, he buried himself in work."His eyes snapped open, focusing on Cereus. "Cereus, I think you're the sweetheart he was talking about. He didn't abandon you. He was forced to leave. And he came back to you."The words hung heavy in the air. Cereus's face was a mask of shock, disbelief, and a flicker of hope.