Page 92 of Rivals Next Door

He smiled slightly. “Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but you know damn well I could never run BioTech or hold everything together the way you have. Admittedly, I was more wrapped up in my depression and drugs.” He shrugged. “I’ve learned to take accountability.”

I’d never felt prouder of my brother. This was what I had hoped for—that he’d take his life back into his hands.

“I’m learning to be honest too.” He looked me in the eyes. “I’ve always accused you of being Dad’s perfect little soldier because I was jealous that he didn’t see in me what he saw in you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“That was never your fault. I can see that now. But after Dad died, you threw yourself into the business, just like he did. You became obsessed with keeping that company and making sure everything was perfect. It was like you forgot about everything else, including me. You even hid me like they did.”

“What do you mean, Liam?”

“Mom and Dad went to great lengths to shove me under the carpet. Instead of taking the time out to listen to me, they used PR tactics to keep my actions buried. Each time they did, I did something crazier. It was a cry for help, but…” He hung his head. “There I go, blaming others for my actions. My new therapist is helping me with that.”

“You’re seeing a therapist?” I asked with disbelief. I’d been trying to get him to see one for years to no avail.

He nodded.

“That’s great,” I said.

“She said to be honest with you about all the reasons why I’m angry. When you took over, you continued to hide me as if I was the Brentwoods’ dirty little secret just as our parents did.”

“Liam, that was never my intention, I swear. I just wanted to keep our family business private…”

“I know,” he said quietly. “But you pushed me away. I felt like I didn’t matter, like the only thing that mattered to you was the company. I needed my sister, not another parent.”

I stared at the floor as shame and regret coursed through me.

“And…”

My eyes flickered back to him. “God, there’s more?”

He laughed, and the sound of it after so long made me smile. The last time I heard a genuine laugh from my brother was… I couldn’t even remember.

He shrugged. “The therapist said to get it all out.”

I sighed heavily because I really didn’t want to hear more about how I failed my brother. “Have at it then.”

“I was disappointed in you for a long time for something else you did.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What was that?”

“What you did to Alex…” He frowned. “I heard everything that night, Livy. The argument between you and Dad… his threats and your anger.”

I could practically feel all the blood drain from my head as I stared at him. The thought of having a witness to my cowardice was humiliating. “How…?”

“I guess by that time, I’d become invisible.” He shook his head. “You guys didn’t see me sitting under the stairs. I thought Alex was the one person who could finally make you stand up to Dad but then you gave in to the old man. I always thought you were weak for that.”

I went from being relieved that my brother was talking to me to being utterly disgusted with myself. He was right. I was weak. I let the one person down who would have died before he let me down because I was afraid of my father. A tear slid down my cheek and then another.

Liam’s expression twisted into agony. “God, Livy, I didn't mean to make you cry. I’m just trying to put everything out there so we can fix things…” He gawked. “I’ve never seen you cry before.”

I let out a sob. “So everyone keeps saying. I’m so damn hormonal!”

His brow crinkled. “Okay…”

“I was only trying to protect Alex,” I whined. “Am I so horrible for wanting to protect the man I love?”

He gazed at me with sympathy, which was new. “Of course not. I just wish you hadn’t hurt the one real friend I had just to please Dad. Maybe you should have had more faith in your boyfriend and what you two shared. Alex never would have hurt or let you go without a fight had the situation been reversed.”

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