Page 39 of Enemies with My Brother's Billionaire Bestie

She looks devastated. “Wait, you’re ruining this because of my brother?”

“I’m ending this because it makes no sense, Ollie. We make no sense,” I spit, knowing how much damage my words inflict.

Tears spill down her cheeks, glistening like broken glass. “You’re only saying this to make me hate you. I know you love me, El—you told me.”

With a sly grin playing on my lips, I reply, “I changed my mind, Ollie. That’s how real life works, dear. We say one thing today and mean another tomorrow.”

“Stop it, Elliot! You can’t keep pushing away the people who care about you!” she screams, and I can see the cracks in her faith in me deepening.

“Look around; this isn’t a fairytale where everyone gets a happy ending. It’s time you wake up, Cinderella. I’m not coming back, Ollie, so it’s best if you leave,” I say, turning my back on her.

She stares at me as if I’ve just turned into a monster. My heart shatters—this is harder than I ever imagined it would be.

“I’ll leave, El, but if you don’t come back in three days, I’ll take it as a sign that you’re done for good,” she says, her voice trembling.

As she heads for the door, I nearly run after her, but I stop myself. She turns around for one last look. “If you don’t come back, know that you didn’t just break my heart—you broke yours too. You broke the promise we made because all I ever did was love you.”

When the door closes softly behind her, my knees buckle, and I sink to the floor, staring at the space she just vacated. I remain there, motionless, until the sun sets, leaving the room cloaked in darkness.

A gentle knock interrupts my solitude. “Elliot? Are you here?” my mother calls, searching for the light switch.

“Don’t turn it on, Mom. I don’t want you to see me like this,” I choke out, and she finds her way to my side through the shadows.

She settles beside me, her presence a balm to my aching heart. “Who told you I was here?” I ask, my voice a mere whisper.

“I heard from Olivia. She didn’t want you to be alone,” she replies, and my lips tremble with the emotions that had been dormant just hours ago.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice tender.

Biting down on my lips to hold back tears proves futile. “No, Mom. Honestly, this is the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” I admit, allowing the tears to flow.

I’ve experienced heartache—I thought I had—but this is different. A part of me died when Olivia walked out that door, a part that may never be found again.

Sniffling, I confess words I didn’t even share with Olivia. “I was going to marry her, Mom. That’s how much I love her, but what if I mess things up…” My voice trails off, choked by uncertainty.

“You can’t keep sabotaging your happiness because of something that may or may not happen, dear,” she says, stroking my hair like I’m still her little boy—and maybe today, I want to be.

“You and Dad were so happy together, and yet he cheated.”

“But you’re not your father, Elliot. It’s time you stopped paying for his mistakes,” she says gently. “You’ve carried too much weight for too long, and I miss my sweet little boy. The one who was loving, trusting, and unafraid of chasing after what he wants.” Her voice breaks with her own tears.

Bowing my head in shame, I struggle to remember that side of me—I haven’t seen him in ages. “I don’t… I don’t know how to be that person anymore.”

She pats my cheek, her smile faint but encouraging. “You will find him. You just need to search deeper, and you’ll see.”

I know what I need to do, but the real question is: where do I start? And will Daniel ever forgive me? Will Olivia ever want me again?

Chapter twenty-five

Olivia

Iwait for him, counting the minutes and days, but he doesn’t come. After all the heartfelt words Elliot said to me, I spend countless nights tossing and turning, praying for him to show up with an explanation, an apology—anything that might help me understand.

What’s even more pathetic than being heartbroken by him is how my heart still yearns for him. My dreams of him refuse to fade. I can’t hate him; I’ve tried, but every attempt crumbles in the face of my lingering affection. That’s why, even after a week of silence, I’m still waiting.

A soft knock on my bedroom door pulls me from my thoughts. My brother’s voice on the other side is the last thing I need right now—especially since he’s the one who caused all of this.

“Go away! I don’t want to talk to you!” I yell, the bitterness spilling over.

---