Chapter 173: I’m Glad You’re Still Alive
"Let’s go... I really need to release some steam..." Daisy declared, her steps sharp as she headed straight for the main door.
Aurora blinked, startled by the sudden outburst, then quickly rushed after her. "Daisy—wait! Where exactly are we going?"
Daisy didn’t slow down, her feet stomping against the floor with annoyance. "Bar?" She suddenly stopped and turned to Aurora, who finally caught up with her.
"But Daisy..." Aurora tilted her head, "both of us... err, we don’t drink."
"Club?" Daisy raised her eyebrows, then gave a small shrug.
Aurora chuckled. "You’re bad at dancing..."
Daisy gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Excuse me? I am fantastic at dancing. You just can’t handle my moves."
Aurora burst into laughter, holding up her hands. "Right, right. I can already imagine the headlines ’Local wife terrifies entire club with octopus-style dancing.’"
"Yah!" Daisy smacked her arm, but a reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "Fine... no club." She pouted, then tapped her chin in thought. "Bowling? No, too sweaty. Karaoke? Hm...?"
"Deal! Karaoke!" Aurora jumped in before Daisy could change her mind, eyes sparkling with excitement.
As they walked out, already half-planning which songs to scream into the mic, Liam subtly signaled the security team to follow them, quietly, without the girls noticing.
Then, with a heavier expression, he made his way upstairs. Without even knocking, Liam pushed open the door to Theo’s room.
Theo was still standing in the middle of the room, clearly unsettled, confusion etched deep into his face. His eyes flicked up the moment Liam stepped in.
"So..." Theo’s voice came out low, hesitant. "You’re telling me... that is my wife?"
Liam leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Why? Recall something?"
Theo’s brows furrowed, his lips parting as if he wanted to say yes, but he shook his head slowly. "No... not exactly. It’s just..." His gaze wandered toward the window, distant. "She looked... No, not looked. I think she is Elly..."
Liam frowned. "What do you mean she is Elly? You mean... your so-called first love?"
Theo nodded hard, still in disbelief. "She looks more mature now, but I swear... It’s her. I mean, before, I only ever saw her from afar—"
Liam suddenly burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Wait, wait... let me digest this... So all this time, those ’two times’ you bragged about meeting her... weren’t actual dates? You were just staring at her from a distance?"
Theo’s face flushed as he waved his hands defensively. "Hey—don’t make it sound like I was some creepy stalker, alright? I—"
Before he could finish, Liam suddenly stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.
Theo froze, arms stiff at his sides. "Wha—Liam?!"
"Just... stay still," Liam muttered, his voice low but firm. "I know this is cringe, but... Brother, I’m just glad you’re still alive."
Theo’s throat tightened, the word brother hitting harder than he expected.
Liam held on, his voice softening. "But more than that... I miss this Theo—the real one. The brother who used to smile, who used to laugh. The one you locked away after Julian’s death. The one you buried when you created Elias."
Theo stiffened, his breath catching. His brows knitted as he muttered, almost in disbelief, "What do you mean by... Julian’s death?"
Liam’s arms fell back to his sides, his expression freezing.
Theo took a step back, shaking his head slowly. His eyes darted, confusion rippling across his face. "Julian... isn’t dead. He was just with me... just—" His voice broke off, his hand clutching at his temple as if trying to drag the memory out.
Theo took a step back, shaking his head slowly. "Julian... isn’t dead. He was just with me—just—" His words fractured, cut short by a sharp groan as his hand flew to his temple.
"Damn it." Theo staggered, his knees almost giving out.
Liam caught him by the shoulders, steadying him quickly. "Theo! Hey, look at me... breathe, alright? Just breathe." His voice dropped, calm but urgent, like he’d always done.
Theo gritted his teeth, his face pale as he clutched at his head. "No... no, this doesn’t make sense... Julian’s not..."
"I know. I know." Liam held him firmly, lowering his voice to a soothing murmur. "Don’t force it. Just stay with me, alright? I know this is too much for you to handle... but it’s the fact."
Theo’s breathing grew ragged, his body trembling under the weight of the words. He shook his head violently, clutching tighter at his skull as if he could rip the pain away.
"Stop it!" His voice cracked, raw and desperate. "SHUT UP!"
The outburst echoed through the room, leaving a sharp silence in its wake. Liam’s grip didn’t falter, if anything, he tightened his grip on Theo’s shoulders, his expression tightening as though bracing himself for the storm about to break.
Theo’s hands clawed at his temples, eyes squeezed shut. "It hurts... Why can’t I remember properly? Why does it feel like my head is splitting in half?"
Liam swallowed hard, torn between anger and pity. He pressed a firm hand against the back of Theo’s neck, grounding him. "Because you’re stuck between then and now. You’re clinging to the time before Julian’s death... and your mind can’t decide which reality to hold onto." His teeth sank into his lip, frustration leaking through. "Maybe it’s because the current you... couldn’t bear all the pressure and—" His voice faltered, emotions tightening his throat.
Theo staggered, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, but Liam only tightened his hold, lowering his voice into a steady rhythm. "Breathe with me. Just breathe. You’re here, with me. You’re alive. You’re not nineteen anymore."
Theo’s body shook, his breath ragged. Suddenly, he shoved at Liam’s chest with trembling fists, his voice tearing out hoarse and broken.
"Liar! Liar!" he shouted, over and over, like the word itself could drown out the truth he didn’t want to face. His eyes glistened, wild with fear, rage, and something far more fragile beneath it. "What the hell do you plan to do by lying to me?!!"