Chapter 3 She deserves the Truth

Ken's Pov

He ignored me.

His fists were clenched at his sides, his jaw locked so tight it looked painful.

"You have five seconds to tell me what the hell is going on before I make you regret whatever the hell this is."

Ken just laughed.

A slow, deliberate chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Careful, Alex." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it.

Alex's grip on his collar tightened, his knuckles turning white.

Alex's held on my shirt shook, but not just out of anger but also out of terror.

His breathing was erratic, like a man struggling to breathe in a room that was about to collapse.

His fear was heavy and restrictive, and I could taste it. I was going to relish every moment as he crumbled.

"Get your hands off me, brother," I teased, my tone dripping with slow,

deliberate cruelty.

His fists clenched, and his whole body stiffened with rage. His jaw gritted as he forced, "You son of a..."

I chuckled, dark and slow, as I pushed him away just enough to adjust my shirt. He was breaking, and God, it was gorgeous.

"You actually thought you could change, didn't you?" I mumbled while tilting my head.

"That you could bury your past under fake promises and borrowed sincerity?"

Alie stirred at us, her perplexity evident in the tremble in her breath.

Her fingers gripped the thin cloth like armor around her, as though it might somehow protect her from the reality I was about to reveal.

"What the fuck is happening?"

Her voice faltered, not sure, but she demanded.

Alex refused to look at her.

A very great mistake,he made.

He was confessing by keeping silent.

That alone made me want to fuel the atmosphere with my selfish desire.

I took a step nearer and spoke softly enough for him to hear.

"Alex, tell her," I said. Allowing every word to pierce him like a knife.

Tell her about the series of affairs you have been having, rendering girls useless.

Make her know how you took none of them important.

Alex's jaw tightened, his throat contracting as he swallowed the words he wanted to speak.

He couldn't speak those words. I looked at Alie, watching her collapse in real time.

"You were never supposed to be different, Alie." My voice had softened, almost empathetic, which was deceptive in and of itself.

"But you are, aren't you?" I laughed, shaking my head.

"Poor thing...." Actually I believed she was unique."

Alie tensed, her fingers wrapping around the blankets.

"Alex?"

Her voice broke as if it were glass under strain.

Alex eventually turned, his expression filled with guilt, despair, and love.

"Alie, don't listen to him."

His voice was harsh and beseeching.

"He's distorting the truth.

"He has no idea what he is saying."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Oh, Alex." I leaned in slightly. "Then why don't you tell her who was behind her mother's death?"

The world froze.

Alie's breath hitched, her eyes widening. "My... mother's death?" Her voice was barely there, a fragile thing, like a bird with broken wings.

Alex went rigid.

I smiled. "Yes. That night, that accident, was it really an accident?"

Alie staggered back, shaking her head like she could physically reject my words. "No... that's not..." She clutched her chest, her breaths turning shallow.

Alex turned on me, his face pale. "Ken, stop."

But I wasn't done.

"And while we're at it," I continued, stepping closer, "why don't you tell her about Carmelle?"

A sharp gasp broke from Alie's lips, her body visibly shaking now.

She looked between us, searching for answers, for something solid to hold onto, but everything was slipping.

"Alex... please," she whispered, desperation leaking into her voice.

Alex's hands trembled at his sides. "It's not..."

"......what does she think?" I turned to him, laughing humorlessly. "You've been feeding her lies from the start.

But I'll give you this, you almost had me fooled too. Almost thought you actually loved her."

His eyes burned with something violent.

I tilted my head. "But then again, you do love her, don't you?" I sighed dramatically. "Tragic, really.

The one time you actually fall for someone, and it just has to be the girl whose mother's blood is on your hands."

Alie's knees buckled, her body folding in on itself as a strangled sob escaped her lips.

Alex whipped toward her, reaching out, but she recoiled as if his touch would burn her.

"Alie, please," he begged, his voice wrecked with agony. "I swear, I-"

She lifted her head, and the look in her eyes shattered something inside me.

She wasn't just hurt.

She was ruined.

And I had done that.

Alex turned to me then, his eyes dead of all warmth. "You wanted to destroy me?" he whispered, his voice barely holding together.

I smiled, slow and satisfied.

"I already have."

"Get out of here this very minute!" Alie screamed

" Yes, I mean the both of you should get out!" She sobbed

I smiled mischievous as Alex burned in anger, I guess I have broken his wings.

I took a step towards Alie but was met with a thunderous slap.

"You bitch!"

I clenched my fist and wanted to squeeze the life out when the doctor bumped in.

Unaware of what was going on, the doctor was perplexed.

Alex stepped out.

The doctor went towards Alie, checked her blood pressure and walked towards me.

He asked me to excuse her so she could rest a bit.

I turned to where she was seated, for the very first time, I had pity on her.

I wanted to speak but the atmosphere was tense.

"I will be back, doc." I said and hurriedly went to the car.

The moment I stepped outside, the cold air hit me, but it did nothing to quell the fire in my veins.

Alex stood by his car, hands gripping the roof so hard his knuckles had turned white. His head was bowed, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths.

I took my time walking over, savoring the silence, the weight of what had just happened.

"She hates you now," I murmured, stopping beside him. "It must be a new feeling for you."

Alex didn't move, didn't even flinch. But I saw the way his jaw tightened, the way his fingers flexed like he wanted to take a swing at me.

I almost wished he would.

"She deserved the truth," I continued, staring up at the darkening sky