Chapter 3

Olivia found me in the guesthouse the next morning.

She carried a breakfast tray.

"Ethan, you didn't come for breakfast."

Her voice was soft.

Too soft.

Like she was afraid I'd break.

Or maybe she was the fragile one.

I just looked at her.

"I wasn't hungry."

She put the tray down.

"I thought... maybe we could go for a walk later? Like we used to?"

Her eyes held a plea.

I almost said no.

But then I thought, why not?

One last walk.

"Okay," I said.

She smiled. A small, relieved smile.

It didn't reach her eyes.

We were about to leave.

My jacket was on. Her hand on the doorknob.

Then Caleb appeared.

"Olivia? Are you going out?"

He looked pale. Artistically so.

A slight tremor in his voice.

"Just for a short walk, Caleb," Olivia said.

Her tone was reassuring.

"Oh." He looked down. "I was hoping... I feel a bit stronger today. Maybe I could join you? Fresh air might do me good."

Olivia hesitated.

She looked at me.

I kept my face blank.

"I don't want to intrude," Caleb said, his voice laced with false humility.

"Of course not, Caleb," Olivia said, too quickly. "You can join us. If you feel up to it."

He smiled. A small, triumphant smile.

"Thank you, Olivia. You're too kind."

I said nothing.

The walk was already ruined.

We walked through the gardens.

Olivia in the middle.

Caleb on one side, me on the other.

An awkward procession.

Caleb stumbled slightly.

Olivia immediately reached out.

"Careful, Caleb!"

She steadied his arm.

Her touch lingered.

The way she used to touch me.

When she was worried.

Or just wanted to be close.

A memory surfaced.

Us, walking on the beach.

Years ago.

I'd tripped on a piece of driftwood.

She'd caught me.

Laughed.

Kissed my scraped knee.

Her concern was so real then.

Now, watching her with Caleb.

It was like watching a distorted echo.

Painful.

Caleb coughed.

A delicate, attention-seeking sound.

"Actually, Olivia, I think I might have overdone it."

He pressed a hand to his forehead.

"I should probably go back and rest."

"Oh, Caleb, of course," Olivia said, all concern.

"Ethan, would you mind walking Caleb back to the house? I want to check on the roses by the old fountain."

She didn't wait for my answer.

She just smiled at Caleb.

"You go with Ethan. I'll be along in a bit."

She gave his arm a final pat.

Then she walked off.

Towards the roses.

Or away from me.

It felt the same.

Caleb and I walked in silence.

He leaned on me slightly.

More than necessary.

I could feel his weakness.

Or his act of weakness.

We neared the small bridge over the koi pond.

He suddenly lurched.

Not towards the house.

But towards the pond.

"My head," he gasped.

He stumbled.

Right at the edge.

He grabbed for the railing.

Missed.

And fell.

Into the shallow water.

With a theatrical splash.

"Help!" he choked. "I can't... I can't breathe!"

It was barely three feet deep.

I stood there for a second.

Stunned.

Then I heard Olivia scream my name.

"Ethan!"

She was running towards us.

Her face a mask of terror.

"What happened? Ethan, what did you do?"

She didn't even ask.

She accused.

She scrambled down the bank.

Pulled Caleb from the water.

He clung to her, coughing and sputtering.

"He... he pushed me," Caleb gasped.

Looking at me with wide, innocent eyes.

Olivia turned to me.

Her face was white with fury.

"How could you, Ethan?"

I tried to speak.

To explain.

But she wasn't listening.

She was cradling Caleb.

Whispering soothing words.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out.

A text from her.

Sent minutes ago.

Before Caleb fell.

"Meet me by the old fountain. I need to talk to you. Alone. Promise me you'll be there. Like you promised to always protect me."

A promise from years ago.

A lifetime ago.

I looked at her.

Cradling him.

Protecting him.

She had abandoned me.

Again.

For him.

I felt a sharp pain in my leg.

I'd twisted it when I stepped back from Caleb's lunge.

But I barely noticed.

The pain in my heart was far worse.