Elias's gaze flitted around the room, his fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of his sleeve, brows tightly furrowed, as if weighing whether to speak—or avoiding the awkwardness and pain that might arise if he did. Inside, a whirlwind of complex emotions churned—on one hand, he wanted to be honest with Marcellus, to let him know Livia's true thoughts; on the other, he worried that his words might make the situation more tense, even deepening the rift between them.
His breathing grew slightly rapid, his throat felt blocked, and every time he tried to speak, hesitation swallowed the words. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on his palms. In the air, he seemed to be grasping for a straw to steady himself—but there was nothing to hold onto.
Finally, Elias let out a soft sigh, his gaze falling on the chair beside him, as if he had made up his mind. He slowly walked over, pulled the chair in front of Marcellus, movements heavy with hesitation and a subtle lack of strength, as if sitting down with this small ritual might calm the storm in his heart.
Once seated, he leaned slightly forward, fingers interlaced over his knees, eyes still flickering with complex light. He drew a deep breath and finally spoke:
"Alright… I'll tell you what happened back then. I'm not sure whether this will comfort you or burden you, but I can't remain silent any longer."
The air in the room carried a subtle tension. Elias's voice was low but firm, each word imbued with struggle and sincerity. Inside him, it felt as though he were being pulled in two directions—half of him aching for Livia, filled with concern, the other half filled with respect and apprehension toward Marcellus.
The night outside was deep, the room lit by only a dim yellow lamp. Elias leaned against the chair back, eyes closed, occasionally hearing the sound of wind brushing past the window. Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door, breaking the stillness of the night. He furrowed his brows, a trace of curiosity arising: who would come at this hour—an accident, or something urgent?
He rose gently and walked to the door. His fingers touched the handle, and he slowly opened it—through the crack, a familiar silhouette appeared. It was Livia. In the night, her outline was soft yet resolute, her slightly trembling eyes flickering with struggle and pain. Elias's heart skipped a beat. Though he still harbored feelings for her, she was now Marcellus's wife. A late-night visit like this could lead to uncontrollable consequences, no matter the outcome.
He forced his emotions down, steadying his voice, keeping the door half-open: "What's the matter, Livia?"
Livia lifted her gaze, fixing her eyes on his, as if seeking some support from him. Then she stepped forward decisively, one hand closing the door behind her with a muted thud: "Let's talk inside."
Elias froze for a moment. With the door closed, there was no escape; he was both surprised and slightly tense—but the curiosity and concern deep inside him made resistance impossible. He swallowed, raising a hand to gesture for her to sit: "…Alright, we can talk inside."
Livia sat down, hands tightly clasped, breathing slightly fast, eyes resolute yet flickering with pain. Her voice, when it came, was low and tinged with anger:
"Marcellus is a bastard. I don't want to trust him anymore. He did something disloyal to me."
Elias was stunned. His chest tightened as Livia spoke so bluntly, as if the night itself paused to listen to her words. Reason told him the weight and danger of her statement, yet his emotions surged instantly—surprise, confusion, heartbreak, and an unspeakable concern.
He tried to keep his expression calm, but his eyes flickered, fingers tensed and relaxed in turn. His mind raced: what did this mean? Why would Livia say this? What exactly did she want? And how should he respond to this sudden, tense night?
The room fell into brief silence, broken only by the wind brushing the window lattice, producing faint whispers. Elias turned his gaze to Livia, noticing the quiver at her lips and the flicker of tears in her eyes. His heart tightened. Deep down, he felt that this night would completely change something between them…