Chapter 163: Second chance

Alex stiffened instantly.

His expression darkened, something raw flashing in his eyes.

“That’s what I said before,” he muttered.

Jason frowned. “What?”

Alex let out a hollow laugh.

“I trusted someone with my life once, look how that turned out… badly. ”

His gaze snapped back to Jason.

“I’m not making that mistake again.”

Jason just stared at him.

For a moment, he said nothing, like he hadn’t expected that answer, or expected things to spiral this far.

Alex didn’t look at him. His eyes were already back on the screen.

The footage shifted and Lucas moved out of the kitchen, his laughter gone now, replaced by something more serious. He said a quick word to Zenith and Lizzy, then turned and headed toward the stairs.

Alex leaned forward slightly, tension creeping back into his chest.

Lucas climbed up, taking the stairs one at a time. As he reached the floor, he turned toward the hallway. Then headed toward his office.

Alex’s brows furrowed. “Where is he going?”

“Who?” Jason asked, then quickly moved around the desk to look at the screen. “Lucas?”

He followed the footage for a second, then nodded. “Yeah. He’s heading over here.”

Alex straightened slowly, confusion mixing with irritation. “What the hell for?”

Jason glanced at him. “Come on, big bro, you know what for.”

Alex didn’t respond.

“You guys need to talk this out,” Jason continued, his tone softer, but firm. “At least hear him out. Lucas is a good guy.”

Alex scoffed under his breath, looking away. Before he could respond a knock came on the door.

Both of them looked towards the door as the sound echoed in the room, heavier than it should’ve been.

Jason turned and looked back at Alex. “That’s him,” he said quietly.

Alex’s jaw tightened as another knock came. This time, it was a little firmer.

Silence stretched between the brothers. Jason took a step back, giving him space. “Just… listen to him,” he murmured.

Alex didn’t move. His eyes stayed on the door.  Because on the other side of it was Lucas.

The knock came again for the third time. This time, Jason moved.

He walked to the door and pulled it open.

Lucas stood there.

For a brief moment, the tension eased just enough for manners to slip through.

“Hey…” Lucas said quietly.

Jason gave a small nod. “Hey.”

Their eyes met, Jason’s filled with concern, Lucas’s with something heavier.

Then Lucas stepped in. The door closed behind him. His gaze lifted immediately and found Alex. Everything else faded.

“Alex…” he started, his voice low but steady, even though his chest was tight. “You’re misunderstanding everything.”

Alex let out a short, humorless laugh. “Am I?”

Lucas took a step forward. “Yes. What you saw, is not what it looked like. Something was wrong last night. The drinks…”

“Stop.” Alex’s voice cut through him like a blade.

Lucas froze.

“I’m not doing this,” Alex continued, pushing himself off the desk. “I’m not standing here while you try to twist what I saw into some excuse.”

“It’s not an excuse!” Lucas shot back, frustration breaking through. “It’s the truth!”

“The truth?” Alex echoed, his tone rising. “The truth is I saw you in bed with him!”

“And I told you we were drugged!” Lucas fired back, his voice cracking now. “I can't even recall being in bed with him. I wasn’t in control, Alex! Neither of us was!”

Alex shook his head, pacing slightly. “Convenient,” he muttered.

Lucas stared at him, hurt flashing across his face. “You think I’d do that to you? After everything we’ve been through. After all the care you gave to me.?”

“I thought,” Alex said, stopping and turning to face him, “that I trusted you but I was wrong.”

The words hit hard.

Lucas’s breath caught. “No…” he whispered, shaking his head. “No, you’re just angry. You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

Lucas swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay standing. “Then why didn’t you pick up my call?” he asked, desperation creeping in. “I tried to reach you before everything went black. If you had answered…”

“It wouldn’t change anything!” Alex snapped.

“It would have!” Lucas insisted, stepping closer. “You would’ve known something was wrong!”

“What I know,” Alex shot back, “is what I saw.”

Lucas stopped moving. Something in him still. “You’re not even trying to understand,” he said quietly.

Alex didn’t respond.

Lucas let out a shaky breath, his composure slipping. “You’re just… judging me based on one moment. One situation you don’t even have the full story about.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. “I don’t need more stories.”

That did it.

Lucas nodded slowly, pain settling deep in his chest. “Right,” he murmured. “Of course you don’t. I guess you've made up your mind already.”

Jason shifted uncomfortably by the door but didn’t interrupt.

Lucas looked at Alex one last time, his eyes searching, hoping for something to hold on to but there was nothing. He was expressionless and distant.

“Okay,” Lucas said softly and then stepped back.

“Since you’ve already decided who I am to you… a nobody, then I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

He turned toward the door, then paused briefly. Without looking back he said, “Alex, I didn’t betray you and I will never betray you because I love you.”

A beat of silence and he continued, “But since you’re choosing not to believe that, so be it.”

With a heavy heart, he walked out and the door shut behind Lucas with a quiet click.

A heavy and suffocating silence followed.

Jason didn’t move at first. He just stood there, staring at the door, as he could still see Lucas on the other side. Then slowly… he turned.

“What the hell was that?”

Alex didn’t answer.

Jason let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “No, seriously, what was that, Alex?” His voice rose. “He came here to explain, and fix things, but you didn’t even listen to him!”

Alex snapped, “Don't you dare raise your voice at me, Jason. I'm your big brother, not your junior in school. I've heard enough.” He turned and walked to the window.

“No, you didn’t hear anything! And the fact right now is that you're behaving like some junior in school.” Jason shot back, stepping forward.

Alex’s head snapped up in surprise. Jason had never talked to him in such a manner.

“You shut him down before he could even finish a sentence!” Jason’s eyes were blazing with anger. If Alex were a child, he would have spanked him.

“I don’t need to hear lies,” Alex snapped, turning away

Jason froze for a second, disbelief flashing across his face. “Lies?” he repeated. “That’s what you think that was?”

Alex’s jaw clenched. “That’s exactly what it was.”

Jason stared at him, searching his face like he didn’t recognize the person standing in front of him anymore.

“Wow…” he muttered, shaking his head slowly. “So that’s it? That’s how little you think of him now?”

Alex didn’t respond.

Jason laughed bitterly. “Unbelievable. The same guy you said you’d trust with your life. You just tore him apart without even giving him a chance.”