Tangled Hearts

Chapter 30

Ethan had been avoiding his brothers, Noah and Nicholas, for days, a behavior so unlike him that it set off alarms in their minds. They had never seen him like this before, distant and withdrawn. Finally, unable to bear the tension any longer, they decided to confront him.

"What's going on with you, Ethan?" Noah asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Nothing," Ethan replied curtly, but the tightness in his voice betrayed him.

Nicholas exchanged a worried glance with Noah before stepping closer. "Something's clearly on your mind. You can talk to us," he urged, his tone gentle yet insistent.

Ethan shook his head, his frustration evident. "I told you, there's nothing."

But Noah wasn't about to let it go. "Ethan, we're your brothers. You can tell us anything," he said, his voice firm but full of compassion.

That was it. The dam broke. Ethan's usually composed demeanor shattered, and his eyes filled with tears. "Okay, fine," he said, his voice trembling. "Listen... I did something we've all been avoiding for a long time."

Nicholas leaned in, his curiosity laced with tension. "What did you do, Ethan?"

Ethan took a deep breath, his words heavy with the weight of what he was about to confess. "I told Kathrine to choose between us," he said, his voice cracking under the strain. "We all know we like her. We all know we can't all have her. So I told her to decide. She said she'll decide by tomorrow."

A stunned silence fell over the room. Noah's eyes widened in disbelief as he shook his head. "No, no, no..." he muttered, as if trying to undo what had already been set in motion.

At that moment, Ryan entered the mansion. He stopped short, taking in the scene before him-Ethan's tear-streaked face, the tense expressions of Noah and Nicholas. His own eyes filled with tears as memories flooded back, memories of a time long ago when he had faced a similar situation.

"So tomorrow's the day when everything changes," Nicholas said, his voice barely a whisper.

"Yes," Ethan replied, his tone hollow, as if all the fight had left him.

Without another word, the trio dispersed, each retreating to the solitude of their rooms, weighed down by the knowledge that by tomorrow, their lives-and their bond-might never be the same again.

On the other hand Katherine had spent days wrapped in a fog of confusion, replaying every moment between her, Ethan, Nicholas, and Noah. Every memory, every conversation, every touch felt like it was pulling her in different directions, leaving her heart torn and her mind exhausted. She barely ate, barely slept, unable to escape the relentless loop of thoughts and emotions that refused to let her go.

She couldn't stand the thought of hurting anyone, least of all Ethan. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that trying to keep things as they were would only hurt everyone involved, including herself. She needed clarity, needed to make a decision that would finally bring peace to her heart, even if it meant breaking it in the process.

It was on the third day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, that she made up her mind. She couldn't keep running from the truth. She had to face it head-on. She reached for her phone, her hand trembling as she scrolled through her contacts until she found Rhea's name. If there was anyone who could help her think this through, it was Rhea.

"Hey, Katherine," Rhea answered after a few rings, her voice warm and familiar. "What's up? You sound... off."

Katherine swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "Rhea, can we talk? I really need to talk to someone."

"Of course," Rhea replied without hesitation. "Come over. We can talk as long as you need."

Within the hour, Katherine was sitting in Rhea's room, her hands twisting nervously in her lap as she tried to find the right words to begin. Rhea sat across from her, her expression open and concerned, waiting patiently for Katherine to speak.

"I don't know what to do, Rhea," Katherine finally said, her voice small and filled with uncertainty. "Everything is such a mess. Ethan, Noah, Nicholas...

Rhea listened quietly, nodding for Katherine to continue. Katherine took a deep breath and began to tell her everything-She told Rhea about the unexpected conversations, the tangled emotions, and the choices she was suddenly faced with. "It all just happened so fast," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. she told about the kiss with Nicholas at the party, about Ethan's confrontation and his ultimatum, about the guilt and confusion that had been eating away at her ever since.

As the words spilled out, a sense of relief washed over her, but it was fleeting. She looked at Rhea with pleading eyes, hoping for some guidance, some clarity in the chaos that had taken over her life.

Then Rhea reached over and took Katherine's hand, squeezing it gently.

"Katherine," Rhea began softly, "I can't tell you who to choose. That's a decision only you can make. But what I can tell you is this you need to listen to your heart. Forget about what you think you should do, or what anyone else might want you to do. Who do you feel the most connected to? Who makes you feel safe, understood, loved?"

Katherine looked down at their joined hands, her mind swirling with Rhea's words. "But what if I make the wrong choice? What if I hurt someone?"

Rhea gave her hand another reassuring squeeze. "There's no such thing as a perfect choice, Katherine. You might hurt someone, yes. But continuing like this will only hurt everyone more in the long run. Be honest with yourself, and with them. That's the best thing you can do."

Katherine nodded slowly, taking in her friend's advice. She knew Rhea was right. She couldn't keep avoiding this, couldn't keep pretending that everything would somehow work itself out on its own. It was time to be brave. It was time to choose.

That night, Katherine lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about everything Rhea had said. She thought about Noah, about Nicholas, and Ethan and finally she made the choice.