Tangled Hearts

Chapter 31

As soon as Ryan hung up the phone, he called James. The urgency in his voice made it clear that this was no ordinary situation. James, understanding the gravity of the matter, rushed over without hesitation. The two of them were tense, anxiety gnawing at them as they worried about their brothers.

The next morning, the trio-Ethan, Noah, and Nicholas-emerged from their rooms, looking like shadows of their former selves. Their eyes were hollow, their faces pale, as if the life had been drained out of them. They moved silently, the weight of the impending decision hanging over them like a dark cloud.

Suddenly, Ethan's phone rang, shattering the silence. He hesitated before answering, the blood draining from Noah and Nicholas's faces as they watched him.

"She's calling you," Noah whispered, his voice trembling with fear. "Does that mean... she chose you?"

"No, no... this can't be happening," Nicholas muttered, shaking his head in denial.

Ethan's heart pounded, torn between elation and dread. He was happy-of course he was-but one look at his brothers, and it felt like his heart was being ripped apart. He glanced at Ryan and James, desperate for guidance.

James, seeing the turmoil in Ethan's eyes, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ethan," he said solemnly, "it's all up to you now. You have to choose between your brothers and that girl. If you choose her, you'll lose them. But if you choose your brothers, you'll lose her. The choice is yours," James finished, his words heavy with the weight of the decision.

Ryan, who had been silently watching his younger brother's torment, couldn't bear it any longer. The memories of his own heartbreak resurfaced, too painful to relive. Without a word, he turned and left the room, unable to witness what might happen next.

Ethan, feeling the pressure from all sidesfinally answered the call. "Hello?" he said, his voice barely steady.

Kathrine's voice came through the line, hurried and breathless. "Meet me at the park near my house this evening," she said quickly before hanging up.

Ethan stared at his phone, the finality of her words sinking in. "She wants to meet me at the park," he told his brothers, his voice hollow.

Noah and Nicholas's eyes filled with tears. Noah shook his head, trying to hold back the flood of emotions. "Ethan, please... think about what you're doing," he pleaded. James, trying to keep the peace, spoke up again. "Ethan, whatever you decide, make sure it's something you can live with. This choice will change everything."

Ethan nodded, his mind racing. He knew that no matter what he chose, he would lose something precious. His heart ached as he realized that there was no easy answer. With a heavy heart, he prepared himself for the evening, knowing that by the time the sun set, nothing would ever be the same.

Kathrine spent the entire night turning over the situation in her mind. Sleep eluded her as thoughts of the three men who meant the most to her tumbled around in her head. Noah was like her best friend, the one she could confide in about anything. With him, she felt understood, safe in the knowledge that he would always be there to listen. Nicholas, on the other hand, was her protector, always ready to shield her from any harm. She knew she could rely on him to stand by her side, no matter what.

But when she thought about Ethan, her heart reacted differently. It was as if it skipped a beat, fluttering with an excitement she couldn't ignore. A soft smile crept across her face, one she didn't even realize she was wearing. It was in that moment, lying in the quiet darkness, that she knew the answer.