Seduction's Shadow

Chapter 81: Twisted Bonds

"You think you're a hero now, don't you?" Theo's voice cut through the silence like a blade, his tone dripping with venom. "Rushing to her side, acting like you're the one who can save her. But we both know the truth, don't we, Nikol?"

Nikol glared at him, his hands balled into fists, trembling with barely contained rage. "You don't get to talk about saving anyone, Theo. You're the one who put her in that operating room. You did this. And I swear, if she doesn't make it—"

Theo's laugh was sharp, cruel. "What? You'll kill me? You'll finally grow a spine and do what should have been done years ago?" His eyes gleamed with dark amusement, taunting Nikol. "Face it, brother, you've always been a step behind. Always the second choice. Even now, you're just playing the part you've always played—the backup plan."

Nikol lunged at Theo, shoving him hard against the wall. "Shut the fuck up, Theo! I'm done with your twisted games. Aari's not some pawn for you to manipulate. She's not yours to control."

Theo didn't flinch, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Not mine? Oh, Nikol, you really don't get it, do you? She's as much mine as she is yours. Maybe more. You think she wants you because you're the good guy? The savior? You're just the lesser of two evils."

Nikol's grip tightened around Theo's collar, his voice a low growl. "You've always been jealous, haven't you? Jealous that Dad wanted me, that Mom chose me. That Aari—"

"Chose you?" Theo's voice was a dangerous whisper, his eyes darkening with rage. "Mom chose you because she pitied you. She saw you as weak, someone to be coddled and protected. She never saw you for what you really are—a failure. Just like Dad saw me for what I am—the one who could carry on his legacy. The one with the strength to do what needs to be done."

Nikol's heart pounded in his chest, the anger inside him boiling over. "Strength? You call this strength? You've spent your whole life tearing people down, using them, breaking them. That's not strength, Theo. That's cowardice. And Aari—she doesn't want you. She never did."

Theo's smile faded, replaced by a cold, bitter sneer. "She will, Nikol. She always comes back. Because deep down, she knows I'm the one who understands her. I'm the one who can give her what she really needs."

Nikol's fist flew before he could stop himself, landing a brutal punch across Theo's jaw. The impact sent Theo reeling, but he recovered quickly, his eyes flashing with fury. He struck back, driving his fist into Nikol's gut, knocking the wind out of him.

"You've always been weak, Nikol," Theo hissed, his voice laced with venom. "Always playing second fiddle. Always trying to be the hero, when you're nothing more than a pathetic shadow of what you could have been."

Nikol pushed him away, blood dripping from his lip where Theo had hit him. "And you've always been a monster," he spat back, wiping the blood with the back of his hand. "Twisting everything around you, destroying anything that doesn't bow to your will. But I'm not afraid of you, Theo."

Theo's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in his gaze. "You should be," he growled, grabbing Nikol by the collar and shoving him against the wall. "Because I'm done playing nice. You want to fight for her? Fine. But remember this, Nikol—no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, she'll always be mine. Just like everything else."

Nikol's rage flared, and he slammed Theo into the wall with all his strength, the impact sending a jarring pain through his own body. "She'll never be yours," he snarled, his voice low and deadly. "Not in the way you want her to be."

The two brothers grappled with each other, their movements violent and desperate. Every punch, every shove was fueled by years of pent-up resentment, jealousy, and twisted love. They were both bleeding, both bruised, but neither willing to back down.

Theo's eyes burned with a dark fire as he landed another punch to Nikol's side, making him gasp in pain. "You think you're so righteous, don't you?" Theo spat, his voice seething with anger. "But you're just like me. You'd do anything to keep her. You'd hurt anyone who gets in your way, just like I would."

Nikol shoved Theo back, his chest heaving with exertion. "No," he said, his voice firm despite the pain. "That's where you're wrong, Theo. I'd do anything to protect her. Even if it means protecting her from you."

Before Theo could respond, the doors to the operating room burst open, and a nurse rushed out, her face a mix of exhaustion and relief.

"She's stable," the nurse said quickly, her eyes flicking between the two bruised and battered brothers. "She's out of danger, but it was close. She lost a lot of blood."

The words hit them both like a sledgehammer, the reality of the situation sinking in. Theo's anger dissipated in an instant, replaced by something cold and unreadable. Nikol's hands trembled as he wiped more blood from his face, his eyes never leaving the nurse.

"Can I see her?" Nikol asked, his voice hoarse.

The nurse hesitated before nodding. "Only one of you can go in for now. She needs rest."

Theo's gaze was locked on Nikol, his expression a mix of fury and something darker, something twisted. But Nikol didn't wait for him to make a move. He was already heading toward the door, every instinct in his body driving him to be with Aari.

As he entered the room, the sight of Aari lying on the hospital bed, pale and fragile, sent a wave of emotion crashing over him. Her body was covered in bandages, the machines beeping softly in the background, a constant reminder of how close she had come to dying.

Nikol sat by her side, his heart aching with guilt and anger. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, feeling the coldness of her skin against his.

Outside, Theo stood alone in the hallway, his eyes fixed on the closed door. His face was bruised, his lip bleeding, but his expression was cold, calculated. He had lost this round, but he knew the game was far from over.

As Nikol held Aari's hand, Theo's words echoed in his mind—a dark, twisted reminder of the battle they were all fighting. Aari might be out of danger for now, but the war for her soul had only just begun.

And both brothers knew that there was no going back.