Twisted love

Ghosts of the Past

(Oliver's POV, Present Day)

Chapter nine

The wind whipped through my hair as I stood at the cliff's edge, staring into the vast expanse of the ocean. Each crash of the waves mirrored the turmoil within me. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue on the water, but I felt far from peaceful. The ocean's beauty couldn't distract me from the turmoil churning inside.

Katherine.

The mere thought of her sent a rush of memories flooding my mind. I clenched my jaw, trying to shake off the visions that played like a slideshow—her laughter, her touch, the way her eyes sparkled when she was happy. My fingers brushed against the fabric of my shirt, where I could still imagine the heat of her body pressed against mine. I had once been the man who could make her smile, who could drown in the depths of her gaze. Now? I was just a shadow of what I used to be.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, instinctively scrolling through old photos of us. God, how I had taken those moments for granted. The late-night talks, the teasing glances, the way she would lean in close, her breath warm against my skin. I missed her laugh, the way she would get lost in the moment, oblivious to the chaos of the world around us. And the intimate moments...

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to push the memories away. The nights we spent tangled in each other's arms, bodies slick with sweat, her skin glowing in the soft light of my room, were now tainted by regret. I could still feel the warmth of her skin under my fingertips, the way she would arch her back when I kissed her neck. My heart raced at the memory of her soft moans, the way she would whisper my name as if it was a sacred mantra.

But it was all gone now. I had lost her, and I knew why.

As I stood there, grappling with my feelings, my phone buzzed again, breaking my reverie. A message from Katherine. My heart quickened.

**Katherine:** *Hey, can we talk?*

I hesitated before replying. Part of me wanted to ignore it, to keep my distance, but I couldn't. Not now, not when I was already feeling so raw.

**Me:** *Sure. Where?*

**Katherine:** *Cliffside?*

I felt a pang of nervousness at the thought of her showing up here. My heart raced at the possibility of seeing her again. Would she look at me the same? Would she still have that light in her eyes?

I couldn't afford to think like that. I had to stay focused. But a small part of me was already anticipating the moment she would arrive, the way she would smile that beautiful, mischievous smile that sent chills down my spine.

The minutes dragged by as I waited, my mind racing with possibilities. Did she suspect anything? Why was she coming here? I could feel a tightness in my chest as I thought about how to explain everything—how to make her see that it wasn't just me. It wasn't just a mistake. I had to protect her, even if it meant facing my brother.

When Andrew finally showed up, the tension between us was palpable. He walked up to me, his expression unreadable, and I felt the familiar unease settle in. I had so many questions swirling in my head, but I held them back, opting for silence instead.

"Oliver," he said, his voice steady but cautious.

"Andrew." I nodded, studying his face for any sign of guilt, but he wore his mask well.

We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of our shared history heavy in the air. The sun continued its descent, casting long shadows over the cliff, but it wasn't just the fading light that darkened the atmosphere between us.