The Billornaire's Secret

Hidden shadows

Olivia sat by the window of Alexander’s apartment, watching the city below as the fading light of evening cast long shadows across the skyline. It had been a few days since their weekend trip, and though things seemed perfect on the surface, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Alexander had grown quieter, more distant. The soft smiles and easy laughter they once shared had been replaced by a heavy silence that weighed heavily in the air between them. Even now, as he sat across from her, flipping through papers for his family’s business, he seemed miles away, lost in thoughts she couldn’t penetrate.

At first, Olivia had brushed it off as stress or fatigue, but today, it felt different. The more time they spent together, the more she felt the emotional gulf widening. She missed the playful banter, the connection they had built. It was as if a storm was brewing inside him, and she was helpless to reach through the clouds.

“Alexander, is everything okay?” she ventured, her heart racing at the vulnerability in her question.

He looked up briefly, his expression guarded. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just a lot on my plate right now.”

Her chest tightened. “It’s just… you’ve been a little distant lately. Is it something I did?”

“No, Liv,” he replied quickly, though his voice lacked its usual warmth. “It’s not you. I just… I’m dealing with some family stuff. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” Olivia’s voice wavered with concern. “You can talk to me about it, you know.”

Alexander’s gaze flickered, shadows lurking in the corners of his eyes. He stood up, running a hand through his hair, a gesture she’d come to associate with his frustration. “I know, Liv. I know you want to help, but this is just something I need to handle on my own.”

The words stung more than she wanted to admit. She took a tentative step toward him, her heart aching with the desire to bridge the gap. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to go through everything alone, Alexander. I’m here for you.”

He turned away slightly, a shadow passing over his features. “It’s not that simple. There’s… there’s a lot you don’t know. About me, about my family. It’s not just the business or my grandfather—it’s bigger than that.”

Olivia’s resolve hardened. “Then let me in. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together.”

Alexander closed his eyes briefly, as if he were wrestling with something far more painful than she could see. When he opened them again, his voice dropped to a low murmur, almost pained. “Liv, you don’t understand. If I let you in, you’ll see everything—the guilt, the mistakes… the things I can’t fix.”

Her heart ached at the raw honesty in his words. She could see the torment swirling in his gaze, the burden he carried like a lead weight. “You don’t have to be perfect, Alexander. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

He exhaled sharply, stepping away from her as if her words were a physical force pushing him back. “But I do. I have to. For my family, for the legacy I was meant to share… with Ethan.”

The name fell between them like a thunderclap, and Olivia froze, the reality of it washing over her. Ethan. Alexander’s brother. The one he rarely spoke about. Her mind raced as pieces of a puzzle began to fall into place, though many remained hidden in the shadows of his past.

Before she could say anything, Alexander’s phone buzzed on the table, breaking the tension. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening. “It’s my grandfather,” he muttered, his voice tight. “He wants to meet. Family business.”

Olivia could see the weight of the message pressing down on him, and before she could inquire further, Alexander turned to her, a plea in his eyes. “Liv, I need you to trust me on this. I’ll figure it out.”

She nodded, though a heaviness settled in her chest. “I trust you, Alexander. But you don’t have to keep shutting me out.”

His gaze softened for a brief moment, and for an instant, the wall between them appeared to crack. He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “I’m not shutting you out, Liv. I’m just… protecting you.”

“From what?” Olivia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“From me,” Alexander replied, his voice hollow. “From what I’ve done.”

Before she could ask more, Alexander released her hand, walking to the window, his back to her as he stared out at the city. The distance between them felt more pronounced than ever, and Olivia knew that pressing him further right now would only push him away.

“I’ll give you some space,” she said quietly. “But don’t forget that I’m here.”

Alexander didn’t turn around, but she saw his shoulders tense. “I know.”

Feeling the ache of unspoken words between them, Olivia gathered her things, moving to the door. She hesitated, looking back at him, the words caught in her throat.

“Alexander… whatever it is, you don’t have to face it alone.”

For a moment, she thought he might respond, but he remained silent, lost in his thoughts. With a heavy heart, Olivia left the apartment, the door clicking softly behind her.