Olivia couldn't take her eyes off of the large house pool. She didn't want to. Ever since she got back from the hospital, all she heard was a couple voices in her head and none of them were telling her what to do. How to take care of the situation she had found herself in.

She stirred the water with her leg slowly and then took a sharp breath before she closed her eyes.

Think Olivia, Think

"What are you thinking about?"

Austin's voice almost made her throw herself into the water. Olivia turned just slightly after shaking a little.

Oh God.

Austin left the pretty smile on his face as he walked closer to where she sat.

"God." She whispered, clinging on to the neck of her silk shirt, trying to catch her breath.

"Did I scare you?" At least he noticed. Austin slowly filled the space right beside her without even asking if she needed company. He gently placed his legs in the water too. Olivia watched him draw a deep breath "I almost forgot how easily afraid you get."

How on earth did Olivia not have an idea that he was home? Or did she and she was just avoiding him?

Silence filled the pool for a while

"You've been avoiding me."

She let out a tiny scoff

"I've not been avoiding you Austin-"

"Yes, you have." He slowly turned to face her now, his brown eyes staring right into hers. Pretending not to see her black eye "You knew I was home, you literally avoided having lunch with the rest of our family so you wouldn't get to see me."

"That's not true-"

"It's because of him isn't it?" Olivia exhaled. "My brother."

"I just wasn't in the mood for lunch."

"Bullshit. You have quite an interesting appetite. You always did. You still do. It's one of the things I love about you-"

Olivia stared at him. He knew why. Did he just talk to her in present tense?

"Loved." Austin shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry, my mind is all over the place."

"Austin-"

Olivia exhaled. She really didn't want to think about it. Go back memory lane. Talking about memory lane, she knew anytime she did, it always brought back memories she didn't want to think about. Regrets.

Like why she got married to the wrong brother.

Olivia could remember how easy her life was when she was just friends with Austin back when they were in the university. Not like everyone knew but Austin was the first Silver brother she met, the first one to notice her at that time. Only difference was Andrew was the first to come out open to her about his feelings. One thing Austin wasn't familiar with. Expressing himself. They had been friends for quite a while and he never for once admitted his feelings for her even when she started to feel the same way.

"She's just a friend." He used that term a lot. He chose to be her brother and friend rather than the man that wanted to spend his life with her. He never entertained any discussions she tried to initiate about her feelings and then Andrew came and became the exact opposite. Soon, Olivia had let go of her I'll fated, one way love and embraced the man that she thought had actually loved her and now, there they were.

Maybe that was why he left after the wedding and never talked to anyone or came home till the day before.

"You know you can tell me anything don't you," he leaned closer to her so he could take a good look. "Just like before, just like you always did, nothing has to change. If you ever feel like things are too hard for you, you can always tell me. Anything at all."

Olivia stared lost in his eyes. His words were comforting. Really comforting. She couldn't help herself from smiling a little bit.

She wanted to tell him.
She wanted to come clean to him and tell him everything. She wanted him to save her. She knew he was the only one in that house that was on her side at least. They were pretty close before. Austin had been the only person she could ever run to at times like this and he was right. Nothing had to change. Maybe she needed his help.

"Olivia,"

The sound of Andrew's voice cut the silence as they both turned to look at him immediately. Olivia felt breath escape from her lungs as the smile on her face switched to a huge frown.

Andrew just stood there, glaring at them, with a huge frown on his face. He narrowed his brows to her.

"Andrew."
She got up quickly, fear written all over her face. She stared at him for a while, she wasn't sure what to say. The last thing she needed was him assuming things again or worse, hitting her.

"Your brother and I were just talking about-"

"I'd like to talk to my brother alone baby." Andrew cut her off with his jaws clenched and his eyes sternly looking at Austin.

Of course

Olivia wasn't even going to argue. She wasn't going to bother. She knew better.

Olivia exhaled and then took her leave.
Whatever that was about to happen, she knew that it didn't have to be her problem. Not like Andrew was going to hit his older brother anyway.

"Brother," Austin slowly got up from the pool side and headed straight to the wooden table beside the pool. He reached for a water bottle. Andrew joined him

"Don't worry, Olivia and I were just talking."

As if he knew where Andrew was trying to get at. What he thought everytime he looked at him.

"I'm not worried," Andrew picked up another bottle of water. "Olivia knows better than to be an infidel."

Austin took a quick gulp from his bottle while  Andrew left his gaze focused on him.

"It's you I'm worried about anyway. Or should I not be worried?"

"Why should you be?"

"I know how close you both were in the past-"

"Thank God you said in the past."

"I'm serious Austin. She's mine. Olivia is mine and it'd be a shame to have issues with my brother over boundaries."

Austin scoffed. A light frown covering his face.

"Boundaries?"

He slowly turned to look at him.

"You know I'm all about my space and place Andrew. I'd never do anything to compromise what we have. But you really need to stop."

Andrew twitched his brows.

"You need to stop hurting her."

He scoffed

"We just have our own fights every now and then like normal couples do."

"There's nothing normal about this." Austin leaned closer, trying to keep his voice in check.

"I love my wife brother and I'd never hurt her without reason."

"You should never hurt her at all. Brother, it's Olivia we're talking about here. You know her. She doesn't know how to defend herself. She's the definition of a frigid little girl. She has been through a lot and this was supposed to be her escape place. Getting married to you-" he exhaled. "You're supposed to help her, to love her and protect her like you promised on that alter. Not hurt her."

"I know that."

"No you don't. Don't you see the bruises on her arms? Her eyes?"

"It wasn't intentional. I was just trying to teach her a lesson."

"What lesson?" Austin was trying so hard not to show his disgust. "o bẹru rẹ. She is scared of you brother . She is terrified. She can't even look you in your eyes because you intimidate her."

"That's not true."

Austin scoffed

"You need help. You have to get help or you're going to ruin all our lives or what's worse, you're going to kill her."

"I won't. I can't," Andrew stammered.  "I-I love her."

Austin exhaled. He took a step close to him

"Are you sure you do?"

He glared at him. Andrew exhaled. He didn't know what to say. He didn't have an answer.

He just stared at Austin.

"Figure it out. Fix yourself and then your marriage. You owe me that at least."

Austin exhaled. He knew he didn't have to say anything else. He didn't want to. He just wanted to leave that moment. He too needed his space and with the way Andrew was looking at him, he was sure he got the message.

He shook his head and then walked away