Chapter 151

Eleanor's POV

"You know what hurts the most?" Lucas's voice cut through the silence, barely above a whisper. "It's not that she left. It's that she had every right to."

That's what made this whole situation so impossible - nobody was truly wrong. They were just two people who loved each other, trapped in circumstances neither could control.

"How about this?" I straightened up, fighting against my slightly blurred vision. "Since I'm already staying at Serena's place, I can continue living there. I'll... put in some good words for you when I talk to her."

The moment the words left my mouth, I held my breath, watching Lucas's reaction. He turned slightly, his grey eyes meeting mine with an intensity that the alcohol hadn't dulled.

"You'd do that?"

The question was soft, almost vulnerable. I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face.

"Aren't you glad to have such a thoughtful sister?" I ventured, trying to lighten the moment.

"Mm." Just a simple sound, but coming from Lucas, it felt like a warm embrace. I couldn't remember the last time he'd acknowledged me like this. Growing up, praise from him had been as rare as snow in summer.

Seeing the table covered with empty bottles, I knew I had to stop Lucas from drinking any more - things would get bad. So, I said, "Brother, no more drinking, let's head out."

The room was starting to feel pleasantly warm, and I had to concentrate to keep my words from slurring.

"Waiting," he replied, his voice steady despite the amount we'd consumed.

"For who?"

"The driver."

I couldn't help but smile. Even three sheets to the wind, my brother was still thinking ahead. Sometimes I wondered if it was a blessing or a curse, this inability to truly let go.

The comfortable silence that had settled between Lucas and me was suddenly shattered by his unexpected question.

"Are you still in love with Jace?"

The words hit me like a splash of cold water. My fingers tightened around my glass as I fought to keep my expression neutral. "What are you talking about?" I tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out strained. Even in the dim lighting of the private room, I could feel his sharp gaze dissecting my reaction.

He didn't say anything, just maintained that steady, knowing look.

"Not anymore," I finally muttered, the words feeling like a betrayal of the feelings. It was as good as admitting I'd once been in love with him, but what was the point in denying it now? Lucas had always seen right through me.

The alcohol coursing through my system made everything feel more intense - the ache in my chest, the burn of unshed tears, the weight of eight years of unrequited feelings. I let out a bitter laugh.

"Eight years of one-sided love. God knows how I survived it." The words spilled out before I could stop them. "Thank goodness for my stellar emotional resilience, right?"

Lucas set his glass down with deliberate care. "You should let it go, Ellie."

Something in me snapped. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the culmination of years of bottled-up feelings, but I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Yeah, right," I spat out, my voice trembling. "Because only you and Serena deserve love. Clearly, I'm not worthy of it!" The words came out sharper than I'd intended, laced with an bitterness.

I saw Lucas's expression shift, softening in a way it rarely did. "That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" I challenged, hating how my voice cracked. "When you were heartbroken over Serena, did I tell you to just 'let it go'? Some brother you are!"

The tears I'd been fighting began to well up, and I blamed it entirely on the alcohol. Crying over Jace Gillard in front of my brother - could this night get any more mortifying?

"You'll find someone better," Lucas said quietly, his voice gentler than I'd heard it in years. It was the same tone he'd used when I was little, and somehow that made it worse.

"We'll see," I managed, trying to sound nonchalant even as I blinked back tears. "Can we just... can we not talk about this anymore?"

He nodded, and I could feel his concern radiating across the space between us.

"I think it's time to go," I announced, pushing myself up from the leather seat. The room swayed slightly, and I realized I'd had more to drink than I'd thought. I took a careful step forward, determined to maintain at least some dignity.

That's when it happened. My heel caught on something - probably one of the many empty bottles littering the floor - and I stumbled. I braced myself for the fall, but instead of hitting the ground, I felt strong hands steady me.

My heart stopped. I knew those hands. I slowly raised my eyes, praying I was wrong, that this was just some alcohol-induced hallucination.

But no. There was Jace Gillard.