Chapter Thirty-two: I'm Not Who I Was

Xavier’s Point of View

The anticipation of seeing Rei again was overwhelming. Choosing to be with her was never difficult for me; she was always my top priority. My actions, even when I stayed away, were driven by my love for her. She had captured my heart, and I hoped she would someday feel the same way about me.

I had romantic plans to impress her, starting with dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant and then a scenic drive under the starry sky. Rei agreed but also suggested bringing a backpack with extra clothes in case it rained. She assured me that Shiloh had agreed to babysit her brothers and knew Rei would return quite late. My mind swirled with possibilities, picturing us returning to my place and indulging in our desires together.

When I contacted Matt and Tom also to let them know of my impending return, they eagerly shared their conquests with Rei’s friends and boasted about their sexual exploits. I cringed, listening to them, thinking that it sounded immature. I probably would have acted the same way if I hadn't finally been able to be with the woman I had always loved. Being with Rei changed me, and I liked who I was with her. She made me a better man.

This led me back to the conversation with the government agency director I worked for. Ethan Steele's words echoed in my mind, his warning filling me with unease. I couldn't deny the truth in his words, though. Lillianna's anger towards me for sleeping with Rei on her birthday clearly indicated that I had made a mistake. Crossing that line with my best friend was something I deeply regretted now.

However, when Ethan Steele presented me with an ultimatum, I didn't hesitate to choose Rei over Lillianna. And I stand by that decision without any regrets. But now, I must find a way to remove Lillianna from Rei's circle of friends and my life. It won't be easy; she will undoubtedly be angry with me. Lillianna even scares me at times when she is furious.

Over the years, we have shared countless laughs and experiences. Looking back now, I can see that Lillianna always had a possessive streak when it came to me, even with our mutual friends Matt and Tom. At the time, I brushed it off as just being best friends, but now I wonder if there was more going on that I didn't notice. The thought sent chills down my spine as I recalled instances that seemed odd before but now seemed sinister. Whenever I tried to move on from my feelings for Rei by dating other girls, things never went past a first date. And no matter what happened, Lillianna was always there to pick up the pieces. We were so close that she even had a key to my place.

Fuck. I needed to get my life straight and soon. First, I wanted to enjoy an evening with Rei, just her and I. I would find a way to tell her the truth and earn the approval of the Brzezinski family, whatever it took.

Lillianna’s Point of View

Alex and I were snuggled up on the couch, watching a show and sharing a bowl of popcorn. His phone buzzed with notifications from his friends' group chat: Xavier was returning home this weekend and had a date planned with Rei. As I listened to the conversation, anger bubbled up inside me. Why didn't Xavier tell me himself? We were best friends, after all. I clenched my fist, digging my nails into my palm until they drew blood as I tried to control my emotions.

Xavier was not supposed to be pursuing Rei Draven. I had thought he had quelled his emotions for her and moved forward with me. It should have been me, not Rei, that he desired.

Despite my best attempts, it was evident that Xavier could not resist the alluring charm of Rei Draven. Envy consumed me as he once again followed after her. I believed my hold on his heart to be unbreakable, the one person he longed for by his side. But now it seemed that I was no longer the object of his affection, but rather Rei.

Alex noticed my distant and irritated demeanor and asked, "Is everything alright, babe?"

"I'm not feeling too great. I might head home," I lied, pretending to be sick.

"Oh no, I'm sorry, Lillianna. Do you need a ride? Maybe you should stay here and let me take care of you," Alex offered hopefully.

I forced a smile and softened my eyes as I shook my head no and gathered up my belongings. I rolled my eyes internally. He was like a golden retriever, always eager to please. But I couldn't deny that he was amazing in bed; otherwise, his puppy-like behaviour would be unbearable.

Alex walked me to the door and asked, "Please text me when you arrive home so I can stop worrying." I kissed him on the cheek and promised that I would. He'd probably drive to my apartment to ensure my safety if I didn't.

As I drove recklessly through the darkness, my thoughts were in overdrive as I tried to devise a plan to help Xavier out of the trouble he had gotten himself into. I worked for the Brzezinski family and had revealed to Xavier that Rei was the secret granddaughter of Don Brzezinski. I may have gone too far in dealing with the Ravenscroft family for how they treated Rei and the children, but they deserved it. They would never be in a position to hurt Rei again. I’d made sure of it.

I didn’t want to do that to Rei. I liked her, just not with Xavier. He was mine. Xavier had always been mine. He just didn’t know it yet.

Aamon’s Point of View

“It’s done, boss. The seed has been planted,” my source informed me.

"Did Alex ask about Lillianna's sudden departure?" I inquired, my voice barely above a whisper.

"No, she covered it up by saying she was ill. I'm tailing her now to confirm her destination. If she heads to Xavier or Rei, I'll notify you for backup," she responded urgently.

"Excellent work. But be careful not to blow your cover," I cautioned.

I needed her in this vital role - one of my top operatives, a covert agent unknown even to Lillianna and Grace. She operated outside of our organization, expensive but fiercely devoted solely to me.