Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world

Elize's breath hitched, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob that threatened to escape.

Her mind reeled as memories flashed through her... Kael as a child, clinging to her after a nightmare; Kael as a teenager, laughing with her over shared secrets.

Had her love, her affection, somehow led him here?

For some reason, she thought maybe she is the one who misled him by being physcially close to him.

She turned away, facing the mirror "Kael… this can't happen. You can't feel this way."

"I'm your aunt. I've raised you, loved you like my own. What you're saying… it's wrong. It's impossible."

Brandon lifted his head and muttered "It's not wrong. It's how I feel. I know it's complicated and messy but-"

"Stop," she cut him off and turned to face him, her arms still wrapped around herself.

"Don't say it again, Kael. Please. You're confused. You're young, and you're… you're mistaking gratitude, or closeness, for something it's not."

"I'm not confused," he said, taking a step toward her, his hands reaching out as if to bridge the gap between them.

"I've felt this for years, Elize. I've tried to ignore it, to be what you needed me to be, but I can't anymore."

Elize shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks now, "No, Kael. You don't get to decide that. You don't get to rewrite what we are."

She took another step back, her back brushing against the dresser, "I love you, Kael, but as my son, my family. That's all it can ever be. Anything else… it would destroy us. Eira, Ravene, everyone we care about, they'd never understand. And I… I couldn't live with myself."

Brandon's face crumpled as the hope in his eyes flickered out like a dying candle.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came, only a quiet exhale of defeat.

He had known this was a risk and feared her rejection, but hearing it was a pain he wasn't prepared for.

Elize's voice softened, "I need you to go, Kael. Please. Leave the room. I… I need to be alone."

He froze and his gaze quivered "Elize…" he whispered in a low voice.

"Go," she repeated in a stern voice, pointing at the door.

She turned away, unable to look at him, her reflection in the mirror showing a woman on the edge of breaking "Please, Kael. Don't make this harder than it already is."

Brandon's hands fell to his sides, his shoulders slumping as the reality of her words sank in.

He wanted to beg her to listen but the pain in her eyes stopped him.

He loved her too much to hurt her more than he already had.

"I'm sorry," he murmured before he turned away.

He paused at the bed, his hand hovering over his phone before taking it.

He reached the door, his hand resting on the knob, and glanced back at her one last time.

Elize stood with her back to him, and he felt a surge of guilt, of shame, for putting her in this position.

He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

He leaned against the door with his head tilted back and closed his eyes as he fought to steady his breathing.

---

Brandon walked back to his room and at this time, Ravene came to the hallway "Brandon, the dinner is ready... come, let's eat. Also, call Elize."

Looking at her, he showed a smile and shook his head "No, Rave... I am going to sleep. I am not hungry."

Huh? Ravene frowned seeing his behavior and walked to him "Brandon, what happened?"

Keeping his smile he shook his head "Nothing really, Rave.. I just don't feel like eating."

Her gaze narrowed fruther "Tell me, what happened. Something has happened. DId you had a fight with Elize?"

he still shook his head "No, dear. I just feel tired... I am going to sleep."

Without waiting for her response, he turned the knob and stepped into his room, the door closing behind him with a soft thud

Ravene stood frozen in the hallway, her frown deepening as she stared at the closed door.

She knew him too well, had seen him through countless moments of joy and frustration, to believe his "I'm tired" excuse.

Something had happened, something big, and her gut told her it had to do with Elize.

She glanced at Elize's room for a moment... but then she gave up the idea and walked downstairs.

Looking at Eira on the dinner table, she smiled slightly "Seems like Brandon is tired today and directly went to sleep."

Eira raised her head from the mobile and frowned slightly "Is he alright?"

Nodding her head, Ravene replied "Don't worry.. he is alright."

Walking to Eira, she gently patted her head "Now, eat up."

"Mhm.."

---

*knock* Standing in front of Elize's door, Ravene knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Ravene looked at Elize who was wearing her pajamas.

Pushing the door, she stepped in before closing the door behind her.

"What happened between you and Brandon?"

Hearing this, Elize lowered her head "Don't ask about that to me."

Huh? Ravene stepped closer to her and asked in a serious tone "Just tell me what happened."

"I saw him a few minutes ago and he was on the brink of breaking. Did you two have a fight?"

Elize's gaze quivered, her lips parting as if to speak, but she shook her head "I am telling.. nothing happened."

Ravene clenched her fist as her frustartion boiled over "Elize, don't hide and tell me."

She stepped closer, her hands reaching out to grip Elize's shoulders, shaking her gently but firmly "Elize..."

Elize lowered her head and bit down on her lips "He said... he loves me as a woman."

*gasp* Ravene's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this and she let go of her shoulders "...What? He told you?"

Elize raised her head in surprise "You... know about his feelings?"

Ravene blinked and slowly nodded her head "Hm, since high school. I know that he has feelings for you."

"I mean... I was loving him since high school. And I have seen how he looks at you and his feelings for you."

Elize clutched her forehead in disbelief "Why did you never tell me about this?"

She looked at Ravene and yelled, her voice rising with a mix of anger and desperation "If only I had known this before, I would have talked to him and would have broken the feelings when they were little..."

"Why, Ravene? Why didn't you say anything?"

Ravene gritted her teeth and yelled back at her "Tell you what? That I am jealous of you?"

Huh? Elize took a step back "...What?"

Ravene's gaze quivered, her shoulders trembling as she fought to hold herself together "Do you know how jealous I was when I found out that he loves you... but not me? Do you know how many days I yearned for his love?"

"Wishing... why is it not me and you?"

"Every smile, every glance, every moment... it was for you. And I hated you for it, even though I love you like a sister."

"But now... finally he loves me."

Elize fell silent for a moment, staring at Ravene "Rave, I-I am sorry.. I didn't know that."

Ravene looked at Elize and mumbled "Did you reject him?"

Nodding her head, Elize replied "Of course, what else do you want me to do? I... promised Marzella that I would take good care of him... I... i never thought..."

Ravene's breath caught and her heart ached at the sight of Elize's pain.

She wanted to comfort her, to tell her it wasn't her fault, but her own jealousy and her own love for Kael held her back. "You did the right thing..."

Elize just stayed silent upon hearing this, as she also thought rejecting him was the best way to end this and the only way to honor her promise to Marzella.

Ravene felt a deep pang of pain in her heart 'No, this is not right... this will not make Brandon happy.'

She had spent years watching him, loving him, yearning for him to see her the way he saw Elize.

But now, standing in this room, seeing the devastation on Elize's face, she realized that her own desires, her selfish hope that Elize's rejection would turn him to her... were a betrayal of the love she claimed to feel.

'I can't hurt him for my selfish desires...'

Looking at Elize, Ravene asked "Elize, be honest with me... when he said he loves you... were you happy?"

Huh? Elize blinked and raised her head in shock "Ravene?"

Ravene's gaze narrowed "Elize, tell me the real reason... you rejected him. You can't convince me you never loved him."

Elize quickly lowered her head and blinked, tears catching in her lashes, as she shook her head.

Ravene took a step closer "Elize! Tell me!"

Elize's body shook and she slowly replied "I am ashamed..."

She raised her head as tears streamed down her cheeks "I am ashamed at myself for feeling happy... when he confessed to me."