CHAPTER 99: BLINDED BY JEALOUSY

It was as if Rome had been burned the moment his lips touched Ingrid’s. He pulled away instantly, disgust flashing across his face as he stared at her.

The very idea of kissing her twisted his stomach.

Was this how Sylvia felt when she kissed Daniel’s lips—was she also disgusted?

Or... did she enjoy kissing Daniel more than him?

The image of Sylvia smiling, happier in Daniel’s arms, made his whole being seethe with anger.

Without a word, he pushed himself off the bar stool.

Being around Ingrid wasn’t helping, it only suffocated him more. If he truly wanted answers and to clear everything up, then he needed to face Sylvia directly.

"W-wait, Rome! Where are you going? You’re just going to leave after kissing me and shoving me away?"

Ingrid’s voice followed him as she hurried to block his path. She had already recovered from the shock of being pushed.

His eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

"Oh, come on! I didn’t expect you to thank me for exposing your girlfriend’s little affair with Daniel, but at the very least—be a man and take responsibility for kissing me!"

Rome’s expression darkened. "What do you want then? Do you want me to kiss those disgusting lips again?"

Her entire face flushed red. She instinctively leaned back as his face moved closer, retreating before he could even touch her.

"Tch. Disgusting."

"D-disgusting? How could you say that to me? I was only trying to help—"

"Then I don’t need your help. Now move." His voice was cold enough to slice through her feeble excuse.

Fear flickered in her eyes as she quickly stepped aside.

Rome stormed out of the bar. By the time he reached his car, the alcohol in his system seemed to vanish. It was now replaced by raw jealousy, doubts, and an aching anger that gnawed at his chest.

His mind continued to swirl.

Were the photos real? Deep down he knew they probably were, but a part of him still refused to believe it.

"Tch..."

He gripped the wheel tightly. He wanted to call Sylvia right then and demand the truth, but something stopped him, it was fear.

Would she even answer truthfully if he asked her about Daniel?

He sat there for a long moment, staring blankly at the windshield. He didn’t even know where to go anymore. Back to his condo? Somewhere else?

Eventually, he started the engine and decided to just head home.

As he drove, the rain began to pour heavily, pounding against the windshield like the sky itself had chosen to mirror his feelings.

Does the weather know he is miserable?

He let out a bitter laugh. Hah... whatever.

By the time he reached his condo, he couldn’t even remember how he got there, his mind had been floating the entire way.

Standing outside his door, he hesitated. But he still unlocked it and pushed it open.

However, the sight waiting for him inside made his blood run cold.

Sylvia stood frozen in the living room, dressed casually in shorts and a long-sleeve shirt, a towel clutched in her hand as if she had just finished drying herself. But it wasn’t her presence that made him stop in his tracks.

It was Daniel.

His twin sat comfortably on the sofa, dripping wet, clearly fresh from running through the rain.

Rome’s vision turned red.

Seeing them together in his condo, as if they had been laughing and talking just before he arrived made every ounce of reasoning disappear. Before he even realized it, he was already across the room, his fist crashing into Daniel’s face.

"Rome, stop!"

Sylvia screamed, grabbing his arm and trying desperately to pull him back, but he wasn’t listening anymore.

All he could see... was their betrayal.

"Rome, stop it! Please, you’re hurting Greece!"

Rome paused mid-punch, his fist still raised against Daniel, who wasn’t even fighting back. He turned darkly toward Sylvia, her words echoing in his head.

Did he hear her right?

She cared more about Daniel getting punched than about the way his heart was shattering, seeing them together in his own condo?

He didn’t know anymore. His emotions had dragged him too far. He couldn’t even recall how he had ended up so close to Sylvia.

The only thing running through his head in that moment was how to silence the storm of thoughts tearing him apart.

How could Sylvia betray him?

Weren’t all the things he had done for her enough?

Wasn’t the love he had given her enough?

"Rome, what the hell? You’re hurting Sylvia!"

Those words struck him like lightning. His eyes widened in horror, he wasn’t hurting Daniel anymore. It was Sylvia.

His darkened vision blurred as his trembling hands tightened around her neck.

Did he really... hurt her?

Daniel shoved him back hard, yanking Sylvia away. Daniel’s hand immediately went to her neck with frantic eyes, while Sylvia remained frozen, still in shock as she stared at him.

Her eyes were filled with disbelief, as if she couldn’t accept that he, of all people had done that to her. But worse than disbelief, there was fear in them too.

Rome clawed at his hair, pulling violently as guilt and confusion flooded him.

How could he do that to her? He hurt her...with his own hands...

"Did you completely lose your mind, Rome?!" Daniel’s voice thundered. "How could you hurt Sylvia when she hasn’t done anything wrong? You’re the worst!"

Rome’s ears rang with rage at those words, his glare snapping to Daniel.

It’s all because of him...

Because Daniel came into Sylvia’s life, because he kept seducing her behind his back, this happened. If Daniel had stayed away from her, none of this would have happened.

"It’s all your fault, you bastard!" Rome roared. "It’s all your fault for coming between us! What are you even doing here? Are you trying to get into my girlfriend’s bed now, huh?"

Daniel’s expression went cold. He stepped forward, seizing Rome’s collar in a crushing grip before pushing him hard.

"What did you just say? Are you out of your mind? Take that back!"

"Why would I take it back when it’s the truth?" Rome spat. "You are trying to steal my girl. What now—did you already sleep with her while we weren’t reconciled, huh?"

Pakk!..

The crack of a slap cut him off.

Sylvia’s trembling hand had struck his cheek. Tears welled in her eyes, her whole body shaking as she stared at him like he was a stranger.

"You... of all people, Rome..." Her voice broke. "I-I can’t believe you would say that to me. You don’t know anything... You didn’t even bother to ask if I was still okay being with you... I hate you..."

Her words were cold, yet tears streamed down her face.

Rome froze, her voice echoing in his head.

I hate you..

She hated him now? Was it because he had found out about her secret affair with Daniel behind his back?

The thought only twisted his anger tighter.

He couldn’t process her tears, couldn’t register her pain, his mind was shut to everything except the betrayal he believed she had committed.

"Y-you hate me now? Just because of this guy?" Rome’s voice shook with rage. "Tell me, can he satisfy you better than I can? Is he a better kisser? Better in bed—"

Pakk!...

Rome never finished. Sylvia’s hand struck his cheek again, weaker than before, yet somehow it hurt far worse than the first.

Tears streamed endlessly down her face as she shook her head, disappointment etched into her trembling expression.

"You k-know... if you’re just going to be this jealous over your own brother and not even let me understand you or listen to me, then maybe it’s better if I leave. Let’s... cool off for now."

Her voice cracked. She turned on her heel and slammed the door to her room.

Silence fell. Rome stood frozen, his eyes locked on the closed door. His fists clenched tightly.

Why the hell did it come to this?

Was it true, that everything was just because of jealousy? Had he gone too far, letting his emotions explode without even giving her a chance to explain?

But even if he had asked... what would she have said? Wouldn’t she just lie to his face about her secret relationship with Daniel?

"Tch. What a bastard." Daniel muttered coldly as he turned to leave.

Rome’s glare followed him like a knife. He wanted nothing more than to beat Daniel until every ounce of his anger was gone, but his feet refused to move.

His body was frozen in place, trapped between rage and despair. Only when he heard Daniel’s footsteps fade into the distance did his bottled-up fury erupt.

He collapsed onto the sofa, burying his face in his trembling hands.

He told himself he’d wait, wait for the storm inside him to settle—but it never did. His eyes kept drifting to the door where Sylvia was.

He wanted to say he was sorry for hurting her physically. But for her feelings? No. His pride wouldn’t allow it. Deep down, he still convinced himself that his own pain ran deeper than hers.

Moments passed. The silence stretched, broken only by the pounding of his heart. Then—

The door creaked open.

Rome’s head lifted slowly, his anger that had nearly died down suddenly flaring back to life...

Sylvia stood there, her suitcase in hand.

His breath caught.

She’s planning to leave me?

His fists clenched again, his vision darkening as rage surged back like a wave ready to drown him.