Capítulo 660: I Can’t Let Go Of My Feelings

Carl frowned. “You can’t what?”

“I can’t let go of my feelings,” Arthur admitted, his voice breaking slightly. “Twelve years, Carl. It was twelve years since she disappeared, and I still couldn’t move on. You think a few months will fix that? Or another twelve years?” His fists clenched on his knees. “Don’t you see? It’s either her… or no one else.”

“Wait,” Carl said, pausing mid-thought. “You’re telling me that if she doesn’t feel the same way… you plan to spend the rest of your life alone?”

Arthur didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. His steady gaze said it all.

Carl leaned back slowly, a flicker of disbelief mixing with something softer in his expression. But strangely, he didn’t look surprised. If anything, there was a quiet relief in his eyes, like he had already suspected this and was finally hearing it confirmed.

He let out a breath, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. So that’s how deep it runs, he thought. Somehow, knowing this brought him comfort.

It meant Arthur was completely devoted to his sister, heart, soul, and all. Even if she couldn’t see it now, Carl trusted that someday she would.

Maybe not today, maybe not in five or ten years… but one day. When she did, she would understand that Arthur’s love wasn’t fleeting, it was steady, patient, and unshakable.

“I’ll think about what you said,” Arthur finally broke the silence, his voice quiet but firm. “And… I’m glad I have your blessing.” He gave a small, genuine smile. “Most brothers would probably be chasing me down with a club if they heard I wanted to steal their sister.”

Carl chuckled at that, shaking his head.

Arthur’s gaze softened. “I’ll really think about it, Carl. Even if it takes five or ten years… I’ll tell her and we’ll see where it goes, if it’s not too late by then.” His voice trailed off slightly, lost in thought.

“In the meantime,” Arthur said, snapping out of his thoughts, “I’ll try not to make you the official defuser of tense situations anymore.”

Carl chuckled, sensing where this was going.

Arthur sighed, half sheepish, half earnest. “Although… I can’t promise I won’t slip sometimes. I’ll try not to let my jealousy talk for me. Better still,” he added with a small grin, “I’ll just shut up before I say something stupid.”

Carl laughed softly, shaking his head. “Deal,” he said, amused yet touched by Arthur’s honesty.

The two men shared a rare moment of ease, just quiet understanding between brothers bound by loyalty and something deeper they didn’t need to name.

But what they didn’t notice… was the small phone lying just around the corner on the tiled floor, screen faintly glowing. The timer on a recording app ticked steadily, capturing every word, every sigh, every plan they had made.

Then, soft footsteps. Someone approached, their shadow brushing the edge of the light. The person bent down, picked up the phone, and turned off the recording. For a brief moment, they hesitated, staring at the screen as if weighing a decision.

Finally, they exhaled, tapped a button, and sent the file off to one of their contacts.

——

Once Carl was done finalizing the new plan with Arthur, he headed upstairs to brief Nnenna. Arthur, to Carl’s mild surprise, volunteered to handle Darius himself.

“I better not have to break up a fight later,” Carl warned, half serious, half weary.

“You won’t,” Arthur reassured calmly, then added under his breath, “Mostly because it would be a one sided beating.”

Carl’s gentle expression immediately hardened, and Arthur just gave a faint, almost boyish smile in response.

Upstairs, Nnenna was having her own battle, this time with the love system.

“For the last time,” she sighed, pacing her room, “telling anyone about you will just get me into trouble. What if they tell me to give you up? Can I even do that?”

“Technically, yes,” the system replied in its usual even tone. “You can always give me up. But you know the consequences, and I doubt any of them would ever make you do something you don’t truly want.”

“I know,” Nnenna said softly, sinking into her chair. “But having you in my life has already complicated so many things. And if they found out that giving you up could… fix this chaos, they might actually tell me to do it. I just, don’t think it’s the right thing. Not just because of the consequences, but because it feels wrong.”

“I understand,” the system said gently. “But these people are your family. Keeping them in the dark might not be the right choice either. Especially when you know they can handle the truth.”

“Well, they’ve had no problem keeping me in the dark,” Nnenna muttered with a halfhearted shrug. “So I guess we’re even.”

“What do you mean?” the system asked, curious.

“You know I’ve been suspecting that Arthur has feelings for me,” Nnenna began, lowering her voice as if afraid someone might overhear. “But I can’t assume anything until I hear it from him. Yet… he hasn’t said a word. And honestly, I think Carl’s covering for him too.”

“That’s quite an observation,” the system replied.

“Forget it,” Nnenna sighed, shaking her head. “My not telling them isn’t some form of revenge or payback. I just don’t think it’s right. Besides, it’s not like it’ll change anything. The outcome is still the same, it all comes down to me, us ending this war.” She paused, her tone softening. “If there ever comes a time when keeping this secret puts lives in danger, I’ll tell them. I won’t hesitate. But for now, there’s no need. It’s better if I keep this to myself.”

She peeled off her dusty uniform, glancing down to check for any lingering injuries, there were none. Her body was fine, but her mind was far from calm.

“I understand,” the system said after a thoughtful pause. “And about Carl possibly knowing, don’t blame him. It’s not his secret to tell.”