DON’T MAKE A SOUND!!!!

Lena's POV

Oliver's knock echoed through the room. Three sharp raps. Impatient. Demanding.

"Lena. Open the door."

I looked at Julian. He was calm, too calm. Like he'd known this moment was coming. Like he'd planned it.

My hand was still on the lock.

"I know you're in there." Oliver's voice was harder now. "I heard you talking to someone. Who is it?"

Julian didn't move. Didn't speak. Just watched me with those dark eyes waiting.

Choose.

I could open the door, tell Oliver the truth or let them fight over me like I was something to be won.

Or I could….

I unlocked the door, but I didn't open it.

I turned to Julian. Pressed my finger to my lips. Don't make a sound.

Then I opened it.

---

Oliver stood in the doorway. His eyes swept the room and found Julian standing behind me and stopped.

Silence.

Then, "Dad."

"Oliver."

"What the hell are you doing in here?"

Julian stepped forward."I came to check on her. Your mother's sick. I'm packing her things."

"Bullshit." Oliver's jaw tightened. "You were standing behind her. With the door locked."

"She locked it."

"You're lying."

"I'm not lying." Julian's voice was ice. "I'm her stepfather. I have every right to check on her."

"You have every right to stay away from her."

The air between them crackled. Two men. Same blood. Same hunger.

And I was standing in the middle of it.

---

"Stop."

Both of them turned to me.

I stepped between them. My heart was pounding so loud I was sure they could hear it.

"Stop it," I said again. "Both of you."

Oliver's eyes narrowed. "Lena —"

"He knows." I looked at Oliver. "He knows about us."

Oliver went still

"I came back to give her a choice."

The room went quiet.

Oliver looked at me. "What choice?"

I opened my mouth and closed it.

Finally, I told the truth.

"The choice between you.” I pointed to Oliver, “And him." Julian.

---

Oliver's face went pale.

"You're kidding me."

"I'm not."

"You're serious." He ran a hand through his hair. "You're actually, you're choosing between us?"

"I'm not choosing." I stepped closer to him. "I'm asking."

"Asking what?"

I took a breath.

"Asking if you can share."

Silence.

Then, Oliver laughed but it didn’t sound angry. It sounded shocking and disbelieving.

"Share," he repeated. "You want me to share you with my own father."

"I want both of you."

"You can't have both of us."

"Why not?"

"Because…." He stopped and looked at Julian, then back at me. "Because it's insane."

"Maybe." I touched his chest. "But it's what I want."

Julian stepped forward — pressed against my back. His hands found my hips.

"Tell me you don't want this," Julian murmured. "Tell me you don't want us and we walk away."

I couldn't.

I couldn't say it.

And Oliver saw it in my eyes.

---

"Both of you," he said slowly. "You really —"

"Yes."

He was quiet for a long moment.

Then, "Show me."

I blinked. "What?"

"Show me." He crossed his arms. "Prove it's what you want. Both of us. Right now."

I looked at Julian. He was smiling so hungrily.

"Your mother's not coming back tonight," Julian said. "I have time."

"And so do I," Oliver added.

They were both looking at me.

Waiting.

---

"Okay," I breathed. "Okay."

I reached for Oliver's hand. Then Julian's.

I pulled them both toward the bed.

And then, Julian's phone buzzed.

He glanced at it. His face changed.

"It's your mother," he said. "She wants me to come get her."

Now.

"Now?" I was already sinking. "But —"

"Now." Julian pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry."

He looked at Oliver. Then at me.

"This isn't over," he said. "I'll be back."

And he walked out.

Leaving me alone with Oliver.

Who was staring at me with an expression I couldn't read.

The door closed behind Julian.

Silence.

Oliver looked at me, then at the door and then back at me.

"He'll be back," Oliver repeated. "But I'm here now."

He stepped closer.

"And I don't share."

"Oliver —"

"Not tonight." He cupped my face. "Tonight, you're mine."

And when he kissed me, I knew Julian would come back.

Because Oliver wasn't letting go.