The Red Roses Before the Grave

Just as Luca reached the door, a sudden knock echoed through the apartment.

Glancing at the video doorbell, he saw Giselle standing outside.

It was the middle of winter, yet she was trembling in the hallway, clad only in a thin knit sweater.

A pang of guilt twisted in Luca’s chest. Without hesitation, he rushed to open the door.

"Luca, I knew you’d be here."

The moment she saw him, Giselle’s eyes turned red with unshed tears.

"Giselle, what are you doing here?" he asked, frowning.

Giselle didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped past him and headed straight for Olivia, who remained seated in the living room.

Her voice trembled as she spoke, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.

"Olivia, I never meant to steal your role. It was all because of my brother... He acted on impulse."

Olivia took her time, silently brewing a cup of black tea, curious to see how long Giselle would keep up the act.

Before she could talk more, Luca cut in, immediately coming to Giselle’s defense.

"I told you to leave this to me. Why did you come here?"

Giselle’s sobs grew louder. "Luca, how could you say that? Now Olivia must think I'm shameless!"

Luca's heart ached. Without thinking, he pulled Giselle into a gentle embrace and coaxed her softly. "Giselle, Olivia is older than you. There’s nothing for you to feel guilty about. It’s normal for her to look out for you."

As he spoke, he shot Olivia a meaningful glance, silently urging her to say something, but she only took a slow sip of tea, deliberately feigning ignorance.

Luca's patience finally snapped. His voice sharpened. "Olivia, didn’t you just agree to give Giselle the role? What’s with this attitude now? Are you going back on your word?"

Before Olivia could respond, Giselle stepped forward and gently took her hand.

"Olivia, I’ve admired you since we were kids. We grew up together. I know our friendship is stronger than this. You won’t hold it against me, will you?"

Olivia set down the tea leaves, pressing her fingertips against her heated temples before speaking in an icy tone. "You two are unbearably loud. You're disturbing my rest."

"I haven't been feeling well lately and need some peace. Can you do me a favor and give me some silence?"

The moment those words left her lips, both Giselle and Luca were stunned.

Luca quickly regained his composure, striding forward to seize Olivia’s wrist.

"Olivia, can you stop with this attitude? Do you always have to be so sharp-tongued?"

Olivia’s gaze turned ice-cold. She gritted her teeth, enunciating each word with deliberate precision. "I told you to leave."

That look in her eyes struck Luca harder than he expected.

There was coldness, there was impatience, but there was no love.

In nearly ten years, they had known each other and never once had she looked at him like this. Like he was nothing. Like he was an enemy.

Yet just moments ago, she had been speaking about marriage. About a future together.

Frustration flared in Olivia’s chest. She yanked her wrist free from Luca’s grasp and raised her voice. "I already told you I wasn’t feeling well! I told you to leave! Why don’t you understand?"

Giselle flinched in fear, clutching the sleeve of Luca’s coat. Her voice trembled with fear. "Luca, let’s go… Olivia is so scary."

But this time, Luca did not pay her any attention.

His bloodshot eyes locked onto Olivia, refusing to back down. His voice was hoarse, desperate. "Are you saying this because you're truly upset, or…"

"Because I truly want peace and quiet."

Olivia closed her eyes, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She let out a weary sigh.

"Luca, just go. I just want some peace. You're both too noisy."