The Winter Knows No Frost

Neal's fervent display brought a bitter smile to my lips.

In my past life, he never uttered a word to me for five years. Yet now, to remain by Olive's side, he broke his silence so swiftly.

Liam finally broke his silence. "My skills aren't bad either. Let me protect Miss Olive Winters."

Richard thought for a moment, then proposed, "Let's settle this with a duel. The victor will stay with Olive."

The twins clashed instantly.

Neal fought with ruthless precision, striking at Liam's vulnerabilities as if he were a mortal enemy, not a brother. Liam held back initially, but as Neal's ferocity intensified, he retaliated with equal force.

In the end, Neal edged out a narrow victory.

Richard proclaimed Neal as Olive's bodyguard, then turned to me almost as an afterthought. "Liam, you'll protect Eira."

Olive's feigned distress melted away. Neal, after all, was the more striking of the two.

"Please, sir, send me back to the black market," Liam pleaded.

...

Richard's face darkened, his cane slamming the floor. "Are you defying my orders?"

Liam glanced at me, his disgust unconcealed. "I mean no defiance, sir. My rough nature is unfit to serve Miss Eira Winters."

I took a deep breath, aware that I wasn't as striking as Olive. My limp was from a childhood accident when I fell off a horse while saving her.

Quiet and reserved, I couldn't match her charm either. That was likely why Neal had rejected me in my past life.

Olive chimed in, sounding concerned. "You can't abandon my sister, Liam. The black market isn't the place for you."

I watched her performance with cold detachment. It had been so convincing in my past life, but now it only made my stomach churn.

"It's fine," I said firmly. "Forcing him will yield no loyalty. Let him go."

Richard froze, caught off guard by my decision. He'd intended to scold Liam to assert his authority and make me feel indebted.

Olive stiffened, too. Her performance was meant to burnish her image while highlighting my undesirability. She hadn't expected me to dismantle her charade.

She tried, "Liam is just upset. You can't just send him back. He'll suffer terribly there."

I wasn't impressed. "If you're so concerned, why not take them both under your wing?"

She blushed. "What are you talking about?"

I smirked, knowing that her heart leaped at the idea. After all, the Ramos brothers were both handsome, and she thrived on the envy of others.

Having both would make her the center of admiration wherever she went.