We don't need to die today

The entire residential block belonged to Crowne Real Estate. Only the wealthiest families could afford to set foot inside those apartments. On the top floor of one such building, in the grandest penthouse, lived the enigmatic eldest young master of the Crowne family—Sebastian Crowne.

A man whose name was spoken with both fear and reverence.

Cassius Crowne sighed, exasperated. He had been standing there for ten whole minutes, waiting in silence to deliver his report and get his well-earned day off, while his older brother continued to stare at the same damn pictures.

"If you want her that much, why don't you just get her back?" Cassius asked, rubbing his temples.

Sebastian Crowne remained silent, his gaze locked on the scattered photographs of a bewitching young woman. A deep, unmistakable longing burned in his usually cold eyes. Even though it was just a photo—an inanimate object—she breathed life into it, simply through those limpid green eyes.

His fingertips ghosted over one of the pictures, his expression unreadable.

She was beautiful. One in a million.

For a brief moment, he considered himself lucky to have once held her in his arms. To have been the man she leaned into, even if it was only for a fleeting moment in time.

Cassius sighed dramatically. "You're Sebastian Crowne. There isn't a single woman in this world you can't have. If you wanted, I could have her brought to you by tomorrow morning."

"There isn't any other woman I desire."

Cassius groaned internally. For God's sake, let me go home!

Sebastian's voice was low, almost bitter. "What's the use of all this? What's the use of being a Crowne? What's the use of all this wealth and power if I can't even be with the woman I love?"

Cassius pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're doing this to yourself." And dragging me along for the ride!

Sebastian's fingers tightened around the photo in his hand. His voice was barely above a whisper. "She'll never forgive me after what happened."

"It wasn't your fault," Cassius said automatically. He had lost count of how many times they'd had this conversation.

"It was my fault."

He had been the one who wanted her by his side. He had been the one greedy enough to disregard the dangers, the risks. He had promised her that no harm would come to her or her friend—and yet, he had failed.

When she regained her memories, she would hate him for choosing her life over her friend's.

Cassius wanted to scream. "If she truly loves you, she'll understand and forgive you."

Sebastian wanted to believe that. He really did.

But deep down, he knew better.

He tossed another set of photos onto the table and downed the last of his whiskey, his grief swallowing him whole.

"Look at this..." His voice was hoarse. "Her. Marrying another man."

Cassius choked.

Sebastian poured himself another drink. "This is the end."

What?!

Cassius froze.

His brother's wife... had married another man?!

Had he heard that right? Had the world suddenly stopped spinning?

Had the apocalypse begun and he just wasn't informed?!

Cassius could feel his soul leaving his body. His ears—his poor, overworked ears—had to be malfunctioning after months of enduring Sebastian's relentless brooding. But then… what about his eyes?

Had they broken too?

He needed medical attention.

Immediately.

"B-Brother," Cassius stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe... maybe it's because she still hasn't regained her memory?"

Sebastian's response?

Another glass of whiskey.

Cassius could feel his brother slipping into a bottomless abyss of darkness. And the worst part?

He was being dragged along with him.

The temperature in the room plummeted.

Cassius wrapped his arms around himself and swallowed hard. Brother, please… don't do anything reckless. She's still recovering. She'll remember. She'll come back.

We don't need to die today.

Help.