Chapter 55

Ethan's POV
Seeing him vulnerable gave me a little peace inside. “We all feel lost, Lucas. Let’s find a way out of this together.”
In my heart, I resolved that I would fight for Isabella and also try to rebuild this relationship with Lucas. Love and brotherhood should be able to guide us out of this darkness, and I hoped that we could find a way to support each other—rather than compete or fight for something that shouldn’t be fought over.
At an unexpected moment, I felt as if I had met Elara. “Isn’t it you, Elara?” I asked, approaching the figure of a woman who was guarding a bookstore in one corner of the city. She looked very similar to Elara, Lucas's mate who had left this world.
"Sorry, I'm not the person you mean," she answered in a calm tone, but her eyes stared at me with a depth that made me skeptical.
Did I see it wrong? This woman did look very much like Elara—her hair, her smile, even the expression on her face. The confusion began to fill my mind. "Is she reborn?" I thought. If so, this could be good news for Lucas. He had indeed lost Elara and her departure left a deep wound in my brother's heart.
"Are you sure?" I asked this woman, hoping there was a glimmer of hope behind her refusal.
"Yes," she answered firmly, returning my gaze with conviction.
My heart was pounding. If this was indeed Elara who was reborn, this was a very emotional moment and might also provide a new opportunity for Lucas. "But you look exactly like Elara... There's something that can't be explained," I said, trying to find out more.
She shook her head, alone in the bookstore. “Please, don’t jump to conclusions. I’m not her. I have a different life and story.”
Even though I wanted to believe her, my curiosity couldn’t be contained. “But this incompatibility is very painful, especially for my family. Lucas has lost a lot, and if this is a second chance for him…”
She sighed. “I understand, but I can’t be what you expect. Elara may have a place in your heart and in the hearts of the people you mentioned earlier, but I can’t replace someone who is gone,” she said, in a soft yet firm tone.
I looked at her in confusion. Maybe this was just an illusion, or maybe I was dwelling too much on the memories of Elara. “I just want to help my brother,” I said, feeling the weight of my heart.
“Tell Lucas that I can’t be Elara. He must move on, even though the memories will never fade. However, remembering Elara is no reason to argue about something that doesn’t exist,” she added, looking at me gently.
After contemplating her words, I felt a little calmer, even though my heart was conflicted. I didn’t want to hurt Lucas with false hope, but I also couldn’t pass up the chance to see if this was really something special.
“I’ll tell him,” I said, trying to be both affirmative and hopeful in my decision. This meeting had presented a new challenge to think about and digest. On the way home, I began to plan the right words to tell Lucas, so he could find peace and accept the truth—whatever it might reveal.
I went straight to Lucas and told him what had happened a few moments ago. “I met a woman at the bookstore, and she looked exactly like Elara,” I said in a serious tone.
“Are you sure?” Lucas asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yeah, I’m sure. But she said she wasn’t Elara. She didn’t tell me her real name, either. So I don’t know,” I said, sensing the tension between us.
Lucas seemed to think for a moment, then said, “Take me there.”
I agreed and walked him to the bookstore where I had met the woman. We walked down the familiar streets, and when we reached the front of the store, I felt a mixture of emotions. On one hand, there was hope for Lucas, but on the other, there was fear that his hope might be just an illusion.
“Don’t worry, Ethan. I just wanted to see her and talk to her. If she’s not Elara, I’ll take it,” Lucas said, trying to appear confident.
“Okay, I’ll wait here,” I said, encouraging him before he stepped into the bookstore.
Watching him go inside reminded me of the days when we were kids. It was like an old brother taking his younger brother to meet his first love, though the situation was much more complicated now. Within seconds, the image of Elara came back to me—she brought back memories of the past, and her departure had left a deep wound in both of us.
I stood outside, waiting patiently. Anxiety clouded my heart, but I hoped Lucas would find clarity, whatever the outcome. While I waited, I pondered how Elara felt when he left and how deep his true love was.
A few minutes passed, and I saw Lucas talking to the woman, his gestures showing how he was trying to make sense of the situation. Beyond my control, I wanted everything to go well for my brother.
After a while, the door to the shop opened. Lucas came out, looking with a mixed expression. His eyes reflected disappointment, but also excitement.
"How?" I asked, trying to read the emotions hidden behind his face.
"She's not Elara. She told me about her life and explained that she's not the person you said she was. But... there's something about her that I can't ignore," Lucas replied, his voice entangled in gloom but carrying hope.
I felt a burden on my heart. How complicated this feeling was when a family had to deal with an enemy from the past. "Lucas, it's important to remember that you will always have the memories of Elara. But your life can't stop just because of that loss," I said, offering sincere encouragement.