"AURELIUS," LIVIA REMARKED with some surprise, standing at her door. The twins used to be frequent visitors before, but Aurelius almost never showed up unless he felt the need to.

The younger boy pushed his hand through his blond hair. "Liv. Can I come in? And quickly, before Victoire notices I'm gone and starts looking for me?"

Livia had a faint idea of why the boy was here. She let him in and turned around, heading to the living room. "Everyone's out right now, make yourself at home. Take off your shoes, slippers are over here."

Soon enough they were settled in the living room, not unlike the way they had been a few days prior during the meeting. Livia had her laptop laid out—she'd been writing when the bell had rung.

"What are you doing here?" Livia laughed, humour in her voice. "Can't just be here to hide from Victoire."

"No." Aurelius' face took on a more serious expression. "I have some questions."

Livia's smile faded away. "Right. I was expecting that."

"I assumed you were," Aurelius murmured. "You have to have been, considering that night. So. What happened between you and my brothers? I tried to get an answer out of them and they refused to tell me anything, and Victoire obviously didn't know anything either. I asked Pamela and she said it was your privacy and she refused to utter a single word."

"Good girl," Livia muttered under her breath. But to Aurelius, she asked, "How much do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"Well," Livia said with chagrin, "I can't tell you that. I can give you a few clues, but I think it's best you go to your brothers for the answer in the end. Mine will be hopelessly biassed, and I have no interest in turning you against your older brothers."

Aurelius' blue eyes narrowed. "That bad?"

Livia lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "I don't want to take the risk. I don't want to be guilty of ruining your brotherly affection."

"Just get on with it," Aurelius said with a sigh. "I'm not going to hate them."

"Remember Veronica?"

"Yeah?"

Aurelius wouldn't know the things that had gone on between Livia and Veronica because he hadn't been there. He didn't hang out with their group, spending most of his time with his younger friends around Briarville, Pamela occasionally included.

"I hated her."

Aurelius frowned. "Okay. And what does that have to do with anything?"

"Veronica had a crush on Amphion."

"That I knew. Amphion got into a fight because of her."

Okay, so that was public knowledge. Immediately, Livia's interest was piqued. "Do you know what actually happened? I've heard some things but no details."

"Amphion rejected Veronica, some kind of fight began for some reason and next thing anyone knew they were brawling it out. That's what Zeth told me anyway. I don't know any of the details, I wasn't there."

"I heard it was quite dramatic."

"I assume so, yes." But then he looked at her in that way that she knew meant he was annoyed and wanted an answer.

"We argued over her," Livia murmured, "and my dislike of her. And some very nasty things were said. I don't think we're going to be excellent friends any time soon, if you must know."

"You guys aren't talking because some random girl showed up once and got a crush on my brother?" Aurelius asked incredulously. "I don't believe it. So many people have crushes on my brother, I refuse to believe you guys refuse to talk to each other now just because of that."

Livia shrugged. "I don't care what you believe. That was the truth. It's just what happened. I know it sounds kind of ridiculous."

"Seventeen years," Aurelius said, one brow raised, "and it ends because of one Veronica Emmers?"

"It led into an even stronger argument," Livia murmured, "but she was the cause of it, yes. Besides, Veronica caused Amphion to fight Keith, didn't he? I don't think Amphion has ever gotten into a physical fight before, has he? Like, not one that actually ended with any kind of injury. Perhaps Veronica triggered something in all of us, made us try some new things."

"You're not telling me everything."

"Of course I'm not telling you everything," Livia said with a scowl. "Why would I tell you everything? If you want to know more go ask your brother, don't ask me. I don't remember everything that happened anyways, it's kind of all just a blur in my head these days."

The disbelief in Aurelius' expression said all Livia needed to know. Usually, she was the one anyone went to for information. She'd recite everything that had happened and most of the things that had been said and offer some of her own analysis along the way. Her being so reserved regarding this situation was doing nothing but arouse Aurelius' suspicion, but there wasn't anything Livia really knew she could do about it. This was all she could tell without feeling like she was betraying some kind of massive secret. If she hadn't told Lila that much, why would she tell Aurelius?

Then, there was another ringing of the bell.

Aurelius swore under his breath. "It's Victoire. She's found me."

Livia stood up, looking amused. "What, are the two of you playing hide and seek?"

"In a way," Aurelius winced. "I'm hiding from her."

"What for?"

But Livia didn't stay for an answer. Whatever the current grievance between Aurelius and Victoire, it didn't have anything to do with her, and it would probably be quite entertaining to watch.

It was Victoire at the door, arms crossed. She looked up at Livia. "Aurelius is hiding here, isn't he?"

"Right in my living room," Livia said, amused. "Why do you seek him, little Victoire?"

"First off," Victoire said, looking uncommonly annoyed, "I'm not little. Secondly, I want him right now."

"By all means, follow me in."

And Victoire took the invite, barging right in. She located Aurelius in the living room, and immediately charged forward. "Where did you hide my pen?" she demanded. "Where the hell did you hide it? I want it back now!"

"A pen?" Livia asked, brows furrowed.

"Yes," Victoire seethed. "My pen. My new Swarovski pen that Mum brought me and this guy stole because he's jealous he didn't get one!"

Slowly and menacingly, Livia turned to Aurelius. "Aurelius... did you steal Victoire's pen?"

Aurelius answered, one eyebrow arched and with perfect honesty, "No. I did not. Why would I want to steal her pen?"

"Because you were hiding from her."

"Ha! I knew it," Victoire growled. "You have it on you right now, don't you? Livia, help me!"

"I didn't steal your bloody pen!" Aurelius jumped onto his feet. "I'm hiding from you because you're so sure I stole it and you're literally attacking me over it! I don't have your bloody pen, Toire!"

"I don't believe you." The look in Victoire's eyes could only be described as murderous. Livia felt nothing but pride as Victoire approached Aurelius, fists clenched, eyes narrowed. She'd grown up so fast. It felt like yesterday when Victoire was still just a little toddler. She'd watched the little girl grow up, and it felt so strange to see her like this, so different from everything Livia was used to.

"I don't care if you believe me," Aurelius shot back. "I don't have it, and you're not going to find it on me."

"Well, a pen doesn't just disappear from nowhere!" Victoire screeched. "Where did you put it? It has to be you! You've been staring at that pen since Mum gave it to me! No one else would have taken it! I know where I left it!"

"Have you considered checking your room instead of immediately coming to accuse me of thievery?" Aurelius demanded. "You're being prejudiced, impartial and biassed!"

Livia raised one brow. "Have you been memorising Pride and Prejudice quotes for your GCSE exam?"

Aurelius blushed. "Maybe."

"I think that's one of Elizabeth's lines. Nice job, you're even incorporating it into your day-to-day speech. You're sure to ace your Pride and Prejudice essay."

"I hear sarcasm in there."

"I didn't intend for there to be."

Victoire glared at them. "Livia! Are you helping me or not?"

"I never said I'd help you," Livia replied with a shrug, "just that I'll let you in the house."

Victoire glowered. "Fine! I'll do it myself."

Livia awaited with anticipation what Victoire's definition of doing it was. Would she threaten Aurelius? Hit him? Intimidate him?

She did not expect Victoire to directly pounce onto her brother, who, startled, fell back onto the sofa. Victoire immediately started searching his pockets while he tried to push her off, but she was relentless.

A few long and concerning moments later, Victoire looked up, pouting and disappointed. "It's not on him."

Livia's heart softened. Victoire really did seem to care about the pen, and so she asked, "Where did you last leave it?"

"In my room, on my desk! It was there like, half an hour ago, and then I went to the lounge to watch some Youtube on the massive TV and when I went back it was gone. And Aurelius was the only person nearby."

"Could it have rolled off?"

Victoire shook her head. "I checked the floor," she casted a dirty look at Aurelius, "despite his claims, I did actually search before accusing him of anything. And it won't be the first time he's pranked me like this."

"Aurelius?" Livia asked, one brow raised.

"Didn't take it, didn't see a thing," Aurelius grunted as he sat back up. "I don't know where it went. Honestly, it's probably in your room, Victoire, just go back and look for it, you're wasting your time here—"

And then, the doorbell rang again. Livia stood straight, blinking. "Who is it this time?"

"Bet it's either Amphion or Zeth," Aurelius seethed, "and most likely with the pen."

Livia swallowed. She did not want to let the twins in if necessary. Aurelius knew part of the truth now, but Victoire still didn't. And it would be rude if she just let whoever it was wait outside. So, with a silent, stifled sigh to herself, Livia made her way over to the door and opened it.

It was Amphion, one brow raised.

"Is this something about a pen?" Livia asked before Amphion could even speak.

Amphion clamped his mouth shut, swallowing back whatever he originally intended to say. "Yes. It is," he said wryly. "It's been located. Right here." He held it up. "Mind calling out Victoire and my unfortunate little brother?"

Livia glanced back into the house, where Victoire was still screaming at Aurelius. The content was indiscernible to them. She let out a sigh.

"You might as well just come in, Amphion. You might find the need to forcibly remove them, and I can't do it by myself."

He raised one brow, clearly surprised at the invitation. Livia stared right back in return. I'm not going to let this drag into anything else. They might not get along personally, and she hadn't forgiven him for all the things he'd said yet, but she wasn't going to hold it against him either. She wasn't going to go out of her way to make his life difficult, because there was no point in that and he didn't really deserve it anyways.

A small part of her heart was secretly thankful of his outburst towards Veronica. She wished she'd been there to see it. It was a bit later than she'd wanted, but at least he'd seen through Veronica in the end. Better late than never.

It didn't make her forgive him, though. That had not been an effect, and she didn't intend for it to be. It was as Pamela said. Unless he came and apologised, she wouldn't be making the first move. Only if he apologised first would she apologise as well.

Amphion followed her in, and soon they were in the living room. Amphion walked over and casually pulled Victoire away from Aurelius, and the girl glared but didn't fight back. She knew she didn't stand a chance against her eldest brother, who was twice her size and athletic as all hell.

"I found your pen," Amphion said patiently. "You can stop attacking Aurelius now."

"I'm always happy to attack Aurelius," Victoire shot back.

Aurelius sat up. "I knew it! You just wanted an excuse to hit me! You're such a little bitch, Victoire Calvert-Egerton, you know—"

Amphion turned and shot him a glare. "Language, Aurelius."

"Oh please," Aurelius snorted, "she's heard way worse."

Livia joined in the conversation, smiling tightly. "Do you mind moving this sibling feud to your own house? I'm slightly preoccupied here, you know."

Amphion's head turned, and his eyes landed on Livia's open laptop. The screen had turned dark a long time ago, but somehow Amphion still guessed it immediately. "You've been writing? You're still doing it?"

"Yes," Livia said curtly, walking over and slamming her device shut. "I like to stick to my hobbies, you see. Haven't given up on it yet. The writer dream is still living."

Victoire turned to her, having escaped her brother's grasp. "Ooh! What are you writing now, Liv?"

Livia broke into a genuine smile. Victoire had always been the number one supporter of her writing, even when she didn't understand a word of it. She replied honestly, "It's a story about a girl who grew up in a town much like Briarville and all the mischief she got up to with her friends."

Victoire hopped over. "Is it based on us?"

Livia lifted her head then, and accidentally met Amphion's searing stare. His face had darkened sometime in the conversation, but it wasn't upset or aggressive, more thoughtful and confused. Livia glanced away before anything else. She replied, "Somewhat, yes, but most of it is purely fictional. It's my summer project. Thought it fitted the general vibe around here, you know."

"Oh yeah, definitely," Victoire grinned. "I'd love to read it when it's done!"

"Well," Livia laughed, "I'm not even halfway through yet, so that would take a while, little sweet Vicky."

Victoire wrinkled her nose. "Do not call me that."

It was why Livia had called her that, actually, because she knew the younger girl despised it with every inch of her soul.

"Sounds fascinating," Amphion suddenly offered. Both girls turned to glance at him.

A beat passed. Livia sighed. "Yeah. It's why I'm writing it."

Silence again. No one knew how to continue the conversation from that. Aurelius, brows furrowed, glanced at Livia and then Amphion, and then back again, as if trying to figure something out. Finally, he shook his head and stood up. "If Victoire's not attacking me anymore, then I'll head back to the house. Sorry for bothering, Livia."

"It's fine," Livia said with a half-smile. "I'm glad to have been your temporary sanctuary."

He scowled at her. "You let Victoire in without a moment's hesitation."

"My apologies. I didn't realise she'd just pounce on you."

Amphion frowned. "Victoire, what have I said about attacking people?"

"He's Aurelius," Victoire huffed, "he doesn't count as people. I can do whatever the hell I want with him."

"You," said non-person growled, jabbing a finger in her direction, "are a menace to society. You need Jesus as soon as possible, and I do not understand how Mum and Dad don't realise you're a problem."

Amphion sighed, one of a long-suffering brother. "As if you're any better, Aurelius."

"Oh please," Aurelius snapped, "like you haven't gotten into fights before. And mines ended before it even began. You ended up in the hospital."

Alarmed, Amphion's eyes darted to Livia, who kept her face impassive and turned to Victoire.

Aurelius laughed. "Don't worry, she already knows."

Livia could almost hear Amphion swallow. The next thing she heard was, "Do you, Livia?"

Livia twisted her head to face him, and then offered the coldest smile she could muster. "Yeah. I've heard about it. Nice fight. Nice stitches."

"I—"

Livia didn't stick around to listen this time, picking up her laptop and making a beeline for the door. "You guys should go back. My parents are going to be back soon." They were not. "They'll get mad if you guys are all just camping here." They would not be. But Livia needed an excuse, and the three Calvert-Egertons were smart enough that they wouldn't burst the clear lie.

Livia left and went back up to her room.