Denise set his cup down and let out a weary sigh.
“You can’t keep pushing him, Diois,” he said, his tone heavy with concern.

“He’s in a fragile state. If you keep pushing him to his limits, you’re going to lose him for good.”

Diois’s jaw clenched, his expression hardening into something unreadable.

He didn’t respond, but the tension in his shoulders spoke volumes. Frustrated, Denise leaned forward, his voice rising slightly.

“Don’t you see what just happened? He tried to kill himself, Diois. You need to stop this. Give him space before it’s too late.”

Diois didn’t need Denise to point out the obvious. He already knew Henry had tried to drown himself in the pool.

The memory burned in his mind, each detail replaying like a tormenting film. Guilt clawed at his insides—he had pushed Henry too far.

Now, he was scrambling to find a way to fix everything, to make Henry feel safe again. But the fear paralyzed him.

What if giving Henry space meant losing him altogether?

How could he stay calm when the mere thought of Henry leaving made his chest tighten in panic?

Denise noticed Diois’s turmoil and shifted closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

“I know you’re scared,” he said quietly, his tone steady and comforting.

“You love him, Diois. But if you want him to stay, you have to calm down. You can’t control him through fear—it’ll only drive him away.”

Diois remained silent, his fists clenched in his lap, his body trembling with frustration.

He hated the truth in them, hated being told he was the problem.

Denise understood his brother better than anyone. Denise is the backbone of Diois, the steady force that keeps him grounded.

Though they are twins, with Denise being only two minutes older, he carries maturity and composure far beyond his years.

While managing the rigorous demands of medical school, Denise also handles their family business, he is now one of the most successful businessman.

After the death of their father and their mother’s remarriage, Denise took full responsibility for Diois. He became more than just a brother—he was a guardian, a guide, and a source of stability in Diois’s turbulent life.

Diois has anger issues and unpredictable emotional swings, often leaving him in a state of chaos. But Denise has always been there, anchoring him through the storm, ensuring that no matter how far Diois strayed, he never completely lost his way.

In many ways, Denise wasn’t just his older brother; he was his protector, his compass, his constant.

Diois's mind replayed the image of Henry's lifeless eyes, the way his small body felt so weightless in the water. It was a sight he never wanted to see again, but it kept haunting him.

"I know," Diois finally muttered, his voice low and strained.

"I know I’ve pushed him too far." His gaze was fixed on the coffee table, his knuckles white. "But... I can’t let him go. I can’t."

Denise leaned forward, his tone softer but firm. "Diois, holding on too tightly will only destroy him. You don’t want to lose him, but the way you’re doing this—controlling him, suffocating him—it’s breaking him. You saw what happened tonight. If you keep this up, there might not be another chance to save him."

Diois looked up at Denise, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. "You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t see it every time I look at him? But I..."

He trailed off, his voice cracking slightly. He looked away, as if ashamed. "I don’t know how to stop. I don’t know how to... let him be without losing him."

Denise let out a heavy sigh.

"Diois, love isn’t about control. It’s about trust. Right now, Henry doesn’t trust you. He fears you. And if you don’t change, he’ll never heal—not with you."

Diois’s eyes narrowed, his frustration evident. "I’m trying," he said through gritted teeth.

"But it’s not that simple. You don’t understand what it’s like—what it feels like to know he might leave and never come back."

"And you think this is the way to make him stay?" Denise shot back, his voice sharp.

"Diois, you’re not keeping him here because he wants to be here. You’re trapping him, and it’s killing both of you."

The room fell silent, the tension thick. Diois rubbed a hand over his face, exhaustion evident in his posture. For the first time in a long while, he looked vulnerable—uncertain.

"What do I do, then?" Diois asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "How do I fix this?"

Denise’s expression softened. "Start by giving him space, Diois. Let him breathe. Show him he’s safe with you, not because you force him to stay, but because he chooses to."

Denise tightened his embrace, rubbing soothing circles on Diois’s back.

“I promise,” Denise continued, his voice unwavering, “if he leaves, I’ll help you bring him back. But you have to meet him halfway. You need to show him you can be human, Diois.”

Diois didn’t respond immediately. He nodded slowly, though his expression remained conflicted. "I’ll try," he said, his voice heavy with reluctance but also resolved.

Denise stood, placing a reassuring hand on Diois’s shoulder. "That’s all you can do right now. But don’t wait too long, Diois. He needs you to be better for him."

As Denise left, Diois remained seated, his mind racing with thoughts and regrets. He knew Denise was right. If he didn’t change, he would lose Henry—and that was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.