What did she say? Did she mention me? What I had done to her?
“She told me what happened,” Kenneth revealed, his eyes filled with sympathy.
Wilhelm closed his eyes, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He had hurt her, driven her away with his selfish actions.
He had lost her, and he did not believe he would ever forgive himself.
“It is your fault that she is in that sorry state,” he murmured.
Kenneth’s face twisted in surprise, his eyes widening. “What?”
“It isyourfault,” Wilhelm spat, his eyes wild with fury as he turned to look at him.
Kenneth recoiled. “Myfault?” he repeated, his voice cracking. “What? How is this my fault?”
Wilhelm’s gaze hardened, and he clenched his jaw. “You told her, did you not?” His voice cut through the air, sharp and accusing. “You told her what happened at White’s. That is how she knows.”
Kenneth’s eyes widened in shock.
“You think I would betray you like that?” he demanded, his voice rising. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing!”
Wilhelm’s eyes narrowed, his voice laced with suspicion. “Then how else would she know?” he demanded, his voice echoing through the room.
“So, this is what you are quarreling about?” Kenneth asked, his voice tight, his eyes darting about as he tried to piece together what was left unsaid.
The air between them thickened.
Wilhelm rose from his chair, the leather creaking beneath him. He moved towards Kenneth with slow, deliberate steps, his shoulders stiff with restraint. His eyes were cold, and they gleamed in the dim light.
“You should already know that,” he said, his voice low and sharp, his words laced with bitterness.
Kenneth furrowed his brow, and for a moment, the firelight flickered in his eyes, before his expression softened.
“Wilhelm,” he began, his tone gentler. “How much have you had to drink?”
The question hit Wilhelm like a slap, and cold, violent anger surged through him. His chest tightened, and his fingers curled into white-knuckled fists.
“You have the audacity to ask such a thing?” he hissed, his voice rising, trembling with fury. “I am in this wretched situation because of you!”
Kenneth stiffened, his tone shifting to one of calm dismissal.
“You are being paranoid,” he stated, shaking his head.
“Am I now?” Wilhelm’s voice was laced with sarcasm, low and menacing, as he took another step closer. “You are clever, Lord Gaverton. Too clever for your own good.” His eyes narrowed on Kenneth, the raw edge of distrust cutting through him like a blade. “I know what you are capable of.”
“You have gone mad with paranoia!” Kenneth’s chest heaved with the weight of his anger, but his eyes held a deep and raw hurt. “This is why you drive everyone away. You did this with Genevieve, and now you are doing it with me.”
He stood still, his anger fading into hurt and fear. “I have been yourfriendfor years, Wilhelm. Your confidant. But you…” He stopped, his voice shaking slightly. “You are pushing away everyone who cares about you.”
Wilhelm’s gaze softened slightly, and doubt flickered in his eyes.
“You are pushing everyone away,” Kenneth repeated, his voice laced with concern. “You are stupidly ridding yourself of every person who cares about you. Look at what you have done to your wife!”
Wilhelm’s heart ached at his words, the realization of his actions hitting him with the force of a physical blow.
“I… I did not…” he stammered, his voice barely audible.
He called me his friend.
