Olivia froze, the air completely leaving her lungs as a thick, painful lump formed in her throat. Her mind reeled, fracturing under the weight of his confession.
"You... you know?" she managed to utter, her voice a fragile, trembling thread.
Lucius offered her a bittersweet, deeply sorrowful smile. "Unfortunately, yes, my dear."
"How?" Olivia pressed, her mind racing through every possibility, trying to find a anchor in the chaos. "I thought you... was it Kyle? Did Kyle tell you?"
In a split second, the hesitation drained from her posture, instantly replaced by a sharp, defensive hostility. Her eyes narrowed beneath her veil as she locked her gaze onto him. "Tell me! Who told you that I am—"
"Olivia, please, calm down," Lucius pleaded softly.
