Louis's POV
"And what the hell was that?" Lennox snapped at me the instant Olivia teleported.
Shame burned my chest. I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "I was just joking," I muttered. "Teasing her… like we used to. I didn't think—"
"You didn't think at all," Levi cut in, his tone calm but his eyes hard with annoyance. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, disappointment written across his face. "You saw how wound up she was, Louis. And you pushed her further."
I clenched my fists, jaw tight. "I wasn't trying to hurt her. It was a joke—just a damn joke."
Lennox slammed his palm against the desk, the sound echoing through the study. "This isn't the time for jokes! She's walking a fine line, holding herself together in front of Frederick. One wrong slip, and everything we've worked for goes to hell. And you—" he jabbed a finger at me, fury blazing in his eyes—"you decided to throw fuel on the fire!"
