Chapter 9 A sister's vow
CHAPTER 9: A sister's vow
Vera
Lily lost it the second the words ‘I’m getting married’ left my mouth.
“What?” she cried, panic lighting up her entire face as she pushed herself upright on the couch, knocking over the glass of water she had just taken her medication with.
I quickly rushed over with a rag to mop up the water that was fast sipping into the bag of medications on the table.
“What do you mean you’re getting married? Vera? I just got back from the hospital. You’re supposed to be taking care of me, not dropping something like this on me,” she cried more hysterically.
Cherry drooped down beside me, taking the rag from my hands, and whispered,
“Don't worry, I'll take care of this. Talk to her.”
I straightened and moved to Lily immediately, kneeling beside the couch and taking her hands. By now she was already working herself into tears.
“No,” I said quickly. “No, Lily. I’m not leaving you, sweetheart. That’s not what this is. Please don’t think that.”
Her grip tightened. “Then why does it sound like that?” she asked, voice wobbling.
I shook my head. “No. It's nothing like that.”
She tried to adjust her position and winced, her hand going to the sight of the operation on the side of her abdomen.
My anxiety peaked, remembering what the doctor had told Cherry and I concerning her stitches ripping open.
“Are you okay? Does anything hurt?” I asked, shooting up to look at her all over.
She withdrew her hands from mine. “This hurts like a bitch,” she replied, irritated. “But I'm more concerned about you leaving me,” she pouted, close to tears. “People get married and disappear. They move on. They start new lives.”
Before I could reply, the sound of my phone ringing, rent through the air.
I didn’t need to look at the screen to know who was calling.
Silas Rutherford.
He had been calling since Lily and I left the hospital after her discharge, and I hadn't informed him.
I ignored the ringing, focusing my attention on Lily whose little sniffles drew me back to the present.
I held her hands firmly, desperate to make her understand me.
“Listen, Lily, I’m not moving on from you,” I said, steady and firm. “I’m actually doing this for you.”
Cherry stood a few feet away, arms crossed loosely over her chest, silent, watchful, and letting the moment belong to us.
Lily shook her head, fear and confusion etched deep.
“I don't believe you. You didn’t even tell me you were seeing someone.”
“I wasn’t,” I admitted, softly. “I'm not.”
Her brows furrowed. “Then how does this even make sense? How are you getting married if—”
“There are things you don't know yet,” I interrupted gently. “Things I didn’t tell you while you were in the hospital. I didn’t want to add more weight to you.”
She shook her head slowly, apprehension kicking in. “I don't understand, Vera.”
My stomach tightened and my pulse thundered in my ears.
I realised I didn't know how to tell her everything. She was still so delicate. And I didn’t want to upset her.
But Lily was a very smart girl.
Her eyes dropped…slowly, almost instinctively…to my stomach.
Her breath hitched.
“No,” she whispered. “No way. Are you…”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
The silence that followed was sharp, tense and brittle…just like a fragile glass.
Her breath hitched. “You’re… pregnant?” she asked, voice breaking.
I nodded.
Her eyes filled immediately. “But you said you were not seeing anyone,” she accused, eyes glassy.
I shook my head once, and then more. “No. I'm not. I swear it to you, Lily.”
“Then how—” her eyes widened, realisation dawning on her. “Is it—it's because of that night, isn’t it?” she said quietly. “The night that—”
My chest tightened. “Yes.”
She pressed her lips together, shaking her head,
“Dear God,” she whispered, “I knew something bad would come out of that night.”
The next second, fear crept into her voice, as if something had just sprang on her.
“What happens now, Vera? What if… what if the baby makes you forget me? Or your new family? What if the baby makes you love me less? What if you forget about me because you have your own child now?”
The question broke something open inside my chest.
My heart squeezed painfully that she had such fears.
I pulled her gently into my arms, mindful of her surgical wound. She held tightly onto me, resting her head on my chest.
“Never,” I said fiercely. “You hear me? Never. You are my responsibility. You are my family. My little sister. This baby doesn’t replace you. It doesn’t take anything from you.”
She clung to me, fragile and shaking.
I choked back a sob. “This is for our future,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “So you never have to be afraid again or vulnerable again. It's all for you, Lily.”
She nodded, but still held tightly onto me, as if she was afraid that I'd disappear as soon as she let go.
After a long moment, she pulled back, studying my face. “If you’re sure,” she said quietly, “then I'd trust you.”
“I am.”
“Please don't leave me, Vera,” she pouted, voice thick with emotion.
“I won't. Ever.”
She hesitated, then asked, “So… what is his name.
“Silas,” I breathed. “Silas Rutherford.”
She nodded, slowly, absorbing the information. “Where did you meet him?”
“At work…at the club.”
“What does he look like?”
As if on cue, my phone buzzed again.
Our heads snapped in the direction of the phone.
Silas Rutherford.
Again.
Fear and nerves tangling in my chest.
Lily noticed. “Is that him?”
Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.
Cherry straightened. “I’ll get it.”
I got off the couch and picked up the vibrating phone, torn between answering the call, or ignoring it again so I could have more time with Lily to help her ease into this.
I was still standing in the middle of the room, conflicted, the ringing phone in my hand, when voices carried into the living room.
One was unmistakably Silas’s.
The other was strangely family, although I couldn't place it at the time.
“We meet again, Red,” the unfamiliar voice said easily.
Something about it tugged at my memory. But I brushed it aside. I had something bigger to worry about.
I had been ignoring Silas Rutherford's calls, and I knew he was not going to be pleased about it.
As soon as they appeared in the room, recognition clicked about where I had heard the familiar voice.
It was the man from the nightclub. The night I had met Silas for the first time.
The same easy posture, the same unapologetic confidence, his long hair pulled back into a loose manbun, diamond studs in his nose, catching the light.
His lips curved. “Hello, Vera. Didn’t think we’d be running into each other again,” he said, with a charming smile.
Cherry frowned instantly, muttering under her breath.
He turned in her direction, an amused smile on his face.
Silas hadn't said a word at this point. His gaze was fixed pointedly at me, and the phone in my hand.
I gently lowered my hand, hiding it behind my back.
The man beside him, Chauncey noticed this, and flashed me a grin, jerking his thumb toward Silas.
“Unfortunately for me, this guy’s my older brother.”
My brows lifted slightly.
That, I hadn’t expected. But looking at their faces now, I could see the similarities.
Lily had gone still, her eyes wide and glued to Silas, her face pale and stunned, as though she were looking at something unreal.
I assumed it was simply the effect of meeting him for the first time.
I felt the same way too.
She recovered…quickly, though, clearing her throat. “Is he the one, Vee?”
Both men turned in her direction, as though they were just noticing her.
“Yes,” I whispered, lowering my gaze.
Lily straightened and offered him a small, polite smile.
“Thank you, sir, ” she said softly. “For helping us. For everything.”
Silas nodded, once, curtly. “You’re welcome.”
Chauncey smiled warmly at her. “I hope you are feeling better now? Your sister was quite worried the other day.”
Lily smiled animatedly, eyes lighting up. “Thank you. I feel much better now.” She extended her hand. “Lily.”
He stepped closer, taking her hand gently. “Chauncey. Chauncey Rutherford. A pleasure to meet you, Lily,” he replied, then kissed the back of her hand.
Lily smiled, and Cherry rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. Again.
Chauncey let go of Lily’s hand, turning to Cherry.
“So,” he said lightly, “it seems I have pissed in your cereal, Red.”
“That’s not my name,” she snapped.
He grinned wider. “It fits.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please don’t encourage yourself.”
I noticed the way his gaze lingered anyway, curious, entertained, while Cherry very pointedly ignored him.
“I need to speak with Vera,” Silas said calmly. “In private.”
A brief silence descended in the room whereas my heartbeat skyrocketed.
Cherry gestured down the hall. “Bedroom’s free.”
She silently gestured to me to lead the way.
Chauncey smirked. “Behave,” he added. “Or don’t. I’m not judging.”
Silas didn’t dignify that with a response.
Lily looked on wordlessly, as I led the way, Silas following closely behind, anxiety squeezing her face.
As the bedroom door closed behind us, the air shifted.
I had barely turned around when I heard his voice…low, hard—angry.
His expression was controlled, but tight.
“It seems I didn't make myself clear last time.”