Siblings

Siblings


NOLAN POV

Love isn’t always lost in grand betrayals… sometimes, it slips quietly through your hands.

I didn’t sleep.

Not even for a second.

I just lay there staring at the ceiling, replaying everything I said to Ben the night before—every word, every tone, every moment her expression changed.

I shouldn’t have said it like that.

Hell, I shouldn’t have said it at all.

The word obligation had slipped out in frustration, not intention. But once it was out there, hanging between us, there was no taking it back.

And the look on her face said it all that I had fucked up big time.

God.

It wasn’t anger.

It was disappointment.

Like I had become someone she didn’t recognize.

By morning, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to fix it or at least try to. When I got to her place, my hand hovered over the doorbell for a second longer than it should have.

I wasn’t nervous.

I don’t get nervous.

But this?

This felt different.

Because with Ben… things always mattered more.

I rang the bell and footsteps echoed faintly from inside.

Then the door opened and there she was.

Pale.

Tired.

Guarded.

“Nolan,” she said quietly.

Not cold.

Not warm.

Just… distant.

“Can I come in?” I asked.

She hesitated.

Just for a second.Then stepped aside.

The silence inside the house was heavier than anything I’d felt before.

I closed the door behind me, turning to face her.

“I’m sorry,” I said immediately.

No build-up.

No excuses.

Just the truth.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“For what?”

“For what I said yesterday,” I replied. “About the baby.”

Her eyes dropped for a moment, her hand instinctively resting against her stomach.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I continued quickly. “I wasn’t telling you to get an abortion. I would never Ben, I care about you. And I care about the baby.”

That part was true.

More true than I expected it to be.

She looked back at me, searching my face like she was trying to decide whether to believe me.

“I just…” I exhaled slowly. “I panicked. Everything’s been happening so fast, and I didn’t choose my words carefully. But that doesn’t change how I feel.”

A long silence followed and then she nodded not fully convinced.

But not shutting me out either.

“I hear you,” she said softly.

It wasn’t forgiveness.

But it was something. And right now, I’d take it.

“I came to check on you,” I added. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied.

A lie.

But I didn’t push.

Not today.

“I was thinking…” I started, then stopped as something caught my attention.

Voices from outside.

I frowned slightly.

“You have company?”

Ben hesitated again.

That hesitation...it told me everything before she even spoke.

“Yes,” she said.

Something tightened in my chest. I turned toward the open patio doors and that’s when I saw them.

My father.

Ambrose.

Standing outside in the garden laughing with Alessia.

She was sitting on the grass, her small hands gripping his as he helped her balance while she tried to stand on one foot. Her laughter rang through the air light, carefree, innocent.

And him...He looked…happy and relaxed like he belonged there. Like he’d always been there.

My jaw tightened.

“What is he doing here?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Ben stepped beside me.

“He came to see Alessia,” she said.

I let out a short, humorless breath.

“Looks like he’s doing more than that.”

I watched as Alessia stumbled and fell into his arms, giggling.

And he caught her.

Effortlessly.

Naturally.

Like it wasn’t new.

Like it wasn’t strange.

Like...he deserved to be her father after missing eight years of her life.

Like this was his role.

Something twisted inside me.

Unfamiliar.

Uncomfortable.

“He’s her father, Nolan.”

Ben’s words cut through my thoughts.

I looked at her sharply.

“I know that.”

“Do you?” she asked gently.

I didn’t answer.

Because the truth?

I wasn’t sure anymore.

“She deserves to know him,” Ben continued. “And he deserves the chance to be part of her life.”

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing slightly.

“And where does that leave me?”

The question slipped out before I could stop it. Deep down I felt like I was already being replaced.

Ben’s expression softened.

“You’re still important to her.”

Still.

That word lingered.

Heavy.

"She's your sister Nolan...you'll always be part of her life but we’re going to tell her the truth,” she added.

I stilled.

“What truth?”

“That Ambrose isn’t her grandfather,” she said. “He’s her father.”

Silence fell between us.

Thick.

Unavoidable.

I nodded slowly.

“Right,” I murmured. “Of course.”

What else was I supposed to say?

That I didn’t like it?

That I wasn’t ready?

That I felt like I was losing something that was never really mine to begin with?

Before I could spiral any further a small voice cut through everything.

“Nolaaaan!”

I turned instinctively.

And there she was.

Alessia.

Running toward me with her tiny arms stretched wide.

Before I could even react, she crashed into me, wrapping herself tightly around my waist.

I froze for half a second.

Then instinct took over.

I lifted her into my arms.

“You came!” she said excitedly, her face lighting up.

I blinked.

“I...of course I came.”

She pulled back slightly, her little brows furrowing.

“Why you not coming before?” she asked.

Her voice wasn’t accusing.

Just… confused and somehow that hurt more.

“I’ve been busy,” I said softly.

A weak excuse.

We both knew it.

“I miss you,” she added, wrapping her arms around my neck again.

Something inside me broke.

Just a little.

I held her tighter.

“I missed you too.”

And that that was the truth.

Over her shoulder, I saw my father watching us.

His expression unreadable.

But his eyes...his eyes said everything.

He saw it.

The bond.

The connection.

The role I had played in her life.

And for the first time I realized something.

This wasn’t a competition.

It never was because no matter what happened. No matter what changed Alessia didn’t see replacement.

She didn’t see biology.

She didn’t see history.

She just saw…me.

And maybe...just maybe

That was enough.

I rested my chin lightly on her head, closing my eyes for a brief moment.

Trying to hold onto this feeling.

Before everything changed again.

Because deep down…I knew it would.

And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that.