6
826words
"You're no brother of hers! I'm her brother, and even if she did do something wrong, I'm the one who disciplines her, not some outsider!"
"You know how much I love my sister! When she loved you, I did everything I could to help her. But she's over you now, so you don't get to touch her!" he roared.
"Besides, her boyfriend and I are right here! Even if she killed someone, it would be up to the law to punish her, not you!"
My brother was famous for being overprotective. Ethan knew this.
He frowned.
"Jake, Sophia sabotaged the swing. If I hadn't been there to catch Chloe, she could have been killed. You think that's a small thing?"
"Ethan, I knew you were an idiot, but I never realized just how stupid you could be!" Jake shot back. "You lose all sense when it comes to Chloe, don't you?"
Ethan stared at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Jake smirked, pulling out his phone and playing a video.
"This is from the security camera in our yard. The one you didn't know about."
The footage clearly showed Chloe, late at night, sneaking out and sawing at the rope of the swing.
The next day, she had tried to get my attention, but I was in a rush to meet Daniel and had ignored her.
So she had gone ahead with her plan anyway, faking the fall and framing me.
Ethan's face went white. He ran to confront Chloe, who was still playing the victim.
"Ethan, it hurts so much. The doctor said I broke two bones in my leg…"
"You deserved it!" he snapped, shoving the phone in her face.
"This is what you get for your lies. Chloe, I thought you were innocent and kind. Why would you do this? Why would you frame Sophia?"
Chloe's face cycled through shades of shock and fury.
She had disabled the main camera, she never thought there would be a hidden one.
The evidence was irrefutable. She resorted to tears.
"I did it for you, Ethan! You said you loved me, that you were going to marry me, but you couldn't take your eyes off Sophia! Is it because she's younger? Is it because she doesn't love you anymore, so now you want what you can't have?"
"I love you so much! That's why I was willing to be your antidote that night, without a thought for my reputation! But you never made me feel secure! Of course I was jealous of Sophia!"
"Shut up!" Ethan roared, his voice cracking.
It was the first time he had ever yelled at her.
They both froze, stunned.
He massaged his temples, a wave of confusion washing over him.
He didn't understand what was happening to him.
When he'd been reborn, his only goal was to make things right with Chloe and cut Sophia out of his life.
Everything had been going according to plan, so why did he feel this constant, gnawing ache in his chest?
It felt like something was being ripped out of him, leaving an empty void.
"Chloe, this was reckless," he said, his voice strained. "Let's postpone the wedding. We both need to calm down."
He turned to leave.
"Ethan, I'm pregnant."
He froze. "What did you say?"
Chloe seemed to have thrown all caution to the wind.
A cold smile touched her lips.
"You said you would take responsibility for me. Well, I'm pregnant, Ethan. With your child. From that night."
Daniel and I had just returned to my hospital room and overheard everything.
I felt a strange sense of detachment.
In my last life, I had been the one who was pregnant.
Ethan had shown no reaction to the news, leaving for abroad without a second thought.
I had given birth to our daughter, Olivia, alone. I had raised her, loved her, watched her grow into a beautiful little flower.
All she had ever wanted was to see her father, and for the simple act of calling his name, she had paid with her life.
"Sophia, what are you thinking about?" Daniel's voice pulled me from my reverie.
"I brought you some durian pastry. Try it while it's fresh."
I shook the memories away and took the perfectly sliced pastry. "It's delicious! How did you know this was my favorite?"
He smiled, gently tapping my nose.
"My little foodie. Of course I know what you like. Your brother is my secret weapon. He tells me everything I need to know to win your heart."
I couldn't help but laugh, imagining the two of them conspiring like generals planning a campaign.
"Don't move," Daniel said suddenly.
"You've got a little on your lip." He leaned in, a playful glint in his eye. "Let me get that for you."
And then he kissed me. His kiss was gentle and intoxicating.
The pastry in my hand was forgotten.
