I didn't intend to pause outside Tristan's study. I was simply heading to get some tea for myself, attempting to quiet the thoughts Ellie had left swirling in my mind. But then I heard voices. It's Tristan's and Charlie's with their voice low and serious, echoing through the cracked door.
And when I caught Tristan's words, my breath caught in my lungs.
If I have to choose between their comfort and Ellie's safety, I'll always choose Ellie.
The sentence cut sharp and clean, like glass sliding beneath my skin. I stood rooted to the spot, staring at the dark wood of the door, my heart pounding loudly enough that I was sure they could hear it.
Charlie said nothing afterward, and soon his footsteps faded away. But I stayed, holding my breath until I was sure they were gone.
Only then did I release the trembling exhale.
My brother Tristan always prioritized his family, but he was prepared to side with Ellie against us, against me.
I moved back into the hallway, gripping the banister as I leaned on it. The tea was no longer important. My mind was racing too quickly and loudly.
Ellie hadn't lied. She hadn't hidden her feelings out of cruelty or carelessness, but she had concealed them because the burden was too much to bear. And Tristan, he had already chosen her.
I pressed my hand against my chest, where the pain was sharpest.
I felt a mix of anger and betrayal. Ellie had always been mine, my confidante and refuge, while Tristan, the eldest and a pillar of the family, was willing to break that trust for her. It made me wonder what this meant for all of us.
But another part of me, a gentler, more scared part, understood it clearly.
When I saw Ellie with him, I noticed something I had never seen in her before: a glow. A weight was lifted. Maybe even happiness she hadn't allowed herself to believe she deserved.
I lingered there, caught between loyalty to my brother and devotion to my best friend. The house was quiet, but my mind was anything but.
When I finally moved again, I walked slowly back to my room, carefully closing the door behind me.
I sat on the edge of the bed, shadows stretching long across the floor. I knew I would have to face them both soon and ask them what this meant, not just for them but also for me and our family.
But for tonight, I pressed my palms against my face and whispered to the silence, "Look at what you have done, Tristan."
Because no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't unhear the truth.