Chapter 77

As Nicole faced Chase’s barrage of questions, I stood back, arms crossed, giving her a frosty glare. I wondered how she would extricate herself from this situation.

“Chase,” Nicole began, her voice shaky, “the last time I was here, I accidentally broke the picture of you and Amanda. You said it was fine. Since I couldn’t find a replacement, I put up our photo instead. Didn’t you like it?”

“And did you forget about the souvenirs? Some are from our trips abroad, others gifts you gave me from the island.” Her voice was soft, laced with hurt.

Chase rubbed his forehead, as if only now realizing the extent of the situation. It hit me then—a year ago, I’d rearranged my schedule for a trip to the island with him. At the last minute, he’d claimed an important work project. Only now did I learn the truth: Chase had taken Nicole to the island, using my itinerary, staying in the hotel I’d booked, visiting the places I’d planned to see—with her.

The thought churned my stomach. The emotional turmoil was unbearable. What else had they done behind my back all these years? No wonder Nicole flaunted those items; they were trophies, strategically placed to mock me. Chase massaged his temples. “Nicole, you’re just Amanda’s sister. Stop bringing this up. It upsets her.”

How could he not understand boundaries? He’d become accustomed to Nicole’s sweet compliance—something he’d never received from me. He basked in it, mocking me for overreacting. He knew what boundaries were; he simply chose to disregard them. A selfish jerk.

I stood by the window, reaching for the sunlight, feeling pity for my past self. Nicole, tears streaming, pleaded, “Chase, do you hate me? I swear, I won’t interfere with you and Amanda anymore. I just want to be by your side, to watch over you. Is that too much to ask?”

Her “small request” was a thorn in my side, causing endless pain and unrest.

Chase, lacking concrete proof, looked at her with a cold expression. “Nicole, how old are you?”

“I’m 23.”

“You’re not a child anymore. It’s time you settled down. You can’t keep following me around; you need your own life. We’re not related, and when you get a boyfriend, people will talk.”

Nicole’s face fell, her tears ceasing. “So, you want to end things between us?”

Chase elaborated, “Nicole, I’ve thought about this. Because of you, I’ve neglected Amanda’s feelings, leading to this mess. When she returns, I want to make things right with her.”

Nicole dropped the pretense, still teary-eyed. “So, was your affection just a passing fancy? Did you ever love me?”

I turned from the window, curious about his response. Chase watched Nicole’s tear-streaked face, seeming lost in thought; it was as if he were seeing someone else through her. “Nicole, did you know? Amanda is quite delicate. As a child, even a tiny caterpillar would make her cry.”

Nicole stared, confused. “So what?”

“She’s afraid of the dark, thunder, small creatures, snakes. She gets seasick. Yet when she heard about the earthquake, she was determined to cross the ocean to find me. She clung to driftwood for days during a storm, nearly losing her life.”

“She didn’t cry when she finally arrived. I still remember her disbelief and heartbreak when I slapped her. Back then, everyone praised you for your bravery, for overcoming obstacles to be with me. Who cared about Amanda’s feelings? She didn’t cry, so why are you?”

Nicole was flustered. “Chase, I truly didn’t know about Amanda’s journey. Maybe she lost her passport? Why don’t you believe me?”

“Nicole, I don’t have concrete evidence, but it seems every time you’re upset, you cry, and we all forget the truth to comfort you, ignoring that Amanda is the real victim. I owe her too much. I won’t hurt her anymore. This is where it ends.”

Nicole, stunned, managed, “Chase, so you never loved me? Not even for a moment?”

Chase firmly stated, “No. I’ve only ever loved Amanda. From now on, you’re just her sister to me, nothing more.”

“What about our past? Our trip to the island, our wishes at the wishing well, the love knot beneath the Love Tree? Have you forgotten all that?”

“I’m sorry.”