CHAPTER 69

Xavier that's my food

Xavier didn't even look guilty, He picked up another piece from Vera's plate and took a bite before answering

"I know."

Vera stared at him

Then why are you eating it?

Sibling tax

Sibling tax isn't a real thing

It is now

it absolutely is not

it is if I'm your brother

Vera looked toward Adrian, Please tell him he's insane

Adrian calmly took a sip of coffee

"He's insane."

Thank you

But he's also right

Vera looked betrayed "What?"

Adrian shrugged

Sibling tax

Across the table, Elena laughed into her cup Marco lowered his newspaper.

I see we've reached the stage where my children are stealing from each other

Your son is stealing from me, Vera corrected

"your Brother" Elena corrected automatically.

The table went quiet for a second. Not awkward, Just enough for everyone to notice what she'd said

Elena seemed to realize it a second later. Her eyes widened slightly before she looked down at her coffee. Marco smiled without saying anything

Xavier immediately reached for another piece of food

Vera smacked his hand

Stop

I need energy

For what?

Breathing

That's not my problem

It should be

She rolled her eyes

And for the first time since she had arrived, it felt easy.

The conversation drifted naturally after that. Marco abandoned the newspaper while Elena started talking about some vacation disaster from years ago. Apparently Xavier had gotten lost during a family trip.

I wasn't lost

You were missing for four hours

I knew where I was

Marco looked unimpressed

Then why were the police involved?

That feels unnecessary to bring up

Adrian rubbed his forehead

You followed a parade

It looked important

You were nine

I was curious

You climbed onto a float

Xavier pointed at him

That part is exaggerated

"It isn't."

Vera laughed, A real laugh this time. The kind that slipped out before she could stop it.

Every conversation immediately paused

She noticed

Then Xavier groaned dramatically.

Oh, don't do that

Do what?

That

What?

Everybody is staring every time i laugh

Elena looked guilty, Marco looked guilty, Even Adrian looked away.

Vera couldn't help smiling

Breakfast stretched longer than it probably should have, Nobody seemed eager to leave. Maybe because they were all still learning each other again. Maybe because everyone knew time suddenly felt precious

Eventually Marco was called away by Sebastian. Elena disappeared shortly after. Adrian left with a phone pressed to his ear, leaving Vera alone with Xavier

Which lasted approximately ten seconds

Then Xavier stole another piece of food

She narrowed her eyes

You have your own plate

I like yours better

You don't even know what's different

No

"Then why—"

it annoys you

Vera stared at him

Xavier grinned

And suddenly she understood

"Oh my God."

What?

You're twelve

I'm older than you

yes but Mentally, you're twelve

That's fair

She laughed again

Xavier looked suspiciously pleased with himself

The realization made her pause because he wasn't doing this accidentally. He was making her laugh on purpose. Not making a big deal out of it. Not treating her carefully.

The way a brother would

And somehow that hit harder than all the emotional conversations. Because nobody had ever taught him how to be her brother. He was figuring it out as he went, Just like she was

Why are you looking at me like that? he asked

I'm not

You are

I'm literally not

"You absolutely are."

Maybe your face is just weird

My face is magnificent

She snorted.

"See?" Xavier pointed. "There it is again."

What?

The laugh

Oh, shut up

He looked entirely too pleased with himself

Later that afternoon, Vera found Adrian in the library.

Or more accurately, she found Adrian pretending to read because he hadn't turned a page in nearly fifteen minutes

You know you're supposed to actually read the book

His eyes lifted

I was

You've been on the same page forever

I like this page

You're lying

A little.

She sat across from him.

The library was quiet. Sunlight spilled through the tall windows. For a few moments neither spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. Adrian had a way of making silence feel normal, which was probably why everyone trusted him.

You and Xavier are very different.

Adrian laughed softly

That's one way to put it

He talks enough for five people

Seven

That's generous.

She smiled before glancing toward the shelves

There are a lot of books

Have you read all of these?

No

Half?

No

A quarter?

Probably

She stared

Adrian shrugged

I was a boring child

I don't believe that

It's true

No way

You used to hide inside the library back at home here

Vera blinked

What?

You were too young to read most of the books

His gaze drifted around the room.

But you liked sitting inside any library u came across

A strange feeling settled over her, A familiarity she couldn't explain

Adrian noticed her expression

You don't remember

It wasn't a question

No

He nodded once before closing the book

You don't have to

She looked at him

What?

You don't have to remember everything

His voice stayed calm and steady

Everyone keeps acting like getting your memories back will fix something

Vera stayed quiet

Adrian leaned back slightly

It won't

She frowned

Why would you say that?"l

Because you're already here

The simplicity of the answer caught her off guard

He looked directly at her

You're already my sister

Adrian stood a few moments later, pausing beside her chair before reaching over to lightly tap the top of her head

The gesture surprised both of them

He seemed surprised he'd done it

She seemed surprised she'd let him

Adrian cleared his throat

I have a meeting with Kael

You guys always have meetings

We are responsible adults

No, You're boring

A look of deep offense crossed his face

Then he walked away

Vera laughed all the way until he disappeared through the door

That evening, the house felt calmer. People moved around normally. Conversations drifted through hallways. Doors opened and closed. For the first time since arriving, everything felt less fragile

Like the house was remembering how to breathe again

Vera found herself outside on one of the upper balconies after dinner. The air was cool. The gardens below were quiet. She rested her arms against the railing and stared into the darkness

Footsteps approached

She didn't turn around

There you are

Kael

Of course

He stopped beside her

Neither spoke immediately

The silence settled comfortably between them

You disappeared

She smiled slightly

No i did not

it is when I spend twenty minutes looking for you

Vera looked at him

You looked for me?

I always look for you

The answer came so easily that she wasn't sure he realized what he'd said

Unfortunately, she definitely realized

Kael seemed to notice too because his eyes narrowed slightly, like he was annoyed with himself

She laughed under her breath

What?

Nothing

And for a moment neither looked away

The night stretched quietly around them

Then Vera's smile faded just a little

Kael noticed, What is it?

She looked back toward the gardens. For several seconds she didn't answer

When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter

Do you ever wonder what would have happened if none of this happened?

What part?

Meeting you at the University, Saving me,The organization, The kidnapping, The missing years, Everything.

Kael leaned against the railing, thinking

Sometimes

And?

And it doesn't matter

She looked at him

Why not?

Because we're here.

The answer was immediate, Certain. Like he'd already thought about it before

Vera watched him for a moment before looking away again

If I remembered everything...

She stopped

Kael waited.l

If I remembered everything, would it change us?

The question hung between them

Neither moved nor looked away

For the first time all evening, Kael answered without hesitation

No

Her throat tightened

You didn't even think about it

I don't need to

What if I remembered things that changed how I felt?

I'd still choose you

Vera looked down because suddenly looking at him felt impossible

Kael stepped closer, not enough to crowd her

"If you remembered every single thing tomorrow, he said quietly, I'd still choose you."

His gaze stayed on hers

"If you remembered nothing at all, I'd still choose you."

Vera swallowed.

You make everything sound easy

It isn't easy

Then why do you act like it is?

Kael laughed once.

Because one of us has to

She stared at him before shaking her head.

You are impossible

I know

Annoying

I know

Emotionally constipated

That finally got a reaction.l

Kael looked offended.l

Genuinely, I regret teaching you that phrase.

She grinned

He reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was so casual it caught her off guard.

Come inside.

Vera glanced toward the house

"Why?"

Because your family is looking for you

My family

The words felt strange

Kael's expression softened

Yeah

Then he offered his hand

And after a brief hesitation, Vera took it

Together they walked back inside

Neither of them knew that downstairs, Marco, Elena, Adrian, and Xavier were already waiting.

And that before the night ended, they were going to ask the one question Vera wasn't ready to answer.