She loved him in silence. From the moment she could remember, Sophia Thomas had watched Daniel Harper — her older brother Nathan’s golden-boy best friend — from afar. He was everything: charming, confident, kind. And to him? She was just “Nathan’s little sister.” At fifteen, she tried not to care. Tried not to notice how his smile lit up a room or how his laughter made her heart race. But when Daniel comes home from college and agrees to tutor her in math, Sophia realizes something painful: She never stopped loving him. As they spend more time together, buried feelings begin to surface — on both sides. What starts as stolen glances and quiet longing turns into late-night talks, shared secrets, and moments neither of them expected. But there are rules: - Don’t fall for your brother’s best friend. - Don’t let him see you as anything more than family. - Don’t believe he’ll ever feel the same. Too late.
Lihat lebih banyakSophia Thomas had always known two things about Daniel Harper.
First, that he was her brother Nathan’s best friend — the golden boy everyone adored.
And second, that she was hopelessly, quietly, desperately in love with him.
She was twelve when it started. Not the kind of love little girls declared out loud or scribbled into notebooks with hearts around names. No, this was something quieter — the kind that lived in stolen glances, in the way her heart thudded louder whenever he walked into a room.
Nathan was three years older than Sophia, and Daniel was another year ahead of him. That made Daniel seventeen when Sophia first noticed him — tall, broad-shouldered, effortlessly cool in his worn leather jacket and easy smile. He was everything a teenage girl dreamed of: confident, handsome, kind without trying too hard.
And to him?
She was just “Nathan’s little sister.”
That phrase followed her like a shadow every time they were together. At family dinners, at weekend hangouts, even at Nathan’s college graduation party where she stood awkwardly by the punch bowl while Daniel laughed and toasted with friends.
“Hey, Soph,” he’d say, ruffling her hair like she was still ten instead of fifteen. “You growing yet? Or are you still hiding behind your brother?”
She hated how much she loved the way he said her name.
Tonight, though, was different.
Daniel had come home for summer break, and Nathan had insisted he help tutor Sophia in math. She wasn’t bad at it — not really — but Nathan said she needed extra help if she wanted to get into the honors track next year.
So here she was, sitting at the kitchen table with a notebook open in front of her, waiting for Daniel to walk through the door.
The sound of laughter reached her ears before she saw him — deep and warm, trailing in with the scent of summer air and cologne. Then he appeared in the doorway, wearing faded jeans and a white t-shirt that clung just enough to show off the shape of his shoulders.
Her stomach did that familiar flip.
“Ready for some math magic?” he asked, flashing her a grin as he dropped his backpack on the chair across from her.
Sophia nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah.”
He sat down, pulling out a pen and flipping open her textbook. “Alright, let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
For a moment, there was silence except for the scratching of his pen as he skimmed the problems. Then he looked up, brow furrowed.
“You got these ones wrong,” he said, pointing to a row of equations.
“I know,” she admitted, staring at her hands. “I tried, but I didn’t understand how to do them.”
“Well, don’t worry,” he said gently. “I’ll explain it until you do.”
His voice was calm, patient — nothing like the teasing tone he used around Nathan and their friends. And somehow, that made her heart beat faster.
As he explained the steps, she found herself watching him more than listening. The way his lips moved, the soft crinkle at the corners of his eyes when he smiled. He was so close she could smell his shampoo — clean and woodsy.
“Got it now?” he asked, looking at her expectantly.
She blinked. “Uh… yeah. Totally.”
He grinned. “Good. Let’s try one together.”
She picked up her pencil and leaned forward, copying the problem onto her page. But halfway through, she realized she hadn’t been paying attention at all.
Daniel caught her hesitation and chuckled. “You weren’t even listening, were you?”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I was!”
He raised an eyebrow. “Then what did I just say?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
He laughed softly, shaking his head. “You're hopeless, Soph.”
She bit her lip, fighting back tears she couldn’t explain. Because no matter how many times she told herself she’d grown up, no matter how many times she swore she’d be different around him…
To Daniel, she was still just Nathan’s little sister.
And she hated it.
Alright, pause. Did you just giggle? Because SAME. But listen—don’t get too comfy thinking you’ve seen it all. Oh no, besties… this is just the warm-up dance. The DJ hasn’t even dropped the REAL beat yet.Sophia and Daniel are giving “romantic trailer,” not “full movie.” And let me tell you, the movie is coming—with popcorn, plot twists, and possibly a few moments that’ll have you screaming into your pillow.So yes, laugh, swoon, roll your eyes now… but also buckle up. Because the best part? Yeah—it hasn’t even happened yet.And when it does? Let’s just say… you might need cake, tissues, or maybe even an emotional support blanket.Stay tuned. 😏
Okay… let’s be honest.At this point, Sophia and Daniel have officially joined the “we’re not married yet but already act like it” club. 🤭 The way he twirls her around under those lanterns? Please. That’s not just dancing—that’s Daniel silently filing the marriage paperwork in his head.Also, can we talk about Sophia? Our girl went from “not ready” to whispering “I’m ready” faster than a Netflix show auto-playing the next episode. 👀 I see you, Sophia. I see you.And Nathan? Poor guy thought this wedding was about him and Elena. Little did he know he was just hosting the prequel to Sophia & Daniel’s saga. 😂So, readers… if you were at this reception, what would you be doing? Eating all the food? Cry-dancing in the corner? Or pretending you “just came for the cake” while secretly spying on Sophia and Daniel’s slow-burn romance?Drop your answers—I promise I won’t judge (unless you take the last slice of cake 🍰).
The golden haze of evening deepened into twilight.The last notes of music faded into the soft hum of crickets and rustling leaves. The tables had been cleared, the wine glasses emptied, the cake — a simple, elegant tier of vanilla and raspberry — sliced and shared. Laughter still echoed in pockets across the oak grove, but the energy had softened. The celebration was winding down, not with sadness, but with full hearts.And now, it was time.Nathan and Elena stood near the old stone path, their luggage by their feet, coats wrapped around them. They were dressed simply now — Nathan in a dark sweater and jeans, Elena in a long cream coat, her hair loose, her smile radiant.They were leaving.For their honeymoon.For their first days as husband and wife.For the beginning of everything.Guests gathered around, not crowding, but close — a circle of love, of family, of those who had watched this love grow from quiet glances to a bond that could not be broken.Margaret stepped forward firs
The sun dipped low over the Willow Creek Ranch, painting the sky in soft strokes of rose and gold. The oak grove, once sacred with silence, now pulsed with life. Lanterns glowed like fireflies along the path. String lights crisscrossed above the wooden dance floor. A live band played a gentle melody — soft guitar, warm cello, a voice that carried through the air like a lullaby for the soul.The reception had begun.Not with formality.But with feeling.Tables were scattered beneath the trees, draped in ivory linen, centerpieces of wildflowers and candles flickering in the breeze. Laughter rose in waves. Children ran through the grass. The scent of roasted herbs, cinnamon rolls, and spiced wine curled through the air.And at the heart of it all — Nathan and Elena.Husband and wife.Dancing.Not grand.Not flashy.Just close.His hand on her waist.Her head on his shoulder.Their steps slow, sure, like they had danced this way for years.And around them, families merged.Margaret and Ro
The morning of the wedding dawned in gold.Not with fanfare.Not with chaos.But with quiet reverence.Winter had softened into early spring. The fields around Willow Creek Ranch were dusted with dew, the air crisp but kind. Cherry blossoms trembled on the trees, their petals drifting like snow in the breeze. Birds sang in the pines. A soft mist curled over the lake, dissolving as the sun rose.And at the heart of it all — the oak grove.Ancient.Sturdy.Sacred.The same tree where Nathan had carved his initials as a boy.Where Elena had once found him sitting alone, sketching the skyline.Where they had shared their first real kiss, beneath a sky full of stars.Now, it was strung with soft white lights, delicate garlands of ivy and wild roses, and lanterns that swayed gently in the wind. The aisle was lined with candles in glass jars, their flames flickering like tiny promises.And in the house, in the room that had once been Sophia’s as a child, Elena stood before the mirror.Dresse
The weekend arrived like a sigh.Saturday morning unfolded in soft light and quiet rhythm. No alarms. No lectures. No rush.In Dorm 3B, the room was warm, the radiator humming, the fairy lights still glowing faintly from the night before. Snow had fallen again in the early hours, blanketing the campus in silence. Outside, the world was muffled, peaceful — but inside, life hummed in its own gentle way.Each of the roommates had settled into their corners, wrapped in the lazy luxury of a day with nowhere to be.Mira lay on her bed, headphones on, flipping through a fashion magazine, one leg bouncing to the beat of a song only she could hear.Zara sat cross-legged on her bed, sketching in her notebook, tongue poking out in concentration.Rose sipped tea from a chipped mug, lost in a novel, her reading glasses perched on her nose.Claire typed slowly on her laptop, muttering to herself about a paper due Monday.And Sophia?She sat on her bed, back against the wall, phone pressed to her ea
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Komen