Chapter 1 · Husband Loves My Sister

My sister and Sean Leigh had been rivals for over ten years. Whenever they crossed paths, sparks would fly.

Sean was the fire station chief, and she handled PR for the team.

The only one they'd ever give in to was me.

Everyone else just teased them about it.

I was the one who kept them from tearing each other apart.

But then, when I was six months pregnant, I was organizing Sean's emergency kit in the family quarters and stumbled upon a locked wooden box.

When I pried it open, I found it stuffed with farewell letters he'd written before every mission.

I picked up the top one, the handwriting still rushed, and my heart ached.

But the moment I saw the first line, a chill ran through me.

The salutation wasn't mine.

*****

It started: [Flora, reading these words feels like meeting you face to face.]

I froze in place, my fingers trembling, my eyes locked onto the last line.

[If I don't make it back, please see me off one last time. Bury my ashes at the place we promised, and when your time comes, let us be buried together.]

[Please look after Nydia for me. If she asks... just tell her I never loved her. I just want peace after I'm gone. Don't let her hate you. Even after I'm gone, I still want to protect you.]

I tore through every single letter like I'd lost my mind.

There were 617 of them.

Each one began and ended with her name, Flora Pullan.

And Flora was my sister by blood, my own older sister.

I sat there in the room, surrounded by 617 letters scattered all around me.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I wanted to cry, but the tears just wouldn't come.

Every word in the letter I held in my hands was overflowing with a love so deep it hurt.

[Flora, don't be sad. Death isn't just a medal for me. It's a release. Finally, I can love you with all my heart, without having to think about anyone else.]

[Flora, if I hadn't agreed to her confession out of spite ten years ago, would we have ended up together?]

[Flora, don't ever forget me.]

Back when I was eighteen, there was an accident at our neighbor's house.

The neighbor lost her beloved husband, and at the funeral, she cried so hard she nearly passed out.

By then, I was already with Sean. He told me that if he passed away before I did, he hoped I'd forget him.

I'd always remember the way he looked when he said that, sunlight shining on his handsome face, the fine fuzz on his cheeks catching the light.

He looked at me seriously and said, "Memories can be painful. I don't want to be selfish and make you live with the pain of losing me."

But he told Flora something else.

He told her not to forget him.

I remembered the surprise on his face when I confessed to him ten years ago, and those emotions in his eyes I couldn't decipher.

Now, looking back, I realize he was conflicted.

It was like he was resentful, and at the same time, like a gambler betting everything on one last, wild chance.

But back then, I was blinded by joy and missed all the signs.

[Flora, I wish you weren't my sister.]

That year, when I was eighteen, our school held a carnival, and I had my eye on a giant stuffed animal.

Flora ran the long-distance race just so she could win it for me. Her face was sweaty, but she handed me the prize with a soft, gentle smile.

I saw the scrapes on Flora's legs from her fall, and I was shaking with sobs, but she just smiled gently and said, "Nydia, I'm your big sister. Taking care of you is what I do.

"Whatever you want, your sister will make it happen for you."

Flora, Sean, and I grew up together, always side by side.

No matter what, they always had my back. Even when it came to birthday wishes, theirs were always for me to be happy, safe, and blessed.

The baby inside me seemed to sense my collapse and kicked me, as if feeling my pain.

Instinctively, I clutched my stomach, only to find my fingers numb with cold.

The forecast said there'd be a heavy rain tonight, and the air was suffocating. Even in this sauna-like heat, I was soaked in cold sweat.

On autopilot, I shoved all 617 letters back into the box, each sheet feeling impossibly heavy.

617 letters, each overflowing with love for Flora, clawed at me, overwhelming me.

After stuffing all the letters back, I tried to stand, but my legs went weak and I slumped helplessly onto the floor.

My belly throbbed with sharp pain.

At last, my tears fell, hitting the floor and gathering into a tiny puddle beneath me.

I had no idea how much time had passed when I finally heard familiar voices outside.

"Sean, watch it! That's the refreshing soup I made for Nydia. She always hates the heat in summer, and now she's pregnant, so don't you dare spill it, or you'll be in big trouble with me," Flora said.

Her voice was sharp and direct, with a clear note of annoyance.

It was Flora.

Then came Sean's impatient voice. "Quit bragging about your soup for Nydia. I made some for her too. Let's see which one she likes better."

"Of course she'll pick mine. I'm her sister. Out of the way, you stinky man," Flora snapped.

Joking around, the two walked in together, only to freeze when they saw me sitting on the floor.

Chapter 1

My sister and Sean Leigh had been rivals for over ten years. Whenever they crossed paths, sparks would fly.

Sean was the fire station chief, and she handled PR for the team.

The only one they'd ever give in to was me.

Everyone else just teased them about it.

I was the one who kept them from tearing each other apart.

But then, when I was six months pregnant, I was organizing Sean's emergency kit in the family quarters and stumbled upon a locked wooden box.

When I pried it open, I found it stuffed with farewell letters he'd written before every mission.

I picked up the top one, the handwriting still rushed, and my heart ached.

But the moment I saw the first line, a chill ran through me.

The salutation wasn't mine.

*****

It started: [Flora, reading these words feels like meeting you face to face.]

I froze in place, my fingers trembling, my eyes locked onto the last line.

[If I don't make it back, please see me off one last time. Bury my ashes at the place we promised, and when your time comes, let us be buried together.]

[Please look after Nydia for me. If she asks... just tell her I never loved her. I just want peace after I'm gone. Don't let her hate you. Even after I'm gone, I still want to protect you.]

I tore through every single letter like I'd lost my mind.

There were 617 of them.

Each one began and ended with her name, Flora Pullan.

And Flora was my sister by blood, my own older sister.

I sat there in the room, surrounded by 617 letters scattered all around me.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I wanted to cry, but the tears just wouldn't come.

Every word in the letter I held in my hands was overflowing with a love so deep it hurt.

[Flora, don't be sad. Death isn't just a medal for me. It's a release. Finally, I can love you with all my heart, without having to think about anyone else.]

[Flora, if I hadn't agreed to her confession out of spite ten years ago, would we have ended up together?]

[Flora, don't ever forget me.]

Back when I was eighteen, there was an accident at our neighbor's house.

The neighbor lost her beloved husband, and at the funeral, she cried so hard she nearly passed out.

By then, I was already with Sean. He told me that if he passed away before I did, he hoped I'd forget him.

I'd always remember the way he looked when he said that, sunlight shining on his handsome face, the fine fuzz on his cheeks catching the light.

He looked at me seriously and said, "Memories can be painful. I don't want to be selfish and make you live with the pain of losing me."

But he told Flora something else.

He told her not to forget him.

I remembered the surprise on his face when I confessed to him ten years ago, and those emotions in his eyes I couldn't decipher.

Now, looking back, I realize he was conflicted.

It was like he was resentful, and at the same time, like a gambler betting everything on one last, wild chance.

But back then, I was blinded by joy and missed all the signs.

[Flora, I wish you weren't my sister.]

That year, when I was eighteen, our school held a carnival, and I had my eye on a giant stuffed animal.

Flora ran the long-distance race just so she could win it for me. Her face was sweaty, but she handed me the prize with a soft, gentle smile.

I saw the scrapes on Flora's legs from her fall, and I was shaking with sobs, but she just smiled gently and said, "Nydia, I'm your big sister. Taking care of you is what I do.

"Whatever you want, your sister will make it happen for you."

Flora, Sean, and I grew up together, always side by side.

No matter what, they always had my back. Even when it came to birthday wishes, theirs were always for me to be happy, safe, and blessed.

The baby inside me seemed to sense my collapse and kicked me, as if feeling my pain.

Instinctively, I clutched my stomach, only to find my fingers numb with cold.

The forecast said there'd be a heavy rain tonight, and the air was suffocating. Even in this sauna-like heat, I was soaked in cold sweat.

On autopilot, I shoved all 617 letters back into the box, each sheet feeling impossibly heavy.

617 letters, each overflowing with love for Flora, clawed at me, overwhelming me.

After stuffing all the letters back, I tried to stand, but my legs went weak and I slumped helplessly onto the floor.

My belly throbbed with sharp pain.

At last, my tears fell, hitting the floor and gathering into a tiny puddle beneath me.

I had no idea how much time had passed when I finally heard familiar voices outside.

Her voice was sharp and direct, with a clear note of annoyance.

It was Flora.

Then came Sean's impatient voice. "Quit bragging about your soup for Nydia. I made some for her too. Let's see which one she likes better."

"Of course she'll pick mine. I'm her sister. Out of the way, you stinky man," Flora snapped.

Joking around, the two walked in together, only to freeze when they saw me sitting on the floor.