I waited until, standing on the podium, he thanked me publicly for my support for the first time, instead of dodging questions about what our relationship was.
Back then, I even naively thought the impossible had happened.
That I had finally made my way into Tucker’s heart.
When I found out I was pregnant, I was so happy I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to surprise him.
Then Kelsey came into the picture.
And only then did I realize—Tucker wasn’t incapable of loving someone.
When he loves someone, he’s just as humble as I am, just as willing to give everything.
When I got sick, he was always calm and efficient.
He’d quickly arrange doctors and handle everything that needed to be done… but he rarely showed much emotion.
But when Kelsey got sick, he was visibly panicked, even irrational—rushing to the hospital overnight, standing in the hallway, quietly begging the doctors.
When I was picky about food, he’d just tell the maid to make another dish.
But when Kelsey didn’t like carrots, he’d sit beside her at the table and patiently pick them out one by one, his movements gentle to the point of tenderness.
When I stayed up late working overtime, Tucker would read beside me and wait to sleep together.
But when Kelsey was upset, he’d video call her, breaking things down bit by bit, staying with her until her emotions completely settled.
Before, without anything to compare to, I thought I was happy.
Now, I finally understood that the happiness I once felt so smug about was nothing more than stray sparks that spilled out unintentionally from Tucker’s overwhelming love for Kelsey.
Moments later, the car stopped in front of my house.
I wiped the tears off my face and got out.
But the moment I pushed the door open, I froze.
The living room was brightly lit. A delicate birthday cake sat in the center of the dining table.
My eldest and second brothers stood nearby, smiling as they gently teased Kelsey.
Their voices were relaxed and indulgent—a kind of warmth I hadn’t heard from them in months.
“To our family’s best little sister, happy birthday!”
“If only we’d become siblings with you earlier. Instead, we spent all these years doting on the murderer’s daughter. Damn, just thinking about it makes me sick.”
Verity’s POV
When my second brother said that, his voice was thick with hatred.
I stood frozen at the doorway, not daring to step inside.
My mom was my dad’s second wife. She died giving birth to me.