Stolen love: In love with my sister 's fiance-Chapter 25: Her confession

Alex tried his hardest to push away the images burned into his mind—the way Elaine smiled at Adrian, how effortlessly they interacted, the way he wiped her face so gently. The thought of her having a boyfriend made his chest tighten with something he refused to name.

He paced in his office, rubbing his temples in frustration. She's like a sister. That's all this is. Any brother would feel this way if their sister had a boyfriend... right?

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But no matter how much he repeated it, the unease refused to leave him. The idea of Elaine being with someone else gnawed at him.

I need to confirm it.

His jaw clenched. He wasn't sure what answer he wanted, but he needed to hear it from Elaine herself. If Adrian was truly her boyfriend, why did it bother him so much?

Alexander felt a strange sense of urgency as he waited outside Elaine's villa. His phone felt heavy in his hand as he called her, his fingers gripping it tightly. After two or three rings, she finally picked up. Her voice lacked its usual warmth, sounding distant—almost cold.

"Come outside," he said, his tone firmer than he intended.

There was a pause. "Why?" Elaine asked, her voice devoid of curiosity, just tired.

"Just... come."

A few minutes later, Elaine stepped outside. She crossed her arms, standing a few feet away from him. Her posture was guarded, and her expression unreadable. "What do you want, Alexander?" she asked in a monotonous voice.

The words left his mouth before he could stop them. "Is Adrian your boyfriend?"

Elaine blinked at him, processing his question. Then she tilted her head slightly, looking at him blankly. "Why do you want to know?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying an edge of challenge.

Alex crossed his arms, his expression tight. "You should be focusing on your studies, Elaine. College is important. That boy might be a distraction."

Elaine let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "You don't have to worry about my studies, Alex. I'm doing just fine." Her voice was sharp, controlled. "And Adrian? He's a genius. If anything, he pushes me to do better. He's there when I feel weak—he doesn't ruin me."

Her words stung. Alexander felt a tightness in his chest, but he ignored it. "If he's really your boyfriend, then you should break up," he said, forcing himself to sound firm.

Elaine scoffed, her patience thinning. "And who are you to tell me that?" Her eyes searched his face, daring him to give her a good enough reason.

"As your brother," Alexander said, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

"As my what?" Elaine cut in, her voice laced with bitterness. "As my brother? The one who was always there just to tell me what to do, to make me feel guilty for things that weren't even my fault?" Her hands clenched at her sides. "You were there, Alex. But never enough. Never as a wall to stand beside me."

She hadn't meant to say it—not like this. But the words came spilling out before she could stop herself.

"Never to care about my feelings ," she whispered inaudibly, her voice trembling with the weight of emotions she had buried for so long.

Elaine took a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest. She had held these feelings in for so long, suffocating under the weight of them, but tonight, she couldn't anymore.

"You know what, Alex?" she started, her voice shaking but determined. "I could never see you as just a brother."

Alexander's brows furrowed as he took a step toward her. "Elaine, what are you—"

"I saw you someone," she blurted out, her hands balling into fists. "I loved romantically, I fell for you, Alex." Her voice broke slightly, but she forced herself to continue. "I hate it. I hate it so much. I hate how my heart races when I see you. I hate how every time you smile at me, I feel like I can't breathe. And most of all, I hate how much it hurts when I see you with her."

She clenched her teeth, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill. "Do you know how painful it is to love someone who will never look at you the same way? To stand in the shadows while they walk towards someone else?" She let out a bitter laugh. "I hate it, Alex. I hate loving you."

Alexander stood frozen, staring at her, his throat dry.

"But even if I hate it," Elaine whispered, her voice barely audible now, "I can't stop."

Alexander finally exhaled, his fingers curling into his palms. He wanted to tell her the truth—that her words weren't one-sided, that her feelings weren't hers alone. But he couldn't.

"Elaine," he began, forcing steel into his tone, "you have to forget whatever you feel for me."

Elaine's breath hitched, but she didn't look away.

"I never saw you that way," he lied, swallowing the lump in his throat. "To me, you were always just... a pitiful girl who needed protection."

Elaine sucked in a sharp breath, her body stiffening.

"And whatever you think you feel for me," he continued, his jaw tightening, "it's a mistake. You need to forget it. Because it will never happen."

A tear slipped down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away, refusing to let him see her break.

Alexander turned his head away, unable to meet her eyes any longer. "From now on, we should keep our distance."

A heavy silence settled between them.

Then, Elaine let out a bitter chuckle. "You didn't have to say all that, Alex." She lifted her chin, forcing a smile. "I already knew."

She turned around, walking away with slow, measured steps, as if forcing herself not to run.

Alexander stood there, watching her disappear into the distance, his fists trembling at his sides. His chest ached, his soul screamed at him to stop her.

But he didn't. He couldn't.