Chapter 11
Rhea finally asked to speak.
Not with me.
With Ada.
My sister said no.
Rhea asked again a month later.
No.
Three months.
Maybe.
I respected it.
At six months, Ada agreed.
Neutral room.
No training equipment.
No cameras.
I remained nearby because she asked.
Rhea entered without the fitted jacket she always wore.
No armor.
She looked smaller.
“I’m sorry.”
Ada stared.
“For what?”
Good.
Rhea swallowed.
“For taking the water.”
More.
“For leaving your wrists bound.”
More.
“For using your fear because I wanted Ronan to look weak.”
Ada’s face hardened.
“More.”
Rhea started crying.
“For hating you.”
There.
Ada blinked.
Rhea had blamed her for the Mercer route closure.
Not because Ada personally ordered it.
Because she spoke.
Because Ronan listened.
To Rhea, that made Ada dangerous.
“You smiled at me for three years.”
“Yes.”
“You came to my birthday.”
“Yes.”
“You helped me move apartments.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Rhea closed her eyes.
“Because I kept thinking I’d get over it.”
Honest.
She did not.
Resentment fermented under kindness.
Sebastian gave it purpose.
Ada asked:
“Why say Ronan would kneel?”
Rhea’s voice broke.
“Because I wanted you to believe he would humiliate himself for you.”
Ada frowned.
“That sounds good.”
Interesting.
Rhea shook her head.
“No. I wanted you to feel responsible.”
There it was.
If Ronan surrendered, Ada would carry guilt.
If he did not, she would carry abandonment.
Either way, family bond damaged.
The plan was crueler than power.
It aimed to poison how siblings interpreted love.
Ada stood.
“I’m done.”
Rhea nodded.
No hug.
No forgiveness.
She left.
Ada looked at me.
“You wouldn’t kneel?”
I thought.
“For you?”
“Yes.”
“If kneeling actually saved you?”
Her eyes filled.
“Yes.”
I smiled faintly.
“I’d kneel.”
Then:
May you like
“And stand back up afterward.”
That was the part Sebastian never understood.
