Vivian.
Clara stood beside me, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her jaw set like she had already made up her mind.
"Vivian," she said gently, but with a firmness I couldn't escape. "You can't keep running from this. If you don't make the call, your mind will keep tearing you apart."
I knew she was right.
Still, my fingers refused to move.
My phone felt heavier than it should in my hand, like it carried more than glass and metal. Like it carried answers I wasn't sure I was ready to hear.
Sebastian.
Just seeing his name on my screen made my chest tighten. It still did things to me—things I didn't understand yet, things I wasn't ready to name. Comfort. Fear. Longing. Confusion.
All mixed together.
"I don't know what to say," I whispered.
"You don't have to know," Clara replied. "Just call him."
I swallowed hard.
"Not tomorrow," she added quietly. "Now."
My heart thudded painfully as I unlocked my phone. I stared at his contact for one long second… then another. My breathing turned shallow. My palms grew damp.
Finally, before I could change my mind, I pressed call.
The line rang.
Once.
Twice.
Each second felt like a lifetime.
Then—
"Hello, my little angel," Sebastian's familiar voice came through, warm and calm, like nothing in the world had shifted. "I'm happy to hear from you."
My chest tightened instantly.
Sebastian always sounded like this. Steady. Controlled. Safe.
And somehow, that made it worse.
"Sebastian…" My voice cracked the moment I said his name. "I—I wanted to apologize for—"
"No," he cut in gently. "No, don't. You don't need to apologize for anything."
I closed my eyes, gripping the phone tighter.
"I hope you're feeling better now," he continued softly. "Truly."
"Yes," I whispered. "I am. I… I needed us to see. Please."
There was a brief pause on the line.
Then he spoke again.
Too casually.
"Okay, my angel. I'm currently driving my girlfriend, Cynthia, home. I'll come see you later this evening."
The words didn't register at first.
Girlfriend.
They echoed slowly, painfully, like they were spoken underwater.
My mind stalled.
"G… girlfriend?" I repeated, my voice barely above a breath.
"Yes," Sebastian replied naturally, like it was nothing out of the ordinary. "Would you like to speak with her?"
Something inside me cracked.
Clara's eyes widened. She stepped closer immediately, gripping my wrist when she felt my hand begin to shake violently.
I couldn't speak.
I couldn't breathe.
My chest felt too tight, like someone had wrapped their hands around my lungs and squeezed.
Then a soft, beautiful female voice replaced his on the line.
"Hello, Vivian," the woman said warmly. "My boyfriend Sebastian has told me so much about you. I'll be very happy to meet you soon."
Boyfriend.
The word stabbed deep.
My vision blurred instantly. Tears welled up before I could stop them.
"O-okay," I stammered, not even knowing what I was agreeing to.
Sebastian's voice returned. "I'll see you soon, my angel."
Angel.
The word felt wrong now.
Sharp.
Confusing.
Heavy.
The call ended.
My phone slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a dull sound.
I stood there, frozen.
Tears streamed down my face without permission. My knees weakened, threatening to give way.
Clara rushed forward just in time, wrapping her arms around me as I collapsed against her.
"Vivian, breathe," she whispered urgently. "Breathe. I've got you."
But I couldn't.
Because in that moment, something inside me shattered quietly.
He had called her his girlfriend.
And me—
His sister.
My phone started ringing again.
The sound made me flinch like I'd been struck.
Clara glanced down and swallowed. "It's Mrs. Ravenscroft."
She looked at me. "You need to answer."
I nodded weakly, barely aware of my movements.
"H-hello," I whispered.
"Vivian?" Mrs. Ravenscroft's voice came through sharp and panicked. "Are you okay? What's wrong? Did they attack you again?"
The dam broke.
"M-mother," I cried. "Please… I need you. Please come."
Her tone changed instantly. "What? I'm coming now. I'm on my way. Stay where you are."
Less than thirty minutes later, the door burst open.
Mrs. Ravenscroft rushed in, breathless, fear written all over her face. She crossed the room in seconds, grabbing me, checking my arms, my head, my face.
"My daughter," she kept saying. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, sobbing too hard to speak.
"Is it Sebastian?" she asked sharply. "What happened to my son?"
She reached for her phone.
Before she could dial, Clara gently placed her hand over hers.
"No, ma'am," Clara said carefully. "It wasn't an attack."
Mrs. Ravenscroft turned slowly. "Then why is she like this?"
Clara hesitated, then spoke.
"Sebastian called Vivian earlier. He told her he has a girlfriend. And he introduced Vivian to the woman as his younger sister."
The room went dead silent.
Mrs. Ravenscroft froze.
"What?" she whispered.
"What hurt Vivian most," Clara continued quietly, "wasn't just the girlfriend. It was that he called the woman his girlfriend… and Vivian his sister."
Mrs. Ravenscroft's face drained of color.
Without another word, she dialed Sebastian's number.
The call connected almost immediately.
"Sebastian," she said sharply. "How could you do such a thing?"
"Mum?" he sounded genuinely confused. "What wrong did I do?"
"You know Vivian is still recovering," she snapped. "How dare you bring a strange woman into this situation and humiliate her?"
"Mum," Sebastian exhaled, "I didn't humiliate her. I only introduced my girlfriend to my sister. In fact, we're on our way to see her now. I'm sorry I haven't introduced Cynthia to you yet."
A soft female voice echoed faintly in the background.
"Sebastian, say hi to your mum."
"Please say hi to my mum," he said.
"Hi, mum," the woman greeted sweetly.
Mrs. Ravenscroft went completely still.
Her grip tightened around the phone.
"Sebastian," she said slowly, her voice dangerously calm, "you need to turn back. Now."
There was a pause.
"Mum—"
"I will be with you soon," she cut in. "Turn. Back."
She ended the call.
Without another word, she grabbed her bag and walked toward the door, anger radiating from every step.
Clara watched her go, stunned.
I sat there, numb.
Because somewhere between that call and this silence, I understood something terrifying.
Whatever bond existed between Sebastian and me—
Whatever truth was still hidden—
It was about to collide with the worst possible misunderstanding.
And when it did…
Someone was going to get hurt.
Badly.