Chapter 10: The Secret My Brother Buried Between Us
I read the message three times.
Then a fourth.
Each time, the words became heavier.
*Your brother knows. Ask him what he did.*
I looked at Sophie.
She looked just as confused as I felt.
“My brother?””
She nodded slowly.
“Lucas.””
The name immediately brought back memories.
My younger brother.
The person who had stood beside me through almost every difficult moment of my life.
The person who had helped me move into my apartment after the divorce.
The person who told me I was making the right decision.
The person who said Sophie and I had been holding onto something that was already broken.
Suddenly, those conversations felt different.
“Why would someone say this about Lucas?””
Sophie stared at the phone.
“I don’t know.””
“You never talked to him?””
She hesitated.
That hesitation bothered me.
“Sophie?””
“After the divorce…”
She looked down.
“I called him once.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“I wanted to know if you were okay.””
My chest tightened.
“You called my brother to ask about me?””
She nodded.
“I didn’t want to call you.””
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid.””
Again.
That word.
Afraid.
So much of our story came back to that one feeling.
“I asked him if you were happy.””
“And what did he say?””
Her expression changed.
“He told me you were finally moving forward.””
I felt something twist inside me.
Because that was exactly what Lucas had told me too.
That Sophie was doing better.
That she had accepted everything.
That I should stop looking back.
At the time, I believed him.
Why wouldn’t I?
He was my brother.
But now…
I wasn’t sure what to believe.
I called Lucas immediately.
He answered after only two rings.
“Ethan?””
His voice sounded normal.
Almost too normal.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“Why?””
“Just answer me.””
Another silence.
“I’m at home.””
“Good.””
I looked at Sophie.
“Because we need to talk.””
His tone changed.
“What happened?””
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I asked:
“Did you know Sophie was sick?””
The silence on the other end was immediate.
That was enough.
My stomach dropped.
“Lucas?””
“Ethan…”
“Did you know?””
He sighed.
“I knew something was wrong.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I knew she wasn’t doing well.””
“And you never told me?””
“It wasn’t my place.””
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“You watched me walk away from my wife while knowing she was suffering?””
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew enough.””
Silence.
“Lucas.””
His voice became defensive.
“I was trying to protect you.””
There it was.
The same excuse everyone used.
Protecting me.
Saving me.
Making decisions for me.
“From what?””
“From staying in a marriage that was destroying you.””
I looked at Sophie.
Her face was filled with pain.
Because she was hearing everything.
“You don’t get to decide that.””
“Ethan—”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You don’t get to decide whether someone is worth fighting for.””
Lucas became quiet.
Then he said:
“There are things you don’t know.””
My heart stopped.
“What things?””
Another pause.
“Not over the phone.””
“Then tell me now.””
“I can’t.””
The anger inside me rose.
“Why?””
“Because I made a promise.””
“To who?””
He didn’t answer.
That was the moment I knew.
There was something bigger.
Something hidden.
“Lucas.””
My voice lowered.
“If you know something about my divorce, you need to tell me.””
He exhaled.
“I never wanted this to happen.””
“What?””
“The two of you finding out.””
My blood went cold.
“You knew this would come out?””
Silence.
Then:
“I’ll come to the hospital.””
The call ended.
An hour later, Lucas walked into the waiting room.
He looked older.
Not physically.
But emotionally.
Like someone carrying something heavy for too long.
His eyes moved to Sophie.
“I’m sorry.””
She looked at him.
“For what?””
Lucas looked away.
That answer told us everything.
“For lying.””
I stood.
“What did you do?””
Lucas sat down.
“I didn’t make you divorce her.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“But you helped me believe I should.””
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“Why?””
He looked between us.
“Because I thought I was saving you.””
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Lucas looked hurt.
“Ethan…”
“You couldn’t stand watching me suffer.””
He didn’t respond.
“After the miscarriages, I was falling apart.””
“Yes.””
“And instead of helping me face that pain, you helped me run away.””
Lucas looked down.
“I thought if you stayed, both of you would destroy each other.””
Sophie finally spoke.
“Did you ever think we might have needed help instead?””
Lucas looked at her.
“I’m sorry.””
“That’s not an answer.””
He swallowed.
“No.””
The word was quiet.
“I didn’t.””
The honesty hurt.
Because it meant everyone had given up on us.
Including us.
“What did you know about Sophie’s condition?””
Lucas looked uncomfortable.
“I knew she had medical appointments.””
“Why?””
“Because I saw the bills.””
I stared at him.
“The bills?””
He nodded.
“She left some paperwork at my house after moving out.””
My chest tightened.
“She was moving out.””
Lucas continued.
“And I saw the hospital information.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Sophie asked me not to.””
I looked at Sophie.
She looked shocked.
“You knew?””
Lucas nodded.
“I knew she didn’t want you to feel trapped.””
Sophie looked away.
“I never asked you to hide my illness.””
“No.””
Lucas shook his head.
“But you asked me not to tell him anything that would make him come back out of guilt.””
The room went silent.
Because that sounded exactly like Sophie.
She had tried to protect my freedom.
Even when she was breaking.
Then Lucas said something that changed everything.
“But that’s not the worst part.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He hesitated.
“The divorce.””
My heart stopped.
“What about it?””
Lucas looked at Sophie.
Then at me.
“I wasn’t the only person who knew something was wrong.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who else?””
May you like
Lucas answered quietly.
“Your father.””
