My trembling fingers clutched the phone as I scrolled through my contacts, finding the name that had always been my safety net.
Victor Delaunay, my brother. The only one who had ever truly loved me, even when I made decisions that tore him apart.
Victor had been disappointed when he discovered my relationship with Raphael. His frustration was sharp and his disapproval fierce.
But he had never blamed me. Despite everything, he loved me too much to hold my choices against me. His protectiveness often felt suffocating, but it was born from genuine care.
I remembered his last attempt to pull me away from Raphael’s toxic embrace. His cold, matter-of-fact message felt more like a warning than an invitation.
[Come home. Your fiancé is waiting.]
At the time, I had read those words with resentment, thinking he was trying to control me, to bend my life to his will. I had called him cruel, selfish, and unfeeling.
But that time, I saw his offer for what it truly was—a lifeline.
A chance to leave Raphael forever.
As the call connected, I directly asked first, “Is your offer about the fiancé still valid now, Vic?”
“You finally realized that only your family is good to you?”