Con

CHAPTER 116

Elijah’s POV

I felt the warmth of her lips on mine before my brain could fully process what was happening. The dark hallway of Julia’s house enveloped us, but the shock of her sudden kiss pierced through the obscurity. I pushed her away, my breath catching in my throat as I fumbled for the switch on the wall. The lights flickered on, illuminating her flushed face and my bewildered expression.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, my voice edged with anger.

Julia looked flustered, her eyes darting away from mine. “I just…. missed you, Elijah. I’ve missed you so much.”

“So you just made up an excuse for me to come here, but you had substitute keys?!” I spat out, feeling a mixture of betrayal and confusion.

“No, it’s not like that,” she insisted, shaking her head. “I couldn’t get in at first, but then I remembered I had extra house keys hidden in my luggage.”

My anger flared, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. “This isn’t right, Julia. You shouldn’t have done that.”

She stepped closer, her eyes pleading. “I thought we were getting close again, building a new connection.”

She threw her arms around me but I peeled them off and moved away.

“We’re still building our friendship again, Julia,” I retorted, my voice firm. “Do you want to ruin that?”

Julia’s face fell, desperation seeping into her features. “I don’t like that you only see me as a sister. I thought…maybe if we kissed, you’d realize you have feelings for me. That I can be good for you,

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romantically.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Julia, you can’t force feelings that aren’t there. I care about you, but not in that way. I don’t want to hurt you, but this isn’t the answer.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “But Elijah, what if you’re wrong? What if you just need time to see it?”

I shook my head, my heart heavy. “I’m sorry, Julia. It’s not about time. It’s about what’s real and true. And what’s real is that you matter to me but I see you only as a sister, nothing more.”

She bit her lip, tears finally spilling over. “I just…I can’t stand the thought of losing you again.”

“You’re not losing me,” I said softly. “But you have to accept our relationship for what it is. Anything else will just lead to more pain.”

Suddenly, her reaction was immediate and violent. She screamed, the sound echoing off the walls, raw and heart–wrenching. “No! Elijah, you can’t mean that!” It was the first time I was seeing this side of her. Even when we were kids, she had never thrown a tantrum like this.

I took a step back, the intensity of her response catching me off guard. Julia, please. Calm down.”

She crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. “Please, Elijah. Don’t do this. Don’t throw everything away.” Her desperation was evident, her hands trembling as she reached out to me.

I knelt beside her, trying to soothe her. “Julia, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Her sobs turned to anger in a heartbeat. She looked up, her eyes blazing. “Is it Sophia? Are you trying to get back together with her?”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. I never realized what I’d lost until she

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left.”

Julia’s fury erupted. “How could you, Elijah? You promised Sabrina you would marry her! I’m Sabrina!” She began crying again, her face contorting to an expression of deep pain. “I’m Sabrina, and you promised me! You said we’d grow up and get married, and have a happy life together.”

The mention of Sabrina hit me hard. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “Julia, I’m sorry. I know I marte promises, but we were still kids then. So much has changed. We were separated for decades and had our own lives. I’m sorry, but my heart has always belonged to Sophia.”

Her tone shifted again, from anger to pleading, making me feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. “Elijah, please. We can make this work. I can be what you need. I’ll do whatever you want. I can make you happy, unlike Sophia who only keeps hurting you.”

I shook my head, feeling the weight of my words. “Julia, I can only offer you friendship. I don’t have feelings for you like that. I’m really very sorry.”

She stared at me, her eyes searching mine for any sign of hope. When she found none, she collapsed into herself, sobbing quietly.

I felt helpless, but I didn’t want to lie to her. I couldn’t.

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