Amelia’s POV
I stayed at the office longer than I needed to, pushing through emails and reports until my eyes started hurting. Anything to avoid going home and facing more questions. When I finally drove back, the sun was already setting. The house was quieter than usual, which was a relief.
As I walked into the living room, I heard footsteps behind me. It was James, my eldest brother. He had a small plastic bag in his hand and a gentle smile on his face—the kind he used to give me when I was a little girl and fell off my bicycle.
“Hey, little sis,” he said softly. “I got something for you.”
He pulled out a big tub of my favorite ice cream—strawberry cheesecake with chocolate chunks. My throat tightened. I hadn’t even asked for it, but he remembered.
“Thanks, James,” I whispered, taki
