Sister's Sacrifice

Chapter 9

Anita and Ella returned home just as Daniel had instructed.

The journey back felt longer than usual. The afternoon sun was harsh, but the heat outside was nothing compared to the heaviness inside Anita’s chest. She walked ahead of Ella, her steps firm, her jaw tight. Ella followed quietly behind her, dragging her feet as if each step carried the weight of her mistake.

Neither of them spoke until they got inside the house.

Anita dropped her handbag on the table and stood still for a moment. The silence in the room was thick. Ella stood by the door, her fingers trembling.

Anita turned slowly to look at her sister.

Disappointment was written all over her face.

“Go and freshen up,” Anita said calmly, though her voice carried exhaustion. “Then come and meet me in the kitchen.”

Ella nodded quickly and hurried to her room.

Anita sank into the sofa. For a brief second, she allowed herself to close her eyes. She had been strong since morning. Strong when the neighbors stared. Strong when they realized Josh was nowhere to be found. Strong when Ella nearly collapsed from crying.

But now… she felt tired.

Still, she stood up. Daniel was on his way, and no matter what, she wanted to show appreciation. He had been the only calm voice in the middle of chaos.

Anita walked into the kitchen and began bringing out ingredients. Shortly after, Ella joined her quietly.

For a moment, they cooked in silence.

The sound of slicing vegetables and the gentle clanging of pots filled the air.

“Ella,” Anita finally spoke without looking at her.

Ella froze.

“Yes… sister?”

Anita sighed deeply. “I am disappointed. Not because you are pregnant… but because you hid it from me. You hid him from me."

Ella’s hands began to shake.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered.

Anita continued, her voice softer now. “When you fainted during your birthday party, and that boy was with us throughout like you meant something to him… I was happy.”

Ella slowly looked up.

“I thought… at least my sister has a male friend that truly cares. I didn’t even know he was your boyfriend until Mamacita mentioned it. And when I asked you, you confirmed it.”

Tears rolled down Ella’s cheeks.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” she said weakly. “I was scared.”

Anita paused her cooking and finally looked at her sister properly. Ella looked so small, so broken.

“You are eighteen, Ella,” Anita said gently. “You’re still a child to me.”

That was all it took.

Ella burst into tears again.

Before Anita could respond, there was a knock at the door.

Daniel.

Anita wiped her hands quickly and went to open it.

Daniel stood there with a calm smile, holding a small paper bag.

“Good afternoon,” he said warmly.

“Good afternoon,” Anita replied, managing a faint smile.

He stepped inside.

The house felt different whenever Daniel was present. Lighter. Safer.

Anita served him breakfast at the small dining table. He thanked her and began to eat.

Ella came out briefly, greeted him softly, and excused herself back to her room.

Daniel noticed her swollen eyes but said nothing immediately.

As he ate, Anita sat opposite him.

“I didn’t know,” she began quietly.

Daniel looked up.

“I didn’t know she had a boyfriend,” Anita continued.

“When she fainted at her birthday party, and he rushed to her, I was happy. I thought he was just a good friend. I was even grateful.”

Her voice began to shake.

“I only knew he was her boyfriend when Mamacita mentioned it. And she confirmed it later.”

Daniel swallowed slowly and placed his spoon down.

“You couldn’t have known,” he said calmly. “Don’t blame yourself.”

Anita shook her head. “I am her elder sister. Since our parents died, I have been both mother and father to her. How did I not see this?”

Daniel leaned forward slightly.

“You have done more than enough for her,” he said firmly. “You cannot monitor every heartbeat.”

Anita’s eyes became watery.

“Do you know she has been trying to call him?” Anita continued. “He isn’t picking. I’m sure something is wrong.”

Inside her room, Ella sat on her bed with her phone in her hand.

She dialed Josh’s number again.

The call didn’t connect.

Again.

And again.

Her breathing became uneven.

She opened her social media apps one after the other.

Instagram.

Blocked.

WhatsApp.

Blocked.

Facebook.

Blocked.

Even Snapchat.

Blocked.

Her heart shattered completely.

Josh had erased her.

She stared at her phone in disbelief.

“No…” she whispered. “No, Josh… you can’t do this.”

Memories flooded her mind — the promises, the late-night calls, the way he told her he loved her.

All lies.

She pressed her pillow against her face and screamed into it.

Then she broke down.

Her tears were uncontrollable. Her body shook violently.

Meanwhile, in the sitting room, Daniel noticed Anita glancing repeatedly toward Ella’s door.

“Let her cry,” he said gently.

Anita looked at him.

“She just found out something bad ,” Daniel added quietly.

Anita’s eyes widened. “You know?”

“I saw her face when she came out earlier,” he replied softly. “That is not just heartbreak. That is abandonment.”

Anita covered her mouth as tears escaped her eyes.

“I hate him,” she whispered.

Daniel reached across the table and held her hand.

That simple gesture made Anita freeze for a second.

“Don’t waste your strength on hate,” Daniel said calmly. “Focus on what is ahead.”

She looked at him through her tears.

“What is ahead?” she asked brokenly. “A baby. Hospital bills. People talking. Responsibility.”

Daniel held her gaze steadily.

“I will take over the responsibility.”

Anita blinked.

“What?”

“I will take over,” he repeated clearly.

She stared at him, trying to understand.

“I have already booked a hospital,” Daniel continued. “A good one. She will start her antenatal there immediately. Everything will be handled properly.”

For a moment, Anita thought she misheard him.

“You… booked a hospital?” she asked slowly.

“Yes.”

“You mean… you already arranged everything?”

“Yes.”

Her lips trembled.

“But why?” she whispered. “Why would you do that?”

Daniel leaned back slightly.

“Because you and Ella are not alone,” he said simply.

Anita’s heart pounded loudly.

“You don’t have to carry this burden by yourself,” he continued. “You have been strong for too long. Let someone help you.”

Anita could not hold it anymore.

Tears began to pour down her cheeks uncontrollably.

“You don’t understand,” she sobbed. “Since our parents died, it has been just me. I promised myself nothing would ever hurt her. And now… this.”

Daniel stood up and moved closer to her.

He didn’t say too much.

He simply allowed her cry.

“I was scared,” Anita continued through her tears. “I didn’t know how I would afford hospital bills. I didn’t know how to face people. I didn’t know how to protect her from shame.”

Daniel gently squeezed her hand.

“You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

She looked up at him with disbelief.

“You will handle everything?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Even the expenses?”

“Yes.”

“Even the hospital?”

“Yes.”

Anita covered her face with her hands and cried openly.

These were not tears of pain this time.

They were tears of relief.

Tears of gratitude.

Tears of someone who had been carrying too much for too long.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” she whispered.

“You don’t have to,” Daniel replied softly.

But Anita shook her head and stood up suddenly.

She hugged him.

Tightly.

Daniel was slightly surprised at first, but he gently wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you,” she kept repeating. “Thank you. Thank you.”

In her room, Ella heard her sister crying.

For a moment, she feared something terrible had happened.

She wiped her tears quickly and stepped out.

What she saw surprised her.

Anita was crying — but smiling.

Daniel stood beside her calmly.

Ella looked confused.

“What happened?” she asked weakly.

Anita turned to her sister with tear-filled eyes.

“Everything will be fine,” she said.

Ella frowned. “How?”

Daniel stepped forward.

“I have arranged a hospital for you,” he said gently. “You will start proper antenatal care immediately. You and the baby will be safe.”

Ella stared at him in shock.

“You… did that for me?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Ella’s lips began to tremble.

“But… I’m not your responsibility,” she whispered.

Daniel smiled softly.

“Family is not only by blood,” he said. “Sometimes it is by choice.”

That sentence broke Ella completely.

She ran into Anita’s arms and cried again.

But this time, the tears were different.

They were still painful — but they carried hope.

For the first time since she saw her pregnancy result…

For the first time since Josh ran away…

For the first time since she discovered she was blocked…

She felt like she was not alone.

And Anita, holding her sister tightly, realized something too.

Maybe God had allowed Josh to leave.

So that someone better could step in.

And as Daniel stood there watching the two sisters embrace each other, his heart was firm.

He had made a decision.

He was not just going to help them.

He was going to stay.