Wrong son, right heir

Too late

His fingers slipped into his pocket and found his phone. The screen was blank. He looked at it for a second. Then pressed the side button, pretending to receive a call. He lifted it to his ear. “Hello?” He listened. “Now?” “I understand.” “I’ll be there.” He lowered the phone and turned back with the same easy smile everyone knew.

“Auntie Agatha.” The conversation stopped. Everyone looked at him. “I’m really sorry, something urgent just came up. I have to leave.”

Madam Agatha frowned. “So soon? You haven’t even had dinner!” Benjamin chuckled softly. “I know.” “I’ll make it up to you another day.”

She studied him for a moment. “All right.” “But don’t disappear for another week!” Benjamin laughed, gratefully. As he turned toward the door, he instinctively looked in Ayda’s direction, Her phone pressed lightly against her chest.

“Good night, everyone.” “Good night,” they all answered. Only Elsie didn’t respond immediately. She watched him open the door, she didn’t follow him outside this time around.

A strange feeling settled in her chest. She had seen Ben happy. She had seen him worried. She’d even seen him frustrated. But never like this. It looked… lonely. And somehow, that hurt her too.

Benjamin opened the car door, and let the quiet sit beside him. He sat behind the steering wheel for a long time. The engine was off. The silence felt right. He leaned back, closed his eyes. Everything had happened so fast.

Just minutes ago, he walked into the Star house thinking tonight would change his life. And it did. Just not the way he’d hoped.

He could still hear Elsie’s voice, “Ayda, your boyfriend Francis is calling.”

Those words kept replaying. He let out a slow breath. “I guess I waited too long.” His phone buzzed on the passenger seat. He picked it up, not really interested. Text from Dad. “Your 27th birthday is next week. You know your mom is dying to meet your girl”.

Ben stared at the message, a tired smile escaped. “Seriously?” “Not today, Dad.” He dropped the phone onto the passenger seat. Just minutes ago, he thought one heartbreak was enough. Now this…

The door burst open, and Elsie looked up from the edge of her bed, startled. Ayda stood at the entrance, fists clenched at her sides. Her chest rose and fell. Her knuckles were white. The anger she’d been holding since Benjamin left had finally caught up with her. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“Ayda, what’s wrong?” Ayda let out a bitter laugh, stepped fully inside, and slammed the door behind her.

“What’s wrong? You have the nerve to ask me that?”

Elsie slowly stood. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t do that,” Ayda snapped, pointing at her. “Don’t stand there pretending you have no idea what you did.” Elsie’s brows knitted. “I honestly don’t.”

“You embarrassed me.” “I embarrassed you?”

“Yes!” Ayda snapped. “You did!”

“I’m lost”

“Elsie. You announced my relationship in front of everybody.” Elsie stared at her. “I announced? ‘Ayda, your boyfriend Francis is calling.’ That’s it. You never told me it was a secret.” “That doesn’t matter!” “It does matter.” “No, it doesn’t!” “It does!”

Elsie’s voice echoed through the room. “I’ve done nothing except….”

“You still don’t get it.” Ayda interrupted

“Then explain it to me.”

“You ruined everything.” “Ruined what?” “I was going to tell mom myself.”

“You said that….And then,” Ayda stopped herself.

Elsie’s eyes narrowed. “What about Benjamin? You didn’t even think about him.”

“What about him?” “You saw the look on his face.” Elsie hesitated.

“I did.”

“And you still think you did nothing wrong?”

“I didn’t know you wanted him a secret.”

“You could have simply given me the phone.”

“I reacted in the moment.”

“You reacted exactly the way you wanted to.”

Elsie’s face fell. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Ayda took a step closer. “It means you’re not as innocent as you pretend to be.”

Elsie’s voice dropped to something quieter. “Choose your next words carefully.”

“No.” Ayda’s eyes burned. “I’m tired of pretending I don’t see it.”

“See what?”

“The way you look at Benjamin.” Silence swallowed the room. Elsie felt the blood drain from her face. Ayda saw it. “There.” She gave a humorless smile. “That look.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying.”

“I’ve watched you for a very long time now.”

Elsie’s throat tightened. “You think nobody notices?” Ayda continued, “But I do.” “I see you watching him when he comes here.” Elsie looked away. “I see the way your eyes follow him whenever he’s talking.”

“Ayda…”

“I see you smiling whenever he laughs. I see you looking at him when he isn’t looking at you.”

“A-ayda, please. Enough.”

“And today.” Ayda’s voice cracked. “Today was your chance.” Elsie’s eyes flashed. “My chance?” “Yes!” “You think I wanted him to stop looking at you?” “What?” “You couldn’t stand it anymore.” Elsie stared at her. “Is that really what you think of me?” “I think you’re jealous.”

The words landed like a slap. “You’re jealous that every time Benjamin comes here, he’s looking for me.” Elsie’s lips parted, but no words came. “So when Francis called, you made sure Benjamin heard exactly who he was.”

“I did not do such a thing.”

“You wanted him to give up.” “No.” “You wanted him to stop coming here.” “No!” “You wanted him to finally notice you instead.” “That’s enough!” Elsie’s voice echoed.

For the first time, both sisters froze. Elsie’s breathing unsteady. “You can accuse me of being insensitive.” She swallowed. “You can accuse me of speaking without thinking.” “But don’t ever accuse me of plotting against my own sister.”

“Why?” Ayda’s voice was quiet. “Because I would never do that to you.” “I don’t believe you.” The words were quiet. Calm. And somehow, far worse. The room felt colder.

Ayda reached for the door handle. “If Benjamin stops coming to this house,” she looked back one last time. “I hope you’re happy.” The door slammed so hard the picture frame on the wall rattled. Silence settled over the room. Elsie remained where she stood. She wanted to run after her. She wanted to defend herself. She wanted to scream that Ayda was wrong. Instead, she slowly sat on the edge of her bed. Her hands trembled. Benjamin’s tired smile drifted back into her mind. Then Ayda’s words followed, “You’re jealous.” “You wanted him to notice you.” “No.” The whisper barely escaped her lips. She didn’t know whether she was denying Ayda or trying to convince herself.