He Put Me On Do Not Disturb For Three Years, But Prioritized His Stepsister Chapter 11

He Put Me On Do Not Disturb For Three Years, But Prioritized His Stepsister Chapter 11

A year later, I held my first solo exhibition in Northport.

The show was called Rebirth.

I’d turned an old warehouse by the sea into a white-walled gallery with floor-to-ceiling windows

facing the ocean.

At the center of the show hung a single painting.

It showed a bird breaking free of its cage and flying toward the sea.

It was the first painting I’d made in Northport.

The show went well and drew a big crowd.

Leo stayed by my side the whole time, working the room with me and fetching me water.

“Tired?” he asked quietly.

“No.” I smiled and shook my head.

A stir started near the entrance.

I looked up and saw a familiar figure.

Sean was much thinner, his hair cut short. He looked more put together, but his eyes were still

hollow.

He stood at the edge of the crowd, holding a bouquet.

Not roses. Not lilies.

Sunflowers.

The flowers I’d mentioned in passing on my birthday last year, saying they looked so full of life.

At the time, Sean had said, “Those flowers are so tacky. Why not roses?”

Now he held the sunflowers in his hands and didn’t dare walk in.

Leo stepped in front of me, blocking Sean’s view.

“Should I let him in?” Leo asked, his voice even.

I looked at Sean, and my heart was as still as a placid lake.

No hatred. No love.

“Let him in,” I said.

Sean walked in slowly.

He walked up to me and held out the flowers.

“Happy birthday,” he said.

I took the bouquet and thanked him politely.

“The show is wonderful,” Sean said, his eyes a little red. “You shine even brighter than before.”

“Thank you.”

“Ellie, I…”

Sean opened his mouth as if he wanted to say a great deal.

But in the end, he said only one thing.

“I hope you’ll be happy.”

“I hope the same for you, Sean.” I looked into his eyes.

“I hope you find someone who truly cares about you.”

Sean gave a bitter smile.

“There won’t be.”

“Maybe not in this lifetime.”

He held my gaze for a long moment, then turned and left.

He walked away slowly, as if waiting for something.

But I didn’t call after him.

Watching his back disappear through the doorway, I felt nothing at all.

Leo came over and took my hand.

His palm was warm and dry.

“Ready to go home?” he asked.

“Yes. Let’s go home.”

We walked out of the exhibition into perfect sunlight.

The sea breeze still blew through Northport, carrying a faint scent of flowers.

I held sunflowers in my hands, and the man beside me was the one I loved.

I was no longer the Ella who didn’t dare speak, didn’t dare share, and could only hide her complaints in Notes.

Now, I had my own voice.

I could say what I wanted, paint what I wanted, and go wherever I wanted.

My world finally belonged to me.