The Only Family I Ever Had Chapter 01

The Only Family I Ever Had Chapter 01

For a class assignment, we were told to text our parents, I love you.

Both of my parents were dead.

So I used the assignment as an excuse to text Sebastian Whitmore, my father’s younger brother, who had taken me in after my parents died.

He’d always just been Uncle Sebastian to me.

Claire: [I love you.]

For a long time, the typing indicator appeared and disappeared on my screen.

But no message came.

Two hours later, he finally replied.

Sebastian: [Don’t get any ideas you shouldn’t have.]

After that, Sebastian took back every bit of affection he had ever shown me.

He blocked my number.

He told his assistant that he no longer wanted updates about me.

Security at Whitmore Group even stopped me at the entrance.

“Mr. Whitmore said you’re not allowed inside. Same goes for dogs.”

If he so much as spotted me, he turned around and walked the other way.

Then, six months later, I was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

With whatever time I had left, I wanted him to stop looking at me like I was one more mistake he wished he could erase.

So I agreed to marry the man he had introduced me to.

For the first time in months, Sebastian spoke to me without ice in his voice.

“How are things with Ethan? Have you started planning the wedding?”

“They’re good.”

My eyes burned, but I refused to cry.

I couldn’t bear to ruin the first real conversation we’d had in so long.

So I told him about the wedding I had always dreamed of.

“We’ve started planning. I want lavender everywhere because it’s my favorite. The ring will have a purple diamond, and even the setting will be shaped like lavender…”

His frown deepened with every detail.

Finally, as if he couldn’t stand to hear another word, he cut me off.

“Good. Just remember, Claire, I’ll always be your uncle. We’re family, and this will always be your home.”

His gaze moved around my bedroom, which was already more than half empty.

“Did you move everything to Ethan’s? That’s probably for the best. Whatever you took, I’ll have replaced.”

A sharp ache spread through my chest.

I forced a smile and shook my head.

“That’s okay. I probably won’t be staying here much anymore.”

The truth was, I wouldn’t be staying here at all.

I would never come back.

My belongings hadn’t been moved to Ethan’s apartment.

They had already been shipped overseas.

Dr. Emily Carter had arranged an appointment with a lung cancer specialist in Switzerland.

In three days, on the day Sebastian was supposed to marry Vanessa Hale, I would leave New York for good.

Whether the treatment worked or not, I planned to stay in Switzerland.

Sebastian went still, as if he wanted to say something and thought better of it.

Before he could, I asked softly, “Do you know what flowers Vanessa likes?”

“Cherry blossoms.”

The answer came instantly.

Then his expression sharpened.

“Why are you asking?”

The suspicion on his face chilled me.

He probably thought I was about to do something reckless again.

Something that might hurt his fiancée.

I looked away and stared through the window at the lavender field Sebastian had planted for me years ago.

“I wanted to give you and Vanessa a wedding gift.”

His mouth flattened.

“Don’t. She doesn’t need anything.”

I looked down, a bitter smile tugging at my mouth.

Right.

I’d forgotten again.

Dr. Carter had warned me that the cancer had spread to my brain and that the metastases could affect my memory.

I had forgotten that when I was younger, no matter how ridiculous my requests were, Sebastian always found a way to make them happen.

Once, I told him I wanted to see a real castle.

He bought land outside the city and had a European-style castle built there for me.

I had also forgotten something else.

I knew exactly what Sebastian looked like when he truly cared about someone.

If Sebastian loved her, Vanessa would never want for anything.

Still, I only wanted to do something small.

Something to repay him for raising me all these years.

Neither of us spoke.

The silence stretched between us.

A cold night breeze drifted in, and I shivered.

Ever since I got sick, I couldn’t tolerate the cold.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

I turned away.

I could feel him watching me the entire time.

I felt his attention on my back until the bedroom door shut between us.