Unbeknownst to her, warm tears began to flow from Amelia's eyelids, staining her reddened cheeks. As she realized her reaction, she quickly wiped her tears with both palms.
"Why are you crying?" Nicholas asked, puzzled. "Are you jealous? Well, then you should find a boyfriend. So you won't be single anymore!" Nicholas teased her, oblivious to Amelia's feelings. He casually uttered those words, causing Amelia's heart to ache even more.
Amelia forced a fake laugh. "Who's getting jealous? I am just so happy that Olive doesn't have to wait any longer for her prince to propose," she replied, her voice trembling amidst laughter and smiles. It was obvious how shocked and nervous she truly was.
She tried to suppress the quivering of her lips by biting them tightly. However, the tears she had dried earlier flowed once again, uncontrollably. In her heart, she cursed those mischievous tears that were so difficult to control, deciding when to stay and when to escape.
"Wishing you luck with the romantic proposal!" Amelia continued, swallowing hard.
Nicholas smiled. His eyes gazed at Amelia tenderly; he had always seen her as his own sister. "Olivia is lucky to have a caring sister like you. You've always been so attentive to her."
Amelia simply nodded and forced herself to smile broadly. She hid her trembling hands behind her back, gripping the hot denim of her shorts tightly. Her hands were cold and sweaty due to her uneasiness. She then excused herself from Nicholas's presence to call Olivia.
"Don't go anywhere! I won't be long!" she said, waving her hand and swaying her slender, pale-skinned legs as she headed towards her sister's room.
Upon entering her sister's room, Amelia was taken aback. The typically tidy and feminine space was now filled with scattered items and broken glass. The atmosphere felt tense and horrifying. As she looked at each of the three figures in the room, all she could see was her father's anger, her mother's disappointment, and her sister's fear.
"What's going on here?" Amelia asked, bewildered. Her blue eyes scanned everyone in the room one by one. "Whose hands are slippery?"
No one answered. Amelia looked at her father, but he turned his face away with a tense jaw. She turned to her mother, giving her a meaningful look, demanding an answer to her question, but her mother only continued to cry and shake her head.
Olivia was Amelia's only hope. However, her older sister appeared hesitant. She was even contemplating ways to divert the conversation.
"What's... what's happening, Amy?" Olivia asked, trembling as she wiped her reddened eyes. It was evident that she had been crying heavily just moments ago. Her delicate features were contorted with anguish and confusion.
"Nicholas is downstairs," Amelia answered nervously, feeling guilty for witnessing a scene she shouldn't have seen. She could see the turmoil in her sister's eyes, and her own heart ached for her.
Olivia fell silent, her mouth was gaping wide. The beautiful and graceful girl with dark hair stared at her parents, uncertain and afraid. Her once radiant dark eyes were now filled with darkness and guilt. She struggled to comprehend the weight of the situation unfolding before her.
Her father's face appeared grim, his brows furrowed with disappointment and anger. Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with frustration and disbelief. "Go meet Nicholas and explain everything! Face the consequences of your foolish mistake. Don't be a clueless loser."
Olivia nodded, not needing any more time in the room. She hurriedly walked, accidentally stepping on broken glass. Strangely, she didn't cry out in pain. Her determination to confront Nicholas outweighed any physical discomfort. As she moved swiftly, leaving behind a trail of red blood on the bedroom floor, her vulnerability and strength intertwined.
"Olive! Wait, sis! Your foot is bleeding," Amelia called out in concern, rushing to her sister's side. "Let me treat your wound first."
She then picked up a small medicine box from Olivia's desk and ran after her sister, her worry evident in her eyes. As she glanced back, she saw her mother crying in her father's embrace, their faces etched with sorrow and confusion. In her heart, Amelia wondered what was truly happening, yearning for the answer.
She didn't have to wait long to get an answer. Just as Amelia reached the front door, her petite steps halted upon hearing Olivia's shocking statement, the words piercing the heavy air with their weight and implications.
"Sorry, Nick! I'm pregnant."