When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 266

“I’d be glad if it were me,” Jonah said gently. “As your family, it’s my job to protect you, even if it means risking everything.”

Nelly’s eyes widened. She pulled her hand back and pressed it over Jonah’s mouth, not even realizing how close it made them.

A chill ran through her. She hated hearing him talk like that, as if something bad might happen. “Stop it. Don’t say things like that,” she blurted out. “It feels unlucky.”

She didn’t have parents left, barely any friends either. If she lost Jonah, the one person who felt like family, she honestly didn’t know how she’d keep going.

Jonah wrapped his hand around hers, his eyes soft and warm. “Alright. If you don’t want me to say it, I won’t. I promise.”

Nelly’s cheeks burned. Suddenly, the air between them felt thick with something she couldn’t name. She turned away, flustered. “Okay.”

Why did Jonah always look at her that way, like there was something he wasn’t saying? No, she must be imagining things. He’d said it himself, he was just her family.

She forced the thought away before it could take hold and switched topics as fast as she could.

“Anyway, about today at the hospital, why did you stand up to Tina for me? I could have handled it myself.” Her words tumbled out faster than she meant, almost like she was scolding him.

Jonah’s eyes flickered, a hint of sadness passing through. “I’m sorry. When I saw her picking on you, I just reacted.”

“If you really don’t want me to, I won’t do it again…”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Nelly interrupted, waving her hands. “I just don’t want to always lean on you for help.”

Jonah was sensitive. She knew he only wanted to protect her. She didn’t want to hurt him with her words.

“I mean, if I can’t handle people like that, what’s the point…”

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