When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 433

He was her comfort, the person she turned to when her heart felt heavy. Jonah’s expression stayed calm, but his eyes gave everything away, warm and open now, no longer trying to hide how he felt.

“And you?” Jonah’s voice was barely more than a whisper, soft and careful, like he was afraid to scare her off. “Do you… even a little… feel the same way about me?”

Nelly opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She honestly didn’t know what she felt for Jonah anymore. She’d always thought of him as just a brother, but now, standing in front of him, trying to put her feelings into words, she felt this painful ache in her chest she couldn’t explain. It was like a thousand tiny pinpricks all at once. She’d never felt anything like it, and it only made her more confused.

After a moment, her logic finally won over her tangled heart. “I’m sorry.”

Jonah gave her a small, sad smile, like he’d known what was coming all along. “I see. I guess I read too much into it. I thought you came to see me because… well, I thought it meant something more.”

He realized he’d been holding on to hope for nothing. Nancy had come to talk to him too, but it was Nelly who always believed in him, who stood up for him. That had made him hope, even if he shouldn’t have. But that was just who Nelly was.

Nelly didn’t know what to say. Seeing Jonah smile, but knowing how much it must hurt him, made her heart break. She couldn’t take it anymore. She turned around and walked away.

Everything felt out of place now. Her thoughts were a mess.

She’d only wanted to clear the air with Jonah, to get their friendship back to what it used to be. She saw him as a brother and only wanted the best for him. But after seeing him, she couldn’t even trust her own emotions. It was like her heart had a mind of its own, and she couldn’t get it under control.

The feeling stuck with her all evening. Nelly couldn’t focus on anything. At dinner, she just picked at her food, lost in thought, until Carrie called her name a few times to snap her out of it.

Brody noticed right away. “What’s up? Is something bothering you?”

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