Chapter 9

Ophelia

Immediately I entered the living room, Ryder's eye met mine from across the room. His eyes lingered on me.

His eyes trailed slowly over me, from my head to my feet, pausing just briefly enough that I noticed. When our eyes met again, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he turned away as if brushing off a thought.

"Looks like Ryder's more affected by you than he wants to show," Elina whispered in my ear before she walked off toward David, leaving me with that thought lingering. Affected by me? 

I looked at him again but his attention was already on something else. I think she is reading his expression wrong.

Before I could cross the room after Elina, Sandra stepped into my path. “I am really sorry, Ophelia, for everything you've been put through. I should have prevented all this.”

“None of this is your fault, Sandra. It would have happened eventually, regardless.” I smiled at her.

She pulled me into a warm hug taking me by surprise, and I could feel the genuine care radiating from her. It was comforting.

“Alright, everyone!” Elina’s voice brought us back to the moment as Sandra stepped away and went to take her seat next to Jacob. “Let's play a game” Beside her sat another woman

I sat beside Elina, leaning in slightly. “You can give me that introduction now,” I said.

Elina grinned, gesturing around the room. “Alright, so the woman beside Sandra is my mom. Next to her is my dad, and you already know my brother, David.” I nodded as I looked at the couples beside Sandra.

“Across from us is my best aunt, Aunt Sylvia—the one currently smacking David,” she chuckled. I chuckled along with her as I glanced at her. 

When she noticed me staring, she stopped her playful scolding of David and offered me a warm smile. It felt oddly comforting to see people who weren’t staring at me with judgment.

“And beside her is Sophia, you know her already. The lady with her is Sophia’s sister, and the older woman is their mom.”

 "And the rest?" I asked, nodding toward a few others chatting in the back.

“Extended family—cousins, distant relatives. Not really important,” she shrugged.

Just then, Sandra clapped her hands, calling everyone’s attention. “Suggestions?”

Everyone started suggesting games, and the room quickly filled with excitement.

“Let’s play truth or dare,” Sophia announced, drawing nods of agreement from everyone. She shot me a wicked smile before turning to talk with her sister.

I felt a hint of unease, but Elina nudged me playfully. “Come on, Ophelia, it’ll be fun,” she whispered.

“We have work to attend to so we willgive you all some space,” Jacob said, leaving the room with Elina’s dad.

David grabbed a small bottle and placed it at the center of the coffee table. “Alright, who’s spinning first?”

Elina reached forward without hesitation, giving the bottle a quick spin. It whirled around, slowing until it pointed at Sylvia.

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Sylvia replied confidently.

David smirked, already prepared. “I dare you to dance ballet to the song I’m about to play.”

She rolled her eyes. “I am not dancing to that song. That’s Elina’s favorite from when she was five!”

“It’s not that bad,” Elina said with a defeated laugh. Everyone chuckled at their little standoff.

“Either dance or hand over your ticket to the ballet show for this month,” David teased, grinning.

“Fine, play the music. I’ll give you the performance of your lives,” Sylvia declared, standing up. David started the music, and she danced gracefully, moving with a surprising amount of skill.

“She’s really good,” I commented, enjoying her performance. “She went to ballet school in her youth,” Elina replied with a smile.

When Sylvia finished, we all clapped. David spun the bottle again, and this time it pointed right at me.

“Oh no,” I mumbled, feeling a mix of nervousness and amusement as everyone turned their attention to me.

“Truth or dare?” Elina asked, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Uh… truth,” I said, choosing what I hoped would be the safer option between the two.

Elina leaned forward, a curious smile on her face. “Alright, tell us…” But before she could finish, Sophia interrupted with her own question, her tone almost daring.

“Have you ever had feelings for someone you shouldn’t? And what is his name?”

I felt a lump form in my throat as the question settled in the air.