Chapter 1
Chapter 1 — An Ordinary Family
Azelia checked the time on her phone before getting out of the car.
7:12 p.m.
She had promised her mother she would be home earlier tonight.
Yet another promise she had failed to keep.
She sighed, grabbed her bag, and headed toward the house.
It had been a long day.
She had spent almost the entire day working, and all she wanted now was a shower, a good meal, and a few hours of peace and quiet.
But she already knew that the moment she walked through the door, her mother would ask why she was home so late again.
Azelia smiled.
Some things never changed.
She opened the door.
“I’m home!”
“Finally!”
Azelia closed her eyes for a moment.
She had been right.
“Good evening to you too, Mom.”
Claire appeared in the hallway, arms crossed.
“You said you’d be home earlier.”
“I know.”
“And?”
“I lost track of time.”
“Obviously.”
Azelia smiled.
Her mother was fifty years old and had a particular way of showing that she was worried while making it sound like she was simply complaining.
It was one of the things Azelia had grown used to.
“Is dinner ready?”
“Almost.”
“Then I can survive your interrogation.”
“Very funny.”
Azelia set her bag down by the stairs and took off her shoes.
She walked into the kitchen.
The first thing she noticed was the smell of the meal.
The second was her older sister sitting at the table with her phone.
“Eleanor.”
Her sister looked up.
“Azelia.”
“Aren’t you even going to give me a hug?”
“You’ve been out all day. You must be tired.”
“Is that an excuse?”
“Yes.”
Azelia stepped closer anyway and gave her a light tap on the shoulder.
Eleanor smiled.
At twenty-eight, she was the eldest of the family.
She was generally calm, thoughtful, and difficult to catch off guard.
She also had an annoying habit of noticing problems before anyone else did.
Azelia, on the other hand, preferred to avoid thinking about problems until they were directly in front of her.
“How was your day?” Eleanor asked.
“Long.”
“Does that mean bad?”
“No. Just long.”
“That’s okay, then.”
“Exactly.”
A voice rang out behind them.
“Azelia!”
She turned around.
Lina was approaching, holding a notebook.
“Look!”
“What did you make?”
“A drawing.”
Lina was sixteen and the youngest of the family.
She was still in high school and always seemed to have something to tell someone.
Azelia took the notebook.
She studied the drawing for a few seconds.
“Is that our house?”
“Yes.”
“And is that you?”
“No.”
Azelia frowned.
“Then who is it?”
Lina burst out laughing.
“It’s you!”
“I don’t look like that at all.”
“I drew you the way I see you.”
“So that’s how you see me?”
“Yes.”
Azelia looked at the drawing again.
“I’m going to have to give our relationship some serious thought.”
Lina laughed even harder.
Claire shook her head from the kitchen.
“You two…”
Azelia smiled.
She loved these moments.
These little, inconsequential conversations.
These arguments that weren't really arguments.
These habits that seemed insignificant but meant the world to her.
Her father walked into the kitchen a few seconds later.
“What’s got everyone laughing?”
Gabriel looked at Lina’s drawing.
“Ah.”
He remained silent.
Azelia looked at him.
“Dad?”
“I’m trying to think of something nice to say.”
“Dad!”
He burst out laughing.
Gabriel was fifty-three years old.
He was a calm, hardworking, rather reserved man.
He didn't like talking much about himself, but he was always there whenever a family member needed him.
“I’m kidding,” he said. “It’s very nice.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Lina took back her notebook.
Eventually, everyone gathered around the table.
Only Nolan was missing.
“He isn’t home yet?” Gabriel asked.
Claire checked the time.
“No.”
Azelia shrugged.
“He’ll be here soon.”
As if she had spoken the words at exactly the right moment, the front door opened.
A few seconds later, Nolan appeared in the kitchen.
“Sorry.”
Claire looked at him.
“Where were you?”
“Out.”
“I gathered that much.”
Nolan smiled faintly.
“I had something to do.”
He was twenty-one.
The only boy in the family.
He had always been a little more unpredictable than his sisters.
He could spend an entire day joking with Lina and then, the next day, barely say a word.
Azelia knew him well enough to notice when something was different.
And tonight, something was.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Nolan looked at her.
“Yes.”
The answer came immediately.
Perhaps a little too immediately.
Azelia didn't reply.
Nolan sat down.
A few minutes later, everyone was eating.
Conversation resumed naturally.
Gabriel was recounting something that had happened during the day.
Lina was talking about high school.
Claire was good-naturedly complaining about the mess in the house.
Eleanor was trying to convince Azelia to take a few days off.
And Nolan was laughing along with them.
For a few minutes, he seemed perfectly normal.
Then his phone vibrated.
He looked down.
His smile vanished.
It was only for an instant.
But Azelia saw it.
Nolan quickly locked his phone and turned it face down on the table.
“Someone interesting?” Lina asked.
“No.”
“Then why are you making that face?”
“What face?”
“That one.”
Nolan gave her an amused look.
“Eat.”
“You’re always bossing me around.”
“Because you never listen to me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Lina.”
“Fine.”
Everyone laughed.
Azelia did too.
But she glanced at Nolan for a second longer.
He was smiling again.
Yet something wasn't right.
She couldn't explain what.
Not yet.
After dinner, Azelia stayed in the kitchen to help her mother.
Eleanor joined them a few minutes later.
“Leave it. I’ll take care of that.”
“You just finished eating.”
“So?”
“You should rest.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Azelia smiled.
“Fair point.”
Eleanor picked up a few plates.
For a moment, they worked in silence.
Then Eleanor murmured,
“Did you notice?”
Azelia looked up.
“Nolan?”
Eleanor nodded.
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
“Me neither.”
Azelia wiped her hands.
“Do you think he’s in trouble?”
Eleanor thought for a moment.
“I don’t know.”
Then she added,
“But I think he’s hiding something from us.”
Azelia glanced toward the hallway.
“He’ll tell us eventually.”
“I hope so.”
They didn't have time to discuss it further.
The front door opened.
Nolan appeared in the hallway.
This time, he was already wearing his jacket.
Azelia stepped out of the kitchen.
“Are you leaving again?”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
“I have to go out.”
“What for?”
He hesitated.
It was barely a moment.
A split second.
But Azelia noticed it.
“I have something to take care of.”
“Is it serious?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
Nolan gave her a small smile.
“I’m fine.”
He picked up his keys.
Azelia stood there, watching him.
She wanted to ask more questions.
Where was he going?
Who was he meeting?
Why did his phone keep vibrating?
Why had he seemed different lately?
But something told her he wouldn't answer.
So she simply said,
“Be careful.”
Nolan looked at her for a few seconds.
His smile faded.
“Always.”
Then he opened the door.
“Nolan?”
He turned back.
Azelia hesitated.
For a moment, she almost asked.
Instead, she shook her head.
“Nothing.”
Nolan nodded.
Then he walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Azelia stood motionless for a few seconds.
Eleanor came up behind her.
“You wanted to ask him something.”
It wasn't a question.
Azelia sighed.
“Yes.”
“So why didn't you?”
“Because I don't want to make him feel like I don't trust him.”
Eleanor looked at the closed door.
“What if that’s exactly the problem?”
Azelia didn't answer.
In the next room, Lina was laughing with their mother.
Gabriel was talking quietly.
The television was playing in the background.
The house was still the same.
Warm.
Lively.
Normal.
Azelia glanced one last time at the door Nolan had disappeared behind.
She didn't know where he had gone.
She didn't know what he was hiding.
And, above all, she didn't know that this small secret—which still seemed so far removed from their family—was already beginning to change their future.
For now, Nolan was simply a brother with something to hide.
And tomorrow would be just another day.
At least, that was what Azelia believed.
