Love Rejected by Brother

I was adopted by the Nelson family, yet I fell in love with my brother.

Each time I confessed my feelings to him, he'd show up with a new girlfriend. On my twentieth birthday, I decided to make one last attempt.

The setting I'd carefully arranged for my confession turned into the scene of his proposal. I watched as my brother kissed Nalani Ward and asked her to marry him. She nodded with tears in her eyes and a blush on her cheeks, and that’s when I knew it was time to move on.

---

That evening at the birthday party, I presented a cake and declared my feelings to Jaxton for the twelfth time. The cake had both our names on it, with a card wishing, "Elyse wants to be with Jaxton forever."

The room burst into applause, almost like crashing waves. Friends egged me on, and I decided to make a bold move. "Brother, will you finally say yes?"

I held my breath, waiting for Jaxton's answer, only to see him lazily look up and meet my eyes.

"Elyse," he said, his voice devoid of warmth, "are you being childish? We’re siblings, not a couple."

"I'd rather not be labeled a creep."

An awkward silence filled the room.

I gripped the hem of my blouse as I watched Jaxton leisurely get up from the couch. He turned and gave Nalani, seated next to him, a tender smile.

"But there's something I do want to do," he added.

I felt a tight knot in my stomach and instinctively tried to stop him.

But it was too late.

Jaxton pulled out a ring from his pocket, wrapped an arm around Nalani's waist, and asked her, "Will you marry me?"

Nalani blushed deeply, nodded while crying, and threw her arms around his neck. Jaxton kissed her intensely, leaving me to feel like the fool.

Birthday wishes might not come true, but they sure can be ironic.

My brother once said, "Every time you say you love me, I'll bring home another woman."

Jaxton was notorious for his charm, attracting a constant stream of women eager to become my sister-in-law. He didn't love any of them. Yet with each confession, he'd use the opportunity to show me, unmistakably, that we could never be.

As Nalani swooned from the kiss, Jaxton abruptly let her go and fixed me with a cold gaze. "Elyse, are you still going to make a fool of yourself?"

The pain in my heart was unbearable, but I forced myself to stay composed and asked, "Why do you treat me like this?"

"What else? I don't like you."

"Elyse," he continued, contempt clear in his eyes, "I've had enough of your obsession. Can't you have some self-awareness?"

With Nalani nestled in his arms, she playfully tapped his chest, her tone more teasing than reproachful. "Don't speak to Elyse like that; she's your sister."

Jaxton smiled at me.

Tears blurred my vision as the birthday party turned into a farce,