Everything was perfect until she returned
“Emma, what are you doing here?”
Emma nearly dropped her coffee mug when she caught sight of the familiar figure in her doorway.
“Hello, little sister,” Bella smiled, flipping back a long fringe with a careless hand. “Miss me?”
“You… you were supposed to be in New Zealand!” Emma’s hands shook. “Eight years ago you vanished, promising never to…”
“Plans change,” Bella shrugged, stepping past her into the hallway. “May I come in, or are you going to keep me dangling there?”
Emma stepped aside. Eight years of quiet life, routine, stability. Bella’s eyes wandered over the cottage they’d once shared.
“Not bad, then,” she nodded, eyeing the new furniture. “Remember how we used to dream of painting these awful floral wallpaper in our childhood?”
“I do,” Emma whispered. “Bella, what’s going on? Why are you here?”
“Can’t a sister visit?” Bella shrugged off her coat and paced to the window. “The view’s unchanged. Still those council estates, still that playground with the sandpit.”
Her hands still trembled. Bella looked almost the same, though her hair was longer and there was a tiredness in her eyes.
“Are you married?” Bella asked, spotting the wedding ring on Emma’s hand.
“Yes,” Emma instinctively covered her hand. “To Matt. You remember him? My old schoolmate.”
“Matthew West?” Bella raised a brow. “The one who used to write you sonnets?”
“Same one.”
“Small world.” Bella paused. “Any kids?”
“A daughter. Lily. She’s six.”
Bella nodded, but something in her expression shifted. Emma knew that look – it signaled trouble.
“Where is she?”
“At nursery. Matt will pick her up shortly; he’s taking her to the park.”
“What a picture of bliss,” Bella murmured, her voice laced with familiar irony. “Family, child, stability. All that we once dreamed of.”
“Bella,” Emma stepped closer. “What happened? Why have you come back?”
Bella turned from the window, and for a moment, her eyes betrayed vulnerability before it vanished.
“Things went south in New Zealand. My business failed, my visa expired. So I came home.”
“For good?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Emma felt her chest tighten. She remembered how Bella could unravel everything with just her presence.
“Where are you staying?”
“Temporarily, I’m adrift,” Bella offered that same smile – the one that always meant a request. “Thought I’d crash here for a few days?”
“Bella, I…” Emma hesitated. “We have a small home, Lily…”
“I’ll sleep on the couch. Hardly noticeable.”
Emma knew she should say no. Every fiber of her being screamed of danger. But this was her sister. The only family left after their parents passed.
“Fine,” she sighed. “But just for a short while.”
“Thank you, sweetpea,” Bella embraced her, and briefly, it felt like they were those girls again, supporting each other.
That evening, Matthew returned with Lily. Emma had warned him about Bella’s return, but she saw his tension as he noticed her.
“Hello, Matthew,” Bella rose from the couch where she’d been browsing a magazine. “It’s been a while.”
“Bella,” he nodded curtly. “How’s life in New Zealand?”
“Could be better,” she smiled. “And you? Still as serious as ever?”
Lily clung to her father, gazing at the unfamiliar woman.
“Who’s that?” the child asked.
“That’s Auntie Bella,” Emma explained, sitting beside Lily. “My sister.”
“You have a sister?” Lily gasped. “Why have I never seen her before?”
“Bella lived very far away,” Emma said. “Now she’s here to visit.”
Bella crouched near Lily.
“Hello, Lily dear. How lovely you are, just like your mum.”
Lily blushed.
“Are you really her sister?” the child asked. “You don’t look like her at all.”
“True,” Bella laughed. “Your mum was always the prettiest in the family.”
Over dinner, the conversation stuttered. Matthew spoke in monosyllables. Emma tried to keep things light, but the tension was palpable.
“Papa, are we going to the circus tomorrow?” Lily asked, finishing her soup.
“Of course, sunshine,” Matthew smiled, his face softening.
“Can Auntie Bella come too?”
“If she wishes,” Emma said, glancing at her sister.
“Definitely,” Bella nodded. “It’s been years since I’ve been to a circus.”
Later, Matthew helped Emma with the dishes.
“How long is she staying?” he asked quietly.
“Just a few days.”
“Bella, Matthew,” he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Do you remember what happened when…”
“I do,” she cut in. “But she’s my sister. I can’t just leave her on the street.”
“I understand,” he said. “But think about Lily.”
“Lily has nothing to do with this.”
“Children sense things,” Matthew pressed.
From the other room, they heard Lily laughing as Bella entertained her with coin tricks.
“Look! The penny vanished!” Bella exclaimed. “Now it’s behind your ear!”
“Again! Again!” Lily clapped.
Maybe everything would be fine. Maybe Bella had changed.
The next day, the family went to the circus. Lily was entranced, Bella bought her cotton candy and balloons. Matthew relaxed a little, even laughing at her jokes.
“Remember, Emma?” Bella said over dinner. “How we used to dream of becoming circus performers? You wanted to be a trapeze artist, I wanted to train lions.”
“I remember,” Emma smiled. “And you once insisted your lions listened because you were brave.”
“Still am,” Bella winked.
“What’s ‘brave’ mean?” Lily asked.
“When you do what you want even if others say it’s dangerous,” Bella explained.
“Bravery is good,” Matthew interjected. “But we must think about consequences.”
“Bella,” Emma said, amused. “You were always cautious.”
“Cautious isn’t bad,” Emma defended.
“No, but it does stifle life sometimes.”
That night, as Lily slept and Matthew showered, the sisters were alone.
“Settled well,” Bella remarked, studying family photos on the shelf. “Quiet, safe, predictable.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. Just… boring, perhaps.”
“I don’t find it boring.”
“Sure?” Bella turned. “Remember how we dreamed of traveling the world? You wanted Paris, I wanted New York.”
“Dreams change.”
“Or circumstances force change.” Bella sat beside her. “Emma, are you happy?”
“Of course.”
“Ever wonder what your life might have been like had you married young, had a child at twenty-five?”
“Bella, what are you implying?”
“Nothing. Just curious.”
Emma felt the bait, but couldn’t grasp it.
“I love my family.”
“Love and habit are different things.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing special,” Bella yawned. “I’m tired from the journey. I’ll sleep.”
The following days melted into routine. Bella played with Lily, helped with chores, even made breakfast. Matthew grew comfortable with her presence. But Emma sensed something was off – Bella observed too much, asked too many questions about their lives.
“Does Matthew earn well?” Bella asked one morning, sipping coffee.
“Enough for us.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s a sales manager. Bella, why are you asking?”
“Just curious. He’s charming, I imagine clients adore him.”
Something in her tone unsettled Emma, but she didn’t press.
That evening, Matthew returned late.
“Sorry, love,” he kissed her. “Meeting ran over. We made dinner.”
Bella was unusually talkative, probing about his work. When he shared stories, she leaned in, listening intently.
Emma watched, a chill settling in her bones. She recognized this Bella – the one who had stolen her fiancé years ago.
“Bella,” Bella asked the next day. “Could you take me to the bank on your way in? It’s awkward with all these papers on the tube.”
“Of course. Around eleven?”
“Perfect. You’re a gem.”
Emma clenched her teeth. She remembered that tone – the one Bella had used on Daniel.
That night, sleep eluded Emma. Matthew’s snores magnified her anxiety. Eight years had taught her nothing?
At dawn, Bella was already at the kitchen table with coffee.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Routines,” Emma replied, filling her glass.
“Bella, are you okay? You’re tense lately.”
“Fine.”
“Sure? You almost sound angry.”
“Why would I be angry?”
“Dunno. Maybe because I took so long to return? Or because I showed up unannounced?”
Emma said nothing.
“Bella,” she moved closer. “You know why I’m cautious. After what happened with Daniel…”
“Bella, I’ve forgiven you. Doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what you’re capable of.”
“And what am I capable of?” Coldness crept into Bella’s voice.
“You know very well.”
Silence fell between them.
“I’ve changed,” Bella said softly.
“Really?”
“Yes. These years taught me that happiness can’t be stolen. That what’s not yours stays away.”
Emma wanted to believe her, but her instincts screamed danger.
“Bella,” she said quietly. “Please. Don’t destroy what I’ve built. I have a family, a daughter…”
“Think I want to take your husband?” Bella snorted. “I’m forty-two. I’ve tired of others’ men. I want my own home, my own place in life.”
“Then find it. But not here.”
“Where else? You’re my only sister.”
Matthew entered in his robe.
“Morning, ladies,” he yawned. “What’s this talk so early?”
“Life,” Bella answered, her tone light. “Matthew, don’t forget our bank stop?”
“Right, eleven I’m free.”
Emma watched her sister smile at him – the same smile that had stolen Daniel from her.
The day stretched in unease. Matthew phoned in the afternoon, explaining delays.
“Bella asked for help with shopping. She can’t drive, and there’s too much for the bus,” he said.
“Fine,” Emma replied, though her insides churned.
They returned for dinner. Matthew was in high spirits, Bella particularly charming.
“Thank you for helping me, love,” she said as she unpacked bags. “I couldn’t have managed without you.”
“Sure, and you’re brilliant at tech. Helped me choose a new phone.”
Emma glanced at Bella.
“Bella learned in New Zealand. There you couldn’t live without it,” she explained.
At dinner, Bella regaled them with stories of her life abroad. Matthew listened, asking questions. Lily demanded more and more tales.
“Why did you return?” Matthew asked. “If it was so exciting?”
“Missed home,” Bella said. “Family. One can’t live on foreign soil forever.”
“Plans to stay?”
“Not decided yet. Depends on circumstances.”
Emma met her sister’s gaze and knew – the game had begun.
That night, Emma lay awake long after Matthew slept. His breathing was steady, but she sensed a subtle shift. He was smiling more, talking more, even humming in the shower. As if a fresh breeze had blown into his monotonous life.
She understood she was losing. Bella was doing what she did best – charming. The worst part was, Matthew didn’t even see the trap closing around him.
The next morning, Emma made a decision. After walking Lily to nursery and Matthew to work, she confronted Bella at home.
“We need to talk,” she said bluntly.
“About?” Bella sipped coffee, flipping through a magazine.
“You know exactly. Stop pretending.”
“I don’t follow,” Bella said.
“Bella, please. You know what I mean. Leave. Find another life, another man. Don’t interfere with mine.”
“Your life?” Bella looked up. “Who said I was meddling?”
“I see how you look at Matthew. I remember that look.”
“Bella, it’s just your imagination.”
“Isn’t. I know you better than you think.”
Bella closed the magazine, studying her sister.
“Fine,” she said calmly. “Assume I’m right. Assume Matthew attracts me. And what?”
“My husband is my husband!”
“Is he?” Bella smirked. “Does he know you claim him as yours?”
“Of course not…”
“What does that mean? That a man becomes yours once he wears a ring?”
“This is different…”
“Different? What do you mean? That a man is an object to be claimed? That a ring automatically binds him to you forever?”
“We love each other.”
“Sure?” Bella paused. “Then why the fear? If you love him so, what are you afraid of?”
Emma said nothing. Her sister had struck a chord.
“Emma,” Bella continued. “I’ve learned this week. Matthew is unhappy. A kind man, responsible, but deeply unhappy. He lives another life.”
“That’s not true!”
“It is. And you know it. Acknowledge it.”
“Leave now, Bella. Go.”
“I won’t,” Bella said calmly. “Because I have nowhere. Because I’ve tired of running.”
“Then I’ll tell Matthew the truth. Tell him why you came back.”
“Do. But first, answer this: what if he chooses me?”
Emma looked at Bella and knew the war had begun. And in this war, the stronger would win.
