Chapter 2

NILA

"You’re late again," I said as my sister, Amira, walked into my bedroom. I had finished dressing ten minutes ago and had been waiting for her.

I turned to pick up my phone when something jumped at me. I didn’t feel threatened—I knew it was just Amira, who lounged around at home all day. She preferred to say she was ‘taking a vacation at home’ rather than admit she was jobless. Sometimes I wondered if this was what I had labored for years to achieve.

"Sorry, sis," she said with a smile, plopping down on the bed.

I smiled back, knowing she wasn't truly remorseful. She would pout and grin instead of apologizing properly, and I always forgave her. She was my only family, after all, and her cuteness always soothed my anger. I could never stay mad at Amira for long.

"What were you doing at home that made you so late?" I asked as I stood up from the chair. "Did you stay up all night binge-watching reality TV?"

She sighed. "Yes, but that's not the point, Nila. I already said I was sorry."

"Saying sorry alone doesn’t cut it. You know you still have a lot to learn despite how long we've been doing this."

"Yes, mum," she rolled her eyes dramatically.

I chuckled. "You naughty girl. I feel like smacking you." I raised my hand as if I was going to do that.

"Oh! Don't, Nila." She giggled, bending to avoid a smack that was never going to come.

"Get up and let's go," I told her, heading to the door. "How many times do I have to tell you that the first lesson is always to be alert, but you never listen? A driver is always punctual."

She groaned as she stepped outside after me and I knew she was rolling her eyes as well. "Are you going to lecture me all day or are you actually going to teach me how to drive?"

"Both." I chuckled. "You should have thought well of it before you asked me to be your driving instructor."

"Trust me, I already regret asking you. I would have asked a professional if I had the money."

"Are you trying to call me unprofessional?" I laughed. "And you should have gotten a job if you knew you wanted to learn from a so-called professional."

She snorted, squeezing her nose up in distaste the way she usually did when anyone suggested she get a job.

"You know I can't keep a job."

"Find a job that you love, Amira, it's not that hard." I sighed as I opened the car and slid into the driver's seat.

She snorted as she got in beside me. "How can I love something that has the words ‘job and work’ in it? No one in this entire universe loves their jobs, Nila."

"I do," I said, turning to her as I backed out of the garage. "I love my job."

"Of course you do, your husband is a billionaire, and you are a nerd," she stated plainly.

"Don't say that. There must be something you love that you can turn into a career."

"Looking pretty," she smiled.

"Then start a vlog and become a lifestyle influencer. You can give tips on looking pretty, staying in shape, and achieving the perfect lip combo. Doesn't that sound interesting?" I smiled back at her.

She groaned. "Ugh! You’re so boring, Nila."

"And you are not ambitious at all, Amira," I groaned.

"Why should I be? I have my tech genius sister and her super wealthy and freakishly hot husband. I don't have to be ambitious, Nila. I just have to find a husband as rich as Silas, and then I won't have to worry about anything else in my life."

"Amira." I gasped. "Are you sure you are my sister?" I asked, my eyes widening as I turned to look at her.

She snorted. "You've always known that we are two different beings."

"And I had hoped we weren't too different."

"Ugh, give me a break Nila, but do you think you can match make me with any of Silas' friends?" She asked, turning in her seat to look at me.

I shook my head. She was never going to listen. I hoped I was finally going to change her mind though. I knew she didn't work but never had an idea that she didn't want to.

"I'm not sure whether they would like you. I still think it's better for you to work."

"They will. Even if I'm not as smart as you are, I am still very capable and pretty."

I winced. I hate it anytime I heard her say that.

"It's time to get you behind the wheel," I said as I drove into our training ground, grateful to be able to change the topic.

"Will you be fine?" I asked, looking at her closely. Deep down, I knew the real question was whether we would be alright.

She turned to me with a smirk. "Don't be like that, Nila. This is not my first rodeo."

Right. I knew that, but I couldn't help being worried. Amira had had seven lessons before today, but she was learning at a pace that I could be proud of.

"Do I need to go over the basics with you again?" I breathed, unable to keep the worry out of my voice. "The brake is–“

She cut me off by starting the car with a roar. “Ugh! Nila, you worry too much. You need to trust your students more,” she said with a grin. She smoothly turned the car and began moving in a slow, controlled circular manner, just as I had taught her.

"Can you see that I am doing well?" She gushed as she drove, turning momentarily to glance at me. "Did you see how I did that turning? Isn't that impressive?"

"It is." I nodded, my eyes on the road, so I could correct her quickly if she was trying to make an error.

"Can't you be more enthusiastic about this?" She sighed.

"Have you ever seen a teacher look enthusiastic during a test?" I scolded her. "Focus on the wheels, Amira." I reminded her.

"Yes, teacher." She replied.

I knew she meant to sound sarcastic but didn't care. My heart was up in my throat and I didn't think it was going to come down anytime soon.

She drove well, and I was about to commend her when she suddenly went off track and reversed.

"What is going on?" I asked, my eyes lighting up with worry.

"This is boring. How can I still be driving on an empty road after all these lessons?" She sulked.

This better not be what I think it is. "Amira, I hope it's not what I'm thinking."

She gave me a sly grin. "It's exactly what you are thinking," she said as she pressed the accelerator.

"Don't do that," I screamed at her, but I might as well be screaming at a wall.

She whistled low under her breath as she backed out of the empty parking lot and drove straight onto the main road.

I went white as a ghost even though she was driving carefully. I didn't think she was ready yet for this exploration. We hadn't attached a 'learner' sticker to the car as I didn't think she would want to drive where experienced drivers were.

"Could you please relax now, Nila?" She scowled as she turned to me. "Can't you see how well I’m doing?"

I could see that she was. I started to relax, thinking maybe she could do this. Those driving lessons seemed to be finally paying off.

"You are actually doing well," I breathed.

"See?" She smiled and turned to me.

"Amira, watch out," I screamed, pointing at the road.

It had been a split second that she took her eyes away from the road, but it was enough to cause havoc. A motorcycle dashed onto the road at an alarming speed and Amira squealed in horror and fear as she tried to maneuver the brakes.

My world went dark as the motorcycle crashed to the ground, the sound of screeching tires and crunching metal filling the air. Adrenaline surged through me as I tried to react, but it was too late.

As I lay there, my vision began to blur and my thoughts grew hazy. I could hear Amira's cries of pain and tried to respond, but my voice was barely a whisper.

The world around me dimmed until everything went black.

"Silas," I whispered, feeling the tears slide down my cheeks as I lost consciousness