MY SISTER HUSBAND IS MY EX

"Where are my keys?"

I checked the kitchen counter for the third time, even though I was almost certain I had left them there.

My handbag was open on the sofa, one shoe was under the coffee table, and my phone kept vibrating beside a half-finished cup of coffee.

Perfect. Just perfect.

I had barely started my morning, and I was already running late.

"Found you!"

I picked up my keys from the dining table and quickly slipped them into my handbag. After checking that I had everything, I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door.

My phone rang just as I was about to leave.

Isabella.

I smiled when I saw her name. My younger sister had a habit of calling at the most inconvenient times, but I never really minded.

"Good morning, troublemaker," I answered, locking my door behind me.

"Wow. Is that how you greet your favourite sister?"

"Do I have another sister?"

"Amelia!"

I laughed as I made my way towards the lift. "Okay, okay. Good morning, my favourite sister. What do you want?"

"Can't I call just to check on you?"

"You can, but we both know you rarely do that without a reason."

She laughed, and I could hear the excitement in her voice.

"Actually, I have something to tell you."

I pressed the lift button. "I'm listening

"I'm engaged!"

I stopped walking.

For a moment, I wasn't sure I had heard her correctly.

"Wait. What?"

"I'm engaged, Amelia!" she repeated, almost shouting. "I'm getting married!"

My mouth fell open before a smile spread across my face.

"Isabella! Are you serious?"

"Very serious!"

"Oh my goodness! Congratulations!"

"Thank you!"

I stepped into the lift, still smiling. "When did this happen? And why am I just hearing about it?"

"It happened yesterday evening. I wanted to tell you myself before Mum starts calling everybody and announcing it to the entire world."

I laughed. That sounded exactly like our mother.

"I'm happy for you, Bella. Really happy. So, who is the lucky man?"

There was a little pause.

"You'll meet him soon."

I frowned slightly. "That's all you're going to tell me?"

"Don't start. I'll tell you everything when we see each other."

"Is he treating you well?"

"Amelia, please. He's wonderful."

I could hear the smile in her voice, and something about it made me smile too. Isabella had always been expressive. When she was happy, the whole world was supposed to know.

"Well, I hope he knows how lucky he is."

"He does," she replied confidently.

I shook my head, smiling as I stepped out of the lift.

"Anyway, I have to get to work. Tell me when we're celebrating."

"That's actually why I called. Mum wants us to have dinner together on Saturday. Just the family and my fiancé."

"Saturday?"

"Yes. Please don't tell me you have work."

"I don't work on Saturdays, Bella."

"Good. Then it's settled. I'll send you the restaurant details."

"Alright. And congratulations again."

"Thank you, big sister. Love you!"

"Love you too."

The call ended, and I slipped my phone into my bag.

I stood beside my car for a moment, still thinking about the news.

Isabella was getting married.

It felt strange, in a good way. Not long ago, she was the same girl who used to borrow my clothes without asking and deny it even when I caught her wearing them.

Now she was someone's fiancée.

I couldn't wait to see her.

******

By the time I arrived at the office, I had already received three messages from Isabella.

The first was a picture of her engagement ring.

The second was a series of heart emojis.

The third simply said, Saturday. Don't be late.

I laughed to myself as I put my phone away.

My office was already busy. Samples of fabrics and wallpaper covered part of my desk, while photographs of different interior designs were pinned to the board beside it.

I loved my job. There was something satisfying about taking an empty or poorly designed space and turning it into somewhere people could feel comfortable.

I had worked hard to build my career, and I wasn't about to let a busy morning ruin it.

I settled into my chair and opened the project file I had been reviewing the previous evening.

A hotel renovation project was waiting for my final design proposal. The client wanted something elegant without making the rooms feel cold or unwelcoming.

I studied the floor plans again, made a few adjustments and wrote down some ideas.

My phone buzzed.

This time, it was Isabella sending another message.

I hope you're already planning what to wear on Saturday.

I shook my head.

Should I come in a wedding gown?

Her reply came almost immediately.

Don't tempt me. You're helping me with the wedding preparations.

I laughed.

Of course I was.

Being the eldest daughter came with certain responsibilities, and apparently, I had just been given another one.

I returned to my work, but I couldn't stop thinking about my sister's engagement. I wondered how they had met, how long they had been together and what kind of man had managed to win her heart.

Whatever the answers were, I hoped he would make her happy.

That was all I wanted for her.

****

Saturday arrived sooner than I expected.

I spent most of the morning working on a few personal tasks before finally deciding to get ready for dinner.

I stood in front of my wardrobe, staring at the clothes hanging inside.

"Why is choosing an outfit suddenly so difficult?"

I pulled out a navy-blue dress and held it against myself.

Simple. Elegant. Perfect.

After getting dressed, I fixed my hair, picked up my handbag and checked my appearance one last time in the mirror.

My phone rang.

"Where are you?" Isabella asked immediately.

I glanced at the time.

"I'm getting ready. Relax."

"Please don't take forever. Mum is already on her way."

"I'm leaving soon."

"Good. And Amelia?"

"Yes?"

"I'm really happy you're coming tonight."

Her voice softened, and I smiled.

"Of course I'm coming, Bella. I wouldn't miss it."

"Love you!"

"Love you too."

I ended the call, picked up my keys and headed out.

The restaurant was a little farther than I expected, and traffic slowed me down along the way. By the time I arrived, I was nearly twenty minutes late.

I hurried inside and gave the receptionist my sister's name.

"Miss Carter? Your family is already seated. Please follow me."

I adjusted my handbag on my shoulder and followed her through the restaurant.

As we approached the table, I spotted Isabella first. She was practically glowing, and our mother sat beside her, looking just as pleased.

I smiled and began walking towards them.

Then I noticed the empty chair beside my sister.

Someone was supposed to be sitting there.

I looked up at the man standing behind it.

Isabella turned towards me, her smile growing wider.

"Amelia! Finally. Come here. There's someone I want you to meet."

And just like that, I realised this dinner was going to be more interesting than I had expected.

"Amelia! You're finally here!"

Isabella practically jumped out of her seat when she saw me approaching the table.

I barely had time to put my handbag down before she wrapped her arms around me.

"Easy, Bella. I haven't disappeared for five years," I said, laughing.

"You're late!"

I pulled away and looked at her. "Good evening to you too."

"Don't mind her," Mum said, adjusting the napkin on her lap. "I've been listening to her complain about your lateness since we arrived."

I turned towards Mum and kissed her cheek.

"Good evening, Mum."

"Good evening, darling. You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

I pulled out the empty chair beside Isabella and sat down.

"I'm sorry. The traffic was terrible."

Isabella folded her arms. "You always have an excuse."

"Would you have preferred I left my car in the middle of the road and walked here?"

She tried to maintain a serious expression, but it didn't last.

"Just order something and stop talking."

I laughed, picking up the menu.

"See? This is why I don't tell you people anything. Nobody appreciates my efforts."

"Your efforts?" Mum repeated, laughing. "You should have seen her face when I told her you were already on your way."

"What did I do?"

"Nothing. You just kept checking the entrance every two minutes."

Isabella turned towards Mum. "Mummy, why are you exposing me?"

"Because you won't allow me to enjoy my food in peace."

I laughed again.

It felt good being around them. Work had been keeping me busy lately, and even though I spoke to Isabella almost every day, there was a difference between hearing her voice over the phone and actually sitting across from her.

I looked at her again.

"So, Mrs Future Bride, where is this lucky man?"

She immediately smiled.

"He stepped out to take a call. He'll be back soon."

I raised an eyebrow. "Already taking business calls on his engagement dinner?"

"It's not an engagement dinner," she corrected. "It's just a family dinner."

"Whatever you want to call it."

"He has a busy schedule," Mum added. "But he's been very respectful to us."

I glanced at her.

"Have you met him before today?"

Mum gave me a look.

"Of course I have, Amelia. Do you think your sister would get engaged without introducing him to her mother?"

I laughed. "I'm only asking."

"Your sister has been talking about him for weeks," Mum continued. "Sometimes I wonder if she remembers she has other people in her life."

"Mummy!"

"What? Am I lying?"

Isabella reached for her glass of water.

"Please, both of you. Can we talk about something else?"

I leaned closer to her.

"Not until you tell me how you met him."

She sighed dramatically.

"Fine. We met at a charity event last year. I went with Grace, and he was there with some business associates. We got talking, exchanged numbers and started seeing each other."

"And you kept all this from me?"

"I didn't keep it from you. I just didn't want to tell you until I knew where things were going."

I nodded.

"That's understandable."

"Besides, I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, you certainly succeeded."

She smiled proudly.

I studied her face for a moment. Isabella had always been the more expressive one between us. She could talk for hours about something that made her happy, and when she liked someone, it was usually written all over her face.

Right now, she looked genuinely happy.

I hoped nothing would change that.

"So, what's he like?" I asked.

Her smile widened.

"He's caring. He's hardworking. He listens to me, even when I'm being annoying."

I laughed. "That's a very brave man."

"Amelia!"

"What? I'm just being honest."

Mum chuckled.

Isabella ignored me and continued.

"He's also very thoughtful. He remembers little things I tell him. Sometimes, I don't even realise he has been paying attention until he does something that shows he remembers."

I watched her speak.

It wasn't just excitement. There was something deeper in her expression.

"And you're sure about him?" I asked.

She looked straight at me.

"I'm sure."

I reached for her hand.

"Then I'm happy for you."

Her expression softened.

"Thank you. I really wanted you to be here tonight."

I squeezed her hand.

"You know I wouldn't miss it."

A waiter approached our table, asking if we were ready to order. We placed our orders, and Isabella immediately returned to talking about her fiancé.

Apparently, he liked travelling, preferred quiet evenings to crowded parties and wasn't particularly fond of people who asked too many questions.

I looked at her.

"So, basically, you've found yourself a man who doesn't like questions, and you've decided to marry him?"

She burst out laughing.

"Stop it!"

"I'm only trying to understand the situation."

"He's not like that. He just likes his privacy."

Mum shook her head.

"Amelia, leave your sister alone. You've been questioning this poor man without even meeting him."

"I'm preparing him for the family."

"Please, don't scare him away before he gets here," Isabella said.

I laughed and returned my attention to the menu.

A few minutes later, Mum asked about my work.

"How is that hotel project coming along?"

I brightened slightly.

"It's going well. I'm almost done with the design proposal. The client wants something elegant, but they don't want the place to feel too formal."

"That's good. You've always enjoyed doing this."

"I do. It's challenging, but I like seeing the difference between what a place looks like before and after the work is done."

Isabella looked at me.

"You should show me some of your designs. I still want you to help me with the house after the wedding."

I laughed.

"Are you hiring me or just planning to get free work from your sister?"

"Both."

"Unbelievable."

Mum smiled. "At least you girls still find ways to argue."

"She's the one who started it," Isabella said.

"Of course," I replied. "It's never your fault."

Our food arrived shortly afterwards, and the conversation moved to wedding preparations.

Isabella was already thinking about colours, flowers, the guest list and the kind of dress she wanted.

"I'm thinking of something simple but elegant," she explained.

I looked at her.

"Simple? You?"

She threw a piece of tissue at me.

"I'm serious!"

"So am I. The last time you said you wanted something simple, you sent me twenty-seven pictures."

Mum laughed so hard she had to put down her glass.

"That's true. I remember."

"Those were different styles," Isabella defended.

"Twenty-seven different styles?" I asked.

"Amelia, please eat your food."

I smiled and took another bite.

It was easy to forget how much I missed moments like this. The three of us laughing, arguing over little things and talking about the future.

Then Mum's expression changed slightly.

"Your father would have been very happy to see this day."

The smile on Isabella's face softened.

"I know, Mum."

I looked down at my plate for a moment.

Dad had been gone for years, but there were still certain occasions when his absence felt particularly noticeable. He had always been protective of us, especially Isabella.

"He would probably have interrogated the poor man before allowing him to propose," I said.

Mum laughed quietly.

"Interrogated? Your father would have wanted to know his entire family history."

"Exactly," Isabella said. "And he would have followed him around for the next six months."

We laughed, but I noticed Mum's eyes had become a little distant.

I reached across the table and touched her hand.

"He would be proud of us, Mum."

She nodded.

"I hope so, darling."

For a few moments, none of us said anything.

Then Isabella suddenly clapped her hands.

"Okay! Enough emotional moments. I want to enjoy my engagement dinner."

I laughed.

"Look at you. You brought us here and now you're giving us instructions."

"Because somebody has to keep this family organised."

"Since when?"

"Since today."

Mum shook her head, smiling.

I was about to respond when Isabella glanced towards the entrance.

"Oh, he's back!"

She quickly checked her hair and adjusted the sleeve of her dress.

I looked at her and laughed.

"Why are you suddenly nervous?"

"I'm not nervous."

"You just checked your hair three times."

"Amelia!"

I raised both hands.

"Alright. I'll behave."

A moment later, I heard footsteps approaching our table.

"Sorry I'm late," a man's voice said.

"No problem," Mum replied politely.

Isabella stood up, her face lighting up as he approached.

"You took forever," she complained playfully.

"I told you I had an important call."

"You always have an important call."

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

"I'm here now, aren't I?"

She smiled and took his hand.

I watched them for a moment.

They looked comfortable together.

I watched them for a moment.

I smiled politely as I watched Isabella lean closer to him, laughing at something he had whispered.

"Amelia, this is the person I've been telling you about," she said excitedly.

I straightened in my seat.

"It's nice to finally meet-"

My words stopped.

The man turned towards me.

And suddenly, the restaurant seemed much quieter.

I stared at his face, unable to understand why my mind was refusing to accept what my eyes were seeing.

The familiar eyes.

The sharp jawline.

The expression I had spent years trying to forget.

No.

It couldn't be him.

My fingers tightened around my glass.

He looked just as shocked, although he recovered faster than I did.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Isabella laughed.

Isabella looked from him to me, her smile slowly fading.

"Wait, what's going on? Why are you two staring at each other like that?"

I quickly looked away, reaching for my glass of water.

"Nothing," I said, forcing a small smile.

But nothing was further from the truth.

Because the man sitting beside my sister was someone I had spent five years trying to forget.

And now, he was going to become part of my family.

For a few seconds, nobody said anything.

I could hear the soft music playing in the restaurant, the clinking of glasses from nearby tables and Isabella happily adjusting the flowers in the middle of the table.

But all I could focus on was the man sitting beside my sister.

Nathaniel Reed.

Of all the people in the world, it had to be him.

Five years.

Five whole years since I had last seen his face. Five years since he walked out of my life without giving me a proper explanation. And now he was sitting across from me, looking as though we were meeting for the first time.

I tightened my fingers around my glass.

"Amelia?" Isabella called.

I blinked and looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You've barely said anything since he came back."

I forced a smile. "I'm just tired. Work has been stressful."

Isabella nodded, apparently satisfied with my answer.

"Well, you need to relax. You can't spend your whole life working. That's why I keep telling you to take a break."

I almost laughed.

Coming from someone who had called me three times that morning because she couldn't decide what colour shoes to wear for dinner, that advice was something else.

"Not everyone has the luxury of taking breaks whenever they want," I replied.

"Here we go again." Isabella rolled her eyes playfully. "Mum, please tell your daughter that life is not all about work."

Mum chuckled as she picked up her glass.

"Your sister has always been like that. Even when she was younger, she would rather finish her schoolwork before coming out to play."

"Because someone had to be responsible in this family," I said.

"Are you saying I'm not responsible?" Isabella asked, placing a hand on her chest.

"I didn't say that."

"But you meant it."

I shook my head, and for the first time that evening, my smile felt a little real.

Nathaniel remained quiet, watching the exchange.

I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to look in his direction.

"Anyway," Isabella said, turning towards him, "I don't think I've properly introduced you both."

My stomach tightened.

She reached for his hand, her face lighting up.

"Amelia, this is Nathaniel Reed. My fiancé."

There it was.

As if I hadn't already known.

Nathaniel finally spoke.

"It's nice to meet you, Amelia."

I looked at him.

His voice was still the same. Calm, deep and controlled. It was a voice I remembered far too well.

He held out his hand.

For a moment, I simply stared at it.

Then I forced myself to reach across the table.

"Nice to meet you too, Nathaniel."

His fingers closed around mine briefly.

Neither of us smiled.

But I noticed the slight change in his expression. It was almost impossible to catch, just a small tightening around his eyes.

He remembered.

Of course he remembered.

"Good," Isabella said happily, completely missing the tension. "Now that you've finally met, I can stop worrying about you two getting along."

I pulled my hand back and reached for my glass.

"There's nothing to worry about," I said.

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair.

"I hope so."

I looked at him sharply.

He picked up his glass as if he hadn't said anything unusual.

"Can we order now?" Mum asked, glancing at the menu. "I'm getting hungry."

"Finally!" Isabella exclaimed. "I've been waiting for someone to say that."

The waiter came over, and everyone began choosing their meals. Isabella couldn't decide between two dishes, so she turned to Nathaniel for help.

"Which one do you think I should get?"

He glanced at the menu.

"The pasta. You said you wanted to try it."

Isabella's face brightened.

"You remembered!"

"Of course."

She smiled at him, and he returned a small smile.

I looked down at my menu.

It was strange watching him do the little things I once knew so well.

The way he listened when someone spoke. The way he remembered small details. The way he rarely smiled but somehow managed to make Isabella feel special when he did.

I wondered if he still took his coffee without sugar.

I wondered if he still stayed up late working.

I wondered why I was even wondering.

"Amelia, what are you having?" Mum asked.

I glanced at the menu without really reading it.

"Just the grilled chicken."

"Are you sure? You haven't eaten properly all day," she said.

"I'm sure, Mum."

Isabella leaned towards me. "You know, Nathaniel is actually very thoughtful. He even remembered my favourite dessert from the first week we started dating."

"That's nice," I replied.

"Just nice?" she teased. "You should be happy for me."

"I am happy for you, Bella."

And I meant it.

At least, I wanted to.

She squeezed my hand across the table.

"I know you are. That's why I wanted you here tonight."

Mum smiled. "Your sister has always been your biggest supporter."

I nodded, unable to find the right words.

Nathaniel looked at me again.

"Family is important," he said quietly.

Something about the way he said it made me want to laugh.

Family.

The same family he once blamed for everything that went wrong between us.

I took a sip of water instead.

Dinner continued, mostly with Isabella doing the talking. She told us how she and Nathaniel had met at a charity event, how he had helped her when she accidentally spilled a drink on her dress, and how they had started seeing each other afterwards.

I listened without interrupting.

"Wait," I said eventually, looking at her. "You spilled a drink on his shirt?"

Isabella covered her face.

"Don't remind me. I wanted the ground to swallow me."

Nathaniel gave a quiet chuckle.

"She apologised about ten times."

"Because your shirt was expensive!"

"It was just a shirt."

"An expensive shirt," she repeated.

Mum laughed, and I managed another small smile.

For a moment, it almost felt like an ordinary family dinner.

Almost.

Then Isabella reached into her handbag and brought out a small envelope.

"I have something to show you both."

"What is it?" Mum asked.

Isabella grinned and handed her the envelope.

"Open it."

Mum pulled out a printed card. Her eyes moved across the words, and her face slowly lit up.

"Oh, Isabella!"

"What?" I asked.

"Look at this!"

She passed the card to me.

I looked down.

It was a wedding invitation.

My eyes moved over the names printed in elegant gold lettering.

Isabella Carter and Nathaniel Reed.

Below their names was a date.

I read it once.

Then again.

Three weeks.

Their wedding was in three weeks.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Isabella asked, practically bouncing in her seat.

I looked up at her.

"Three weeks?"

She nodded excitedly.

"We wanted to keep it simple, but you know how these things are. There are so many arrangements to make."

"Three weeks is not much time," Mum said, looking between them.

"I know, but we've already discussed most of the important things."

I stared at the invitation again.

Three weeks.

I hadn't even had time to understand how my sister had ended up with the man I once loved, and now they were getting married.

"Amelia?" Isabella called softly.

I lifted my head.

She was smiling at me, but there was something hopeful in her eyes.

"I want you to be my maid of honour."

I stopped breathing for a moment.

"Me?"

"Of course, you! Who else would I want standing beside me?"

Mum nodded approvingly.

"That's a lovely idea."

I looked at Isabella. She was genuinely happy. She had no idea what she was asking of me.

I wanted to tell her everything.

I wanted to ask Nathaniel why he was here, why he had returned, and why he was looking at me as though the past had never happened.

But I couldn't do any of that.

Not here.

Not in front of my mother and my sister.

I swallowed.

"I'll think about it."

Isabella's smile faded slightly.

"Think about it? Amelia, you're my sister."

"I know, Bella. I just need a little time."

She studied my face before nodding.

"Okay. But I'm counting on you."

Nathaniel finally spoke.

"I think Amelia would make a wonderful maid of honour."

I turned towards him.

He was looking directly at me.

"Don't you agree?" he added.

I held his gaze.

"I think that's something Amelia should decide for herself."

His expression didn't change, but his eyes did.

Before I could respond, Isabella's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and stood up.

"I need to take this. I'll be right back."

She walked a little distance away from the table.

Mum took the opportunity to ask Nathaniel about his work. He answered politely, explaining that Reed Developments had several projects underway.

I barely heard a word.

My attention was on the invitation lying in front of me.

Then a shadow fell across the table.

I looked up.

Nathaniel was standing beside my chair.

"Can we talk?" he asked quietly.

I glanced towards Mum, who was busy looking through the wedding invitation.

"There's nothing for us to talk about."

He lowered his voice.

"Not here, Amelia."

I stood slowly, trying to keep my expression calm.

"Then we have nothing to discuss."

I walked away from the table before he could answer.

I had barely reached the quiet hallway when I heard his footsteps behind me.

"Amelia."

I stopped but didn't turn around.

"What do you want, Nathaniel?"

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he spoke.

"I didn't know Isabella was your sister."

I turned to face him.

"Does that change anything?"

His jaw tightened.

"No."

"Then congratulations. I hope you both have a wonderful marriage."

I tried to walk past him, but his next words stopped me.

"There's something you don't know about what happened between our families five years ago."

My heart began to beat faster.

"What are you talking about?"

He looked at me, his expression suddenly serious.

Your father wasn't the only person who lost something when that partnership fell apart."

I stared at him.

Before I could ask another question, he added:

"And if you knew what your family had hidden from mine, you wouldn't be standing here wishing me a happy marriage."

I couldn't move.

For five years, I had believed Nathaniel left because he stopped loving me.

But suddenly, I wasn't sure I had ever known the whole story.

And the man my sister was about to marry seemed to know something about my father that even I didn't.