Page 98 of Bought By Santa

“Ruby…” I begin, my voice lower, more measured. “About your marriage. I can get you out, make it disappear. You don’t have to stay with Michael.”

Her eyes flash with something fierce, a strength that’s always been there, just beneath the surface. But there’s something else too—a defiance that I recognize all too well. “No, Nick. I’m done with handouts. I’ll deal with my life on my own terms from now on.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. She’s always been strong, but there’s a finality in her voice, a determination that leaves no room for argument. It’s a moment of clarity, a glimpse of the woman she’s become—no longer the little sister I need to protect, but a force of her own.

I nod slowly, swallowing the urge to argue. “I respect that.”

Jack shifts in his bed, wincing slightly as he adjusts the pillows behind him. His voice is quieter now, more thoughtful. “So, the old man finally paid the price. Guess the family curse got him too.”

The Knight family superstition, the one that’s haunted us since we were kids—three heirs to secure the future, because only one survives. It’s a dark joke, one we’ve always half-believed, and now it feels more real than ever.

Jack grins, though it’s a shadow of his usual smile. “Well, I guess I’ve already died once, so I’m in the clear.”

“Don’t joke about that,” Ruby snaps, her voice sharper than usual. She’s always hated the superstition, hated the idea that our fates were somehow cursed before we were even born.

Jack shrugs, but there’s a sadness in his eyes that he can’t hide. “Just trying to lighten the mood, sis.”

Since my siblings aren’t asking questions about what Dad did or didn’t do, I decide not to elaborate. If they ask, I’ll answer. But if not… why taint them?

I clear my throat, trying to shift the conversation away from the darkness that’s settled over us. “There’s something else we need to discuss. Dad’s estate.”

Ruby’s eyes darken at the mention, her expression hardening. Jack just looks tired, like the mere thought of it drains him of what little energy he has left. I can’t blame them. The estate is a place filled with nothing but bad memories and ghosts of the past.

“As the eldest, it all belongs to me now,” I continue, the weight of tradition pressing down on my shoulders. “But I want your input.”

“I don’t want anything from that place,” Ruby says quickly, her voice cold and final. “I don’t care if you burn it to the ground.”

Jack nods in agreement. “She’s right, Nick. That place is cursed. There’s nothing good there.”

I knew they’d say that, but hearing it still stings. The estate is more than just a house—it’s a symbol of everything we’ve inherited, for better or worse. But I also know that Carolina and I need to move in there. It’s tradition, and in our world, tradition isn’t something you can just ignore.

“I understand,” I say quietly. “But Carolina and I... we’ll have to move in. It’s what’s expected.”

Ruby looks at me with a mixture of pity and anger. “You don’t have to, Nick. You can break the cycle.”

“Maybe,” I reply, though the words feel hollow. “But some things are bigger than us. I’ll figure out what to do with the place.” I’ll have to talk to Carolina about it later, figure out how we can turn that cursed place into something we can live with—if that’s even possible.

The silence after our discussion about the estate is thick, laden with the unspoken weight of our shared history. We’ve always been bound by blood, by the legacy of the Knight family, but tonight, something’s shifted. I can feel it, in the way Ruby’s eyes flicker with a new resolve, in the way Jack seems more distant, more resigned.

Ruby is the first to break the silence. She adjusts her position in that dark room, the glow from her phone still casting shadows on her face. There’s a subtle change in her posture, a confidence that wasn’t there before. “Nick, you know, for the longest time, I’ve been running… from everything. But I’m tired of running. I’ve made my decision. I’m going to face my life, my way.”

There’s a knot in my chest that tightens with every word.

Though I’ve always done my best to protect my sister, I know I’ve fallen short many times. But now, she’s stepping out on her own, and as much as it hurts, I know she needs to do this. “I understand, Ruby. Just know that I’m always here if you need me.”

She smiles, but it’s tinged with sadness. “I know. But it’s time I stand on my own.”

Jack shifts in his hospital bed, the lines of pain etched deep into his face. He’s been through hell, and it shows. His voice is softer, more reflective than I’ve ever heard it. “I guess we all have our paths to walk. Just make sure you don’t lose yourself along the way, Ruby. Don’t let this world chew you up like it did Dad.”

Her jaw tightens, and for a moment, I see a flicker of the old anger that used to drive her. But then she softens, her voice gentle but firm. “I won’t, Jack. I’m not Dad, and I’m not going to let his mistakes define me.”

Jack nods, and I can see the approval in his eyes, but it’s laced with a bittersweet understanding. “Good. We’ve had enough of that.”

There’s a beat of silence, the three of us lost in our own thoughts, our own memories of what we’ve endured to get here. Being a Knight has always been a heavy burden, and tonight, it feels like we’re finally starting to shed some of that weight.

But even as we find closure in these moments, there’s an unspoken acknowledgment between us. We’ve been through too much together to walk away clean. We’re all marked by the same blood, the same pain, and while we might be heading in different directions, those marks will always tie us back to each other, even if we never say it aloud.

Jack’s voice breaks the silence again, but this time it’s lighter, almost teasing. “You know, Nick, if you’re moving into the old man’s place, you better make sure you don’t let it turn you into him.”

---