A Surprising Twist of Fates (Sierra and Theo)

Chater 9 Sierra spun around quickly, startled to see Theo standing behind her. She hadn't even noticed when he'd arrived.

"Uncle Theo, what are you doing here?"

His sharp eyes took in her tear-streaked face and red-rimmed eyes. In a deep, steady voice, he asked, "Who upset you?"

"No one. I just got something in my eye," Sierra stammered, her tone flustered as she hurried to explain.

She raised her hand to wipe her tears, but the motion tugged at her injury, and she gasped sharply in pain. The wound on her arm reopened earlier when Sophie had deliberately squeezed it.

Before she could react, a hand holding a tissue appeared in front of her. Theo had already stepped closer, so close that they stood toe-to-toe. Without a word, he wiped the tears from her face.

Sierra's heart tightened, and her body went rigid. The sudden closeness was overwhelming, and the faint, cool scent of pine on him filled her senses.

Even this gesture—his hand brushing against her skin as he wiped her tears—felt far too intimate.

"Uncle Theo, I can do it myself," she protested softly, taking a small step back.

She reached out to take the tissue from him, but before she could, Theo caught her hand.

quietly. "Do you want to lose the

seeping into her skin, and she could feel the

the tears from her face, his gaze lingering on her swollen eyes and damp lashes. His lips pressed into

Benson who upset

deep, penetrating gaze, and quickly shook her head. "No. Really, I just got some sand

to lie to me, at least come up with a better excuse. Where would sand even

sliced through her clumsy attempt

her lip tightly. She didn't want to talk about what had happened between her and Benson, especially not with Theo. After all,

him, wouldn't he just end up taking

private matter. I don't want to talk about it," she said after

if I

closing the distance between them

surface of a deep lake untouched by wind. But there was an unshakable

still held securely in Theo's grip, and his tall frame loomed over herm enveloping her completely. It was as though she

maintain boundaries with others, but Theo's deliberate step forward had crossed every unspoken

called him "Uncle Theo", the truth was, he was only five years

hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to remain composed. "Uncle Theo, I respect