Love in the ER

CHAPTER 35

The morning sun streamed through the windows as Oliver arrived at the Salameda estate. His heart felt heavy with the conversation he knew he needed to have with his father, but first, he wanted to check on Sofia. He hadn't seen her since the previous night when Paris had told him everything about Rodrigo's hurtful confrontation.

As he made his way through the familiar halls of his family's home, Oliver was filled with a mix of frustration and guilt. Paris didn't deserve to be treated like that, and it was time for him to make it clear to his father that she was a part of his life, no matter what Rodrigo thought. But before that, he needed to see his little sister.

When he reached Sofia's room, he knocked softly and peeked inside. She was sitting up in bed, a stack of books on her lap, her face pale but her eyes lighting up the moment she saw him.

"Oli!" Sofia croaked, her voice still weak but filled with excitement.

Oliver smiled warmly as he entered the room, crossing over to sit beside her on the edge of the bed. "Hey, Sofi. How are you feeling?"

Sofia shrugged, giving him a small, tired smile. "Better, I guess. Paris has been taking good care of me. She's the best."

Oliver's heart softened at the mention of Paris. Despite everything, Paris had been there for Sofia, showing how much she cared, even while she was struggling with Rodrigo's disapproval. "Yeah, she's pretty great, isn't she?" Oliver replied softly, brushing a strand of hair out of Sofia's face.

Sofia nodded, her expression growing a bit more serious. "I miss you, though."

Oliver blinked in surprise, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean? I'm right here, Sofi."

"No, I mean, I miss you being here, at home," Sofia said quietly, her eyes dropping to her lap. "Ever since you moved out... it feels like you're not around anymore. It's just me and Mom and Dad." She paused, biting her lip. "And it's not the same without you."

Oliver felt a pang of guilt. Sofia had always been close to him, and moving out had been hard for both of them. But with everything going on with Denise and the baby, he had felt it was best to have some space from the constant pressure of his family—especially his father. He hadn't realized how much his absence had affected his sister.

"I'm sorry, Sofi," Oliver said softly, his heart aching at the sadness in her voice. "I didn't mean to make you feel like I wasn't around. I've just... had a lot going on lately. But that doesn't mean I don't miss you too. I'll try to visit more, I promise."

Sofia nodded, her eyes shining with emotion. "I know you're busy, but... I just miss having you here. You're my big brother."

Oliver smiled, wrapping his arms around Sofia and hugging her gently. "I'm always your big brother, Sofi. That'll never change."

Sofia sniffled a little, hugging him back tightly. "Just don't forget about me, okay?"

Oliver chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I could never forget about you."

As he held his sister, he felt a renewed sense of determination. His family was important to him, but so was Paris, and it was time he made that clear to his father. He couldn't let Rodrigo's disapproval create even more distance between him and the people he loved.