The Distance Between Us was His Closeness with His Sister

Verity’s POV

At that moment, it felt like something caved in inside my chest.

From the time we got home until now, Tucker never once mentioned the bank card.

Instead, he talked about my dad pushing us to have a baby.

But he obviously doesn’t love me!

So to him, was a child never about love—just something to appease my dad?

I felt short of breath and pushed Tucker away without thinking.

He paused, clearly startled, then his brows knitted together.

“What’s wrong?”

I’d never turned him down before—not even when I wasn’t feeling well. This was the first time.

I took a breath. My throat felt tight. “I’m on my period. I’m uncomfortable.”

He contradicted me almost immediately.

“That can’t be right. I’ve counted—your period shouldn’t be today.”

I couldn’t stop myself from letting out a quiet laugh.

It was shallow but laced with a sarcasm even I couldn’t suppress.

“It hasn’t been regular for two months already.”

I looked at him, my voice soft. “You remember it that clearly?”

He went quiet for a second, clearly in the wrong.

But it never occurred to him that my cycle was irregular because I’d been pregnant back then. Seeing I wasn’t interested, he didn’t push it. He simply reached out and pulled me back into his arms.

The gesture was casual—firm enough that refusal wasn’t really an option.

“Then get some sleep.”

His breathing slowly evened out.

I stayed awake, staring at the dark ceiling as tears silently soaked into the pillow.

I was painfully aware that for Kelsey’s sake, he didn’t even seem to be considering a divorce—and was still thinking about having a child with me.

But Tucker… we’re not having kids.

The next morning, he was already gone when I woke up. I still had a lot to take care of.

Documents were spread all over the table: housing for the Canada study program, visas, partner schools, health insurance. Every detail needed my personal confirmation.

Just six more days.

Then I could start over.

That was when my phone started vibrating.

The moment I answered, a panicked voice came rushing through.

“Verity! You need to get here now! Tucker’s back on the track!”

My head rang.

“What?”

“He entered an underground rally race. Someone set him up! Water was dumped on the track—the car lost control and flipped! Everything’s chaos right now!”

I barely registered the rest.

The ringing in my ears surged. My vision washed out white. The steering wheel shook in my hands.

I don’t even remember hanging up. I just remember slamming the gas, the car shooting forward.

I’d always known how dangerous racing was.

In the early years, when Tucker had no money and no name, rally racing was his only shot.

Prize money. Sponsorships. A way up. He was betting his life on the wheel.

But later, after he started his company, things stabilized.

He’d promised me back then.

“Honey, if you’re worried, I’ll quit.”

He’d said it so confidently, smiling, ruffling my hair.

And now, today, he’d gone back without telling me.

The car sped down the road, but my hands felt ice-cold.

A fear so intense it felt suffocating rose up inside me.

When I arrived, I could see the chaos from far away.

Crooked caution tape. Shouting crowds.

I didn’t even stop to ask what had happened; my eyes locked onto the overturned race car by the track.

The frame was mangled. The door was jammed.

In that instant, only one thought remained in me.

‘Is he going to die?’

Even if we were on the verge of divorce, the moment I saw that familiar car, I knew I couldn’t stay detached.

That was someone I had once loved deeply.

I forced my way through the crowd, stumbled to the car, and dropped to my knees.

“Tucker!”

My voice shook as I grabbed the warped door, trying desperately to pull it open.

Someone tried to stop me. “Verity, calm down! Rescue is already on the way—”

But I couldn’t hear them.

All I saw was the blood smeared across the driver’s seat, terrified it wouldn’t stop.

My knee slammed into the gravel. Pain shot through me.

But I didn’t care.

I worked with several staff members, prying at the door with everything we had.

The metal sliced my fingers. Blood mixed with sweat.

Finally, we heard a click.

The door gave way.

I held my breath and leaned in to take a look.

But my entire body froze in place.

Tucker was slumped in the driver’s seat, barely conscious, his forehead covered in blood.

But his body was twisted protectively to one side.

In his arms, he was shielding someone…

It was Kelsey.

He’d pulled her into the safer position. Her head rested against his shoulder. She looked pale, but there were no obvious injuries.

Tucker’s back, meanwhile, had taken the full force of the impact.

At that moment, it felt like someone had ripped my chest open.

The sound of the ambulance came closer and closer, piercing and irritating.

The medics moved quickly, efficiently, loading them onto stretchers.

I stood there, as if nailed to the spot.

I was unsure whether to follow—or turn around and leave.

In the end, I took a shaky breath, turned around clumsily, got into my car, and followed the ambulance to the hospital.

The doctor gave the update soon after.

“The accident wasn’t severe. Mr. Afton has a mild concussion and some external injuries. It was close, but he was lucky.”

“As for the woman, she also has a mild concussion. Observation will be enough.”

I nodded, my fingers trembling slightly.

As long as he’s okay…

I forced myself not to think further.

At least for now, I didn’t want to question why Tucker and Kelsey were together at the racetrack.

I headed for Tucker’s hospital room.

The nurse had just finished checking him and reminded him not to get out of bed.

Before she finished speaking, he was already pushing himself upright.

“Where is she?”

The nurse blinked. “Who?”

“The one who came in with me.”

His voice was tight and urgent, his brows tightly furrowed.

“She’s timid. She’s never been through anything like this. That crash must have terrified her. I need to go check on her.”