Our Christmas Sister Angel ·[Chapter: 8]

A gentle tale about the rebirth of mercy, second chances, the warmth of Christmas, and the meaning of being family.

 

If you’d like to walk this warm path from the very beginning and read the story from its first chapter, you can start [here] and follow the links within each part until you find your way back to this moment again.

To read the chapter that comes just before this one, kindly click [here].

Chapter [8]:
Back to “The Nest”

The five brothers sat silently in their old jeep, parked once again in front of Mr. Zack’s house — tired, hopeless, and cold.
Because when they arrived, they found no one there.
A kind neighbor told them that Mr. Zack and his wife had traveled abroad, not expected to return  until the end of January.

Once again, silence filled the car.
Then Cian broke it with a deep sigh:
“It’s heaven’s punishment... truly, heaven’s punishment. What a cursed luck! What are we supposed to do now?!”



Rein threw his hands in the air.
 “The heavens must be angry with us! Scandals, rejection from the biggest ceremony, and now—no place to stay! Aren’t we just pathetic? Where can we even go now?!”



At his question, something flickered in their eyes — that same spark of shared thought.
Milo turned to them with a small smile.

 “Are we… going back there?”



They didn’t need to ask where “there” was.
They all knew.
Angela.
And the small room above “The Nest.”

They nodded together. Milo started the engine, and the old jeep rolled back onto the quiet road,  leading them once again toward the edge of Novaris… back to “The Nest.”


---

By evening, the night had already begun to fall.
The wind was sharp and cold on the rooftop, so Angela closed it up and went downstairs.
She turned off the lights in the dining hall and the glowing sign outside.
As she stepped out to lock the door and head home, headlights cut through the snow-melted mist.

A jeep slowed down beside the restaurant.
She froze.
And then… she smiled.

The car stopped.
The doors opened.
And there they were — all five of them — standing in front of her again, each holding a small travel  bag, their faces half-tired, half-embarrassed, and strangely peaceful.


---

Inside The Nest, warmth slowly returned.
The brothers sat around a wooden table as Angela came from the kitchen carrying steaming cups of warm drink.
She placed them gently before them and sat across, waiting.

Milo was the first to speak:

“Mm… we were wondering if we could rent the upstairs room, Miss. For a month or two, maybe.
You’ve probably seen what’s been happening lately… we just need some time away — until things  calm down a little.
We thought of other places, but this one felt… safe. Quiet. Far from the noise and lights of the  capital.
We’ll pay whatever rent you ask.
It just feels like… we’d be familiar here somehow.”



Angela’s eyes softened, and a tender smile spread across her face.

 “Of course,” she said gently.
“You can stay here. Don’t worry about anything.
It’s an honor, really — that “the national treasure of Novaris” would choose my little place.
It’s late now. Let’s all rest tonight. We’ll talk about the rent tomorrow.”



She stood up, wrote something on a small note, and handed it to Milo,
 “My number. I live just two houses away.  If you need anything, you can reach me anytime.”



She smiled again:
“Go on upstairs. You already know the way.”



And then she quietly stepped outside into the night.


---

But none of them moved.
They sat still.
Silent.
Struck once more by her gentleness.
While the world outside had judged them, punished them,
and chased them down with headlines and noise —
this small place had opened its arms wide, without question, without judgment,
without pressure, and without requesting perfection.


While everyone called them sinners and failures —
the ones who had corrupted the youth of Novaris —
there was one woman who saw them differently.
She called them “the national treasure of Novaris.”

A stranger had offered them food, warmth, and shelter —
without asking about their scandals,
without demanding explanations,
without shame or pity.

Everything in The Nest whispered one simple message:
You are still accepted.
You are still loved.
There is still a place for you.


............To be continued in “chapter : 9  ” tomorrow.
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