Ryle Kincaid and Allysa Kincaid (siblings)

Ryle Kincaid and Allysa Kincaid are brother and sister, a bond that shapes both their lives and the novel's central conflicts. Allysa is the sister who owns the entire top floor of the building where Lily Bloom lives, with a husband who works in pajamas and brings in seven figures a year. When Lily first meets Ryle at Allysa's home, she is stunned to discover that the neurosurgeon she met on a rooftop six months earlier is her new friend's brother. Allysa introduces them simply: "Ryle, this is Lily. Lily, my brother, Ryle," and then gestures to her husband, Marshall. Ryle kneels down to greet Lily with a knowing smile, making it clear he remembers their rooftop encounter even as he formally says, "Nice to meet you."

Shared Trauma and Its Consequences

The Kincaid siblings are bound by a devastating childhood event that neither has fully escaped. Ryle reveals to Lily that he accidentally shot and killed their older brother, Emerson, when he was only six years old. He describes Emerson as "my best friend. My big brother," and confesses that he did not even know he was holding a real gun. This tragedy has haunted Ryle ever since, leading to anger blackouts and years of therapy. Allysa wanted Ryle to tell Lily about this history because, as Ryle explains, "since that happened, there are things I can't control. I get angry. I black out. I've been in therapy since I was six years old. But it is not my excuse. It is my reality." The siblings share this burden, and Allysa's insistence that Ryle be honest about his past reflects her deep investment in his healing and her hope that understanding might prevent further harm.

Allysa's Wealth and the Kincaid Family Dynamic

The siblings' relationship is also marked by significant wealth, which shapes their family dynamics. Allysa's husband Marshall sold several apps he developed to Apple for a lot of money, and every six months he creates updates and sells those too. This fortune allows Allysa to live a life of ease, where every family member receives a gift and a card for every occasion without her having to lift a finger. When Lily asks how long Allysa has been this rich, Allysa replies, "Three years." This affluence contrasts sharply with the emotional poverty of the siblings' shared past, suggesting that material comfort cannot erase the trauma of losing a brother. Ryle, too, has achieved professional success as a neurosurgeon, but his wealth and status do not protect him from the anger that erupts from his childhood wound.

The Sibling Bond Tested by Lily

Allysa's friendship with Lily becomes a point of tension in her relationship with Ryle. When Lily flees to Atlas Corrigan's apartment after Ryle's assault, she reflects that she cannot go to Allysa's because Ryle would find her there. She also notes that Ryle has met Devin a couple of times and would more than likely go there too, leaving her with few safe options. This moment reveals how the siblings' closeness makes Allysa's home an extension of Ryle's reach, complicating Lily's ability to seek refuge. Yet Allysa's loyalty to Lily ultimately proves stronger than her loyalty to her brother's wishes. When Lily finally tells Allysa the full truth about Ryle's abuse and her pregnancy, Allysa is quiet for a long time as she struggles through everything she has heard. She finally lifts her eyes to Lily's and squeezes her hands, delivering a devastating verdict: "My brother loves you, Lily. He loves you so much. You have changed his entire life and have made him someone that I never thought he could be. As his sister, I wish more than anything that you could find a way to forgive him. But as your best friend, I have to tell you that if you take him back, I will never speak to you again." This declaration splits Allysa's identity in two, forcing her to choose between her roles as sister and friend, and she chooses the moral imperative over blood loyalty.

The Pain of Choosing Sides

The weight of Allysa's ultimatum is felt by both women. When her words register, Lily starts sobbing, and Allysa starts sobbing with her. This shared grief underscores the cost of the decision, as Allysa does not abandon her brother lightly but rather out of a conviction that his behavior is unforgivable. Her choice reflects a broader theme in the novel about the intergenerational transmission of violence and the necessity of breaking cycles. Lily's own mother, Jenny Bloom, left her abusive husband Andrew Bloom so that her daughters would never think that kind of relationship was okay, and Lily's decision to leave Ryle mirrors this act of empowerment. Allysa's ultimatum reinforces this theme, as she refuses to enable her brother's violence even at the cost of their relationship. The siblings' bond, forged in shared trauma and maintained through years of loyalty, is ultimately strained to its breaking point by the very love Allysa once hoped would save Ryle.