Braelyn’s POV
I was going to et the entire family. The information ca so casually that it took a mont for it to fully sink in. Honestly, I was nervous. Living with the Volkovs made scared of the word family eting.
Margaret continued speaking before I could respond. "I want to formally introduce you to the rest of the family," she said. "They have been quite curious about you."
My eyes widened slightly at that. I wondered how large the Voss family was. My mind was still catching up on everything that had happened yesterday. I had literally slept in the bra and make up from last night because I was so exhausted. Margaret had a small worried frown on her face.
She sighed. "You were so exhausted you did not change. I should have sent a maid after you." She reached for my hand. My body stiffened at her warmth. I was not used to it and, by all rights, I should be wary of Margaret, but her kind eyes broke that wall.
I just could not understand how she could be so forgiving. Dad had betrayed her. If I were in her shoes, if Alia’s child was in danger, could I show that child compassion because of Raphael’s past? That was a question I could not answer.
"It is fine. This is not the first ti I have slept with make up on," I tried to wave it off.
She sighed. "It must have been rough all those years. Do not worry, you have a family who will support you now," she assured again.
There was a family waiting to et . A whole group of people who knew my father and probably had their own thoughts about the daughter he had left behind.
Margaret seed to notice the tension creeping into my expression because she suddenly laughed lightly.
"You look nervous," she teased gently.
I hesitated before nodding honestly. "A little."
Her smile softened in response. "That is perfectly normal," she assured . "But you do not need to worry. They are family. Most of them have actually been looking forward to eting you."
She paused before adding with a faint sneer that was very different from her usual calm tone. "Not every family is like the Volkov family."
The na alone stirred unpleasant mories in my mind. Margaret quickly returned to her usual warm expression and continued speaking.
"It is simply a family breakfast," she said. "Nothing too serious. We will eat, talk and spend so ti together."
Then her eyes sparkled slightly as if she had just rembered sothing important. "Oh, and I also have a little surprise for you."
My curiosity imdiately sparked.
"What kind of surprise?" I asked.
Margaret chuckled softly at my interest. "I want to show you your father’s childhood room," she said. "It has been left untouched all these years."
The words hit in a way I did not expect. My father’s childhood room.
A place where he had grown up. A space that might still hold pieces of the life he once lived before everything changed.
I could not hide the small spark of excitent that appeared on my face. Margaret imdiately noticed it and laughed again, clearly entertained by my reaction.
"I knew that would interest you," she said with amusent.
It really did. Seeing where my father had grown up suddenly felt important, almost like I would finally be able to understand a part of him that had always been hidden from .
Margaret straightened slightly before stepping back from the doorway.
"You should start getting ready," she reminded . "The car leaves in an hour, and we certainly cannot have you arriving late to your own welco breakfast."
Her playful tone made the situation feel far less intimidating. I nodded, feeling far more awake now than I had been a few minutes ago.
"Alright," I said. "I will get ready."
Margaret gave one last approving smile before turning and walking back down the hallway. I slowly closed the door and leaned against it for a mont.
A strange mix of emotions swirled inside my chest. Nervousness, curiosity, and a small spark of excitent that I had not expected to feel so soon after everything that had happened.
********
The main Voss estate was close to Margaret’s place, barely a fifteen minute drive. It was an old mansion which was still stunning, aged yet renovated to et the modern era.
From outside I could see several luxury cars parked outside. "They are all here," Margaret said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. I was still a nervous wreck. I forced a smile as the car parked.
We did not step out imdiately. Margaret understood I needed a mont. "Ready when you are," she said softly.
I laughed. I really could not help it and my eyes stung a bit. Family was always one thing I craved. It had always been just and Dad, and when he left in this world I tried everything to beco part of the Volkovs.
At first things were civil, I would say. Natalia and Ronan treated with a bit of respect as Raphael’s wife. Gregor was nice. Katerina died before I got married, but she adored .
Raphael was my anchor and I wanted his family to also be mine. Then Gregor died as well and I realised I was never part of that family. Their love was conditional.
"Is there anything you should warn about?" I teased.
Margaret fell into deep thought before speaking. "We have a family curse," she revealed, and my brows furrowed.
"A curse?" I blurted out.
She nodded seriously. "The Voss family rarely has daughters. Currently you are the only daughter of the Voss family and honestly after you were born your grandparents gave Dominic the olive branch and were ready to accept Avelina after decades," she explained, leaving stunned.
Margaret chuckled softly then added, "Your grandmother literally cried when she heard the news. By then I already had my six grandsons." My eyes went completely wide.
Dad had when his parents already had six great grandsons.
"She forced to beg Dominic. She wanted to hold her granddaughter before she died, but then again Dominic refused because he was hiding your mother’s ntal condition."
It was not funny but I laughed. "So how many n are there in the Voss family in total?"
Her face scrunched up comically. "The Voss family has a tradition of getting married as early as twenty. I was twenty when I married Douglas, and Douglas was twenty, just two years younger than your dad," she started narrating.
"I had two sons. My first son Elliot had three sons and his eldest, who was nad after your dad Dominic because they share the sa birthday, already has two sons. My eldest great grandson is turning six soon."
I was speechless.
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