**************
~Spring's POV~
I pulled back slightly from Rose, still keeping my smile in place as my gaze flicked over to my mother.
Unlike Dad's open affection, Mum's smile was tight and subtle more like a mask than a mood.
Her eyes skimd up and down, lingering just a second too long on my bare shoulders and the old, scuffed backpack slung over one shoulder.
"You look… comfortable," she said smoothly, her voice all silk hiding steel. "Next ti, try to dress more like a Kaine. Especially for family photos. This isn't your high school dorm."
My smile didn't falter, but a chill traced my spine. The way she said Kaine like it was a bloodline I'd borrowed instead of one I was born/adopted and grown into, cut deeper than I'd ever admit out loud.
Still, I didn't bite. I never did anymore. Instead, I turned slightly, catching Eryx's presence beside .
He stood close, protective as ever, jaw clenched the way it always did when Mum decided to dish out one of her signature, sugar-coated slaps.
"I didn't know there'd be family pictures in the supposed picnic that we had to dress formal," I replied lightly, brushing my hand down my shawl like it was so kind of armor. "Otherwise, I'd have worn a tiara."
Behind , Kaius snorted.
Dad laughed too. "Well, it's just us, after all. No pressure. You'll all get sothing more suitable soon anyway. Besides, the phot wouldn't be done today. Co inside. The place is fully set up. We've got chefs, a gas room, a massage wing…"
"Beach yoga in the morning," Rose cut in proudly, like she'd orchestrated the whole thing herself. "And brunch under the cabana."
I didn't respond. I was still trying to wrap my head around how this supposed "picnic" had sohow transford into a full-on luxury retreat with no warning.
But of course, Rose knew. Of course, she did because she had plans.
As we stepped into the retreat house, my eyes drifted to the sweeping glass panels overlooking the waves, the wide marble staircase curling up toward the private suites.
Everything slled like salt, citrus, and money. It was beautiful, almost too gorgeous. The kind of place that made you feel like a guest, not a daughter.
Eryx brushed past slightly, his fingers grazing mine in a subtle, silent gesture of comfort before moving ahead.
Rhys had already vanished into one of the rooms, probably to unpack or take a call, and Kaius wandered toward the lounge, arms crossed, scanning the space like he was already looking for exits or distractions.
Rose, of course, stayed near Mum, clinging to her like a shadow, and I could feel her eyes on , even when I wasn't looking her way.
It was going to be a long weekend.
But that didn't an I had to make it easy for anyone.
I smirked to myself and turned toward the stairs, heading up to find out where I'd be sleeping, if I even had a room of my own.
"Spring," Mum's voice called, just as my foot hit the first step.
I paused and turned.
"You'll be staying in the south suite. With Rose. The staff will bring your things up."
My heart sank a few inches. Of course.
Rose clapped her hands like a child unwrapping a gift. "Roomies!"
Eryx, mid-step down the hallway, stopped and turned with a visible frown.
Kaius muttered sothing I didn't quite catch.
I nodded slowly, plastering on the sweetest smile I could manage. The kind that could rot teeth if it sat too long.
"I'm sure we'll have so much to catch up on."
Then I turned back to the stairs and started climbing, each step heavier than the last.
The sun might've been shining outside, but inside this house, it was about to get real cloudy.
*******
I didn't waste ti inside with her. Dropped my things, picked a bed and left the room.
By the ti we made it to the lawn, the so-called "picnic" was already in full swing.
Chefs in white jackets moved about setting up the table for lunch. Ever since Rose's birthday, this was our first ti being together and I must say, I didn't miss it.
Rose stuck close, all smiles for the watching audience of chefs and family mbers, but her voice was low enough so only I could hear.
"You might want to slow down on the hors d'oeuvres. The caras pick up everything. Don't want to seem… desperate before the chefs."
"Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to pass it along if I see you lunging for a crab cake."
Her smile twitched. She moved with toward the table, but her eyes darted toward the servers.
"Speaking of caras, you might want to watch your tone. It wouldn't look great if people overheard you… snapping."
"And yet, here you are, trying to make it happen."
"You're paranoid."
"And you're predictable." I turned to face her smiling. "You really want to start sothing here? Because you know I keep receipts. And I don't an shopping ones."
She stilled for a fraction of a second.
"You wouldn't…"
"Every word you just voiced? Yeah. All of it. You think it's smart to play the victim here, when I could play your greatest hits to the whole Kaine?"
Rose's grip on her champagne stem tightened. She glanced toward the side where our mother was making her way towards the table with Dad.
"You're bluffing."
"Try ."
For a mont, her face was pure calculation. Then she laughed lightly, tilting her head like we'd just shared a private joke.
"You really have changed, Spring."
"No," I said, smiling right back. "I just got better at not playing your ga."
She grabbed a glass of champagne from the chef's tray, passing by, and handed it to .
"To us sisters."
We clinked glasses for the suspicious glances, both smiling wide enough to sell the lie.
Lunch was… polite, maybe a little too polite.
Every conversation felt sweetened, and every smile seed practised.
The chefs served up one beautiful dish after another: perfectly cooked salmon, fresh oysters, and small bowls of vibrant ceviche that looked like they were from a magazine cover.
The air was filled with the delicious scents of lemon butter and salt, but underneath it all was a familiar tension that was so thick it could almost be felt through the silverware.
I kept my tone pleasant, thanked Mum for arranging it all, thanked Dad for "hosting," even thanked the chefs as they cleared away plates.
My brothers got a quiet thanks too, for making the effort to co, though I suspected at least two of them were already thinking about their escape plan.
By the ti we were done, I was more than ready to retreat upstairs, pack my good mood into a box, and find a quiet place to relax.
I'd barely set my bag back down in the south suite before I heard voices coming from downstairs.
The sound sounded urgent and casual at the sa ti, and that only happened when the boys were plotting sothing.
I stepped out and padded to the landing just in ti to see Kaius, Eryx, and Rhys at the door, with their jackets half on.
"We're heading out for a bit," Kaius said, already adjusting his collar like he was halfway gone in his mind. "Need to pick up a few things from town."
Mum's brows pinched. "All of you?"
Rhys kept it short. "Yeah, we won't take long."
Before she could say more, Rose appeared from the side, her voice dripping with sweet nostalgia. "Do you have to, Kaius? We haven't seen each other in ages… I thought you'd stay close. Maybe we could play sothing, take a walk down the beach?"
She angled her face just right, lowering her lashes like she was auditioning for a perfu ad.
Mum's expression softened instantly. "She's right. You boys shouldn't run off all at once. You're here to spend ti together."
From his spot near the wide window, Dad added with the easy authority that always sealed these debates, "There's plenty to do here. Stroll the beach, or we've got cards and board gas if the weather shifts. Make it a group thing."
Rose's eyes flicked toward , the corner of her mouth twitching in sothing closer to a smirk before she smoothed it into a polite, bright smile. "Yes… a group thing."
Eryx looked at ; his expression was hard to read, but I could tell he was tense. I could see his jaw tightening, as if he was trying to hold back what he wanted to say.
"Fine," he said finally. "We'll stay."
Rhys looked like he'd rather throw himself into the tide, but shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "Yeah… sure… I guess."
Kaius didn't even bother speaking; he just sighed, shrugged, and unzipped his jacket.
I sat back on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. "Great. This should be fun."
It wasn't.
Rose clasped her hands together like a hostess about to reveal the entertainnt of the evening. "So, what shall we play first? Monopoly? Scrabble? Sothing… more revealing?"
Her gaze swept over each of us before landing squarely on .
"Truth or Dare?" Kaius deadpanned, clearly mocking the idea.
But Rose's smile didn't budge. "Why not? It's been years. We might learn sothing… interesting about each other."
"Wait, you're seriously suggesting Truth or Dare?"
"Uhn uhn… not enthusiastic about it? Or scared that we might find sothing you don't want finding out?" Rose smirked.
"I can ask you the sa thing," I countered.
"Alright, girls, let's save that for the ga," Mom cut in before Rose could co up with a response. "Truth or dare, it is."
In less than five minutes, we were all seated in a circle with an empty wine bottle on the floor. Kaius rolled the bottle, and it landed first on… ?
Seriously?
Rose, with all smile and teeth, turned to face . "Okay, Spring, it seems you're leading the way. Truth… or Dare?"
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