"You guys want to steal from Uncle!"
The words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Sai yelped, nearly knocking over the food tray she’d just set down. Elisa’s head snapped toward the door so fast her hair brushed her cheek, while Liam jumped to his feet, clutching his chest as if his heart had just leapt into his throat. Even little Nyxella stirred in her cradle, her tiny fists twitching at the sudden noise.
"Amina!" Sai barked, her voice half a whisper and half a growl. "Are you trying to kill us?"
But Amina only rolled her eyes in a dramatic, unbothered fashion and strutted into the room with a practiced sway like soone who’d spent too many years walking in front of caras. Her glossy curls bounced against her shoulders, and a teasing smile tugged at her lips as her gaze softened upon spotting the cradle.
"Oh, little girl," she cooed, bending slightly toward Nyxella. "How are you doing, sweetheart? Isn’t she just the cutest thing?" Her tone dropped into a sugary softness that felt slightly out of place considering she had just accused them of plotting theft.
Elisa frowned, still recovering from the shock. "Amina, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in the States?"
Instead of answering Sai’s question, Amina waved a manicured hand in dismissal and turned her radiant smile toward Elisa. "What’s her na?"
"Nyxella," Elisa replied quietly, brushing a soft hand over her daughter’s blanket.
"Such a lovely na," Amina said with a wistful smile.
"Amina," Liam interjected, narrowing his eyes, "can you at least answer us? Weren’t you supposed to be shooting your newest movie?"
For a brief mont, Amina’s face froze her smile faltering at the corners. She exhaled sharply through her nose and crossed her arms, her nails tapping rhythmically against her arm in irritation. "Forget about the movie," she muttered, tossing her head back. "I’ve been heartbroken, alright? I’m here to nd my broken heart."
The three siblings exchanged uneasy glances. Sai tilted her head, curiosity flickering behind her eyes; Liam rubbed the back of his neck, fighting the urge to laugh and Elisa just raised an eyebrow, torn between amusent and disbelief.
"Who cares to break your heart," Elisa finally said with a half-smile, "after knowing you’re the daughter of the Sorrento family?"
Amina scoffed, her expression souring into sothing sharp and defensive. "Oh please, you say that like being a Sorrento protects from idiots," she said, plopping herself down on the couch as though she owned the place.
"It’s obviously that David guy..." Liam said, narrowing his eyes at Amina. "I warned you that he’s not the one, but our dearest first lady told to mind my business." He scoffed, leaning back with his arms folded like a man who had seen the future and wasn’t surprised it turned out badly.
Amina’s glare could have burned a hole through steel. Her nostrils flared, lips pressed into a tight line, and the sharp click of her heels echoed as she took a threatening step closer to him. "Say one more word, Liam," she hissed, "and I’ll mind your business permanently."
Liam raised his hands in mock surrender, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "See? Even heartbroken, you’re still violent. Classic Sorrento trait."
Before the verbal war could escalate, Sai intervened with the calm authority of soone used to babysitting two overgrown children. "Would you two stop it already? Amina, tell us what happened or keep quiet. We don’t have all day."
Amina sighed dramatically, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear before sitting on the edge of Elisa’s bed. "He said..." She paused, bitterness thick in her voice. "He said he wants to beco a father."
Liam’s eyes went wide. "He’s supposed to be arrested for that statent. Even the law should sue him for attempted stupidity," he scoffed, shaking his head. "A man like that doesn’t deserve the air he breathes."
Sai shot him a look but Amina chuckled bitterly. "I guess you’re right. We both ran so fertility tests turns out, the issue was with him. But I didn’t complain, I stayed loyal." Her voice cracked slightly, and she clenched her fists. "But then, when he broke up with , he said his new girlfriend was pregnant... and that I was the one with the issue."
Liam’s jaw tightened, his expression softening just a bit beneath his sarcasm. "That guy surely has guts saying that to you. Maybe you should tell Uncle. He’ll handle him in his own special way."
"Please," Amina scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I’ve already beco an outcast in the movie industry because of my father. The last thing I need is him ’handling’ soone on my behalf." She folded her arms, her tone growing colder. "Sotis I wish I had your father instead of mine... but seeing how deranged both brothers are, I think I would’ve done better without being born a Sorrento at all."
Liam threw his head back in laughter. "You finally realized it! If only Aunt Rena had been the only Sorrento in existence, we’d have had peaceful lives, stable childhoods, maybe even a family therapy session or two."
"Can you keep quiet for once?" Sai groaned, rubbing her temple. "That’s not the issue at hand."
"What then?" Liam asked, feigning innocence.
Amina hesitated for a mont, then exhaled sharply. "The issue is that old Aron has decided to get this sa girl, David’s pregnant girlfriend married to Nix Dean."
The room went dead silent. Even Nyxella’s soft cooing seed to fade.
Sai blinked, her lips parting in disbelief. "You’ve got to be kidding ..."
"Excuse , which of the Nix Dean are you talking about?" Liam’s tone was sharp, laced with disbelief. He leaned back, eyes narrowing like he was expecting her to suddenly say she ant another man entirely.
Amina rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t fall out. "How many Nix have a Dean attached to their na as a surna?" she shot back, crossing her arms and raising a brow as if the question itself was beneath her.
The room instantly fell silent the kind of silence that humd with danger. It was thick, brittle, and almost painful to breathe through. Sai’s playful smirk slowly faded, and even Liam’s sarcastic edge dulled as their gazes drifted toward Elisa.
Elisa’s expression was unreadable at first, but her fingers, resting on the blanket beside her, clenched. Her jaw tightened ever so slightly. Behind that forced stillness, anger began to bloom like smoke under glass silent, invisible, but lethal. Her smile was still there, but it carried the stillness of a storm before lightning strikes.
Amina, oblivious to the emotional bomb she’d just triggered, continued cheerfully, "Either way, when are you planning on stealing the painting?"
The air seed to release a little, the tension briefly masked by the shift in topic. Sai cleared her throat, standing up as if movent alone might calm the atmosphere. "In eleven months’ ti," she announced, brushing imaginary dust off her shirt.
Liam whistled low. "Hmm, that’s enough ti to draft a proper plan," he said, leaning back on the couch again, feigning nonchalance.
Amina nodded thoughtfully, still completely unaware of the daggered looks being exchanged behind her. "Also, Nix’s official engagent is in January, and the wedding date should be announced soon.."
"Amina!" Liam and Sai chorused, panic slicing through their voices.
Amina blinked, confused. "What?"
Their eyes darted toward Elisa in warning, but it was too late.
"Guys, why are you shouting? Let her speak," Elisa said, her tone soft but laced with frost. Her lips curled into a calm smile, a facade so flawless it was almost frightening.
Sai and Liam exchanged a look that scread we’re dood.
"She doesn’t rember anything," Amina murmured under her breath, barely loud enough for Sai and Liam to hear. They rolled their eyes in perfect synchronization, realizing Amina was far too late to whisper that.
Elisa leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "So, what’s the plan?" she asked, raising an eyebrow with the sa casual interest one might use when discussing the weather but her eyes glimred like glass about to crack.
Sai opened her mouth, trying to salvage the conversation. "We have to.. "
"Having all the Sorrento siblings gather in one room gives an anxious feeling..."
The voice ca from the doorway.
They all turned at once.
Zamiel leaned casually against the fra, arms crossed, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His sharp eyes flicked from one face to another, taking in the tension that still clung to the air like smoke.
"What are you all plotting again?" he asked, stepping into the room with the confidence of soone who already knew the answer but wanted to watch them squirm anyway.
The room shifted once more. Liam coughed into his fist. Sai suddenly found the tray on the table fascinating. Amina plastered on an innocent smile.
And Elisa?
She simply exhaled through her nose, straightened her shoulders, and looked up at Zamiel her anger now tucked neatly behind a serene mask.
"Family bonding," she said sweetly. "Care to join?"
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