Chapter Three

PRESENT 

(Fourteen Years old)

     My gaze drifted around, taking in the view of a beautiful garden, it had neatly trimmed lawns, and there were vibrant blooms adding more charm to it. The air was filled with their scent. It felt like a peaceful oasis. I would have preferred to announce it as ‘no party zone’. 

     I was trying to seek peace in this crowded place. It was a grand mansion brimmed with all the luxury of the world. It was easy to get lost here. But it wasn't the first time I visited.

     "When will you start listening to me?" Her reprimanding tone startled me. I squeezed my eyes shut, hearing the scolding tone of my mother. "Didn't I ask you to stick next to me or your Aunt?" Momma asked me, her thin lips were pressed together in a straight line. 

     I spun and saw her annoyed expression. She didn't actually appear upset. It was her usual way of reprimanding me. She wasn't alone. I couldn't help but laugh softly and quickened my pace forward. 

     I curled my arms around her. "Aunt, please rescue me." I chuckled, almost hiding behind her, blinking my eyes innocently at my mother. 

     "Don't scold her, Jasmine." She pressed her lips together, casting a disapproving look at my mother. She took my hand in her and kissed the back of it. “My baby," 

     "She's not a child anyone, Harper." Momma said, shooting me her exasperated look. 

     My mother and Harper were cousins, who got married into the same family. They shared similar height, and weight. My mother had middle-length hair, and black eyes, while Aunt had shorter hair, wooden brown eyes. My older cousin Sienna desperately longed for a sister. She had once been a very good sister, a wonderful personality. Her priorities had changed now. Perhaps, we weren't kids anymore. 

     I could do anything for my family and moreover, I loved our mothers dearly. They allowed us to spread our wings in my father's cage and made sure we extended them as much as possible. But I was aware that one day this bubble would burst and it would hurt us deeply. 

    I chuckled again. "You really don't know how to get angry. Please, don't pretend, momma." I told her. 

   She pressed her lips together, staring at me with her big eyes which were supposed to frighten me.

    "Mom! Aunt! Dad is looking for you." Sienna interrupted them, quickening her pace towards us.

     I let out a sigh in relief. "We shouldn't keep them waiting." I told them. 

     It actually earned me a cold look from my mother. "This place and these people could be dangerous, particularly for a girl like you." Momma muttered in her concerned tone.

     "I'm fourteen, momma. I can take care of myself." I reminded her. 

     She pressed her lips in a straight line. "Sienna, it's your responsibility that she doesn't leave the party hall." Momma instructed her firmly. 

     "Alright, Aunt." Sienna said, flashing her gentle smile. She took hold of my hand and led me back toward the entrance. She just turned eighteen fifteen days ago. She looked more mature than her age. "You should listen to them." She advised me, looking over her shoulder at me. 

      I quickened my pace to keep up with her, I rested my head on her shoulder while walking. She was taller than I was, with dark long hair, and striking black eyes. She got her look from her father. She looked stunning in a long black dress. 

      "It's just a party. Don't act like we're surrounded by bad people." I told her, lifting my head from her shoulder as we entered the hall. I straightened my back, hoping to look tall.

      "We both know what our fathers really are, what they pretend to be in front of us, only us." She muttered under her breath, scanning the hall, possibly searching for someone.

      I exhaled sharply, my soft smile dropped as my gaze drifted around. People with Lavish dresses, and expensive suits were present in the hall, nothing could hide the negative side of them. Our fathers were also part of this. My father was different from them. He truly cared for his family, I couldn't recall when was the last time he scolded me. I had always witnessed love between them. I had always heard him talking about his dead sister, but only in the company of our family. We were a joint family but we weren't as rich as the Bianchi family. They were our relatives. That wasn't a problem. Our fathers were in the transport business. My father's business wasn't on a large scale like Sienna’s father. Once I overheard them talking about drug supply. I had been carrying this secret until now. I tried to share it with my brothers, I dropped it immediately fearing putting them in danger.

     "Why is Chole getting married so soon? She just turned eighteen." I muttered to her, frowning. 

     Her hold tightened on my wrist. "Please, keep quiet, Evara." Sienna told me, her expression soft. 

     "But it's true." I told her. She was four years older than me. I was the youngest one in the family, our brothers helped our fathers in their business, they stayed busy most of the time and I met them only on weekends. 

     "Don't get yourself into trouble, sister." She told me, disapproving. 

     I shrugged my shoulders and glanced around. I spotted my father standing next to my uncle, engaged in a deep conversation. 

     "There, they are." I pulled my hand out of her hold and quickened my pace towards them. 

    “Evara! Stop!" I heard her calling after me, nervously.

    "Catch ya!" I exclaimed. I held my father's hand happily as I reached them, smiling at them. 

     My fathers smile was forced as he looked down at me. I was dressed differently from everyone present here. I chose a short top and completed my look with white dungaree. 

     "Where's your mother, Evara?" Dad asked me with a soft frown as he looked the way I came from. 

     Uncle took a small sip of his whisky as he darted his gaze around. Were they waiting for someone? 

     "They need to use the restroom, Uncle." Sienna told them, smiling nervously. She lowered her gaze in fear.

     "I want to go home, Dad." I told him. I didn't like it here. It was too crowded for me.

     It grabbed my uncle's attention. He took a long sip, emptying his glass. "Have dinner with your brothers." Uncle said. 

     Stepping forward, I made a disappointed face. "This party is boring, uncle. There's a lovely garden outside. Momma just..." I hesitated, holding myself back. 

     Uncle laughed softly, cutting me off as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Being the favourite kid in the family had an advantage, it helped me get whatever I wished to have. Like right now I wanted to leave the party. 

      "It's important for our business, Buttercup. Have dinner with your sister and brothers. They're going to be busy this weekend. I don't want to hear you complaining about that later." He said with a soft smile. 

      Daddy dipped his chin in agreement. "Your uncle and I have a meeting to attend. Go, join your siblings." He told us. 

      "No, I'm not going without you two." I insisted. 

      "Some other day, Ara." Uncle told me and gestured at Sienna. His gaze turned stern on her.

     "Yes, father." She dipped her chin obediently and hurried forward. She grabbed my hand and tugged me along with her. 

     "What's wrong with you?" I snorted at her. 

     "They would take out their frustration on our brothers, favourite child." Sienna taunted, whispering.

     "Or uncle would scold you." I completed it. 

     "That's not an issue, baby sister." She said, flashing her calm smile. I didn't understand how she managed to stay so patient. She was the innocent child of the family. 

      "I'm fourteen. Please, don't call me baby" I protested. They needed to stop doing this. They couldn't treat me like I was five years old.

      "You'll always be the youngest." She said and we approached the round table. 

      They were engaged in deep conversation. I leaned forward, resting my hands on my knees. "Hello, gentlemen! Mind if I join you?" I chuckled. They were six years older than me. 

      They turned to face me. "Evara!" A big grin appeared on their faces. Noah threw his arm around my shoulders as he pulled me into a side hug. "How was the last day of the school?" He asked me. Noah was tall, and lean, but muscular. He had dark hair and black eyes.

     "Boring," I replied, hugging him back. I didn't have many friends.

      Den stood up from his chair to make room for me. He was a little healthier, with a muscular build. He had a round innocent face, brown eyes and dark hair. I settled into the chair and I embraced him. "I missed you both." I told them. Sienna and I, we weren't allowed to leave our house without our parents or brothers. We spent the last ten days inside the house. So, I didn't want to waste my time at this boring party.

      Noah kissed the top of my head. "How about we go to your favourite restaurant? What do you think?" He asked me. 

      I nodded my head. "Is everything alright? No one is troubling you?" Den asked Sienna, his expression stern. 

     "Everything is perfect." She smiled, aiming at her brother. 

      "If you need anything, just say the words." Our brother told us. 

      "I know." Sienna agreed, nodding. 

      Someone cleared his throat and our heads turned to him. He was good-looking with olive skin, black hair and his darkest grey eyes almost looked black during the night, he was very tall. His gaze locked onto me. He was dressed in an expensive suit. I had seen my brothers with him many times. I rarely got to talk to him, I never intended to. They frighten me sometimes. Though they were always polite to me.

      I looked away and I noticed Sienna watching him with interest, there was a soft smile on her face. She had feelings for him. I felt bad for her, she would never express her feelings to anyone, her fear was so big that she would never share it with me. 

      "We're getting late." He told my brothers. 

      My gaze shifted to them. Weren't they supposed to have dinner with their family? 

      "Sure," Den replied to him and they drew on their feet. 

      "But! But!...!" My hand shot out and curled around my eldest brother's hand. "We're having family dinner, Den." I reminded him, looking at my brothers with questioning eyes. 

      Noah chuckled and ruffled my hair. "Some other day, pumpkin." He told me.

      I simply shook my head, glancing at them, hoping I would convince them. "I hate him. He always takes you away." I muttered under my breath in annoyance.