George rose quietly, saying nothing, though his face was heavy with disappointment.With that, the three of them turned and stormed toward the door.Raellyn, ever the calm force amidst chaos, rose quickly and moved to the front hall. She opened the door for them and followed them out, making sure to offer one last gesture of civility despite the tension.“I’m sorry things turned out like this,” she said softly, looking directly at Chyntia. “I truly am.”There was no response. Just three backs walking away.Once they were gone, the door clicked shut behind her with a soft finality. Raellyn turned to find Arnav still standing by the door, unmoving, his face unreadable.Her heart ached watching him. There was no victory in what had just happened. No peace. No resolution. Just the lingering taste of failure.They had failed to reconcile. That much was clear. Raellyn had known from the start that their visit wouldn’t bring healing. It was too soon, too raw, too clouded by old wounds and ne
Raellyn’s lips pressed together, the sting in Louisa’s voice slicing through her calm. Still, she held her composure.“Then you should also understand that pain doesn’t give you permission to repeat it,” she said, her tone like steel wrapped in silk. “This isn’t about who hurt more. This is about what’s right, and what’s respectful.”Louisa opened her mouth again, but George finally stepped in.“That’s enough, Lou,” he said gently, but firmly. “This isn’t helping.”He turned to Raellyn, sighing. “You’re right. We came too suddenly. That was our mistake. But Chyntia, she’s lived with regret for years. And seeing Arnav again... it matters more to her than she knows how to say.”Raellyn nodded slowly. She glanced at her husband, who still hadn’t spoken. His face was unreadable, but his eyes... they were turbulent, unreadable. A storm held behind glass.She reached for his hand under the table. He flinched but didn’t pull away.“I’m not your enemy,” she whispered, only loud enough for him
"Please, don’t take it personally, Mrs. Chyntia. Arnav simply has a strange sense of humor. He doesn’t mean any harm. And you, Miss, please... calm yourself. I truly hope we can avoid any unnecessary disturbance in this house."Without anyone expecting it, the tightly shut door swung open wide, revealing a presence. Light spilled into the room, framing the silhouette of a woman standing at the threshold. Yes, Raellyn, who had been listening from outside, every word stabbing deeper into her chest until silence was no longer an option. Enough, she thought. She had tolerated the tension long enough. This wasn’t how things were supposed to unfold. And of course, she could no longer hold back. For her, she could no longer stay silent while things escalated. What was supposed to end peacefully now seemed to be dragging on endlessly.She stepped in with graceful confidence, the train of her dress brushing the floor like a whisper of storm winds. Her presence was immediate, commanding. Arnav'
“So, you're the little sister I never knew I had? Turns out you're rather rude and lacking in manners.”Arnav’s voice sliced through the air, laced thickly with sarcasm as he finally broke his silence.“Don’t you dare try to provoke me, Arnav!” Louisa fired back, her tone a sharp warning. “I’ll admit, your appearance is admirable now, as it should be. You hold a high position, and yes, you’ve have a lot of money and got wealth. But your attitude as a son? A complete zero. How could you treat your own mother like this?”“Yes, I quite agree with you, my dear little sister,” Arnav replied smoothly, his smile dangerously charming. “It’s just one of my bad habits, I suppose. Quite difficult to correct when you grow up without the guidance of both parents, don’t you think?”Louisa’s eyes widened at his unabashed bluntness. In stark contrast, Arnav bared his perfect white teeth in a victorious grin, clearly savoring the silence that followed. No one else dared utter another cutting word.“Se
The door suddenly swung wide open with a suddenness that silenced the room. Standing at the threshold, bathed in the dying gold of the afternoon light, was a man whose presence exuded both elegance and disdain. Dressed immaculately, every thread of his suit whispering authority, he surveyed the seated guests with a detached sneer curving his lips.“My apologies, everyone,” the man said politely, though the boredom in his tone rang loud and clear to all who were present. “I didn’t expect to have guests while I was out of the house. So, what else is there left to hear from you, Madam? Dear George, still breathing, I see. And the young lady I don’t recognize warm greetings to you. Ah, most importantly, did I miss something? Did I, perhaps, extend an invitation to any of you?”The silence that followed was cut cleanly by Louisa’s outburst, her voice a blade of indignation. “Unrecognized lady? Invitation?!” she snapped, her eyes ablaze as she rose slightly from her seat, the title of young
Chyntia dismissed his concerns with a flick of her hand, deeming them unworthy of serious reply. She had waited too long to be dissuaded now. Her decision was already made. Years of pain and rejection had worn her down and also carved determination into her bones. But they had also given her clarity. This time, she would not cower in fear. She had to set things straight between her and her son. Whatever storm awaited her today, she would face it head-on. For this was not about pride anymore. It was about redemption. About rebuilding something that had long fallen into ruin. She needed to try, for the sake of rebuilding what once was a family.Chyntia was a woman of iron will, a commanding presence even over her husband. She and Arnav’s father had often clashed, both too dominant to yield. And while George had once been her secret lover, the romance had long since faded after they married. Still, Chyntia carried herself with grace and quiet dignity. Her beauty, sharp and refined, bore