Eleven

NOVARIA’S POV

Breakfast with the Muskegons felt strangely peaceful.

The dining room was bathed in the soft gray light of the rainy morning outside. The chandelier hanging above the long marble table glowed warmly, reflecting against the polished black furniture and silver cutlery.

 For the first time in a long while, I felt… comfortable. Too comfortable.

Sylvester sat across from me, sleeves rolled slightly above his wrists as he poured hot chocolate into my cup. Steam curled upward in lazy swirls, carrying the rich scent of cocoa through the room.

Then he placed two cookies beside my plate.

Only two.

I stared at them suspiciously.

Out of the entire jar sitting on the counter, he had chosen just two.

My lips twitched in disbelief. Sylvester noticed immediately.

“Don’t even think about it,” he warned calmly, already knowing exactly what was going through my mind.

I tried to look innocent.

“I wasn’t thinking about anything.”

“You were,” he replied smoothly, lifting his coffee cup. “And no, you’re not getting more sugar this early.”

I puffed my cheeks slightly but said nothing.

Sylvester almost smiled.

The sound of a phone vibrating suddenly interrupted the quiet atmosphere. Sylvester glanced at the screen beside him before sighing under his breath.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” he muttered, standing from the chair.

I nodded quietly as he stepped away from the dining room, his deep voice soon disappearing into the hallway as he answered the call.

The moment he left, the room felt oddly empty again.

I dipped a cookie into my hot chocolate before taking a bite, savoring the sweetness slowly.

Then footsteps echoed behind me.

I turned slightly and found Chris walking into the dining room.

Unlike the tense, bloodstained man from last night, Chris looked calm this morning. Clean. Dangerous in a completely different way.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit that hugged his tall frame effortlessly. A silver Rolex gleamed around his wrist, and the expensive scent of his cologne filled the room before he even sat down.

His sharp eyes softened slightly when they landed on me.

“Morning,” he greeted casually, pulling out a chair.

“Good morning,” i replied politely.

Chris grabbed his phone from the table and leaned back lazily.

“Enjoying breakfast?”

“Yes,” i nodded. 

Then my expression softened. 

“How are you feeling this morning?”

Chris frowned faintly.

“For what?”

I hesitated before pointing awkwardly toward his arm.

“Yesterday… after the fight.”

Realization crossed his face.

“Oh.” 

For a brief second, silence settled between us. Then Chris sighed lightly and leaned closer against the table.

“We didn’t mean to scare you last night,” he admitted quietly. “Things just got messy.”

I blinked at him. I still wasn’t fully used to these men caring about my feelings.

“It’s okay,” i said honestly. “Thank you for apologizing.”

Chris gave a small nod before returning to his phone.

The cartoon playing in the background filled the silence again. But unfortunately for me, my two cookies were already gone.

I stared mournfully at the empty plate. The sadness was immediate. Even the cartoon suddenly lost its magic.

I wanted more, but I knew that Sylvester would object to that. Anyways, what was the need of waiting for Sylvester to come. I could just try my luck with Chris before Sylvester get back to the dinning room.

I glanced toward the hallway where Sylvester’s voice was still faintly audible on the phone. Then slowly…Very slowly… I turned toward Chris.

“Chris?” i called softly.

“Hm?”

“Can I have another cookie?”

Chris froze.

Slowly, he lifted his eyes from his phone to stare at me.

“...You’re asking me?”

I nodded carefully.

“Please?”

Chris immediately looked toward the hallway where Sylvester's voice could be heard. Then back at me. Then toward the hallway again.

His expression screamed danger.

“Uh..., Is Sylvester going to be okay with this? Do you know he practically guards that cookie jar like national treasure? ”

Hearing this question made me frown a bit, because there was no way Sylvester would let me get another cookie. But, I wasn't a kid anymore that I had to take permission from Sylvester to do what I wanted. Hence, the fact that I was a visitor in his house made me voiceless.

“Just one piece,” i whispered dramatically.

Chris rubbed a hand over his face. He already knew this was a terrible idea. But the way i stared at him with those hopeful eyes made refusing impossible.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But if Sylvester kills me, I’m haunting you. Don't tell my brother about it. Let it be our secret ok?”

“Ok,”

A bright smile immediately spread across my face.

Chris stood cautiously from his chair like he was preparing for a military operation. He walked toward the counter, stretched upward, and carefully grabbed the cookie jar from above the fridge.

He opened it quietly. Took one cookie. Then immediately returned the jar exactly where it was. Like evidence needed to remain untouched.

I nearly giggled watching him. Chris handed .e the cookie with deep suspicion.

“Eat fast.”

“Thank you,” i whispered happily.

The moment i bit into it, my entire mood brightened again. The cartoon suddenly started become interesting all over again. 

Chris stared at me in disbelief.

“You’re seriously this happy over cookies?”

“They’re good cookies.”

A laugh escaped him.

Then his eyes drifted toward the television.

“What are you watching?”

I stiffened immediately.

“Uh…”

I felt a bit embarrassed on hearing the question thrown to me. I just hope Chris won't laugh at me because of the movie I was watching.

I was still trying to speak out, when Chris looked up to the TV to know the movie been displayed.

"Ohh... It's Barbie", 

I tilted myself thinking it would be uncomfortable for him or something.

"It's one of my favorite show thou", he said as a slow grin spread across his face.

My eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

He suddenly mimicked one of the movie characters dramatically. I burst into laughter.

And for the next few minutes, Chris kept teasing the cartoon characters while i laughed harder than i had all morning.

The sound was so light and genuine that even Chris found himself staring at me for a moment longer than necessary. 

My laugh was addictive and he found it cute.

Neither of us noticed Sylvester returning until his deep voice cut through the room.

“Chris.”

We immediately looked up.

Sylvester stood near the entrance, phone still in hand, watching us carefully.

Chris straightened instantly.

“You leaving already?” Sylvester asked.

“Yeah,” Chris replied smoothly. “James already called. We’re meeting now.”

Sylvester nodded once before his gaze shifted toward me. His eyes softened immediately.

“Ready to go upstairs?”

I nodded obediently and carried my plate toward the sink.

“Go safely,” Sylvester told Chris.

“Bye, Chris,” i added sweetly.

Chris smiled faintly.

“Bye, sweetie.”

Then he walked out.

Sylvester waited until Chris disappeared before turning slowly toward me. There was a suspicious calmness on his face. Too calm.

“Princess,” he called.

“Hm?”

“Did you eat another cookie?”

My soul nearly left her body. My eyes widened instantly.

How did he know?!

I glanced toward the counter nervously before looking away.

Sylvester folded his arms waiting.

I know I would be breaking my secret with Chris, but it was just hard for me to lie to Sylvester right at his face.

I swallowed.

“I…” i started weakly then sighed. “Yes.” My voice became smaller. “I’m sorry.”

For a few seconds, Sylvester simply stared at me. Then unexpectedly, he sighed softly.

“Thank you for telling me the truth.”

I blinked in surprise.

“That’s all?”

“That’s all,” he replied. “But try not to overdo it next time, okay? I don’t want you getting sick.”

The gentleness in his voice made my chest tighten slightly.

I nodded quietly.

“Okay.”

Sylvester held back the urge to smile seeing how guilty i looked. Honestly, he wasn’t upset. He just liked hearing me tell him the truth.

Without another word, he guided me upstairs. Once inside the bedroom, i changed into something softer and more comfortable while Sylvester prepared the television.

“You choose the movie today,” he told me.

I immediately brightened.

“Really?”

“Really.”

I quickly scrolled through several animated movies before finally choosing one.

A childish one of course.

Sylvester shook his head helplessly but climbed onto the bed beside me anyway. Soon the room darkened except for the glow from the television screen.

Snacks rested beside us untouched while i slowly curled closer beneath the blanket without even realizing it.

And Sylvester for the first time in years…Felt peaceful.No blood, No enemies, No weapons. Just my soft breathing against him while the sound of some animated movie filled the room.

Hours passed unnoticed.

By the time night finally settled over the mansion, we had already eaten dinner and returned upstairs again.

Rain tapped softly against the windows..The room smelled faintly of vanilla candles and fresh sheets.

I yawned sleepily before turning off the bedside lamp. Darkness wrapped around us gently. Then slowly…i drifted asleep in Sylvester’s arms.