Sixteen

NOVARIA’S POV

The way Sylvester spoke to me about the basement stayed in my head long after we left the hallway.

It wasn’t even the warning itself that bothered me the most. It was the tone. The seriousness in his voice. The look in his eyes. For the first time since I met him, Sylvester had spoken to me in a way that actually felt like a scolding. Not harsh… but firm enough to make my chest tighten. And somehow, that hurt more than it should have.

I hadn’t even planned on entering the room in the first place. But now that I was being forbidden from going anywhere near it, my curiosity only deepened.

What exactly could be inside that basement?

Money?

Weapons?

Secrets?

The possibilities began running wildly through my head.

I kept my gaze lowered as I nodded.

“Thanks,” Sylvester said quietly after a while. “Now come on. Let’s get you something to eat. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

I forced a small smile and nodded, though my thoughts remained trapped behind that heavy basement door.

As we continued walking, Sylvester must have noticed the shift in my mood. His expression softened almost immediately. He reached over gently, brushing a few strands of hair behind my ear before suddenly lifting me off the floor and into his arms.

The movement startled me slightly.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he murmured softly. “But you need to understand… that room is confidential.”

I didn’t know what to say. So instead, I rested my head quietly against his shoulder, breathing in the faint scent of his cologne while he carried me downstairs.

The warmth of his body usually calmed me instantly. But this time…My mind wouldn’t settle.

We had breakfast together in the kitchen.

Well… technically, I ate while Sylvester mostly pushed food around his plate.

I noticed it immediately. He wasn’t hungry.

His attention kept drifting toward me every few seconds, like he was trying to figure out what was going on inside my head.

Meanwhile, mine remained completely occupied by the basement. Because the more I thought about it, the stranger everything became.

If it was truly just paperwork or business files, then why would he react that way? Why warn me so seriously? Why look nervous?

The thought sent chills down my spine.

The rest of the day passed strangely. For once, I barely spoke. And apparently, that worried them.

The brothers had gotten used to my constant talking, random questions, soft giggles, and endless commentary during movies. So my sudden silence quickly became noticeable.

Kelvin kept glancing at me from time to time. Collins attempted several jokes that normally would have made me laugh instantly. Even Chris occasionally looked up from his phone to study my expression.

But none of it worked. I remained quiet.

And Sylvester noticed the most.

By evening, we were all gathered in the living room when he finally sighed heavily and sat closer to me on the couch.

“Bae…”

I looked up slowly.

“Why aren’t you talking?” he asked softly. “Are you mad at me?”

The concern in his voice made guilt crawl through me immediately..I forced a small smile.

“It’s nothing.”

But clearly, he didn’t believe me.

A few moments later, his gaze followed mine toward the hallway leading to the basement. Then he exchanged a look with Chris. A silent look.

Chris gave the smallest nod. And suddenly, tension filled the room.

Sylvester leaned forward slowly, rubbing his palms together like he was choosing his next words carefully.

“There’s something you need to know.”

My heart skipped..The seriousness in his tone instantly pulled my full attention toward him.

He inhaled slowly.

“I don’t really know how to explain this properly…”

For the first time since meeting him, Sylvester actually looked nervous. And that alone made me anxious.

“We…” He paused briefly. “We’re mafias.”

Silence. The word hung heavily in the room.

I blinked at him slowly, unsure if I had heard correctly.

Sylvester continued carefully.

“We don’t just run normal businesses. Our family is… known. We have people working for us everywhere. Most of what we do involves handling dangerous situations.”

I stared at him blankly..My brain struggled to process it.

Mafia? Actual mafia? The kind from movies? 

I actually thought they were business men who had bodyguards with them.

The expensive suits. 

The armed men.

The meetings.

The injuries.

The secrecy.

Suddenly everything began making sense all at once.

Sylvester noticed my stunned expression and immediately tried explaining further.

“We mainly deal with people who..” Chris interrupted before he could finish. “We deal with bad people,” Chris explained calmly. “Drug dealers. Human traffickers. Bastards who threaten our territory or innocent people.”

His voice remained steady.

“That basement contains work-related things you shouldn’t see. That’s all.”

The room fell silent afterward. I looked between them carefully.

Both Sylvester and Chris appeared strangely tense now, almost like they were waiting for me to panic. Or cry. Or better still run away.

But oddly enough…I wasn’t scared.

Shocked? Yes.

Curious? Absolutely.

But afraid? No.

Maybe it was because of the way they treated me. Maybe it was because somewhere deep down, I had already suspected they weren’t ordinary businessmen. Or maybe it was because despite everything dark surrounding them…They had only ever shown me kindness.

I looked down briefly, gathering my thoughts before finally speaking.

“It’s okay.”

The reaction was immediate..Both Sylvester and Chris stared at me in disbelief.

I smiled softly.

“You’ve all been really good to me,” I continued honestly. “You helped me when nobody else cared. You protected me. Took care of me.”

My voice softened further.

“I didn’t expect… this,” I admitted. “But I don’t think you’re bad people.”

Silence filled the room again.

Then Sylvester suddenly let out a breathless chuckle, almost like he had been holding his breath the entire time. Chris leaned back against the couch with visible relief too.

The tension disappeared almost instantly. And somehow…That made me realize just how worried they had truly been about my reaction.

“Thank you for understanding, bae,” Sylvester murmured softly.

Before I could react, he lifted me into his arms again, holding me tightly against his chest like he needed reassurance too.

“So…” he smiled faintly, “how about a movie before bedtime?”

I hummed in agreement.

And just like that, the heaviness in the room dissolved.. I really was so happy that everything has finally been solved, at least that was really what I thought.

—------

Later that night, after taking a quick shower, I curled up beside Sylvester in bed while heavy rain battered against the mansion windows.

A loud thunderclap suddenly echoed outside.

I flinched instantly and grabbed onto his shirt without thinking.

Sylvester looked down at me in amusement.

“You’re scared of thunderstorms?”

I buried my face slightly against his chest.

“Maybe…”

He chuckled softly before wrapping an arm securely around me.

“You’re safe.”

Those two words alone somehow made the storm feel quieter.

He handed me the remote and allowed me to choose whatever movie I wanted. Naturally, I picked one of my favorite animated films I hadn’t seen in years.

Meanwhile, Sylvester ordered pizza and snacks upstairs so we wouldn’t have to leave the room.

The entire night felt strangely peaceful afterward. The rain outside continued endlessly while we stayed tangled together beneath the blankets, sharing pizza slices and soft laughter.

And honestly…I loved moments like this more than anything.

The way he cuddled me. The way his fingers absentmindedly stroked my hair. The way he always held me close like letting go wasn’t even an option. Everything about it made me feel small. Protected. Wanted. Like someone precious.

By the time the movie finally ended, I had already yawned at least ten times.

Sylvester glanced at the clock and laughed softly.

“Midnight already?” he murmured. “Way past your bedtime.”

I frowned sleepily at him while he tucked the blankets properly around my body.

“Sleep well, princess,” he whispered, gently stroking my hair again.

I hummed softly in response. And within seconds… I fell asleep beside the storm, wrapped safely in Sylvester Muskegon’s arms.