The Sinclair Drama

The television volume was low, but no one in the Sinclair living room missed a single word. Their steaming cups of morning coffee sat on the center table untouched, eyes glued to the screen on the wall.

The headline crawled across the bottom of the screen in bold white letters: ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING SHAKES ASTER LANE, PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN DAMON SINCLAIR INVOLVED.

The reporter’s voice was detached, the way people sounded when they were discussing tragedies that had nothing to do with them.

“…authorities confirmed that the suspect, identified as Soonie Marcello, forcibly restrained the victim inside her apartment late last night. Sources say the victim narrowly escaped serious harm before security intervened…”

The camera cut to flashing police lights, to a blurred image of an apartment complex and moved to the unmistakable silhouette of Damon ushering Naomi into a black vehicle.

The living room was quiet.

The reporter continued simply, eyes slightly widening at the words on the teleprompter.

“In a shocking development, it was discovered at the scene that the victim, Naomi Pearl, is legally married to billionaire CEO Damon Sinclair. The marriage had not been previously disclosed to the public.”

Elara’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God,” she whispered, eyes fixed on the screen. “Naomi…is she safe?”

Her voice trembled, her eyes seeming to grow wider with each word the reporter spoke. She turned immediately toward Victor, who stood near the fireplace, arms folded tightly across his chest.

“That looks terrible.” Victor said, brows furrowed in concern.

“Victor,” Elara said, already halfway out of her seat. “Can you call Damon? Please. We need to know if she’s okay. If he’s okay.”

Victor didn’t answer right away.

His jaw was clenched, the muscle twitching as he stared at the screen. Victor Sinclair had always carried responsibility like a second spine, the kind of man who thought before he reacted, even when his instincts were screaming.

But his mother had always been the one to make the first move, he's never had to do anything unless mother tells him to but right now, he was worried about his brother. Even if they don't have the best of relationship, Damon was still his brother and Naomi, his sister in law.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed. It rang once, twice, and straight to voicemail.

His frown deepened. “No answer,” he said quietly.

Seraphine let out a breath that was half a sigh, half something sharper. She was sprawled across the arm of a leather chair, boots still on despite their mother’s endless protests about having shoes on the furniture.

She might appear not to worry for her little brother's safety and Naomi's but her finger curls around her coffee mug with a little tremor.

“Well,” she said, crossing her arms, “I’m glad the wrong couple made it out alive.”

Elara turned to her sharply. “Seraphine.”

“What?” Seraphine shrugged, “I’m not celebrating the kidnapping. I’m saying if anyone deserves to survive a mess like that, it’s Damon and the woman he actually chose.”

Caleb, seated farther back with his legs crossed and hands steepled in front of him, said nothing.

His eyes remained on the television, though the news had already begun looping the same footage of Damon and Naomi again. His expression was unreadable, thoughtful in a way that made people uneasy.

His eyes were fixed on Naomi.

He had seen her before. He was certain of it.

Not in passing, not as some employee who married Damon for what she could get. Somewhere else. Somewhere that didn’t align with the narrative their mother had handed to them.

The door opened abruptly.

Jordan walked in, sweat darkening his white tank top, Charm trotting happily at his side, leash dangling loose from his hand.

He chuckled, his eyes fixed on Charm fondly. “That was a good run uh?”

Charm was Damon's but for some reason, Jordan was in charge of looking after the dog. It was a punishment for being in the air of reporters every bloody time but now he's gotten fond of the little creature.

Charm waggles his tail and its eyes went over to the television. He barked. Once, twice, thrice.

Jordan followed his gaze and froze mid-step when he saw the television.

His breath caught. The smile he’d been wearing from his run vanished instantly, replaced by panic.

“Is that…” Jordan asked, striding forward, finally in the sight of his other siblings.

Seraphine glanced at him. “Your sister in law almost got kidnaped.”

“Kidnapped?” Jordan repeated like the word sounded foreign in his lips.

He dropped the leash and grabbed his phone, already dialing Damon's number.

No answer.

“Damn it,” he hissed. “Damon, pick up.”

Before anyone could respond, the sharp click of a remote cut through the room. The television went black.

Rosie stood near the doorway, her eyes dark with rage, lips pressed into a thin line of fury. Her grip on the remote was tight enough to whiten her knuckles.

“I will not have this nonsense blaring in my house,” she snapped. “Parading private disgrace like entertainment.”

Victor sighed. “Disgrace? This is disgraceful?” He asked as though he needed clarity but his grip on his phone tightened.

“The whole elite society now knows my son is married to a nameless bimbo! What could be more disgraceful than that?” She snapped. “Your father would be rolling in his grave!”

Seraphine chuckled. “Not to say dad was any good but that man wanted to get away from you so bad he chose death.” Her gaze met Rosie's, “I think he would be delighted by the outcome of things.”

Rosie glared at Seraphine. “Watch your mouth! You're in my house!”

“Your son and his wife got into an accident and the only thing you're concerned with is the fact people know she's his wife?” Seraphine asked, a chuckle of disbelief escaping her lips.

“Our survival in the elite society has everything to do with this!” Rosie snaps.

Jordan stared at her. “ Are you serious right now? That’s an attempted murder we're talking about here!”

Rosie turned on him. “ She's alive isn't she? Which is quite unfortunate to say the least..”

Jordan chuckled in disbelief. Is this really his mother? How could talk about a person's life like it was worth nothing?

He steps closer. “Are you serious right now?”

Victor steps closer, “Jordan..”

“No,” Jordan shot back, anger flaring hot and immediate. “How could she say that? We're talking about someone's life here!”

Rosie laughs. “Her life? She's a bloody commoner and a leech!”

Jordan's eyes widened. “What?” He whispered.

The room went silent again.

Elara’s brows knit together. “Mother, why would you..”

“She is a nobody,” Rosie cut in sharply. “She is just some employee who clawed her way into a marriage she had no business entering. And now the world knows. Do you have any idea what this will do to your brother’s reputation?”

“Is that really what you care about right now?” Jordan asked, still in disbelief. “How could you…”

Seraphine stood up slowly. “You mean your reputation.”

Rosie ignored her. “I will not have any of you involving yourselves in this mess. Damon made his choice. Let him deal with the consequences.”

Jordan laughed, sharp and humorless. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I am protecting this family,” Rosie snapped. “And you are just a bunch of ungrateful spoiled brats!”

Seraph8ne laughs. “Woah. I can't believe this bitch gave birth to me.”

“Seraphina!” Victor warned.

“WHAT?!” Seraphine screamed. “She shouldn't have had me. Hell, I would rather not exist at all than have that woman give birth to me!" She adds.

“You're being emotional," Rosie said, raising her chin high. “As usual. You never seem to think logically do you? That woman needs to get out of Damon's life and ill do whatever it takes to do that!”

“By abandoning Damon?” Jordan shot back. “By pretending his wife almost being killed is an inconvenience?”

Rosie’s voice rose. “That woman is not my daughter-in-law.”

Jordan took a step forward. “She’s his wife.”

Victor was trying to keep his calm. Even though he was trying to defuse the situation, Rosie was a hard woman to defend.

“I do not approve of it.”

That did it.

Jordan’s voice rose, loud and shaking. “You don’t even know her! Or your son! You never tried! You decided she wasn’t good enough before you ever looked at her!”

Rosie’s mouth thinned. “Watch your tone.”

“NO!” Jordan snapped. Even Victor had to step aside from this side of Jordan no one had ever really seen. “You're a horrible person and a terrible mother.”

“What?!” Rosie gasped. “All I want to do is make your lives easier!”

Seraphine stepped in, her voice cutting like glass. “Careful, Mother. You’re running out of children willing to believe that bullshit.”

Rosie rounded on her. “You have no right…”

“I have every right,” Seraphine interrupted coldly. “Especially after you tried to force Elara to marry a man who puts his hands on women just because his family had influence.”

Elara flinched.

Her gaze dropped to the floor, heart pounding as memories she’d buried clawed their way back. She had defended her mother then. Told herself it was tradition, that her mother knew what she was doing.

She knew it was a lie but she didn't have the balls to admit her mother made a terrible mistake.

“What is the use of a marriage without influence! I am helping her!”

Victor exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand down his face. “Enough.”

Rosie turned to him. “What? Victor, are you.”

“I’m calling Damon,” Victor said firmly. “And if he doesn’t answer, I’m going to his house.”

Seraphine grabbed her keys. “I’ll drive.”

Rosie’s voice sharpened. “You will do no such thing.”

Victor met her gaze, steady and unyielding. “We’re going.”

Jordan was already heading for the door, Charm trotting after him. “I’ll be there before you.”

Rosie watched them go, fury burning behind her eyes.

Caleb remained seated.

As the room emptied, he finally stood, retrieving his tablet from the table. Naomi’s name lingered in his thoughts like an unfinished equation.

He would find out who she really was.

But he knew she was far from a mere employee.