Silent Scars

CHAPTER 31

♡Happy New Year, everyone!♡

𝚃𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎'𝚜 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚂𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚛.

ᴡɪsʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴀ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀғᴜʟ ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴀʜᴇᴀᴅ!!🪄

Ariana stood outside Leonardo’s office, her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of his gaze still lingering on her back. She hadn’t expected him to ask so many questions or notice so much about her.

For years, she had lived as though invisible, her existence barely acknowledged. Now, surrounded by brothers who watched her so closely, she felt exposed.

She heard voices coming from the living room and froze, her instincts telling her to turn back. But before she could retreat, Kendric’s voice broke through.

“Aria!”

He called, bounding toward her with his usual enthusiasm.

“Luca says we’re heading out for shopping. Ready?”

She blinked at him, unsure how to respond.

“Come on!!”

He said, beckoning her with a wave.

“Luca’s waiting."

She hesitated but nodded, her hands clutching her arms.

“You’re coming?”

Another voice cut in sharply.

Ariana flinched as Domain stepped into view, his eyes narrowing at her. His presence filled the space with an icy tension, and Ariana instinctively shrank back.

“Why?” Kendric asked, frowning.

“You hate shopping.”

“I’m not going for fun.”
Domain replied coldly. His gaze stayed fixed on Ariana, hard and unrelenting.

“Someone has to make sure she doesn’t pull anything.”

Ariana’s heart sank, her fingers tightening around the hem of her shirt.

“Domain”

Luca’s calm voice interrupted as he walked into the hallway. His eyes met Domain’s, firm and unyielding.

“If you’re coming, keep your comments to yourself.”

Domain gave a dismissive shrug but said nothing more.

“Let’s go.”

Luca said, his tone gentler now as he turned to Ariana.

The car ride was tense, with Kendric’s usual chatter struggling to fill the uncomfortable silence. Ariana sat in the back, pressed against the door, her gaze fixed on the passing streets. Domain sat beside her, his arms crossed, his eyes flicking toward her every so often.

When they arrived at the mall, Ariana hesitated at the entrance. The bright lights, bustling crowds, and unfamiliar sounds were overwhelming, and her chest tightened with anxiety. She took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to retreat.

“Move it.”

Domain muttered impatiently, brushing past her.

“Aria, it’s okay.”

Luca said softly, noticing her hesitation.

“We’re just getting what you need. Nothing more.”

She nodded, forcing herself to step forward, though her hands trembled at her sides.

The store hummed with activity, the air filled with the sounds of conversations, rustling clothes, and soft background music, Kendric’s energy returned as he darted toward a rack of hoodies.

“Aria, look! This one’s perfect for you.”

He said, holding up a bright red hoodie.

Before she could react, Domain scoffed.

“She doesn’t need anything flashy. She’s not staying.”

“Domain, stop.”

Luca said sharply, his calm voice carrying an edge that silenced his brother.

Ariana flinched at the exchange, her fingers brushing against the sleeve of a plain blue sweater. She clutched it to her chest, finding comfort in its simplicity.

“That one’s nice.” Luca said gently, offering her a small smile.

She nodded, her focus on the sweater as if it could shield her from the tension.

As they moved through the store, Kendric began piling clothes into a cart, picking out everything from simple t-shirts to warm jackets.

“She needs all the basics.”

He explained when Ariana’s eyes widened at the growing heap.

Luca, more measured, picked out items he thought would suit her personality, soft cardigans, plain dresses, and a few pairs of jeans.

“Don’t worry, Aria.”

Kendric said, grinning as he placed a pair of fuzzy slippers into the cart.

“You deserve this.”

They moved to the shoe section, where Kendric grabbed sneakers in various colors, sandals, and even a pair of glittery flats he insisted she’d like. Luca selected more practical options. neutral-toned boots and simple loafers.

Ariana stood by a rack of sweaters, her fingers grazing the fabric of a plain gray one. It felt soft, comforting, something that wouldn’t draw attention.

Behind her, the chatter of a family floated through the air.

“Do you like it, honey?”
A man asked, his voice warm and casual as he addressed his daughter.

Ariana froze.

Her nails dug into the fabric of the sweater she held, the soft material grounding her in the present even as her chest tightened painfully. Her breath stuttered, catching in her throat like a broken melody.

The word honey echoed in her mind, sharp and jagged like broken glass. Her breath hitched, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. The world around her seemed to blur, the noise fading into a dull roar as her chest tightened.

Her hands began to tremble, her grip on the sweater faltering.

Domain, who had been leaning against a nearby wall, keeping an eye on her, noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor. Her pale skin grew even lighter, and her hands shook as she clutched at the fabric.

He frowned, stepping closer but keeping his distance.

Ariana took a shaky step backward, bumping into the rack behind her. Her heart screamed at her to run, but her legs refused to move. She lowered her head, her lips pressed tightly together, willing the moment to pass.

“Aria.”

Luca’s calm voice broke through the haze as he approached. His eyes softened when he saw her trembling hands and unfocused gaze.

“Are you okay?”

Ariana blinked up at him, her lips trembling as she pointed toward the washroom.

“Go.” Luca said gently.

“We’ll wait for you here.”

She nodded stiffly and hurried away, her steps unsteady.

Domain watched her disappear into the washroom, his eyes narrowing. Something about the way she had reacted unsettled him, but he brushed it off, crossing his arms.

“What’s her deal now?”

He muttered under his breath.