Silent Scars

CHAPTER 30

Leonardo sat in his office, staring at Ariana's old school report. His fingers traced the paper absentmindedly as his eyes scanned her grades.

Good marks, just like Domain and Luca.

But his attention snagged on the long list of absences. Weeks at a time, yet she had still managed to keep her grades so high.

"How did she do it?"

He murmured under his breath, his brows knitting together. The thought gnawed at him.

What had kept her away from school so often?

He'd called her here to talk about her studies, though part of him wondered why he was bothering. Only a few weeks ago, he hadn't even prepared a room for her. He'd been so sure she was an imposter, a pawn sent by his enemies. Yet now, here he was, planning her education, rearranging her life.

I need to move her room closer to ours.

He decided, thinking of the isolated space she currently occupied.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Straightening in his chair, he adopted his usual cold demeanor.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Marcus stepped inside. He glanced over his shoulder and said softly,

"You can go in."

Then Marcus nodded at Leonardo, his eyes betraying a flicker of concern, before stepping out and closing the door.

Ariana appeared, her movements tentative. She entered slowly, each step small and careful. Leonardo watched her closely, his sharp gaze noting every detail.

Her long black hair was tied loosely in a ponytail, strands escaping to frame her pale face. She kept her head bowed, but he caught a glimpse of her eyes, deep brown, strikingly similar to their father's.

She was tiny, far too small for her age, and when his eyes drifted to her hands, wrapped in bandages, a sharp pang of guilt struck him.

How had I not noticed sooner that she was hurt?

His heart clenched as he took in the rest of her appearance. She was painfully thin, and it was clear she didn't have many clothes. The same two outfits, alternating day after day.

Does she have nothing else? Maybe she didn't bring all her belongings... or maybe these are the only ones she has.

The thought made him feel hollow.

I'll buy her everything she needs.

"Ariana, sit." He said, his voice softer than he intended.

She hesitated, her body tense, before slowly lowering herself into the chair across from him.

Leonardo studied her closely. The way her shoulders curled inward, the way her eyes stayed downcast, she was like a bird too afraid to take flight.

"Aria."

He said gently, the nickname slipping out before he realized it. It felt strange but right. Since the day she arrived, he had only called her by her full name, keeping her at arm's length. But now the shortened version slipped out naturally, almost warmly.

It felt... right.

Her head tilted up slightly at the way he called her, surprise flickering in her eyes before she quickly looked down again.

"I called you here to talk about school."

He continued, clearing his throat.

"Your classes will start next week."

She nodded silently.

"You've done well in school before. I want you to keep it up.

She nodded again, though her mind wandered briefly. She had always loved school despite the bullies and her dislike for social interactions. It had been her escape from the nightmare of home. She never wanted to miss a day, but her stepfather's and mother's abuse often left her unable to move for weeks.

"You can't take unnecessary leaves."

He added, his voice sharpening slightly.

Her nod came slower this time. He noticed the faint tremor in her hands.

"There are some rules you'll need to follow."

He said next, watching her closely.

At the word rules, she flinched, so subtly that anyone else might have missed it. But Leonardo didn't. His chest tightened.

"You need to tell one of us if you're going out."

He began carefully.

"Don't skip class. Respect your brothers. And if something is bothering you, don't hide it. Come to one of us."

He paused, gauging her reaction. Her wide eyes and slightly parted lips betrayed her surprise.

Her entire life had been governed by her stepfather's cruel, suffocating rules.
But these rules were different, gentle, protective.

They weren't meant to control her, but to.....protect her. She wasn't used to that.

"Do you have any questions?"

He asked, sliding a notepad and pen toward her.

She shook her head quickly, almost too quickly, her movements stiff and controlled.

"You'll be going shopping with Luca and Kendric after their classes today."
He said.

Her shoulders tensed. He could tell she didn't want to go, but she nodded anyway.

Obedient, always obedient.

He slid his phone across the desk.

"Enter your number. "

He said.

She hesitated before taking the pen and scribbling on the notepad instead:

"I don't have a phone."

Leonardo froze for a moment, staring at the words.

She didn't have a phone?

His jaw tightened.

"We'll buy everything you need today."

He said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

She nodded again, her silence weighing heavier than any words.

"If there's nothing else, you can leave." He said after a pause.

She stood, her movements slow and deliberate, and walked toward the door. Leonardo's eyes followed her retreating figure, her thin frame disappearing into the hallway.

For a moment, he sat there in silence, the ache in his chest growing stronger. He had called her here to talk about school, but all he could think about now was the life she must have endured.

And for the first time, he realized just how much he wanted to make things right for her.