Silent Scars

CHAPTER 36

Once they were gone, Kendric jumped to his feet.

"Alright! Let's continue the tour!"

Luca smiled at Ariana and gestured for her to follow.

"It's not as bad as he makes it sound. You'll like this part."

Kendric led them to the garden, pushing open the glass doors that opened onto a vast expanse of greenery. Ariana stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening at the sight.

The garden was breathtaking. Rows of vibrant flowers lined the pathways, their colors vivid against the soft green of the grass. A fountain stood in the center, its cascading water creating a soothing melody. Trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves casting dappled shadows across the ground.

Ariana felt a rare sense of calm wash over her. The garden was serene, a stark contrast to the chaos that often filled her mind. She closed her eyes briefly, letting the sounds and smells of nature surround her like a protective cocoon.

"You like it, don't you?"

Kendric asked, his grin widening.

Ariana nodded, writing:

"It's beautiful."

Luca, who had been observing her quietly, smiled.

"It's even better at sunset. You'll have to see it then."

Ariana nodded, her lips almost curving into a smile as she glanced at the fountain again.

"Alright, next up.....the garage!"

Kendric announced as they left the garden.

The scent of oil and polished metal greeted them as Kendric threw open the garage doors. Ariana's eyes widened again at the sight of the sleek cars lined up in perfect rows. Each vehicle seemed to shine under the overhead lights, their polished surfaces reflecting like mirrors.

"This is where we keep our collection."

Kendric said, his voice brimming with pride.

"Leonardo has the classic black Lamborghini, Marcus prefers the Range Rover, and Domain...well, he's obsessed with motorcycles."

He pointed to a corner where several powerful bikes were parked.

Ariana's gaze lingered on the bikes for a moment before moving back to the cars. Kendric walked her through the rows, describing each one with boundless enthusiasm, while Luca quietly added details about their history or unique features.

When they reached a fiery red Ferrari, Kendric turned to her.

"One day, I'll teach you to drive one of these."

Ariana's lips parted in surprise, and she shook her head quickly.

She wrote: "No way!"

Kendric laughed.

"We'll see about that!"

After the tour, Kendric declared,

"Time to play some games!"

He led them to the gaming room.

When they entered, they found Domain already there, his attention fixed on the screen as he played a high-speed racing game on the PS5. He glanced at them briefly before scoffing.

"You're bringing her here?"

"Relax, Domain."

Luca said, rolling his eyes.

"We're just here to play."

Ariana stiffened slightly at Domain's dismissive tone but followed Kendric as he led her to a seat.

"Don't mind him."

Kendric said cheerfully, handing her a controller.

"Let's start with something easy."

Luca crouched beside her, showing her how to navigate the controls. His instructions were patient and clear, and soon Ariana was tentatively pressing the buttons, her movements slow but deliberate.

The first round was clumsy, her car crashing into walls and spinning out of control. Kendric teased her mercilessly, but his playful tone eased her nerves. By the second game, Ariana's confidence grew.

She managed to steer her car with surprising precision, even overtaking Kendric at one point.

"Hey, no fair!"

Kendric whined as she crossed the finish line ahead of him.

Luca chuckled.

"Looks like we've got a natural here."

Ariana's lips twitched. It wasn't much, just the faintest hint of a smile, but it was there.

Kendric froze mid-complaint, staring at her in disbelief.

"Did you just smile?"

He asked, his voice full of exaggerated shock.

Ariana's hand flew to her face, her cheeks flushing as she looked away.

"You did!"

Kendric exclaimed, grinning like he'd just won the lottery.

Luca's gaze softened as he watched his sister. It wasn't a big smile, but it was genuine, a moment of light breaking through the shadows she carried.

Even Domain glanced over, his usual scowl softening into something almost resembling curiosity.

Kendric leaned closer to Ariana, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"We're making progress, sis. By the end of the day, I'll have you laughing."

Ariana shook her head but couldn't hide the tiny, fleeting smile that lingered.

DOMAIN HASTINGS

As Ariana continued to play, Domain leaned back in his chair, his mind wandering to the shopping trip. He couldn't shake the memory of her panicked breathing, the way her eyes had darted around the store like a trapped animal.

She wasn't faking it.

The realization unsettled him.

He didn't trust easily, and he wasn't about to start now. But there was something about her that tugged at the edges of his doubt, something he couldn't ignore.

For now, he decided to watch.

To observe.

Because if she was hiding something, he would be the one to uncover it.