Inheritance Redefined

Chapter One

The gates of Elara's new home opened slowly, but it still felt too fast.

Elara sat straight in the backseat of the sleek black car, her fingers nervously smoothing the edge of her skate bag in her lap. The towel inside was old and fraying, but she'd wrapped her blades carefully - like she always did. It felt silly bringing them,she doubted there was a rink nearby, but somehow, they made her feel safe. Like no matter how strange everything got, she still had that part of herself.

She glanced out the window as they pulled through. Ivy climbed the walls. Tall trees lined the gravel drive. Somewhere in the distance, birds were chirping - faint but still there.

Elara took a breath.Nothing felt normal anymore.

---

The house - no, mansion - looked like something straight out of a movie. Smooth stone steps. Carved columns. A front door wide enough to drive through. It wasn't cold exactly... but it didn't feel lived-in either. Not a home,but more like a museum. Beautiful, perfect, and not meant to be touched.

Her mother reached for her hand as they climbed out, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Be open-minded," she said, her voice soft and comforting. "They're... different."

Elara gave a small nod. "I'll try."

She didn't know what else to say. She hadn't met the Calviero family properly - not really. Her mother had kept the relationship quiet. And now, here she was, stepping into a home full of strangers who was supposed to be her new family.

Her new stepfather, Alessandro Calviero, waited in the main hall. He looked exactly like his photo - tall, serious, silver at the temples, like someone who never raised his voice because he never needed to.

"Elara," he said, offering her a nod before hugging and kissing her mother on the cheeck. "Welcome."

She smiled, even if it felt a little wobbly. "Thank you."

His eyebrows lifted slightly at her politeness. He said nothing more, just gestured for the housekeeper, who was already approaching quietly.

"This way, signora."

---

The hallways were long and shining, lined with pale art and antique lights. Elara caught glimpses of tall windows, iron balconies, and a wide staircase curving like ribbon toward the second floor.

She walked quietly, trying not to gawk - or trip. Her shoes squeaked a little against the floors.

As they reached the room, a door opened nearby.

A boy stepped out - maybe seventeen, dark-haired,an unreadable expression on his face.

He saw her. She smiled, although, not looking into his eyes.

He didn't smile back, didn't say anything at all. Just looked at her like she was something new and inconvenient, then walked away without a word.

Her smile dimmed, but only a little.

---

Elara's room was on the second floor - surprisingly warm. There were soft sheets, cream-colored curtains, and a little desk by the window. A vase of sunflowers waited on the nightstand. She liked that someone had thought of that.

Elara thanked the housekeeper with a gentle "thank you" and the woman paused - surprised, maybe - before nodding and leaving.

She set her skate bag down carefully. Then crossed the room and opened the window. The breeze that came in smelled like trees and sunlight and lemons.

Her window looked over the backyard and she could see a lake in the distance with trees surrounding it.

Elara let out a sigh,this was a big change, but maybe not a terrible one.

---

Later that evening, there was a soft knock at her door.

When she opened it, a boy stood there. Not the one from earlier. This one was younger, maybe her age - messy hair, arms crossed, and an annoyed look on his face like he wanted to be anywhere else.

He held out a tray with soup and bread.

"Dinner," he said, Elara avoided eye contact, even though she was wearing contact lenses, she didn't like looking people in the eyes. She was scared they'd see through her lenses.

"Oh! Thank you." She took the tray, trying not to let the soup slosh.

He turned to go, but she smiled anyway. "I'm Elara, by the way."

He paused just a second. Then shrugged. "Elias."

Before she could say more, he was gone.

But Elara still smiled, tray warm in her hands. She was used to being ignored, but she always greeted people anyway. Eventually, someone would say hello back.

---

She ate sitting by the window, the tray balanced on her knees, the lemon breeze drifting in beside her.

It wasn't London.

It wasn't the rink, or her quiet little room back home, or her mum's messy laugh.

It was something new.

And even if no one here quite knew what to do with her yet...

She'd just keep being herself.