Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Six

The late afternoon light slanted golden through Elara's bedroom windows. She sat on the edge of her bed, still barefoot, her contact lenses lying beside the mirror untouched. The memory of Alessandro's voice - "Your eyes are magnificent" - echoed faintly in her mind.

There was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," Elara called.

Her mother stepped inside with a warm smile and a cup of tea. She looked beautiful, as always - elegant without trying, her blonde hair loose for once.

"How was it?" she asked gently. "The trip with Alessandro?"

Elara gave a quiet laugh. "I told him almost everything. About the skating. The contacts. The bullying. I took them out."

Her mother walked over, set the tea down, and sat beside her, smiling gently. "I know. He told me."

Elara blinked. "He did?"

She nodded, smile softening. "He said your eyes were beautiful. That anyone who made you feel otherwise was a fool."

For a moment, Elara could only stare. "He said that?"

"Sì," her mother confirmed. "And that he doesn't like seeing people rot. Whatever that means."

Elara laughed again, but this time it stuck in her chest - warm, surprised.

Her mother glanced at the small clock on the dresser. "Listen, amore, I came to tell you that we're all eating dinner tonight as a family."

Elara stiffened. "With everyone?"

"Yes. It's how it usually is, but Alessandro asked we keep things quiet for your first few days here. To let you settle in."

Elara swallowed. "And now?"

"Now it's time. You're part of the family, and that includes sitting at the table."

---

By seven, Elara stood in front of the mirror in a soft black dress that reached just above her knees. Her mother had helped her pin back her hair, and for once, Elara didn't wear the contacts. She was done hiding.

Her heart hammered as she stepped toward the dining room.

The doors loomed tall and carved, slightly open.

Inside, the room glowed with light from a chandelier and golden sconces. A long table stretched almost the length of the hall, set with crystal glasses and silverware that gleamed under the soft light.

Alessandro was already seated at the head, sharp in a dark suit. Elara's mother sat on his left. On the right side of the table, only a few seats were filled.

Elara recognized Elias instantly - he was the one who brought her dinner on her first night. He gave her a brief glance and then rolled his eyes.

She smiled at Raffaele and he smirked slightly at her.

And next to him was the boy she had seen the first day in the hallway.He raised an eyebrow at her as their eyes met.

"Oh look, the new princess has finally arrived," he said.

Elara tilted her head slightly. "You must be Nico." Her mother had told her a bit about her new stepbrothers when she was doing her hair.

Nico grinned. "Sharp girl."

"She's definitely sharper than you," muttered the man beside him, without looking up from where he was texting on his phone.

Elara recognized him too - Salvatore, the oldest and deadliest one her mother had talked about.

More chairs scraped back as the remaining brothers arrived. One of them - tall, with lean muscle and intense eyes - paused as he caught sight of her, then he sat down without a word.

Elara was placed between Raffaele and Elias, across from Nico, who spent more time smirking than eating. The others were harder to pin down - all of them quiet, controlled, unreadable.

For the first half of dinner, Elara spoke only when spoken to.

Then Raffaele tilted his head and asked, out of nowhere, "Elara, I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?"

Elara didn't blink. "An echo."

The fork in Nico's hand paused mid-air.

The room was silent for half a beat.

Then, Raffaele gave a short nod. "Impressive."

"She's been reading the same books you hoard Raf?" Nico muttered.

Alessandro lifted his wine glass without looking up. "If she has, she's using them better than you ever did Nico."

Nico shut up instantly.

Elara sat a little straighter.

The rest of dinner passed in strange, quiet waves - filled with tension, curiosity and cautious glances. A few smiles. Not all warm yet, but no longer as cold.

When Elara left the table, her hands still slightly trembling, she didn't expect anyone to follow.

No one did.

But later, when she returned to her room, she found a folded black skate jacket on her bed. Clean. Elegant. Her initials stitched inside the collar in gold thread.

No note.

But she knew, one of her new brothers had done his research.

That night, Elara went to bed with one of the biggest smiles she had ever had on her face.