Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Nineteen

"This is unreal," Olivia whispered, staring at the setup.

And it was. White canvas cabanas lined one side of the water, low wooden tables stacked with crushed ice, imported drinks, and fruit platters. A live DJ set up on the far end, mellow house music thumping softly. On the other side, an old sycamore tree leaned over the lake — from its thickest branch hung a sturdy rope with a knotted loop, already wet from use.

Matteo had just cannonballed into the lake, soaking Raffaele mid-conversation with some boys from the football team.

Elias, in black swim trunks and a chain around his neck, leaned back on a lounger under a half-shaded pergola, arms folded behind his head like he owned the place. Which, technically, he did.

When he saw Elara approaching, his brows lifted slightly.

"She actually came," he muttered under his breath.

"She looks amazing," Thiago muttered under his breath beside him, sipping something fizzy and way too expensive. Elias sent him a glare before he stood up and walked over to the three girls.

Olivia gave a tiny squeal. "Okay, what do we do first?"

"Don't scream," Anastasia said flatly. "This isn't Disneyland."

Elara stifled a laugh. Olivia, undeterred, tossed her hair and marched toward the cabanas like she was about to be crowned Queen of Summer. Anastasia followed at a more leisurely pace, adjusting her sunglasses and scanning the scene like she was mentally rating everyone's outfits from one to catastrophic.

Elara stayed back for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the lake and the people scattered across the property. The music thumped low and steady, blending with the soft murmur of conversation, splashing water, and clinking glasses. She felt the heat of the sun against her shoulders and the subtle weight of eyes – a few curious, others watchful.

Elias dropped back onto his lounger just in time to see a group of boys from the football team gathering near the cabana bar. Loud, sweaty, and overconfident — the usual.

"Brace yourself," he muttered to Elara, "here comes the walking hormone brigade."

Elara turned just in time to see a few of them swagger up to Anastasia, who stood elegantly by the citrus drink table like a high priestess judging mortals.

"Hey," said one of the boys, twirling his sunglasses. "If beauty were a crime, you'd be serving a life sentence."

Anastasia blinked. "If bad flirting were a felony, you'd be on death row."

Elias snorted and Elara choked on her drink.

The boy looked thrown, but still continued."I'm just sayin'–if you want someone to keep you warm later by the fire–"

"I have a flamethrower and two very scary older brothers," Anastasia said flatly. "Guess which one I'd prefer?"

As if being summoned, two figures stepped out from the tree line.

Anastasia's oldest brother, tall and smooth in a dark navy T-shirt, strolled up behind his sister. "Are we talking about me?"

Nikolai, Anastasia's younger older brother, popped a grape into his mouth and grinned at the football boys. "Please flirt with her again. I haven't seen anyone panic-drown in quite a while."

The boys blinked. One of them backed away muttering something about sunscreen.

"The older looking one is Mikhail. He graduated last year." Elias whispered to Elara.

Mikhail clapped one on the shoulder with a dazzling smile. "We're chill. Just don't get stupid."

Elias leaned toward Elara. "I like them. They're like security cameras, but with sarcasm."