Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Nineteen

"You're jealous you didn't think of it first," Elara replied sweetly.

Elias gave her a side glance. "Don't make me push you off the dock."

"You could try," she said, already standing. "But I swing better than you."

"Oh, it's so on."

---

Soon they were back at the sycamore tree. A loose line had formed for the rope swing. Thiago launched off the branch and cannonballed into the lake like a missile. Nikolai, naturally, did a flip.

"Okay show-offs," Elara muttered as Elias handed her the rope. "What's the goal? Most style or biggest splash?"

"Style," Elias said. "Obviously. We're not toddlers."

Elara nodded and walked over to the rope swing.

She swung out and landed with a smooth dive, barely splashing. Cheers erupted again.

"She's been holding back," Elias muttered, mock offended.

---

Back on the dock, toweling off, Elara spotted a familiar silhouette — tall, dark curls, hands in his pockets.

Orion.

He was leaning casually near a cabana with two other boys she didn't recognise – one of them had tousled honey-brown curls and a dangerous smile, the other was broad-shouldered with a quiet calmness and sharp green eyes.

"I'll be right back," she told Elias, padding over barefoot.

"Hey," she said. Orion turned and his face lit up.

"Elara! You actually came!" he said, like it genuinely surprised him.

"I told you I would." Elara's eyes flicked to the other two boys. "Are these your friends?"

Orion grinned. "Family. This is Adonis–" the one boy gave her a two-finger salute "—and this is Theron."

Theron extended a hand. "Nice to finally meet the sister my best friend won't shut up about."

Elara blinked. "Best friend?"

Theron nodded. "Dante."

"Dante's your best friend?"

"Yep," Theron said with a smirk. "He talks. Don't let the scowly face fool you."

"I'm going to bring that up at dinner," Elara muttered.

"You should," Adonis said. "We love chaos."

---

As the sun dipped low, the music mellowed and a bonfire was lit near the lakeshore. Low wooden benches circled the flames, cushions thrown everywhere. String lights glowed from tree to tree.

Elara sat with Elias, Anastasia, and the Vasiliev brothers. Across from them, Dante and Theron threw popcorn at each other, laughing harder than anyone had seen them in months.

Adonis was deep in conversation with Matteo about car engines – weirdly intense. Orion sat near Elara, occasionally bumping her shoulder with his as he made sarcastic comments under his breath.

Then came the drama.

One of the cheerleaders – a girl named Bianca – had clearly had too much imported Prosecco.

She pointed at Elara, voice high and loud.

"I just don’t get it," she said. "Like, who is she? One minute she's invisible, next she's swinging off ropes and stealing everyone's attention."

The whole fire circle went quiet.

Orion stood slowly.

Anastasia tilted her head. "Do you want me to handle it?"

"I've got this," Orion said, stepping forward. "Bianca, you know what I love about your personality?"

She perked up. "What?"

"It's like Wi-Fi at a bad hotel – slow, irritating, and only works when no one needs it."

Laughter burst across the group. Even Theron chuckled.

Bianca huffed and stormed off.

Elara just stared at Orion. "You've been saving that one, haven't you?"

"I have a collection," he said. "For emergencies."

"You're impossible."

"You're welcome."

As the fire crackled and the stars came out, Elara looked around at the people around her – mismatched, chaotic, too many families to count – and for the first time in a long time, she felt like she belonged exactly where she was.