Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Twenty-Six

The sun dipped low behind the school's wrought iron gates, casting long shadows across the parking lot where a few students lingered, chatting or checking their phones. Orion Drakos stood beside his sleek black bike, tossing his helmet from one hand to the other, debating whether to head home or stop by the coffee cart near the tennis courts.

His phone buzzed.

A message flashed on the screen:

Dad:
Hello, son. Please go home with the Calviero children today. Trust me. We'll explain everything at the house.

Orion's brows drew together. He stared at the message, then looked around until his gaze landed on the black SUV parked at the curb. Matteo stood by the rear passenger door, phone in hand, brows raised.

Orion walked over, tilting his head. "What's going on?"

Matteo shrugged. "Just got a message from my father too. Said to wait for you. You're coming home with us."

"Why?"

"No clue. Just said to trust him."

As if on cue, the rest of the Calviero crew emerged – Nico, Elias, and Elara, who was mid-conversation with Nico. Elara blinked when she saw Orion and offered him a small wave, a quiet smile tugging at her lips.

"Wait," Elias said, frowning. "Why's he coming with us?"

Matteo opened the back door. “Dad’s orders. Don’t ask me.”

The ride was quiet, taut with questions no one had the answers to. Elara kept glancing at Orion, a strange weight in her chest, like something big was waiting just over the horizon. He felt it too. The silence between them wasn't cold – it was static.

When they pulled up at the estate, something was already off.

The driveway was empty of usual staff, the air hushed. No scent of espresso or old jazz playing in the background. Just stillness.

They barely had time to kick off their shoes when one of the staff emerged quietly from a hallway and said, "Mr. Drakos and Miss Elara – Mr. Calviero would like to see you in the main parlor."

Only them.

Elara looked toward her brothers, but none followed. Orion gave her an unsure look.

"You ready?" she asked softly.

"No," Orion said. "But let's go."

They walked side by side through the long marble hallway. Elara could hear her own heart pounding. When they reached the doors to the parlor, the butler opened them silently.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick. Leonidas Drakos stood tall near the windows, hands behind his back. Alessandro leaned against the mantle, stern but composed. Sitting elegantly on the velvet couch, with her silver-blonde hair swept into a chignon and eyes gleaming with emotion, was Thalia Drakos and next to her sat her husband, Dionysios Drakos.

Thalia rose when she saw Orion.

"There you are, my boy," she whispered.

Orion frowned. "Nana?" he said, surprised. "What's going on? What is this?"

Elara stopped walking. Her eyes were on Thalia. "You… you were at the ice rink a few days ago."

Thalia smiled gently. "Yes. That was me. I had to be sure."

"Sure of what?" Orion asked, stepping forward slowly, guarded. "Why am I here?"

Thalia turned toward Alessandro, who gave a tight nod.

"Sit," he said, voice low and steady. "Both of you. There's something you deserve to know."

Elara sat first, slowly, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Orion remained standing for a moment, jaw tight, before finally lowering himself onto the arm of a nearby chair.

Leonidas exhaled.

"Orion… son… there are things that were taken from us long ago. And we haven't always known the full truth. But today we do."

Orion's brow furrowed. "Taken?"

Isabella stepped in quietly from the hallway, her gaze locking on Orion. For a heartbeat, her expression faltered. She didn't cry – she didn't dare – but her hand found Alessandro's as if it was the only thing grounding her.

Thalia stepped forward, her voice warm, hopeful. "You were raised by a woman who claimed to be your mother – Verena. We know that. And we're not here to tear her memory apart. But Orion, she lied. To us all."

There was a moment of silence.

"Verena found out that the one-night stand I had had gotten the woman pregnant. She took you from your real mother, Isabella," Leonidas said softly. "She threatened Isabella, blackmailed her. Told Isabella that you'd be raised as her son – that Isabella would never see you again. But that you would still be happy living with her and your father, me."

Orion's gaze snapped to Isabella, who stood stiff and pale. She gave a tiny nod, barely breathing.

"I was young. I made mistakes. I didn't even know for sure if I'd ever see you again," she whispered.

Elara’s head turned sharply to Leonidas. "Wait... what do you mean? You're my biological father? You–"

"You're twins," Thalia said gently, eyes glistening. "Elara. Orion. You were born together. But raised apart."

The room spun.

Elara sat frozen on the spot.

Orion shot up from his seat, voice cold. "Twins?"

Leonidas nodded. "You were stolen before you could even speak. Isabella was told she'd never find you again. She chose to keep Elara safe, to protect her from that pain."

"No one told me," Elara whispered. "Not even Mom. Why?"

Isabella took a step forward, voice cracking. "Because I didn't want you to grow up wondering where your brother was. It destroyed me. I didn't want it to destroy you like it did me."

Orion's hands curled into fists. "Why now?"

"We only confirmed it days ago," Leonidas said firmly. “Your grandmother had suspicions for a long time, but she waited. Until we knew it was the truth. We didn't want to break your world without cause."

Orion's jaw clenched. He looked at Elara, then at the others, then back again. His voice shook.

"So what am I supposed to do with this?"

"I don't know," Elara whispered.

Orion looked at her.

She looked like him.

She had his eyes. His bone structure. His exact reflection – but softened by a different life.

Orion stepped forward, closed the gap between them, and gently kissed her forehead. Elara flinched, surprised, but didn't pull away.

"I need a minute," he muttered. "I need some air."

"Orion–" Leonidas started.

But he was already turning.

Orion strode out of the room, out the front doors, straight to the gate. The staff tried to call after him, but he waved them off. A taxi happened to be pulling up for another guest, and he climbed in without a word.

Elara stood in the middle of the grand room, eyes wide, arms wrapped around herself like a shield.

No one spoke.

Because what do you say when your entire life shifts in a single heartbeat?