Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Calviero house was rarely quiet, but in the hazy glow of early morning, the halls still held a kind of stillness. Golden light filtered in through the tall windows. Somewhere downstairs, a kettle clicked on. A distant espresso machine whirred.

On the second floor, in the soft cocoon of Elara's room, time had paused.

Two figures lay curled under a pale blanket – Orion's arms flung protectively around Elara like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her platinum hair spilled across the pillow, his dark curls tousled from sleep. A peaceful silence wrapped around the two of them.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked like the house was under siege.

"Elara" came Salvatore's sharp voice, yet, still softening while he spoke to his little sister. "We need to talk. Open the–"

The door wasn't locked.

So naturally, the brothers opened it.

Dante, Salvatore, and Luca stood in the doorway, frozen mid-step like statues.

There was silence.

"What the actual hell–" Dante started.

Salvatore's voice cracked through the room like thunder. "There's a boy in her bed? Why the fuck is there a fucking boy in her bed?"

Luca blinked. "Wait. Is he breathing?"

"Of course he's breathing!" Dante hissed.

"She's fifteen!" Salvatore barked, already halfway through planning Orion's funeral. "And a boy is sneaking into her room? At this age? I expected a few months of peace before having to hunt someone down."

"Relax," Luca said dryly, eyeing a sleeping Orion. "At least it's a brother and not a boyfriend."

Elara stirred, blinking slowly. "Mmh?" She sat up groggily. "Why are you all yelling like someone got shot?"

"Just five more minutes…" Orion mumbled, not moving.

Dante pointed like he'd discovered a crime scene. "He's in your bed."

"He's my twin," she said, rubbing her eyes. "It's not weird."

"Everything is weird right now," Salvatore snapped.

Orion sat up now, hair sticking up in different directions like a hedgehog. "I'm her brother. Not that it's any of your business."

"You're new around here, so I'll give you a break this one time since you don't know," Luca muttered, crossing his arms. "But, you have to get used to it being our business. Everything involving Elara, sister by blood or not, is our business."

Elara flopped back onto her pillow. "I'm going to pretend this is all a dream."

"I wish it were," Salvatore grumbled under his breath. "Get dressed. We're talking downstairs."

Orion raised a brow. "What is this, family court?"

Dante smirked dangerously. "Pretty much."

---

Elara and Orion walked in to find every Calviero brother present – including Nico, Matteo, and Raffaele – sipping espresso with the cold precision of men preparing for war.

"Morning," Elara muttered.

"She lives!" Nico cheered.

"She had a boy in her room," Matteo corrected, raising a brow at Orion.

Raffaele sipped his espresso. "Who's not dead. Yet."

"Hey," Orion said coolly. "I'm the twin. Not the boyfriend."