It was a need to greet the elders in the family. It was an absolute obligation to greet the eldest, the wrinkliest, the most annoying, most devilish people in the whole family.
Especially Dante's mother.
She was the most frightening, most annoying (according to Lucius), most devilish (according to Elois), and most kindest (according to Anthony) person that they have ever met.
But, she's more on being harsh and unsympathetic.
"Elois Angel Torres!"
Elois sighed loudly, smiling forcibly at their granny because why the hell not? He gritted out the words with a forceful cheer in his tone. "Is it that nice to terminate me first, abuelita?"
(Grandma.)
"Why are you not dressed?" She demanded, pointing a demanding finger at him. She seethed out her next words, "you are dripping wet and you still have froth all over you, your towel is wrapped messily around your waist and your hair is not brushed!"
To say that all of what she said was a lie would be so wrong of Elois.
Yes, it wasn't a lie that he literally ran out of the bathroom, almost breaking his perfect ass when he slipped down the stairs again and very much embarrassed himself when the towel slipped off of his waist. What was worst was that Lucius saw him in that state.
"Oh, my sweet virgin eyes has been tainted!" Lucius had shouted, his voice echoing all throughout the whole house as he shakes his head in disappointment.
He then changed his disgusted look into a blank one. "Ha, wait a minute, I don't have virgin eyes anymore. I've seen too much already." He snickered to himself. "But, I must admit, I do love that expression on your face. The utter defeat that you have on your face is priceless. It's funny."
Due to his horrid shout, Anthony came from around the corner and frowned at Elois as the youngest brother scrambled to stand up, groaning as he wrapped his towel messily around him. He was already embarrassed at his brothers seeing him so vulnerable, he will not lose any more pride.
They saw his pee-pee too so his pride is as small as a bean and his embarrassment is as big as the earth.
"Why did he fall down the stairs?" Anthony had asked the second eldest with a sigh.
Lucius shrugged. "Well, would you be comforted if I said that I pushed him down the stairs?"
Anthony shook his head, looking at him in annoyance. "Luce, I scolded you before about that, right? I'm sure that you learned your lesson by now."
Lucius hummed, nodding his head in agreement. "Then, he tripped, like a simple idiot."
Anthony smiled then. "Very good."
Elois clenched his fist, hoping and wishing that he'll have the patience that's as long as the earth was born because he'll need it to avoid killing a person.
"Well, abuelita." He tried not to seethe in anger. He really tried but he just couldn't help but seethe in utter anger because his grandmother was looking down at him like a poor drenched puppy. "I was very excited to see you that I rushed out in a hurry."
Lucius snorted, enjoying the scene that was playing before him. He hopes that Elois will lose his head because of his childishness.
Anthony sighed, suddenly in deep dejection. Anthony understand his little brother's obvious abhorrence but he should have hid it before greeting their grandmother.
Their grandmother, Bella, harrumphed, glaring at them. "Where's the baby that my son's been gloating about? Why isn't my son here?"
Just in time, Rafael came marching towards them with a nervous look plastered on his face. He stood beside Elois and smiled nervously at the old woman in front of him.
Someone told him that he needed to greet an important person at the front of the door. He didn't expect the brothers to be there as well.
Expecting to greet an important person was making him feel faint right now.
Before he could open his mouth though, Bella spoke with a grumble, "I know that my Dante calls his sons his baby because that's just how he is and I love Dante for calling you people like that but I was expecting an actual baby, not a man. Oh, dear me. I bought all the wrong toys."
Rafael blinked, lost and frightened. He had just gotten here and he did not expect those words from the woman. "W-What?"
"Oh, goodness. I'll have to cancel all my orders then." She mumbled to herself before looking at Rafael with a determined look plastered on her face. "I'll have to order the other kind of toys that's appropriate for you. Tell me, what kind of toys do you and your girlfriend like? Do you like something tame and decent? Or do you swing the other way? Oh, dear, do you have a boyfriend? Oh, I can have toys ready for you. Take it as a welcoming gift!"
Rafael flushed red in horror at the thought of those kinds of...gifts. "I-No! I-I'm not... I-I mean, I don't want to— I mean it's such an honor b-but I can't possibly accept such a thing, I just c-can't but I'm not being rude to you or anything like that, I just—"
What's worse was that Rafael made eye contact with Lucius and the man gave him a cheeky smirk that made him wish that the floor could swallow him whole.
Elois and Anthony held the same disgusted look as they look at their grandmother in absolute terror. How could a witch, such as their grandmother, say such horrid things?
Anthony spoke up after he cleared his throat, trying to keep his expression blank despite his obvious embarrassment. "Abuelita, if I may—"
"Ma?" Dante asks, looking confused when he saw his mother. He didn't know that she was visiting. "Qué estás haciendo aquí?"
(What are you doing here?)
Anthony was so thankful for their father for interrupting him. He didn't like to confront his grandmother, one of the most powerful people in the Torres family.
Bella beamed at her son. Her devious expression changed into a kinder one, causing Elois to narrow his eyes at Bella.
"Mijo, there you are!"
(My son.)
Dante walked closer with hesitant steps, looking her like she was a predator. "Why didn't you call me? Where's papa?"
She grinned and winked at him cheekily. "I took off without him. I need to see your new baby and I never thought that he was so handsome! I was offering him gifts! You see, I bought the wrong ones because I thought that when you said baby when we were talking on the phone the other day, I thought you meant a real baby. However, that's on me. I forgot that you treat all your sons your baby, you call them your baby so it's on me. I'm sorry, darling."
Dante looks at Rafael in confusion. The man was flushed red and was looking at the floor like it was the first time he'd ever step on a thing called floor.
Even Anthony and Elois had a weird look plastered on their faces. Lucius' expression was the only one who remained true.
Smug and cocky. As usual.
"Ma, what did you say to my sons?" He asked worriedly, being the overly protective father that he was.
Bella scoffed. "You're too overprotective of them, flower. Stop fussing."
"Please don't scold me over how I treat my kids." Dante sighed, shaking his head. "And you didn't answer my question. Qué estás haciendo aquí?"
(What are you doing here?)
Bella glowered at her son. She was upset at the cold words of Dante but she wasn't surprised. After all, Dante had been like that since he was little. To be honest, he's completely mellow now compared to when he was a child.
Kid Dante was a cold boy.
Bella sighed, defeated. Dante will not let her go if she doesn't answer him clearly. "I've answered you before, Dante. I'm here to see my grandchild."
Dante narrowed his eyes. He does not like the obvious importunate tone that his mother used. However, he doesn't have any choice. His mother may seem like her words were warm, like she wants to actually see her grandchild, but that's not only the case.
"Rafael is not your grandchild, ma." Dante ignored the way his mother's eyes lit up dangerously, ignored the way she smirked at him like she'd won, ignored the way she looked at him like she was expecting his every word.
In some ways, Anthony resembled his grandmother, Bella. He was calculative but he hides it with a warm smile and with fake sweet words that could wrap people up and become his little puppets.
In this family, everything is a little game that should be played carefully. If you lose, you could possible lose something very valuable to you.
"Rafael." Dante called out. "Can you bring Isabella here? I'm sure she's awake from her nap now."
Rafael nodded obediently before hurriedly leaving.
Bella jeered, "Isabella, you say? Ha! At least that wench gave my grandchild some of my name. At least I know now that her brains aren't just for display. How annoying."
Dante pinched the bridge of his nose. Why was his mother so frustrating to face? "Let's not, mom. Please."
Bella clicked her tongue in displeasure before looking at her grandchildren again. "Don't ever be like your papa, okay? He's very soft hearted even if he tries not to be."
Anthony smiled kindly, however, everyone who knew him would see how vexed he was with the woman. "Abuelita, please. If you're just here to rebuke each and every one of us then please come back another day."
In some ways, it was Anthony who could stand up to Bella due to how similar they both were. They were both guileful and they hide it with an innocent mask that causes people to fall for it like fools.
"I'm here to see my grandchildren, Anthony."
"Then act like it." Anthony exclaimed sweetly with a smile that stabbed Bella's authority. "Because I certainly don't see that right now."
"Tony." Lucius chastised carefully. Anthony was playing with fire, Lucius knows that and he just doesn't want his eldest brother to get burned in the process.
"That's enough." Elois added worriedly.
"Anthony." Bella warned, her eyes narrowing. Her gaze was sharp and was glinting dangerously. She's a dangerous woman. Everyone knows that. Her tone held authority that could helplessly pin everyone down until they rot. She has a duplicitous behavior at times that leaves everyone powerless.
It's annoying, Anthony thought.
"Is that how you talk to your grandmother?"
"Am I talking to my grandmother or am I talking to Bella Torres, the head of the family?"
Before anybody could speak, a little voice interrupted them. A small adorable voice shattered the intense atmosphere, causing everyone to release a tense feeling that they didn't know that they were holding.
"Isabella." Dante said in relief, immediately taking his daughter out of Rafael's gentle hold.
Rafael gave the baby to her father with ease. He trusts the man, after all.
Isabella immediately laid her head on her father's shoulder, her little arms gently wrapped itself around his neck. She was still sleepy, her eyes were droopy and she yawned adorably that everyone's heart skipped a beat.
"Ms. President." Elois called softly, relieved. He was glad that Isabella was there now. He was frightened of what might happen if Anthony were to continue to provoke their grandmother.
Isabella looked at the person who called her. She blinked groggily at Elois before beaming softly. She waved her small hand at him.
"Bawr." She quietly said, giving him a toothy grin.
Elois beamed, his previous fear was immediately replaced with fondness. His cold heart warmed up immediately.
Meanwhile, Lucius looked at Rafael. "What took you two so long? We could have been dead if you didn't come."
Rafael was surprised at the sudden question. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I had to change Bella's diapers. I'm sorry."
"It's still a baby." Bella said suddenly, looking at Isabella like she was an experiment that would succeed. "And it's a girl."
She grinned deviously.
"Don't call my daughter 'it', ma." Dante said, hugging Isabella closer to him while glaring at the old woman.
Bella grumbled. She should just follow her son's words and avoid calling the baby 'it.' she nodded begrudgingly. "Fine. Isabella is still a baby and on top of that, she is a girl."
"That woman's parents called me and said that this child was mine." Dante exclaimed, patting Isabella's back gently, hoping that he would calm down with his own action. "But, I don't remember anything that could lead to having... Isabella."
Rafael tensed. He didn't like where this was going.
"Well, that's bad." Bella said casually, looking bored at the conversation. "I told you, didn't I? You shouldn't have let your guard down around that petty woman. Maybe she drugged you at that time and used you."
Dante sighed. He didn't like the idea but it was definitely a possibility. It could even be the answer already. "Probably."
"But why?" Bella asks to herself, looking annoyed. She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "And why choose to give Isabella to you after she turned one?"
Questions were flooding in and nobody had answers to it. It was annoying and it was definitely suspicious. How could Tatiana be pregnant if Dante doesn't even have any recollection of doing it? For what reason did she do it? And why did she choose to run away with Isabella, only to give her back after the baby turned one?
"It doesn't matter. Isabella is now part of the Torres." Bella said, looking at the baby in her son's arms with a blank expression. "Anthony is right. I came here, not as your mother and as their grandmother to your children but the the head of this family."
Dante glared at his mother in annoyance. He already knows that his mother came to their home as the head of the family.
"How cold of you." Lucius muttered. He was already expecting this confession. It didn't matter to him though. The old woman in front of him was not one of his family member but a dangerous person to his father and siblings.
"I don't care if I am." She uttered calmly. "This is for all of your sakes."
Elois rolled his eyes. As if she cared about family and everyone's sakes. She never cared about that.
Bella bore holes in her granddaughter by staring at her intensely.
Finally, a little baby girl in the family, she thought, smirking.
"I'm satisfied." Bella nodded, smiling warmly this time. "I'm just here to see my granddaughter."
Rafael was tense as he wearily look at the old woman. She noticed it and smirked knowingly. "What? I'm not going to hurt you. Not intentionally, at least."
"But you could hurt Isabella if you wanted to." He answered, knowing how true his words were.
Bella hummed in amusement. "Obviously, but I can't since I love this family too much. Relax. Isabella is in the Torres' care now."
Isabella looks at old woman with a confused look. She was probably curious since Bella is a new face in her new home.
"Baba?" She asks, confused. She looks at Lucius, who was looking at her, and pointed at their grandmother. "Baba?"
"Yes, honey." Lucius smiled. "She's a hag."
Anthony slapped the back of his head. "Lucius." He warned, clearly displeased by his words.
Elois hummed thoughtfully. He looks at Anthony with a pout, looking slightly upset. "Well, it's not a lie."
Isabella tilts her head to the side before clutching her father's shirt. She cooed softly, still looking at Bella, her grandmother.
Bella's expression softened a bit. She should be a little kinder to her granddaughter.
"Well, I've seen her. That's enough for me."
"Wait!" Rafael called, stopping Bella in her place. Her sharp, unwavering gaze turned to the man and she frowned.
Rafael gulped when he suddenly became the center of her attention. It felt like her gaze could devour him whole.
"That's it?" Rafael said, sounding so out of breath. "You're just going to leave? Why did you want to see Isabella in the first place?"
"That's none of your concern, seeing as you aren't family." Her words made him flinch. He has overstepped once again. He shouldn't be so informal with the old woman.
He looked down in shame.
Bella glowered at him but then sighed.
She looks at her son. "She will be acknowledged in the organization after she turns five." She said sternly.
If Isabella were to be acknowledged as a part of their dark and disgusting world then Isabella can't and will never be able to escape.
"You should be glad that she'll be introduced after she turns five. Most children in this business are introduced after they turned one."
"How could I be happy about my daughter's upcoming burdens? How could I be glad about my daughter's upcoming chained freedom?"
"Do you want to end up like the Cattaneos? The head killed his wife because they tried to hide their daughter from the head of this organization. Do you want to choose that fate? Who are you going to kill for your stupid decision if you follow that foolish family's footsteps? Your sons? Your daughter?"
Nobody spoke and so she smirked knowingly.
Her gaze turned to Rafael. "This is the purpose of my visit. To remind those who've forgotten their place in this kind of world."
Isabella looked at their grandmother and beamed, breaking the cold atmosphere that the old woman had built. "Buh-bah!"
She waved her hand goodbye.
Bella smiled then. She nodded her head in acknowledgement. "She's a smart little girl. I just hope that she's smart enough to know what will happen to her if she runs away in the future."
Dante hugged her child closer, glaring at Bella.
She chuckled.
"So, my granddaughter should be careful. After all, life's a little game that people play. I would hate for her to lose."
With those last words, she left without uttering any goodbyes.
She just left a cold chill running down everyone's spine at the thought of that so-called game that their Isabella would likely play in the future.
So, Dante is not the head of their fam yet. It's Bella so she's very dangerous.
What do you think of Bella?
Hope this chapter was alright (;•﹏•)
And I hope that you enjoyed it!