Warning
1537 Words
FEW MINUTES LATER
The mansion was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint crackle from the fireplace. Damien slouched comfortably on one of the cream couches, scrolling through his phone, while Lucian sat across from him, a glass of water in hand. Leah had taken the smaller couch, hugging a throw pillow like it was her shield.
For a while, none of them spoke, it was that peaceful lull that only came after some chaos.
Leah shifted in her seat, curling her feet up. “You both are still mad at me?” she asked in a small voice.
Lucian didn’t look up from the file he had just opened again. “We’re not mad,” he said. “We’re tired.”
Damien chuckled. “He means we’re used to your drama.”
Leah made a face. “You’re both impossible.”
Damien smirked. “Takes one to know one.”
Before she could reply, his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen, and froze. His lips twitched, and he quickly turned the phone face down.
Lucian noticed immediately. “Who is it?”
Damien hesitated. “Uh… Mom.”
Leah’s eyes widened. She instantly palmed her face with a sigh. “Oh no.”
Lucian leaned back, watching Damien expectantly. “Well?”
Damien grimaced. “You think I should pick it?”
Lucian gave a short nod. “You better. You know she’ll just keep calling.”
Leah groaned. “I’m doomed.”
With a deep breath, Damien picked up the phone and put it on speaker. “Hey, Mom.”
The woman’s voice came loud and sharp through the speaker, filling the whole room. “Damien, tell me right now, is your sister with you?”
Leah closed her eyes and sank deeper into the couch.
Damien shot her a quick look before replying, “Uh… yes, she’s here.”
The voice on the other end didn’t miss a beat. “When will that girl stop being a little brat and finally be useful to herself and this family?”
Lucian pressed his lips together, trying not to smile. Damien mouthed, you’re dead at Leah.
Their mother continued, her voice cool and commanding. “Tell her that if I have to take a pause from my vacation to come find her, she won’t like it one bit. She better book the next flight back home, right now!”
Leah groaned and covered her face. “Mom…” she whined softly.
Damien tried to play peacemaker. “She just came to see us, Mom. She said she missed us.”
“Oh, she missed you?” their mother repeated with clear sarcasm. “Did she also tell you that she ran away because she didn’t want to work?”
Leah gasped. “Mom! Why would you say that?”
Her mother didn’t slow down. “Let me not get a hold of you, young lady! You’ll be sorry for wasting your time like this.”
Leah let out a small cry of frustration. “Mom!”
“Shut your little mouth and get your ass back here before I decide to fly home myself!”
Lucian tried to hide a small chuckle, lowering his glass. Damien couldn’t help himself, he burst out laughing.
Leah glared at both of them, her cheeks puffing as she stomped her feet. “You two are supposed to help me, not laugh!”
Lucian raised a brow. “You brought this on yourself.”
“Exactly,” Damien said, still chuckling.
Their mother’s voice snapped again, “What’s that noise? Are you three together right now?”
Lucian leaned forward slightly. “Yes, Mom. We’re in the living room.”
“Good,” she said firmly. “Then tell your sister to start packing her things tonight.”
Leah groaned dramatically. “You’re so unfair!”
“Unfair?” her mother shot back. “You have no idea what unfair looks like, young lady. I told you, if you want to be part of this family, you have to contribute something. No more running away from responsibility!”
Lucian tried to smooth things over. “Mom, maybe we can talk about this tomorrow. She’s already here. Let’s not stress tonight.”
There was a pause. Then her tone softened, just slightly. “Lucian, sweetheart, you always try to keep the peace.”
Leah peeked at the phone, curious if her mother’s calm would last.
“But you’re too soft with her,” she added quickly.
Leah slumped again. “I’m right here, Mom!”
“Good. Then listen to me,” their mother said, her tone warming but still sharp around the edges. “You are a young woman now, Leah. I love you, but you can’t keep running from life every time it gets hard. Do you hear me?”
Leah’s voice came out small. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good,” their mother said, her voice easing just a bit more. “Now, Damien.”
Damien straightened instantly. “Yes, Mom?”
“You should have called me the moment she arrived,” she said. “You know how worried I get.”
Damien scratched his neck, glancing at Lucian. “Yeah, sorry about that. I thought she’d just stay for a night.”
“You thought,” her mother repeated, sighing. “One of these days, your thoughts will get you into trouble.”
Lucian let out a quiet chuckle.
Their mother must have caught the sound because she said, “Lucian?”
“Yes, Mom?”
Her tone changed slightly, gentler, but still direct. “How are things with your fiancée?”
The room went quiet. Damien’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open. Leah looked up quickly, curious.
Lucian blinked once, then set his glass down. “Mom, I told you I don’t want to marry her.”
“Don’t start that again,” she said, her tone calm but firm. “She’s a good girl from a good family. We already agreed on this.”
Lucian’s jaw tightened. “You agreed, Mom. I didn’t.”
There was a small silence, the kind that carried heat.
Then she said, “I see all of you have connived to go against me. Well, we’ll see.”
Damien raised both hands quickly. “Hey, I didn’t go against you!”
“You’re all the same,” she said, her tone sharper again. “Like I said... we’ll see.”
Lucian leaned back on the couch, one leg crossing over the other, his voice calm as ever. “Why does that sound like a threat?”
“It’s not a threat,” she replied smoothly. “It’s a warning.”
Damien coughed to hide a laugh. “That’s worse.”
Leah frowned. “But Mom...”
Click. The line went dead before she could finish.
Leah dropped her head back against the couch with a loud groan. “She hung up on me again!”
Damien burst into laughter, holding his stomach. “You should’ve seen your face when she said, ‘shut your little mouth.’”
“Not funny!” Leah said, glaring at him. “She hates me.”
Lucian gave a small smile. “She doesn’t hate you. You know how she gets.”
“She’s impossible,” Leah mumbled. “Every time I try to breathe, she’s there.”
Damien leaned back, resting an arm along the couch. “That’s Mom for you. Tough as nails, but she’d walk through fire for us if she had to.”
Lucian nodded slowly. “She means well. She just… shows it in her own way.”
Leah sighed, hugging her pillow tighter. “Her way feels like a military order.”
Damien laughed. “That’s because she practically runs her house like one.”
Leah pouted. “I’m serious. I can’t go back yet.”
Lucian looked at her. “You’ll have to, Leah.”
“But...”
“No ‘buts,’” he said gently but firmly. “Mom’s right about one thing, you need to figure out what you want.”
Leah frowned, staring at the floor. “Maybe I just need time.”
Damien reached over and ruffled her hair. “And you’ll get it. But if you think Mom’s going to let you rest, you’re dreaming.”
Leah swatted his hand away. “You’re the worst brother ever.”
He grinned. “You say that like it’s news.”
Lucian stood, stretching a little. “Alright. Let’s call it a night. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Leah sighed again but nodded. “Fine.”
As she got up, she muttered, “Next time, I’m throwing that phone in the pool before anyone answers.”
Damien laughed so hard he nearly fell off the couch. “Try that, and she’ll buy ten more just to keep calling you.”
Leah glared at him playfully, then started toward her room.
Lucian watched her go, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. “She’s growing up fast.”
Damien exhaled. “Yeah. Just not fast enough for Mom.”
Lucian chuckled softly. “Few people ever are.”
- Writer
