Page 15

By the time I wrapped up a meeting with my brothers, I had several missed calls, voicemails, and texts from my very exasperated guards, mentioning something about not being able to hold the girls back.

I didn’t know what he meant, but the moment I got home, it immediately became clear, and a familiar anger burned within me all over again.

It seemed I couldn’t go a single day without being irked by Aria and everything surrounding her. And yet, through the weeks she had been at the house, my nerves were fraying in another sense.

My anger was alive and well, but the pure want I had for her was a completely different beast.

I was supposed to be pissed with her—which I was—yet the need that came from somewhere deep within me managed to rear its ugly head anyway, leaving me to contend with the most conflicting feelings.

After having strong words with the guards, I moved inside to find Aria and three young girls in the living room, all talking and clearly giving her some kind of support.

Given how she had no way to contact anyone outside of the house, I knew it wasn’t something she orchestrated, meaning the three girls had done it all on their own. But something in me still wanted to blame her.

Their faces seemed to ring a bell, and after a moment, it hit me.

They were her cousins—three girls ranging from a bossy socialite to a bubbly-looking seventeen-year-old. Angelica, Silvia, and Livia—those were their names according to the records.

As far as I knew, they didn’t have anything to do with the family business, but they certainly knew how to spend that money anyway. Typical.

And it seemed their entitlement extended to forcing their way into my house and sitting themselves down in the living room without a care.

They didn’t belong there, as I didn’t authorize the visit. It wasn’t their place to overstep.

Yet, they seemed all too at ease while they talked and laughed with Aria as if they were having some kind of family picnic.

The fact that I didn’t invite them, let them in or agree upon anything grated against my nerves. Not to mention, Aria let them in. Let them remind her of who she was and of the connections she had in the outside world.

That she was her family’s kingpin, regardless of how hard I tried to fight her on it, how hard I tried to make her step aside and let me handle things.

And yet, I found myself lingering there just out of sight, watching and listening while they interacted.

Given the bright gleam of their eyes every time they looked in her direction, it was clear how they looked up to her—respected her—almost like she was more than their cousin.

Like she was their leader, through and through.

While keeping my eyes on the scene, it hit me all at once.

At that moment, in that very room, regardless of my own authority and strength, she had more sway than I did. She had more influence than I ever wanted to give her credit for.

It was a miserable thing to acknowledge, yet it was useless for me to try and deny it.

The way those girls spoke to her, how they clung to her every word as if it were gospel, full of encouragement and pure love…it was so much more than I wanted to admit.

They were the very support system she had relied on since the day she stepped into what had been her brother’s position.

While they interacted, I also couldn’t miss the energy that came from Aria, as if she had truly been boosted and encouraged by not only their presence, but also whatever they said to her. There was a new kind of confidence—a raw energy about her that struck me in a way I hadn’t expected.

To my dismay, quiet admiration moved through my system at once.

The light in her eyes, fresh and renewed after the last few weeks of staying with me…it was sexy.

Something about her being a leader always struck me that way, despite trying to ignore that fact to the best of my ability. But it was a futile thing.

In a way, she seemed to own the room, even if she was only with her cousins. The way she commanded their attention and respect was not from any violent means, but just from stepping into that role and being a figure of authority to them.

She didn’t need to throw her fists or threaten anyone to be respected, and while it was a stark contrast to my usual methods, I found myself silently admiring that fact.

This new revelation paired with my already fraying restraint to keep my hands to myself around her was a deadly combination for my resolve. But I had to remind myself to focus.

I wasn’t supposed to admire her for doing the very thing keeping me from obtaining one hundred percent of her resources. I was supposed to be taking control. Easing her from the situation.

It had been a sound plan before I found myself in that doorway, watching all of my assumptions die simultaneously. Being forced to let go of my preconceived notions.

Instead, a new thought sprang into my mind.

If she could gain this kind of loyalty from her cousins and her people, then there was a good chance I could use that to my advantage. I just needed her to be more inspired.

As much as it bothered me initially to see them sitting there looking far too comfortable, I had the feeling it wasn’t such a bad thing. If they were encouraging her, getting her to work past the obvious slump I put her in, then there could be a positive twist for myself.

By convincing her I was ready to work together like she wanted, there was a chance she’d let her guard down enough to agree, and with time, I could relinquish her of her position little by little, before she’d ever realize her men had been completely swayed to my side.

But to do that, I had to convince her I had changed, even if that required playing the long game. That I could be the nice and agreeable husband she surely wanted me to be.

Maybe I’d even manage to have some fun along the way.

And of course, with the perfect opportunity right in front of me, there was no time like the present.

Upon entering the room and making my presence known, there was a noticeable shift in the air. The tension returned, as I expected, but I couldn’t let it affect me.

Immediately, all three of her cousins seemed to straighten their postures as they narrowed their gazes at me. Of course, they didn’t know me, and there was no doubt that they didn’t trust me.

I could only imagine what Aria had told them about me.

“Daniil,” Angelica said flatly, surprising me. It seemed she was the boldest of the three.

“Girls,” I returned as coolly as I could, repressing any kind of irritation I previously felt at the sight of them.

Without needing to read their thoughts, I knew they were sizing me up.

Not to mention, Aria’s eyes were already on me, watching me closely. Given the slight tension in her frame regardless of her neutral expression, she likely expected the worst.

She probably assumed I would blow up on them for even being there. She wouldn’t be wrong to think that, but either way, I needed her to think I had a change of heart instead.

Even if she was guarded, she didn’t immediately look away from me, and that seemed like a good place to start.

“I hope I’m not interrupting. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here,” I said politely without laying it on too thick.

The youngest one looked down, seemingly unsure of what to say to me, while Silvia threw me a questioning glance. Angelica, on the other hand, put on a smile, even if it turned out to be fake.

“Not at all. We were just catching up. It’s been a while.”

There was some lingering tension in that smile despite how she seemed to be somewhat disarmed by me and my entrance.

Nodding, I entered the room further, yet was as cautious as possible. I didn’t want them to feel uncomfortable. Not yet, anyway.

“That’s good. It’s important to have family around,” I said, taking up the seat across from Aria and Angelica. I glanced over at my wife, including her. “I know that well enough myself.”

While the two younger girls still looked somewhat hesitant, I could feel as the tension slowly ebbed from the room, and slowly, everyone seemed less guarded.

Angelica, being the braver one, gave me a pleasantly surprised expression. “I’m glad to see you’re trying, Daniil. I wasn’t so sure this would be easy for either of you. But working together is a good sign, I suppose.”

As much as I knew I was being far more agreeable than usual, hoping Aria didn’t find it too suspicious, I forced a smile. “We’re working on things.”

Each time I looked over at Aria, something seemed to shift in her expression. Whether it was surprise, curiosity, or approval, it all seemed promising.

“How many brothers do you have again?” Silvia asked, sounding much more level-headed and cautious despite her curiosity.

“I’m the third eldest of five. The twins are the youngest.”

Livia’s eyes twinkled then and finally spoke up. “Twins? Are they single?”

Silvia scoffed and elbowed her side, earning a pointed glance from the youngest.

“What? I’m just asking,” she mumbled, rubbing at her side.

Chuckling to myself, I shrugged. “They are, but Val and Yuri are far too old for you.”

Livia deflated somewhat and sighed.

“You wouldn’t want them, anyway—they’re both too mischievous for their own good,” I replied to ease her slight dejection.

She gave me an amused grin at that, and while the three of them exchanged glances, I could feel the tension melting even further.

They were buying into it and accepting me, little by little—that was good, even if I’d have a long way to go to earn their trust.

But if the impromptu get-together went well, there was a high chance they’d try to talk to Aria about me after the fact, and if they liked me, there was an even higher chance she’d come around. Everything would be easier then.

Of course, it was just so I could break her defenses and get her to give up her assets. That was all.

But even if I wanted their approval, it was Aria’s I needed the most.

And at that moment, while we continued chatting, I could feel her guard lowering at least by a fraction. While her cousins got up to what I could only assume were their usual antics, and while I entertained them, her lips managed to curl into a smile from time to time.

Even if those positive looks were fleeting, they said everything I needed to know. It was the confirmation I needed that I was on the right track. I just needed to commit to it. I needed to focus on the goal at hand and drive it home.

Maybe it would be easier than I initially thought.

With a quick text to my chef, a tray of fruit mocktails came out not long after, and the girls immediately lit up, not wasting a moment before giving them a try.

As much as it was all part of the game, seeing that receptive expression on Aria’s face, clearly pleasantly surprised by the gesture and happy that I hadn’t kicked her cousins out, I found myself taking the slightest pride in how things were unfolding.

How I seemed to know exactly what I was doing without overthinking it.

How I apparently knew what would help pull Aria in my direction.

Catching another faint grin on her face while the girls sipped their drinks and went on about something else, I caught Aria’s eyes and smiled back.

It was small and calculated, but seemed to do the trick, anyway.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, those reluctant smiles looked better on her than I anticipated.