Chapter 4
Chapter Four
As the car glided to a stop, my heart seemed to still with it. The door swung open, and three figures emerged like they were stepping from the pages of an haute couture magazine.
The first man unfolded himself from the car with leonine grace. Chestnut brown hair, streaked with gold and copper, caught the afternoon sun like a halo. His olive skin spoke of long summers spent basking in Mediterranean warmth, while startlingly blue eyes surveyed the scene with cool detachment. His outfit—crisp linen trousers and a polo shirt that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe—screamed old money and new influence.
Following him was a study in contrasts: darker, broodier, intense. His presence was magnetic with a hint of mystery.
Last to emerge was a young woman who could have graced any Parisian runway. Dark copper hair, artfully tousled and adorned with a silk scarf, framed her glowing skin. Oversized sunglasses perched on a delicate nose and a perfectly tailored sundress. Leather wedges and an unlabeled, oversized tote completed the ensemble.
As their collective gaze fell upon me, I felt a tremor run through my body. The weight of their scrutiny was palpable.
But there was something else—a chill running through me as people who resembled me stared back at me. The slight copper to my hair. My nose.
The woman lowered her sunglasses, and her eyes raked over me with the precision of a jeweler appraising a questionable gem. The silence stretched, taut as a bowstring.
Colette, bless her, stepped in. " Quelle joie ! You've all arrived," she beamed. Each of the three leaned in for a side kiss. She turned back toward me, then said in English, "I'm thrilled to introduce you to your elder sister, Elodie. Elodie, meet étienne, Régis, and Félicité." She indicated each in turn.
The silence persisted, thick and cloying. Summoning courage I wasn't sure I possessed, I cleared my throat. "It's wonderful to meet you all. I... I had no idea I had siblings."
"Half-siblings," Régis corrected in a clipped tone.
I forced a light laugh, though it felt hollow. "Right, half-siblings. Doesn't really matter these days, does it?"
Their expressions remained as impassive as carved marble.
étienne's lips quirked in what might have been a smirk. "That depends. Laws can be... intricate."
The implications hung in the air like a storm cloud. Clearly, their enthusiasm for this family reunion was considerably less than mine.
Well, then. I guess French hospitality lived up to its chilly reputation.
"Well," I ventured, grasping for levity, "I'm relieved you all speak English. My French is limited to finding wine and bathrooms—essentials, really."
I was again met with stony silence. Tough crowd.
Colette clapped her hands together. "Shall we move this inside? I'm sure everyone could use a little refreshment after the journey. Was the drive pleasant?"
"Fine," Régis replied dryly. "Traffic was minimal."
As we turned toward the house, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd stumbled into a viper's nest. These half-siblings of mine might share my blood, but warmth was decidedly absent. I steeled myself, realizing this might prove slightly difficult.