CHAPTER 41
Warm light slipped through the curtains, landing softly across her eyes and pulling her out of sleep in the gentlest way.
Mia blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering as she turned her face away for a second, then back again like she was deciding whether to get up or not.Her hand moved slowly, brushing against her lips.
She froze with a little gasp.
That wasn’t her imagination.
A faint warmth crept up her neck, settling into her cheeks as she turned her face into the pillow, half hiding from nothing.
“…oh.”
The word came out small, almost embarrassed.
She stayed like that for a few seconds longer before finally pushing herself up and her hair falling messily around her face.
she reached the kitchen opened the fridge then stopped her eyes widening at the sight
“…what?”
Her voice came out more confused than anything.
The fridge was… full.
Not just stocked .
....filled with ice cream.
Different brands, different flavors, neatly arranged like someone had gone out of their way not just to buy it, but to make sure there was no chance she wouldn’t find something she liked.
Mia just stood there for a second, staring.
Then slowly, she reached in, pulling one out.
Vanilla.
Another.
Strawberry.
Her fingers paused on that one while her lips pressed together slightly, as, her mind drifted again to the previous night and the conversation they had and her cheeks burned.
He said he would.
And he did.
That thought made her heart flutter as her chest filled with warmth.
She ended up getting some apples and after she was done with her breakfast she headed straight to the study for her sessions with Grayson and God knows she had tried concentrating on her school, she really did, but her thoughts kept slipping away to a certain someone.
By the afternoon, she found herself back in the kitchen opening the fridge, Mia took the strawberry and vanilla ice cream then sat down quietly at the counter, one leg tucked under the other, then settling the small tub of ice cream on her lap.
she peeled the lid back slowly, staring at it for a second before taking a small bite.
" Hmm " she moaned at the taste.
It was cold and Sweet and she liked the feeling of it,
Just then footsteps echoed and Grayson walked in, stopping for a second when he saw her.
“…ice cream?” he said.
Mia glanced down at it. “Mm.”
He didn’t say anything else and just moved past her, setting something down on the counter.
“What are you doing?” she asked softly.
“Starting dinner.”
She watched him for a moment. “Now?”
“Yeah, Luca's coming remember, .”
He paused for a while then continued while she nodded at his statement " I figured some homemade meal for his coming back."
“…can I help?” she asked her doe eyes staring at him expectantly.
Grayson didn’t answer immediately.
He turned on the stove, then looked at her.
"Those won't work on me princess.”
Mia’s eyes dropped.
“…why?”
“because your brother would kill me if he ever found out I let you near the stove.."
" Please" she pleaded then continued " I just want to make something special for Luca" she ended with a pout.
Grayson looked back at the stove like he was reconsidering his entire life choices.
Then finally, he sighed.
“Alright,” he said. “But listen properly, no fire and no sharp stuff.”
" Okay ,” she said quickly her smile growing.
Grayson pointed to the counter then said. “You can do simple things. That’s it.”
Mia nodded quickly. “Okay.”
She slid off the counter carefully, setting the ice cream aside.
He gave her the safest tasks he could think of.
Washing vegetables,
Measuring ingredients and she was careful with everything she touched, like she was trying not to mess it up even though it was just simple.
“Do you think Luca will like it?”
Grayson shrugged slightly. “Yeah.”
Mia nodded.
“…really.. you think so.”
" Yes princess." A few seconds passed then she said.
“…am I doing it right?” she asked quietly.
He glanced over. “Yeah.”
Mia nodded again.
“…okay.”
Every now and then she’d glance at what Grayson was doing, then back to her own hands.After a while, she slowed, then stopped.
“…what now?” she asked.
Grayson handed the fruits to arrange.
“This.” he said and Mia took it.
“…okay.” she hummed in a low tone as she scooped some more ice cream then kept going. .
“…what would you do if you didn’t work for Luca?” she asked after a pause.
Grayson moved something on the stove before he answered.
"I don’t know,” he said.
Mia glanced at him not quite believing him. “You do.”
A small pause.
He exhaled lightly.
“…maybe get a land or something” he said.
" Like a farm?” she asked.
“…yeah. Something like that.”
“What would you have there?”
Grayson paused, then said, “Horses. Maybe a few cows some sheep and rare them.”
Mia nodded slowly.
"..that sounds nice, I wanna get on a horse one day”
" When I get mine you'll be the first one to ride it I promise.." he answered with a smile. A few hours went by as they chitchatted about their favourite things and just as they were done with everything they were doing,the front door opened and had barely shut before Mia was moving.
“Luca—”
She didn’t slow down and didn’t think about it.
She just went straight to him, her arms wrapping around him tightly, like she needed to make sure he was actually there.
Luca barely had time to react before she was against him.
“Hey—” his voice dropped immediately, the edge in it gone just like that.
One hand came up to the back of her head, the other settling around her, steadying her like he always did.
“Easy, princess.”
" I really missed you,” she murmured.
Luca let out a quiet breath, his hold tightening just slightly.
“I missed you too baby,” he said, his voice in a soft tone and kissing her forehead.
Mia shook her head against him. “Still.”
That was enough to make something shift in his expression.
His hand slid from her hair to her cheek, tilting her face up so he could look at her properly.
“You okay princess, Grayson and Marcello treating you good, ”
"Mm hmm.. I'm okay.” mia nodded
He studied her for a second longer than necessary, like he was checking for something, anything that maybe unsettled her but when there was none, he gave a small nod. “Good.”
His hand dropped but he didn’t step away immediately.
And behind him
Marcello stood a few steps back, silent and composed.
His gaze lingered on the way she held onto Luca…
the way she fit there so easily, like that space belonged to her.
the way she held onto him like that was where she belonged.
His jaw tightened.
It was a simple thing.
Nothing unusual.
Luca was her brother.
That was reason enough.
Still
Something about it irked him, he couldn't believe he was jealous of her own brother.
This was ridiculously frustrating and he didn't like the feeling of it at all.
Marcello shifted his weight slightly, his expression settling back into something neutral, and controlled.
Then Mia lifted her eyes and they met his for a brief second.
And just as quickly
He looked away and moved past them to his room
Like she meant nothing, but little did they know how much he wanted to claim her right there and then in front of everyone.