In the midst of her family's best kept secret being plastered amongst the tabloids, Astoria Damaris came to realize 3 things that she quickly grew to resent.
The first being that London's unruly weather has made it rather difficult to wear the new...
Intuition feels like driving down the highway, going 100mph, then just slamming the breaks.
Intuition wields the power to predict a loss before it even occurs— In which I'd like to add that I never lose.
Intuition has been looming over my head, like a grim cloud of dread, since I woke up this morning. Trailing closely behind me as I went on my run, did my skincare, and picked out an outfit. It was only when I headed into the kitchen, for the purpose of sitting with Azzy and Asher as they had breakfast, was when I realized that disregarding intuition is the most foolish thing I could've done.
My mother sits at the kitchen table, her hair pulled into a low bun, and from the serene look on her face, you'd think that she's having a good morning— But I know better.
Irisse Damaris embodies opulence and elegance. There is never a moment in which she is anything but refined and poised, including now. Even at 7 in the morning, she looks polished and sits in a dignified manner as she calmly sips on her morning tea.
But she is anything but calm.
She sets her frigid gaze onto me, freezing me in my tracks as she sets down her antique tea cup. I feel scrutinized under her harsh stare, my arms wrapping around my torso before tearing my attention away from her. Only then do I realize that my father is seated at the head of the table, missing the phone in his hand that typically steals all of his attention.
Their attention is solely set on me.
My nerves fire up, feeling not only confused but also incredibly anxious under their piercing gaze. I glance to Azalea, who's seated in her usual spot with a plate full of waffles in front of her.
With wide eyes filled with apprehension stare back at me, my little sister's posture rigid as she shoots me an empathetic look. Asher seems just as tense, his jaw tight and eyes unblinking as the green irises warn me of an upcoming disaster.
What adds to my concern even more is the fact that Alexander has joined us this morning. Typically, his mornings are spent in his office, but today, he's seated to my father's right. A solemn expression coating his features, slightly different from the blank look he seems to consistently sport.
"Sit down, Astoria."
My father's unnervingly calm voice commands, sounding more serious than usual. I gulp, my feet bringing me to my typical spot and sitting down obediently. I shrink under my mother's probing gaze, my leg bouncing as I fill with anxiety at the tension crackling in the air.
Velma scurries in, placing a bowl of plain greek yoghurt in front of me and offering me a kind smile. One of those smiles that causes the sides of her eyes to crinkle up, and just warms you up inside. She squeezes my arms supportively, before returning back to the cooking quarters.
"Ease up on the staring, would you?" Asher speaks up, casting an unimpressed look to our parents.
Crossing my arms over my chest rather than having them wrapper around my stomach, I ask them in as calm of a tone as I can muster. "What's going on?"
Alexander reaches across the table to hand me his phone. I take it from him, eyeing him with confusion. But I don't miss the way his body is positioned forward to shield me from my father's gaze.
I glance down at his phone, and I'm met with an article.
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