Madame

Chapter 19

Karina's POV

I walk out of my room, still very much half asleep no thanks to the time we got home last night. Elizabeth had me unpack all of my things before going to sleep, she stood behind me as I unpacked everything, she didn't even bother to help me put things away.

But at least I don't have to do it this morning. I would have probably left it to be done later in the day like the true procrastinator I am.

I grip the railing as I make my way down the stairs to the first floor where I can hear people talking. I round the corner to the dining room table and everyone is sitting at the table, including one extra person.

"Ari!" Lili squeals, running to me and jumping into my open arms, wrapping her arms around my neck and I hold back from groaning in pain. "Lili, please be careful." God her voice is so silky.

Lili looks at me as she sits in my arms, her legs wrapped around my torso, "Are you hurt, Ari?" She asks, her eyes full of worry, "No, ma belle, I'm ok. Did you make breakfast this morning?" I quickly change the subject as to not bring worry to the little girl ion my lap.

She shakes her head, "No, Nonna wouldn't let me." She sulks, stealing a glance at Concetta who wears a big smile, "Next time, stellina. Your mother and Ari need a proper breakfast after having been gone for so long." She comments

The little girl presses herself further into my chest, "I could've made a proper meal." She whines into my shirt, "I'm sure you could have, you'll make us one tomorrow, ok?" I propose to her and she nods her head, giving me a cute little smile.

"Lili, come now, eat, you've got school." Elizabeth says, eyeing me before looking at her daughter whom I promptly put back down. She scurries back to her chair, hopping onto it, unbothered by everything around her.

"Please, sit." Concetta pulls out a chair to the right of Elizabeth, beside Valentina. "It's been a while, beautiful, I missed you." She stands as Concetta leaves, pulling me into a warm hug. "Missed you too." I blush, hiding my face in her neck to avoid any further embarrassment.

"You've gotten even prettier, how is that possible?" She teases as we pull away from each other, her arm lingering on my hip, "Says you." I retort, feeling my cheeks burn up at the sudden compliment.

"Oh please, all I'm doing is getting older." She rolls her eyes, pulling my chair out a bit further, motioning for me to sit. I chuckle, "You don't look a day over 20." I compliment, this time it was her turn to blush, "Thank you, darling." She sits herself down patting my thigh.

I smile kindly at the woman before turning to my left out of suspicion that the burning sensation in the back of my head was in fact Elizabeth's deadly glare. "Good morning." I smile at her. I see her lips twitch, seemingly trying to hold back a smile, "Yes, good morning. Eat quickly, we've got things to do." Her voice is flat, giving me a sense of anxiety.

I sit quietly, looking around the table and seeing fruits, toast, and of course jam and butter. I grip my cup of tea and take a small sip, looking over the cup to Elizabeth. "You need to eat," She sighs, taking the piece of toast she had just prepared, placing it on my plate, "Don't say a word. Just eat." I bite back a smile at the way she's avoiding eye contact with me, "Thank you." I mumble, a small smile making its way to my lips.

I grab the toast and bite into it, meeting Dev's eyes as she's sitting directly in front of me. Her eyes are wide and her mouth slightly ajar. I furrow my brows at her weird expression. Her eyebrows shoot up in a 'what the fuck was that' way and I roll my eyes.

I continued to eat my toast, eventually finishing it and excusing myself from the table so that I could go get dresses to bring Lili to school with Elizabeth. I walk up the stairs, hearing an additional set of steps behind me, light ones. Dev. I don't even turn around to check if it was her, I just make a break for it.