Mother

Chapter 15

When Ivan and I stepped into the house, the sound of chitchat from the kitchen hit us like a wall. We stopped in our tracks, exchanging confused looks. Lorenzo and Enrique weren't supposed to be home this early, if at all. It was unsettling hearing their voices, like we'd stepped into someone else's house.

Lorenzo especially—he wasn't the type to just hang around. He was usually off handling his own life just like dad, and when he was around, you knew to keep your distance unless you wanted to hear some lecture about responsibility or discipline.

Lorenzo's voice cut through the silence. "Julio, Ivan—get in here." It wasn't a suggestion. Ivan hesitated for a second, but I moved first, knowing better than to ignore Lorenzo when he used that tone.

When we entered the kitchen, there they were, sitting at the table like it was any other day. Enrique looked relaxed, but Lorenzo... His expression was as cold and unreadable as always. He didn't need to say much to control the room, and we both knew it. I could feel Ivan tense up beside me.

"You're home early," I muttered, though it came out more like a challenge than a question.

Enrique nodded leaned back in his chair.

Lorenzo and Enrique were sitting at the table, cups of coffee in front of them. They looked up as we walked in, Ivan and I exchanged another glance, making our way to the table they were sitting at. and for a second, I wasn't sure what to say.

"What... are you guys doing here?" I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

"You guys are never home." Ivan cut in, suspicion clear in his tone.

Lorenzo didn't acknowledge our questions. His cold eyes looked up to us, as he calmly spoke, but there was that undercurrent of authority we all knew too well. "Sit."

Ivan sat down immediately, but I stayed standing, arms crossed, still unsure what was going on. Lorenzo didn't like repeating himself, though, so I reluctantly slid into the seat next to Ivan. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

"We need to talk," Lorenzo began, his voice firm. "It's about Dad."

I rolled my eyes before I could stop myself. Of course, it was about him. "What now?" I said, not even trying to hide my annoyance.

Enrique sat back up in his chair, hands clasped in front of him. "Dad took Teodoro to therapy today."

That hit me like a punch to the gut. Dad took Teodoro? Not Maria, our head-maid who's basically been the one raising him? It didn't make sense. Dad hadn't bothered with any of us for years, especially not Teodoro. He wasn't even around when Teodoro's selective mutism started. I stared at Enrique, waiting for the punchline. But his face stayed serious.

Lorenzo's eyes didn't leave mine as he added, "And he's bringing the twins back from boarding school."

"Júan and Raúl are coming home?" Ivan boomed.

Lorenzo nodded. "They'll be home by the end of this week."

I sat down leaning back in my chair, my mind reeling. What the hell was going on? Dad, who's barely even a figure in our lives, suddenly decides to take Teodoro to therapy, and now he is bringing the twins home?

The same twins he shipped off years ago without a second thought? The twins had been gone for years, sent off to some boarding school after everything went down with Mom. Now, suddenly, Dad wanted them back? After ignoring them, just like he ignored the rest of us?

Ivan broke the silence first, his voice quiet but edged with disbelief. "Why now? He sends them away for years and now he wants them back? What's he trying to prove?"

Lorenzo's jaw tightened slightly, but his voice stayed as cold and controlled as ever. "He says he wants to make things right."

I snorted. "Make things right? He's been absent for years. He can't just show up and play 'Dad'.

Enrique sighed. "I don't know. Maybe he's trying to actually fix things this time. Maybe he thinks bringing them back will help."

I scoffed. "Help with what? Don't tell me you guys actually believe shit, Making up for everything he's screwed up? It's already too late for that. All his going to do now is screw it up more then he already has,"

Enrique leaned forward, his expression serious. "I get that you're mad, Julio. We all are. But Dad's trying to figure it out. He's not perfect, and yeah, he's messed up. But he's still our father."

I felt my jaw tighten, anger simmering just below the surface. "Yeah, but when is he going to start acting like one?"

When no one said anything I let out a loud scoff, pushing back from the table "I can't believe this." I stormed out of the kitchen.

Ivan's POV*

I sat quietly, absorbing the tension swirling around the kitchen. Julio was getting frustrated and I could see how hard it was for him to keep it together. He always wore his emotions on his sleeve, especially when it came to Dad. I wanted to speak up, to defend him in a way, but I just couldn't bring myself to. I still had Hope, I Hoped dad would actually change for the better this time.

Julio's voice rose again, thick with disbelief. "When is he going to start acting like one?" His anger hung in the air, a storm cloud that seemed to darken the whole room.

Lorenzo remained stoic, his jaw set as he met Julio's gaze. The walls we'd built around ourselves were thicker than ever.

Then, with a loud scoff, Julio pushed back from the table, his chair scraping against the floor. "I can't believe this." He stormed out of the kitchen, leaving a heavy silence behind.

I watched him go, my stomach sinking. I understood his anger, but I wished he could see that things might be different this time. Dad might be trying to change. But I also knew that dad had made this promises before, and I had believed every single one of them, even now. But I didn't say anything because I was the quiet one, always observing, rarely stepping into the fray.

Once the door swung shut behind Julio, I turned to Lorenzo and Enrique, feeling the weight of the conversation shift. "What about Teodoro?" I asked, my voice softer than I intended. "When is Dad coming back with him? Is he okay?"

Enrique's face softened at the mention of our youngest brother. "I don't know, Ivan. He said they'd be back soon." His brows furrowed, worry creeping into his tone. "I hope he's alright."

Lorenzo's expression didn't change, but I could sense his tension. "Teodoro's resilient. He's been through a lot, but he's tough," he said, his voice steady, even if it felt a little cold. "Just give it time."

I nodded, though unease settled in my chest. I wanted to believe that, but Teodoro had been so distant lately. I hated that I couldn't reach him like I used to. "Do you think Dad will actually help him?"

Enrique exchanged a look with Lorenzo. "I hope so," he said quietly. "It's about time Dad stepped up for someone."

I sighed, the heaviness of it all pressing down on me. "I just wish he'd done it sooner."

Lorenzo straightened in his chair, his gaze unyielding. "He's trying now. That's all we can ask for."

As the silence stretched on, I felt the urge to escape, to find some solace in my room away from all the chaos. I got up, taking a deep breath. "I'm going to head upstairs," I said, looking briefly at my brothers. They nodded, and I slipped out of the kitchen, leaving the conversation and all its unresolved tension behind.

As I climbed the stairs, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had to change. But whether that change would be for the better or worse, I still couldn't tell.