Diamond Tears | Book 2 of The Champagne Chronicles

E L E V E N - Between Us And Them

The sun was high in the sky as Riley pulled into the driveway of his family's house. It had been two weeks since he'd last visited, and the familiar sight of the place brought a sense of warmth, mixed with a little guilt for not stopping by sooner. His mother's car was in the driveway, and through the window, he could see movement inside—probably his younger brother, Eric, bouncing around the living room like usual.

Daphne sat quietly next to him in the passenger seat, her hands resting in her lap. She was nervous, he could tell. He glanced over at her, offering a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to come in, you know," Riley said, lightly tapping her knee. "I can grab my stuff and be out in a minute."

Daphne let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "No, I want to meet them properly this time. You know, when I'm not showing up crying in the rain." Her voice was playful, but there was an edge of vulnerability to it.

"Trust me, they won't even remember that," Riley grinned, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Besides, they're going to love you."

Daphne bit her lip, still unsure, but nodded. "Alright, let's do this."

Riley stepped out of the car, coming around to open the door for her, and together they made their way up the path to the front door. It wasn't a grand mansion like the Arnault estate, but the house had a warm, lived-in charm that made Daphne feel comfortable.

Riley knocked, and almost immediately, the door swung open. Isabella, Riley's younger sister, greeted them with a wide grin.

"Riley! Daphne! You're here!" She stepped aside to let them in, her excitement bubbling over as she called back into the house. "Mom! Eric! Riley brought Daphne!"

Daphne stepped into the cozy living room, feeling the warmth of the place wrap around her. The last time she'd been here, everything had been a blur—her emotions all over the place, Riley's family unsure of what to say or how to react. But now, it felt like a fresh start.

Isabella looked at Daphne with a curious expression, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, I recognized you last time." She leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a mock whisper. "You're that girl from the Grimaldi drama, right? All over the news?"

Daphne blinked, surprised but also relieved by the directness. She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, that's me. But hopefully, I'll be known for something else this time."

Isabella laughed. "Oh, don't worry. I'm more interested in how you managed to tame my brother." She shot a teasing look at Riley. "I mean, look at him."

Riley rolled his eyes dramatically, throwing an arm around Daphne's shoulders. "Tame me? Please. She couldn't resist me." He winked at Daphne, who gave him a mock glare, though a laugh was already escaping her.

"Impossible," Daphne muttered under her breath, nudging him lightly.

Riley wasn't about to let it go. "Oh come on, Daph. You can admit it. After all, last night—"

"Riley!" Daphne interrupted, her face flushing pink as she shot him a warning glance. "Not in front of your family."

But Riley only grinned, enjoying her embarrassment. "What? I'm just saying, it was a memorable night."

Daphne swatted his arm, biting back a laugh. "Stop it."

Before Riley could push her any further, Eric, Riley's younger brother, came bounding into the room, his face lighting up when he saw them. "Riley! Daphne!"

Daphne smiled, feeling a little more at ease as Eric ran over to give Riley a hug. He turned to Daphne with a grin. "Nice to meet you properly this time. You're not crying, so that's a good start."