~The lost one~

chapter 45

3rd POV:

After the meeting, the house gradually quieted down as one by one, the brothers retreated to their rooms. The meeting had been longer than usual, the conversation dragging on, leaving everyone feeling drained and ready to call it a night. The mansion, usually filled with life and movement, now seemed to exhale, settling into a peaceful silence.

Simi, after her late-night run and the fun conversation she'd had with the barista, Jess, finally made her way back to her room. She still felt a buzz of energy from the unexpected adventure of sneaking out, but her muscles were pleasantly sore, and she was craving a moment to unwind. Her thoughts drifted back to the way Jess had effortlessly made her laugh, breaking through the seriousness of the day.

Now, Simi was soaking in a warm bath, the water soothing her tired body. The gentle scent of lavender filled the air, calming her nerves. She leaned back against the cool porcelain, her head resting on the edge of the tub, as the soft glow of the bathroom light reflected off the tiles. The sound of the water lapping against the sides of the tub was the only noise in the otherwise silent room, a peaceful contrast to the day's tension.

She let herself relax, staring up at the ceiling, her mind slowly unwinding. It was hard to believe that earlier, she'd been sneaking out, scaling the balcony, and making a break for the park. And then there was the fun with Jess—who would've thought a mafia man's house would lead her to chatting with a random barista at 4 AM?

Simi smiled to herself. As strange as her life had become, moments like these made it all feel a little more normal. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the bath wash over her, content in the quiet of the night.

Simi's POV:

After I took a bath, the steam from the bathroom still clung to the air, thick and warm. I let it drift as I stood in front of the mirror, wrapping a towel around myself and staring at my reflection. My thoughts were all over the place—too many changes, too fast. I grabbed the black oversized big boy pants I had laid out earlier, pulling them on, feeling the familiar comfort of the loose fabric. I slipped into a plain white top, something simple, something that made me feel more like myself.

Then my eyes caught the small golden glint on the nightstand.

The infinity heart necklace.

I hadn't worn it since the day they gave it to me. Not because I didn't like it—no, that wasn't it. I had always loved the way it shimmered softly, the way it seemed to hold some kind of promise. But it stayed hidden for a reason. I knew that if Nyx or Mom had ever seen it, they would have ripped it off my neck without a second thought. It would've been sold in an instant, traded for whatever fix or gamble they needed to drown out reality.

But they weren't here now.

I hesitated for a second, the necklace hanging from my fingers, the delicate golden chain slipping between them. I'd never told anyone why I kept it hidden. It was mine—one of the few things in my life that was truly mine. They had given it to me. My best friends. People who knew me better than anyone, who understood the real me. Not Kimberly. Not Anke or Lena. No, this was from... them.

I felt my chest tighten at the thought. Them. My heart skipped, and I wondered—where were they now? Could they sense the change? That I had left behind the darkness of my old life, only to step into something equally unknown?

I clasped the necklace around my neck, the cool metal settling against my skin. The golden heart rested just above my collarbone, and for a moment, I stood there, frozen, as if wearing it marked a new chapter. Like something had shifted. It wasn't just a piece of jewelry—it was a connection, a silent reminder of the bond I shared with them, one I couldn't talk about but always felt.