Fate is a Bullshit!

Chapter 4~

The Ivanov Family~
Everyone gathered around the dining table, except for Enzo, who had stopped joining the family for meals since his mother's kidnapping. His spirit had been broken, but he concealed his pain, now going by the moniker of the Emotionless Devil. The only sounds were that of the cutlery clinking, as each family member relished the flavorful dish prepared by their eldest brother, Antonio.
"How's the progress with the new branch going?" Rocco inquired of his younger brother Lucius, who has recently launched a Technology branch.
"Not much happening yet. But that 'ZX AI TECH' is definitely going to pose some challenges for us," Lucius responded with a serious expression.
"Hmm, I understand. Don't worry, I have faith that you'll rise to the top as you always do," Alessio reassured his younger brother, offering words of encouragement. However, this support pales in comparison to ZX AI TECH, and they will require not just encouragement but also state-of-the-art technology to compete with them. Lucius, being astute, had already surmised the capabilities of ZX AI TECH without even meeting their boss. Impressive.
Being the youngest and less mature, Zion decided to chime in, suggesting, "How about doing it our way, eh?" The phrase "our way" implied the illegal method, and everyone grasped his intentions. However, Luca intervened firmly, emphasizing "OUR" as he had already attempted the illicit approach and knew it wasn't viable.
"Why not? We've never failed before. What about Matteo? Can't he handle it?" Zion inquired once more, but the responses were negative. ZX AI TECH was incredibly advanced, and hacking into their system was not something that could be easily accomplished by anyone.
"Matteo informed us that all our computers are interconnected, so if we attempt to hack into their system, all our computers will be infected with a virus, leading to the effortless transfer of our information to them. Their primary AI, 'PHINX,' is exceedingly advanced and impenetrable. We cannot afford to jeopardize our data falling into their hands, including the sensitive Mafia information. It's definitely a no-go. Enzo is deeply involved with the Mafia, and do you believe he would let us off the hook if he discovered our actions? No, I've already dismissed the idea of hacking into their system." Lucius said maintaining a cold voice throughout.
"Wow, I'm impressed. They really put in the effort, huh," Antonio remarked after silently absorbing their discussion. "Hmm, same here. It's remarkable how they managed to rise to the top within just three years of their launch," Luca added, teasing his twin, knowing how much he desired to be at the pinnacle.
*****
"Mom, come on," Xenia whined to her mother, urging her to dance together as a couple. "But, dear, I haven't danced in years," Hester responded, only to find her daughter quite insistent. "My lady, shall we dance, please," Xenia said, kneeling to take her mother's hand as she sat on the couch in the lounge. "Alright, but just this once," her mom agreed. "It will be my pleasure, your Grace," Xenia chimed in with a sweet voice. "I wish you were my girlfriend!" Xenia teased her mom, who responded with an "eww" face, saying, "I'm straight, girl. Sorry." Though Xenia felt annoyed, they ended up dancing the whole night, enjoying each other's company, laughing, and giggling.
The scene at four in the morning found both girls exhausted. Xenia, despite being a child who wouldn't admit it, fell asleep instantly on the couch, unconcerned about her comfort or surroundings. Hester then put Xenia's head on her lap, gently stroking her hair. Memories of the past flooded her mind, causing tears to flow silently down her cheeks, unnoticed by the deeply sleeping Xenia.

"I'll always protect you, my child. I love you. Love you too, boys, sweet dreams. Momma loves you. Stay happy, please. Love you too, Theodore, may you stay happy," Hester whispered, her final words before drifting off to sleep.
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Do you believe both women deserved what happened to them, considering they were kidnapped as mentioned in the summary? Share your thoughts. Kindly like and follow me as well.
Love From,
Miri Chan aka Minimagine7