Silent Scars

CHAPTER 6

Leonardo leaned back in his chair, staring at the door Aria had just exited through. The gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air, and he could feel the pressure building within him. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, forcing himself to focus. There was no time for hesitation, he had to inform his brothers about their newfound sister and the unexpected turn of events.

He grabbed his phone and sent a quick message: Meet me in the office at 8:00. It’s urgent.

His thoughts wandered as he recalled the brief glimpse he had of Ariana.

She hadn’t lifted her head, her eyes downcast, making it hard for him to read her expression. There was something about her presence that tugged at him. A strange, almost instinctive need to protect her. He’d never felt this kind of connection before, not even with his brothers. But he couldn’t afford to get attached yet. He had no idea who she was or why she was here now, after all these years.

"What if this was some kind of trap. I can't let my family get hurt. "

Leonardo glanced at his watch. The hands inched past 8:00 PM, and he felt the familiar tension building. He needed all of them here, together, to hear this.

Marcus was the first to arrive, as usual. He stepped into the room with his typical calm and steady presence, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. He took a seat, giving Leonardo a nod. As the eldest after Leonardo, Marcus was the one who managed the family's business, both legal and otherwise. Leonardo knew he could rely on Marcus to keep his cool.

Luca entered next, his gaze distant, as if he’d been pulled away from his thoughts. He gave a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. The 21 year old artist was always the most perceptive, noticing things others didn’t. Leonardo wondered how much Luca had already pieced together.

Finally, Kendric stepped into the room, his expression filled with curiosity and a hint of excitement. As the youngest, still in grade 12, Kendric was always eager to be included, to prove himself. Leonardo felt a pang of concern, Kendric’s trusting nature could be a liability in situations like this.

Leonardo took a deep breath, preparing himself for the conversation that was about to unfold. He looked around the room, meeting each of his brothers' eyes before he spoke.

“There’s something you all need to know” he began, his voice steady but serious. “We...have a sister. Someone we never knew existed.”

The silence was immediate and heavy. Marcus’s usually impassive face showed a rare moment of shock, his brow furrowed, and he leaned back as if trying to process the information. Luca blinked, his confusion giving way to curiosity, while Kendric’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“A sister?” Kendric echoed, his voice filled with wonder. “How is that even possible?”

Leonardo ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of the truth pressing down on him. “I found out through a DNA test. It was verified by a police officer and a social worker. There’s no mistake.”

Luca’s expression softened, and he leaned forward, his artistic mind already trying to connect the dots. “Where is she now?” he asked quietly.

Leonardo hesitated, then said, “She’s here. In the house.”

That got a reaction. Marcus straightened, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

“You brought her here already? Without telling us?”

“Yes,” Leonardo replied firmly. “It happened quickly. There wasn’t time to prepare.”

Kendric looked like he was on the edge of his seat, a mix of excitement and confusion on his face.

“But...where has she been all this time? Why didn’t we know about her?”

Leonardo took a deep breath, ready to deliver the hardest part of the story.

“After our mother left, she married another man. They both died recently in a car accident. That’s how the social worker found out about Ariana. Our sister.”

Marcus’s expression darkened, a flash of anger passing over his face.

“So, our mother kept her hidden from us? All these years?”

“Apparently.” Leonardo said, his voice edged with frustration he hadn’t realized he was holding back.

“Ariana didn’t even know she had brothers. She’s as blindsided by this as we are.”

Luca leaned back, running a hand over his mouth, clearly grappling with the implications.
“She didn’t know about us? At all?”

“No.” Leonardo confirmed. “From what the social worker told me, she had no idea. Our mother never mentioned us, and Ariana grew up believing she was an only child.”

Kendric’s face fell, the initial excitement fading into something more somber. “That’s...awful.” he murmured. “She must be feeling so lost right now.”

Leonardo nodded. “That’s why I need all of you to be careful around her. We don’t know what kind of life she’s had or what she’s been through. She’s a stranger to us, but she’s also family.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened, his eyes still clouded with skepticism. “Family by blood, maybe. But we can’t just accept this without knowing more. What if this is some kind of setup?”

“I’ve thought about that,” Leonardo admitted. “But the DNA tests were verified. If it’s a scheme, it’s a damn elaborate one.”

Luca sighed, his gaze drifting toward the door as if he could sense the presence of the sister they’d never known. “This changes everything.” he said softly.

“Yes, it does.” Leonardo agreed. He glanced at the empty spot where Domain should have been. Out with his friends, Domain hadn’t returned yet. Given Domain’s quick temper and tendency to make snap judgments, it might have been better this way.

Leonardo’s voice softened as he addressed his brothers again. “I’m asking you all to keep an open mind. She’s here now, and we need to figure this out together. Just...give her a chance. We owe her that much.”

The room fell silent again, each brother retreating into his own thoughts. There were so many questions left unanswered, so much uncertainty about what the future held. But for now, Leonardo knew one thing for sure, their family had changed forever, and there was no going back.