'Laughter and Lies: The Stepfamily Queenpin"

chp 3 A Battle of Wills

As everyone enjoyed the delicious lunch, Melina looked up from her plate and fixed her gaze on her mom and Jonethen. With a teasing smile, she asked, "So... when are you two lovebirds getting married?"

Her mom immediately turned red, her hand flying to her cheek as she avoided eye contact. "Melina!" she exclaimed, her tone both embarrassed and amused. Jonethen, on the other hand, chuckled, his ears tinged with a bit of color.

"Well," Jonethen began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I'd marry your mom today if I could. But she's the one taking her sweet time."

"Jonethen!" her mom protested, her voice a mix of shyness and mock indignation. She lightly swatted his arm, but her blushing face gave her away.

Melina grinned wider, her playful side kicking in. "Mom, come on. It's fine! I have no problem with you two getting married. In fact, I'm quite happy about it. So, Mr. Jonethen," she said, turning to him dramatically, "please arrange the wedding and make my mom officially yours!"

Her mom's face turned even redder, and she tried to hide her smile. Jonethen, clearly enjoying Melina's antics, laughed heartily. "Alright, dear Melina. If you're on board, then that's it! Everyone, listen up," he said, turning to the table, his voice taking on a commanding tone. "We're getting married tomorrow, and that's final!"

The room fell silent for a moment before the boys all spoke at once.

"Tomorrow?!" Alex said, his usual composure breaking for a second.

"Wait, are we serious right now?" Felix asked, blinking in disbelief.

"Is this a joke?" Louis muttered, looking between Jonethen and Melina.

Marco folded his arms, his sharp features betraying his skepticism. "Dad, you don't waste time, do you?"

Melina, however, burst out laughing, clapping her hands in delight. "Oh my God, this is perfect!" she said. "Finally, my mom will stop stalling, and we'll have a big celebration! This is going to be amazing!"

Her mom buried her face in her hands, her laughter muffled as she muttered, "I can't believe this is happening."

Jonethen leaned over and gently took her hand. "Honey, you've made me wait long enough. It's time. Tomorrow, you're officially mine." His soft yet confident tone made her blush even more.

The boys exchanged stunned glances, still trying to process the whirlwind announcement. Melina, on the other hand, was practically bouncing in her seat, already making mental plans for the big day. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed, raising her glass. "To the soon-to-be newlyweds!"

Jonethen raised his glass with a proud smile, and the boys hesitantly followed suit, still caught off guard but unable to resist the infectious energy in the room.

After lunch, everyone retreated to their rooms. Down in the dimly lit, labyrinthine basement, the seven brothers gathered in their secret space. The air was heavy with the scent of leather and steel, and the room exuded an eerie, dangerous aura. Each door in the basement led to a different domain of their shadowy operations:

One room housed a collection of weapons—polished guns, gleaming knives, and crates of ammunition.Another was filled with surveillance screens and advanced hacking equipment, the soft hum of servers filling the air.A third room had walls lined with ominous maps and red strings connecting photos, marking the web of their clandestine empire.One particularly unsettling door bore deep scratches as if it concealed something—or someone—far darker than any of them dared admit.The largest room was a vast, dimly lit space with a sleek black table in the center where they held their most dangerous meetings.