Diamond Rain

CHAPTER 1: The Hidden Bloodline

ALESSA

Alaric was busy watering his plants in the rooftop greenhouse when I barged inside his private haven uninvited, leaving a loud slam of the door behind me which took over the serenity of the place.

My brother has always been obsessed with nature photography that's why he created a mini forest on top of our house full of exotic plants that he had meticulously bought from the Amazon River. He was even planning to buy exotic animals which we strongly opposed.

"What's this all about?" my twin asked as soon as I occupied the gothic styled steel bench beside the six feet tall pagoda.

I raked my hair backwards and crossed my arms as I sighed, "Father wants me to attend another marriage interview. For goodness sake, this is the sixth time this week!"

Our Family owns the biggest clothing company here in Paris and being the workaholic parents that they were, they're also overprotective with their assets. That is why I had tons of annoying marriage interview line-ups ahead of me. Even Alaric is also a veteran.

"Another marriage interview?" Alaric looked amused instead. For all I knew, he enjoys watching my frowning face every time.

I twitched my lips, "Yeah. I really hate it. Meeting boys you hardly even know, smiling 'till your cheeks hurt."

But Alaric didn't even say any comment about it. Instead, he burst out a laugh he was trying to stop a while ago which made me quirk my brows, "What are you laughing at? What kind of twin are you?!"

He snorted and placed the watering can on the ground before sitting beside me, "I'm sorry sunshine," he gave me a side hug, "Just do what Father says. You know he's just giving you options. In the end, it's still your own choice whom you'll marry."

I sighed and nodded at him. Alaric has a point. He always has. Just as how I am the impatient and stubborn one, my twin was like my patient and calm side. My shield and comforter in everything, a perfect brother anyone could wish for.

"By the way," Alaric continued, "Madge sent our schedules for the week. We should talk about this. Naomi and Elliot are on their way."

"Let me guess," I raised a brow, "Elliot was in Lucy's bar bringing some random girl again?"

Alaric laughed, his Adam's apple going up and down as he did that, "I didn't know you're a psychic."

As kids, Naomi and Elliot would always make us wear identical dresses and let people guess which is which. But now that we've grown up, Alaric's manly features had made me realize how different we are from each other. It made me fear that a time will come that we'll be forced to have our separate ways.

I laughed, hoping that it somehow concealed my worries, "I don't need to be a psychic when it comes to Elliot."

Elliot had always been a lovesick puppy when it comes to Lucy. He's a manwhore but dense enough not to realize that he had always been head over heels with our childhood friend.

My twin shook his head, "I really can't believe he's our older brother. I don't understand why he didn't notice how obvious it is that he's just making Lucy jealous."

"Are you guys talking behind my back?"

Alaric and I both turned our heads to see a devil beaming at us, wearing a red stripped tee and simple jeans. But no one could really blame my brother if he's a manwhore. I honestly admit he had those perfectly chiselled features that had girls drooling all over him.

"We were just talking on how gorgeous you are." Alaric sneered at him.

And being the naïve older brother that he was, Elliot laughed as he patted both of our shoulders, "I know that, Rickie. You don't have to be so frank."