Chapter -5

Chapter -5

The tension from the broken necklace lingered in the air. Sinnea clenched her fists, forcing a shaky smile.

Sinnea: "Oh, Sister… you must have misunderstood! I only wanted to celebrate with you."

Tanisha tilted her head, her gaze sharp.

Tanisha: "Misunderstood?"

She took a slow step toward Sinnea, her presence exuding silent authority.

Tanisha: "You were the one who compared our gifts. You were the one who brought up the past. Tell me, what exactly did I misunderstand?"

Sinnea's fingers trembled. She wasn't used to losing control of the situation.

Sinnea (inner monologue): How is she this calm? Most people would've been embarrassed…

She felt Adrian's intense gaze on her, his smirk barely hidden.

Adrian: "That was an impressive performance."

Sinnea's stomach churned. She had wanted to shake Tanisha's position—not amuse Adrian Blackwood.

Meera Agnihotri's gentle voice cut through the tension.

Meera: "Enough of this, my darlings. Tanisha, we only want to make you feel at home."

She reached forward, cupping Tanisha's face with a tenderness Tanisha had never known.

For a brief moment, something inside her wavered.

Tanisha (inner monologue): Warmth… is this what it feels like?

But her walls stayed intact. She couldn't afford weakness.

Tanisha: "I appreciate the sentiment."

Lucas Agnihotri stepped in, his voice firm.

Lucas: "We will not entertain nonsense. Tanisha is our daughter. No one will question that."

His sharp gaze landed on Sinnea.

A subtle warning.

Sinnea's nails dug into her palm.

Sinnea (inner monologue): I need to change tactics.

The Agnihotri mansion in Aurelian City was illuminated with golden chandeliers, casting a soft glow on the grand hall. Tanisha sat gracefully on an opulent velvet couch as her mother, Meera, excitedly unwrapped designer boxes.

Meera (smiling warmly): "Look at this, sweetheart! Hand-embroidered with silk threads—one of a kind from Alvaris' top designers."

She draped the gown over Tanisha's shoulder, her eyes gleaming with pride.

Tanisha, dressed in an elegant yet simple ensemble, examined the garment with an unreadable expression.

Lucas (watching attentively): "If you don't like it, we can have it custom-made to your preference."

Tanisha glanced at her father. Unlike her mother's expressive warmth, Lucas Agnihotri held an air of silent authority. Yet, beneath the powerful businessman exterior, his gaze softened only for her.

Tanisha: "It's beautiful."

Meera clapped her hands in delight, pulling out more items—jewelry, rare artifacts, perfumes crafted exclusively for royalty.

Meera (teasingly): "Don't just say it's beautiful. At least let me see a smile!"

Tanisha hesitated before offering the slightest curve of her lips. It was small, but genuine.

Lucas smirked.

Lucas: "There. That's worth more than all these gifts combined."

Meera nodded enthusiastically.

Meera: "Absolutely! Our little girl deserves everything."

Sinnea, who had been seated nearby, forced a smile. She had been the center of the family's affection for years. Now, Tanisha had effortlessly taken that place.

Her fingers curled slightly against the silk of her dress.

Sinnea (inner monologue): "She's only acting perfect… playing innocent so they love her more."

Yet, Sinnea quickly masked her thoughts and reached for a delicate bracelet from the table.

Sinnea (smiling sweetly): "Tanisha, this would suit you well."

She reached forward, gently securing the bracelet around Tanisha's wrist—a subtle move, yet her grip was just a little too tight.

Sinnea: "See? Now we match."

Tanisha's sharp eyes flickered to her cousin's calculated expression but said nothing.

---

As the evening grew late, Tanisha excused herself from the gathering and stepped onto the open-air balcony overlooking the sprawling Agnihotri estate.

The cool night breeze brushed against her skin as she leaned against the railing.

??? "You walk like a shadow, but you always stand in the light."

Tanisha turned, unphased, as Adrian Blackwood emerged from the darkness.

Dressed in a fitted midnight suit, his silver cufflinks glinted under the soft moonlight. His eyes—cold to the world—held a rare warmth when they met hers.

Tanisha: "You really don't believe in doors, do you?"

Adrian smirked.

Adrian: "Not when I have better ways in."

Tanisha crossed her arms.

Tanisha: "Why are you here?"

He took a slow step forward.

Adrian: "I came to see you."

Tanisha raised an eyebrow.

Tanisha: "You barely know me."

Adrian's smirk faded slightly as his gaze bore into hers.

Adrian: "You've forgotten, haven't you?"

Tanisha's expression remained unreadable, but something in his tone sent a flicker of curiosity through her.

Before she could question him further, a voice interrupted.

---

??? "Should I be concerned that my sister is already attracting trouble?"

Tanisha turned to see a man stepping onto the balcony—Nathan Agnihotri.

Tall, composed, and radiating an effortless authority, he carried himself with a confidence that came from being one of the most powerful names in Azareth's corporate world.

His gaze flickered between Adrian and Tanisha before settling on Adrian with a sharp edge.

Nathan (calmly): "And here I thought I'd be the first to welcome her properly."

Adrian chuckled, unfazed.

Adrian: "You're late."

Tanisha, watching the exchange, tilted her head slightly.

Tanisha: "So you two know each other?"

Nathan's smirk was subtle but unmistakable.

Nathan: "Unfortunately, yes."

Adrian let out a low chuckle but said nothing.

Stepping closer, Nathan turned his full attention to Tanisha, his expression softening.

Nathan: "I'm Nathan. Your eldest brother."

Without hesitation, he reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek velvet box.

Nathan: "A small welcome gift."

Tanisha accepted it and opened the lid—inside lay an exquisitely crafted dagger. Its blade was polished obsidian, the handle inlaid with delicate silver patterns resembling a phoenix in flight.

Tanisha traced her fingers over the craftsmanship.

Tanisha (raising an eyebrow): "A dagger? Not exactly a traditional gift."

Nathan chuckled.

Nathan: "We're not exactly a traditional family."

Adrian, who had been silent until now, watched her reaction with intrigue.

Adrian: "Do you like it?"

Tanisha flipped the dagger effortlessly in her fingers, testing the balance.

Tanisha: "It's perfect."

Nathan's smirk widened.

Nathan: "Then I'll consider this my first successful gift as an older brother."

Tanisha closed the box, looking between Nathan and Adrian. For the first time since she had arrived, the air around her felt… lighter.

Tanisha (inner monologue): "Perhaps this new life won't be so bad after all."

As the night deepened, Sinnea watched the interactions from the shadows, her nails digging into her palms.

Sinnea (inner monologue): "First the parents. Now the first brother. And even Adrian?

Her gaze darkened.

Sinnea (inner monologue): "No matter what, I won't let her take everything away from me."

A slow, calculating smile curled on her lips.

Sinnea: "Let the games begin."