chapter 7

LEONARDO

The moment the plane landed in NewYork I could see the way Lyxaria tensed up. I am going to make sure I take away all her fears and anxiety. no matter what it takes.

I saw the way her hands were shaking on her laps and I felt the impulse to cover her little hands with my large ones. and I did. it was subtle but I could see the way she relaxed when I covered her hands with mine. it was a silent promise and affirmation.

LYXARIA.

I had been feeling anxious from the moment we set off from Brooklyn to NewYork. I tried to make it not noticeable so that Leo will not find out but I guess I was not discreet enough. because as soon as we were about to land in NewYork he covered my shaky hands with his and squeezed it slightly. I felt better and less anxious. the fear was still there but it wasn't much. Fear that my father would be waiting in the airport to drag me back home and lock me up in the scary basement.

I spaced out during our ride to Leonardo's Villa and I did not even notice when we had entered into the front yard.

The estate was so large and spacious. I could see different flowers planted on the walls and there was a huge water fountain in the middle of the compound. I walked around admiring the different splash of flowers in different colours around the house. it looked too bright for a Mafia boss.

"it's my mom" I heard a voice from behind me. I turned around to see Leonardo standing so close to me. I did not even notice he had been following me .

"hmm?" I asked absentmindedly.

"it's my mom that planted the flowers. not me" he explained. I saw the way his eyes looked distant when he spoke about his mom.

"ohh. I was wondering if you loved flowers so much." I chuckled softly. trying to lighten the mood a little.

" my mom loved flowers." he said with no emotions in his voice. 'loved' that means his mother was dead? I was not sure.

"I'm sorry for your loss." I finally said. after contemplating what to say about his mom.

"she's not dead. she's just surviving." he replied with no emotion.

"ohh"i replied. unsure of how to savage the situation. I had the urge to ask him what happened but I felt like he didn't want to talk about it. but my curiosity got the best of me.

"what happened to her?" I inquired. there was no going back now.

I felt the way the temperature dropped and it all came from the man standing beside me.

I was scared to look at him because I could feel the coldness emanating from him. "I don't want to talk about it."

that was all he said before he walked past me and continued going. I stood in the same position I was for a few seconds before I regained myself. it felt like hours. I had never seen him before so cold and distant. 'stupid Lyx. you just had to ask didn't you'. I could not help reprimanding myself. remind me never to ask about his mother again.

I decided to find my way through the house on my own since Leonardo was nowhere to be found. when I reached the back of the house, I saw a huge swimming pool in the middle of the back. it looked so big that I felt like I could drown with just entering it. I don't even think there is a shallow end. I was staring at the swimming pool lost in thought when I heard voices behind me. I turned around to see two girls my age looking at me with contempt and irritation. it's not like I looked at them any differently. they looked like two spoilt brats.

"who are you?" the girl with blonde hair and the latest Chanel dress demanded. she looked like she was about to tear me apart. like she could tho.

I decided to ignore her because I wasn't even in the mood for an argument.

I turned around and continued staring at the swimming pool. I heard rushed footsteps from behind me. I quickly turned around and shifted and the brown haired girl that was standing beside the blonde fell lost her balance and fell into the pool. I stood rooted to the ground as I saw her struggling to get back up and failed miserably. I could not help but laugh at how pathetic she looked struggling.

"what are you laughing at, witch.?" the blonde screeched. it was so loud that some of the birds on the trees flew away.

"I'm laughing at how pathetic she looks" I replied calmly. if they thought they could treat me like a nobody then they were mistaken. I have lived with my step sister for almost 19 years and I know how to treat spoiled rich bitches. I've been doing that since I was 5 when my stepmother Anna moved in with her spoiled daughter Lyra.

Anna and Lyra made sure my father treated me like a bad omen and a pig and trust me it was awful. 'so. why won't I be able to deal with two bitches'

The blonde girl eyed me and rushed to help her friend who seemed to be struggling in the water.

"hang in there Simone. I'm trying to get you out." the blonde said to the girl in the pool. I guess the brown haired girl was named Simone. what a nice name for an ugly bitch.

"I'm trying but I can't get up properly. why don't you call brother Leo to help me, Jennelle?" The brown haired girl named Simone shamelessly asked.

even as she was almost drowning she was still so shameless. 'it isn't my business who she calls anyways right?' I asked myself silently. then why did it sting a little. it's probably the weather. hopefully.

"That's a great idea Simone. hang in there while I call brother Leo. I'm sure he will love to help you since you are his future wife.". the blonde named Jennelle said loudly probably for me to hear. she quickly left to call 'brother Leo' pathetic thing.

I saw Simone looking at me with a scowl on her face and I decided to continue my walk since I don't want to be in this drama any longer.

"where do you think you are going, witch?" Simone snorted.

"and how is that your business?" I retorted coldly.

"you can't run away from what you have done. once bro Leo comes he's going to punish you for pushing me into the pool." she laughed loudly like what she said was a funny joke.

I took a glance at her and could not help but chuckle softly. she looked so hysterical with her wet hair and her wet clothes. 'bad day to wear a semi transparent white dress with two different colours of underwear'. I mocked silently.

"Instead of trying to figure out how you fell down, why don't you try coming out of the pool before you float to the deeper side."

" Bro Leo is coming to help me. and I'll tell him how you pushed me and watched me almost drown. you murderer." she gritted her teeth in pure hatred. I swear I could see her smirking like an evil witch in Disney stories.

" if I really wanted to kill you, trust me it would not be in the pool. " I threatened her. it's not like I can really kill her.

" how dare you say that to me. I would make sure Brother Leo deals with you." she threatened.

I was starting to wonder how she is related to Leonardo. I was still wondering when I heard a deep cold voice from behind me.