☆Chapter 34: Like Father, Like Daughter☆

The Morning Chaos

"Papa!"

Seraphina burst into Lorenzo's office, her small frame marching in with the determination of a queen entering her court.

Lorenzo didn't even flinch. He was seated behind his massive mahogany desk, papers meticulously arranged, and his cold eyes barely glanced up as Seraphina stormed toward him.

"Seraphina."

"I'm bored."

"I'm busy."

"I can see that."

Seraphina crossed her arms, her tone flat as her eyes scanned the documents on his desk.

"Mergers, contracts, and… another death threat."

"Hmm." Lorenzo's expression remained impassive.

"Papa."

"Seraphina."

"Pay attention to me."

"Go bother Matteo."

"Matteo is boring."

"Go bother Nonno."

"Nonno gives me too much money."

"Go read a book."

"I already read five."

Lorenzo's jaw tightened, his pen tapping rhythmically against the desk.

"Then go…"

"No."

Lorenzo finally looked up, his cold gaze meeting her defiant one.

A moment of tense silence passed.

"You're not going to leave, are you?"

"No."

"Fine. Sit. Quietly."

Seraphina grinned victoriously and plopped herself down on the leather chair across from him.

Lorenzo sighed, muttering something under his breath as he returned to his work.

☆☆☆

From the doorway, Nonno, Matteo, and Lucian stood silently, watching the entire scene unfold.

"Look at them…" Matteo murmured, arms crossed and an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

"Exactly the same."

Nonno's eyes twinkled with amusement, his face barely hiding his pride.

"She's a De Luca through and through."

"Even their timing…" Lucian whispered, his brows furrowed in both confusion and awe.

"Look—he's tapping his pen."

All three of them shifted their gaze to Lorenzo. His fingers tapped steadily on the desk, completely in sync with Seraphina's foot tapping on the floor.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

"Dear God…" Matteo muttered, his face twisting in mock horror.

"They're moving in sync."

"It's… unnatural." Lucian's eyes widened.

"Even their expressions match."

Nonno grinned, his chest swelling with pride.

"She's going to be unstoppable."

Matteo groaned.

"As if Lorenzo wasn't bad enough… now we have a miniature version."

"With more sass." Lucian added.

"And a lot more cunning."

"I'm too young for this headache." Matteo rubbed his temples.

Nonno chuckled.

"You better get used to it."

☆☆☆

Back inside the office, Lorenzo was engrossed in his papers, but his keen senses didn't miss the fact that Seraphina was watching him.

"Stop staring."

"I'm not staring."

"You're literally staring."

"I'm observing."

"Same thing."

Seraphina leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands.

"Why are you so grumpy today, Papa?"

"I'm not grumpy."

"You're always grumpy."

Lorenzo's eyebrow twitched.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

A beat.

"You're impossible."

"Thank you."

Lorenzo exhaled sharply.

"What do you want, Seraphina?"

"To spend time with my dear father."

"Liar."

Seraphina's lips twitched.

"Okay, fine. I'm bored. And you promised me ice cream yesterday."

"That was contingent on you not bothering me today."

"Did I agree to that?"

Lorenzo pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You're giving me a headache."

"You always say that."

"Because it's always true."

Seraphina grinned, clearly pleased with herself.

☆☆☆

"You know…" Matteo's voice echoed from the doorway.

"Watching you two is like watching a mirror."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed, but Matteo smirked.

"Same tone. Same mannerisms. Same attitude."

"Shut up, Matteo." Lorenzo and Seraphina shouted in sync.

"See? Exactly like that."

Seraphina giggled.

"I told you, Matteo. Papa and I are one and the same."

"God help us all."

Matteo crossed his arms.

"You've created a monster, Lorenzo."

Lorenzo grunted.

"She was born that way."

"And perfected under your care."

Lorenzo glanced at Seraphina, who was now spinning his pen in her hand—just like he did.

"Put that down."

"No."

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes.

Seraphina narrowed hers back.

Matteo whistled softly.

"This is… unsettling."

☆☆☆

As the day went on, the two of them continued to mirror each other—perfectly.

Lorenzo crossed his arms? Seraphina crossed hers a second later.

Lorenzo tilted his head? Seraphina matched the angle.

Even when they both sighed in frustration, it was perfectly synchronized.

"They're like… synchronized assassins." Lucian whispered.

"God forbid they ever plot something together." Matteo muttered.

Nonno chuckled softly.

"We'd all be doomed."

☆☆☆

By the end of the day, Lorenzo was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, as Seraphina curled up on the couch with a book.

"You're still here?"

"I like being here."

"You're supposed to be outside."

"I'm fine right here."

Lorenzo opened one eye, studying her for a moment.

"You're impossible."

Seraphina smiled softly.

"I know."

Lorenzo closed his eyes again, but the corners of his mouth twitched.

And for just a moment…

The world was perfect.