☘︎ Lʏᴋᴀs Vɪᴛᴀʟʟɪs ☘︎

Someone killed my father.

There were daisies on the nightstand next to his bed, where he lied stabbed to death and soaked in his own blood. No one knows who did it, even the elite team couldn't find a whiff. The killer was far too well trained to leave no trails, except the daisies.

Everything happened so suddenly-David Vitallis being killed, his funeral, me taking over Vitallis Group, Jennifer taking over Davidson Group with Mia as her partner because Samuel wanted to retire and my grandfather isolating himself in some desolate place because for some reason, he was furious his son died and not sad.

My mom, on the other hand. . .

I chance a glance at Jennifer leaning against the doorframe of Vitallis Villa's drawing room, dressed in a white business suit, her eyes trained on my mother.

Heather Vitallis stares blankly into the fireplace, her mind and body at two different places. She's been like this ever since Dad died. She won't tell anyone why she's so lost.

I'm still trying to process his death. I have no idea how to feel. There is sadness somewhere, but a part of me-despite how much I hate that part-is relieved my mom is now free of his clutches and even Grandpa's since he won't contact any of us.

Yet mom remains like this.

I look at Jennifer again and she gives me a nod. She doesn't realizes how encouraging her single nod is.

Letting out a deep sigh, I settle down on the warm rug next to the fireplace where Mom's seated. My hand gently clasp her shoulder, my voice soft as I say, "What is it, Mom?"

A single tear runs down her eyes at the sound of my voice, "I have no way to find her anymore."

I blink, confusion swirling within me, "Who?"

But Mom just shakes her head, peering into the furnace, "Your father is dead. Your grandpa is gone. How am I to ever find her? All of these years yielding to them, for nothing?"

My grip on her shoulder applies a comforting squeeze, "I won't understand if you keep speaking in circles, mom. You've been saying this since Dad died. You need to be clear so that I can help you."

"You can't!" Mom suddenly flips, fury and helplessness coating her features, "You have no idea what your father and grandfather are! I didn't listen to them all these years because I was afraid for myself! I was afraid for her, because they have her!"

"Who, Mom?" I ask again, calm yet my tone firmer than before, "You have to stop hiding things from me. I know about your lover before Dad, it's okay. I don't blame you."

Her face breaks at the mention of her lover, tears straining down her cheeks more prominently. Under the light of the fire, the deep red in her hair is more visible, unlike the way they usually look brown to the eyes. She pushes her hair out of her face, her expression completely crumbled. Whatever the reason, the last few days have been getting at her.

And maybe it's only because of that, she expresses, "Your grandfather and father didn't rip Rorick off everything he has only because he loved me and I did him. They hated Rorick because they found out he'd impregnated me."

My eyes widen in shock, taken aback by her words, "Does that mean, I am. . .that Rorick is my. . ."

"No." She shakes her head, "David is your father. But you have a sister a year older than you. Rorick and my daughter."

A lump forms in my throat and before I know, I'm pulling away from my mother, "What?"

"They were going to kill the child. But I begged them to let her live. To let her be born. That I would do anything they would ask of me till the day I die, if they let her live. They certainly thought it was a good bargain, I'd do everything they asked without any force or threat. But I should've known. If they sold away Francis, then they'd do much worse to the child they despised." My mother's tears are endless now, "They isolated me for nine months to avoid anyone from knowing I'm pregnant and then they took the child from my arms the moment she was born. While I was forced to marry David instantly. You were born within a year. They told me if I kept listening to them, they wouldn't do anything to my daughter."

My eyes sting with unshed tears, "What?" I say again.

A hand grips my hand and when I look up to the person, Jennifer is holding tight to me. She tugs me upward from my sitting position, as if she knows this is too much for me to handle.

My mom doesn't elaborate. Now that she's filled my curiosity and left me in tatters, she returns to staring voidly at the fire, mumbling yet again, "I have no way to find her anymore."

I'm out of the drawing room, out of the house and in my car within a blur of moments, all along Jennifer holding on to my hand.

I have a sister I didn't even know about for so long. I let those words sink in.

"What are you going to do now?" Jennifer asks, handing me a bottle of water, her inquisitive eyes watching me while she brushes a strand of hair from my forehead.

I grab her hand, flatten her palm against my cheek and close my eyes, "I'm going to fucking find my sister."

"Thought so."

When I let my eyes open again, Jennifer is smiling at me, those green irises shining with pride. It melts my heart a little. Okay, definitely more than a little.

"Jenna. . ." I kiss the inside of her palm, speaking softly.

"Yeah?" She tilts her head to the side, brushing her thumb against my jaw.

"I love you." I confess for the hundredth time.

But it is worth the way her face lights up each time, despite the stony mask she usually holds up around others. Even if she'd never said the words back, I know she loves me just as much.

This time though, she inches closer to me, a rare flint of excitement shining through those beautiful eyes, "I have to show you something."

But before she can, a soft growl echoes from the back seat in greeting. I flick my gaze to the lion cub sprawled over the entirety of the leather seat, as though he's a king. Len tilts his head to look at me, his eyes turning to luminous golden slits.

I'd have much preferred if Len stopped being a third wheel all the time, he's been at it ever since Sayeed and Ayesha bought him to us in New York with a zoologist and Ethan and Siya's assistance. Ethan and Siya, they pretend to be annoyed by each other-atleast Siya does-but everyone can say there's something going on between them.

Romeo and Juliette still want each other dead though, but they both left New York due to reasons only they know. Or maybe they just didn't want to see each other's face. I nearly saved my best friend from getting shot before he left. Juliette looked so determined to pull the trigger, she has so much venom towards Romeo. But she relented when Jenna asked her to. For now. The Mafia Heiress likely still feels a sense of camaraderie to Jenna for saving her life years ago.

I narrow my eyes right at Len, coming back to the present. Jennifer shakes her head, her lips twitching in amusement as she reaches out to stroke his golden mane. Len purrs in response like he's a little kitten and not a predator who could eat her alive. Knowing Len though, he'd probably eat me.

Jennifer doesn't get why Len and I have a love-hate relationship. We're both attention-seeking fools when it comes to her. But he'd have to eventually leave her and be sent to live in the wild like a real lion ought to, while I get to stay with her forever.

My eyes soften a little, heart feeling sad. I might not be a fan of the lion cub, but I don't want him away, even though I understand why he has to go. Majestic beings like lions are meant for the wild jungles. Despite the fact that I might miss Len. That doesn't mean I love him, ofcourse.

Dragging me out of my reverie, Jennifer inches away from the lion cub. Lifting her left hand from the seat, she holds out her wrist to me, "See."

For a moment I'm stunned to silence before a slow grin makes up my face, because right there on Jennifer's wrist lies. . .

A tattoo of two clouds with Jenna and my initials, J and L, joined together by a freaking rainbow.

Some people don't need words to convey the depth of their love, they just need a rainbow tattoo. A symbol of love.

Jenna freaking loves me too.

Months later though, she does say those precise words to me along with her vows on our wedding.

And no one blames me when I cry like an idiot.

--------------THE END--------------

Since I do this in most of my stories, lemme know :

1》Your favorite moment from the book?

2》Most shocking revelation according to you?

3》Favorite character after the leads?

4》Lastly, what did you like the most about the story?

Random : Got any theory for the next book?👀

༆ AUTHOR'S NOTE ༆

Y'all be like : Ofcourse, the beeeech author had to end the book with a mystery left unsolved.

BAHAHA. I AM A CRUEL CREATURE, YODAS! *low-key villain laughs*

I know a lot of you wanted me to write a book on Romeo and Juliette, but the thing is, I don't have a plot for them yet. And I can't let their characters go to waste by starting a book without a solid plot, when those two have so much potential! There WILL be a book on them though. Just not now. Rest assured, y'all still get a new book with crazy characters and mysteries left to uncover, who knows you might even meet the characters from this book again. While behind the scene I plot a dark nefarious plot for Romeo and Juliette. I mean, there's a very obvious hint for the new book in this chapter. The prologue of the new book will be out very VERY soon, probably this week, you never know👀🤞

Now for some emotional speech....

Writing a book is like raising a child. When we reach the end of the book, it's like our baby is all grown up and now you gotta let them go and live their life on their own. Sad freaking moment. *emotional weeping*

Now old crone level melodramatics aside, I enjoyed writing this book, shaping these characters so much! Also, I love each of you-those who vote, those who throw a party in the comment section, those who become detectives with your amazing theories and even those who read silently. You would never understand how much your support means to me!

SO ALL OF YOU, HERE'S VIRTUAL HUG FROM ME TO YOU!

Now Seyonara!

Until next time, tiny hoomans!<3