"Lily," Lucy interjected sharply, her eyes flashing with warning.
"That's enough."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the siblings. Lily, momentarily taken aback by Lucy's uncharacteristic outburst, quickly recovered and adopted a wounded expression.
"Sis what? We should get her a tutor, it's only a month before senior year starts," Lily said, attempting to salvage the situation by feigning concern. "It's just that school is important."
"Anastasia dear, don't worry, mummy and daddy will get you the best tutor!" Rosemary chimed in, eager to reassure their daughter and deflect any further criticism.
Before either parent could elaborate, Sean burst into a grin.
"I will tutor you!" he declared enthusiastically.
"I'm pretty good at most subjects."
Anastasia phone ring it was an old flip phone as she picked it up and walked outside she leaned against the tree her eyes reflected the beautiful stars.
"Luke what is the matter?" Anastasia asked.
"Sis nothing I am in Russia, I will be in training until Thanksgiving break so I won't be able to talk to you how are you?" Luke asked.
The familiar voice of Luke, her youngest brother, was a comforting anchor in the swirling chaos of her reunion. Despite the vast age difference, Anastasia had always felt a deep connection to him, a sense of responsibility that had blossomed into a protective bond. She had essentially raised him, filling the void left by their parents' absence and providing him with the guidance and support he needed to thrive.
"Huh fine, I found my biological family," she replied, her voice surprisingly nonchalant despite the monumental significance of the statement.
"Wow! Sis that is awesome! So how are they?" Luke's youthful enthusiasm bubbled through the phone line, his genuine excitement a stark contrast to the cautious reserve she typically maintained. He knew his sister well – if she didn't like something or someone, she wouldn't tolerate it for long.
Anastasia paused, considering how to describe her newfound family without revealing too much. The Marcani family, with their wealth and influence, were a world apart from the isolated existence she had known for so long.
"They're... complicated," she finally said, choosing her words carefully.
"Generous, certainly. Protective. But also… preoccupied."
She didn't elaborate, knowing that Luke wouldn't press her for details. He understood that some things were best left unsaid, that there were depths to her past that she wasn't ready to share.
"Remember when you brought that oneyearold back from the sect?" Luke suddenly blurted out, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and amusement.
A faint smile touched Anastasia's lips as she recalled the incident. It was a memory buried deep within the recesses of her mind, a testament to her unwavering determination and the sheer force of her will. The memory surfaced with surprising clarity – the stifling atmosphere of the sect, the disapproving glares of the elders, and the defiant spark that had ignited within her when they refused to accept Luke.
She remembered the frustration that had surged through her, the burning desire to protect her little brother from their prejudice. And then, without a second thought, she had challenged them – nine senior disciples, each one far more experienced and powerful than she was.
It had been a reckless act, fueled by youthful impulsiveness and an unshakeable sense of justice. But somehow, against all odds, she had prevailed.
"And you were only level four at the time!" Luke continued, his voice brimming with admiration.
"You beat them without even breaking a sweat! After that, you told everyone that I was your little brother who bullied you. It was so funny!"
Anastasia chuckled softly, the sound a rare and precious melody. The memory was indeed amusing, a testament to her resourcefulness and her unwavering protectiveness of Luke. She had always been fiercely protective of him, shielding him from harm and standing up for him against anyone who dared to challenge him.
"It was necessary," she said defensively, though the smile lingered on her lips. "They needed to learn a lesson."
She paused, then added with a hint of mischief,
"Besides, it made for a good story. Luke study hard if you are in the top list as SSR the school I will give you a reward," Anastasia said and hanged up. This would motivate him. On the other side Luke was speechless but he was so excited because the last his sister give him a gift it was a spaceship! 
Luke stared at the phone, his jaw slack with disbelief. A spaceship! His sister had gifted him a spaceship last time! The sheer extravagance of it still boggled his mind. He imagined soaring through the cosmos, exploring distant galaxies, all thanks to Anastasia's generosity.
A surge of determination flooded through him. He would be at the top of the SSR list. He wouldn't let his sister down. He would study harder than ever before, mastering every subject and exceeding every expectation. The thought of earning another one of Anastasia's incredible gifts fueled his ambition like never before.
He leaped off his bed, a renewed sense of purpose radiating from him.
"I'm going to be the best!" he declared to the empty room, already mentally reviewing his textbooks and formulating a study plan.
The opulent interior of the neighboring mansion was a stark contrast to the more traditional elegance of the Marcani estate. Modern art adorned the walls, sleek furniture filled the spacious rooms, and a palpable sense of controlled energy permeated the air.
Sean, looking distinctly out of place in his casual attire, paced restlessly across the polished marble floor. His best friend, Marceau, leaned back in a plush armchair, seemingly unfazed by Sean's agitation. Marceau was a striking figure himself a seventeenyearold with an unusual number of tattoos snaking across his arms and shoulders. His eyes were a sharp, grayishblue that seemed to pierce through any facade, and his dark brown hair was cut short on the sides but left deliberately messy on top.
"Marceau, don't even think about it! My twin sister just returned she is innocent weak as well!"
Marceau barely glanced up from the holographic video game he was engrossed in, his fingers dancing across the controls with practiced ease. He let out a long, theatrical sigh before finally pausing the game and turning his attention to Sean.
"Okay," he said, his voice a low murmur that barely registered above the hum of the advanced technology surrounding them. But his tone held a dismissive edge, and his eyes betrayed a flicker of amusement.
Sean rolled his eyes. He knew Marceau well – perhaps too well. His best friend was a ruthless, coldblooded individual with secrets layered upon secrets. He was someone who could commit an act of violence one moment and then effortlessly blend into a highsociety party the next, as if nothing had happened. It was a disconcerting quality that both fascinated and unnerved Sean.
"You know I'm serious."