"That's just so like you," Ethan commented, shaking his head.
"Why her?" Tom asked.
"In some way…" he paused, gathering his thoughts, careful with his words. "I hate to admit it, but… I think I," Fionn left the sentence hanging, unwilling to finish it, yet it was enough for his brothers to understand.
"So you're really in love with her," Tom teased.
"Told ya," Silas said, a sarcastic grin spreading across his face.
The three men continued to tease, peppering Fionn with questions about Kiara, her name, whether she was cute, how tall she was, and what she did for a living. They acted as if he knew every detail about her.
After failing to pry answers from him, their attention eventually turned to a game. Still focused on the screen, they were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell, making all of them pause.
"Is it her?" Ethan whispered, careful not to speak too loudly. As if she could hear.
"Probably," Tom replied just as quietly.
The moment Debbie heard the door, he knew it had to be her. He stood, walking toward it, heart pounding.
He hesitated for a brief second, then finally gathered the courage and opened the door. There she stood, the girl who had been occupying his thoughts for as long as he could remember.
Kiara didn't understand why she couldn't shake the fact that she found Fionn so attractive, even though they barely knew each other. Every time she saw him, Kiara couldn't help but pause and admire him.
She stood there, speechless, blinking at him, and Fionn mirrored her, equally frozen, eyes locked on Kiara.
Her heart pounded so hard against her ribs, it felt like they might burst.
"What are they doing? Why are they just staring at each other?" Tom whispered.
"Guess they're both smitten," Ethan whispered back. "Ooh, she's so cute, she's a nine," he cooed.
"No, she's too pretty for just a nine. She's a ten," Tom countered.
Kiara didn't know who they were, and didn't care, but what got to her was how loud they were. They didn't seem to care whether she heard them or not.
Still, she remained silent until Fionn finally broke the quiet.
"Made up your mind about the marriage proposal?" He asked.
What was wrong with him? Of all things, he was bringing the marriage thing first.
"That's not why I'm here," Kiara snapped.
She tried to sound angry, but her tone betrayed her, shattering the illusion of anger she'd tried to muster.
"Here." She handed him his coat and the envelope in her hands.
Inside was the court order, but she didn't bother explaining. He would find out soon enough.
Fionn took the coat and envelope from her hands, and for a moment, his fingers lingered on hers. She let him. In that instant, a wave of sadness swept through her, a sharp pang of regret. Everything felt wrong, making her question her own choices.
Why did I file the lawsuit? Why do I find this man so irresistibly attractive, to the point I'm falling for him?
She had to leave, or staying even a moment longer would unravel everything. She turned to go, but after a few steps, her movement was halted.
"Wait, Princess," he called out.
His words sounded like a sweet melody in her ears. He kept calling her Princess, and to Kiara's surprise, she really enjoyed it.
Kiara felt the urge to turn back, to walk straight to him and make him repeat Princess, but her tangled emotions, anger, and frustration, overpowered the warmth his words brought her.
"I have a name. Kiara. Use it," she snapped.
"We don't have to do this. Let's just talk it over," Fionn said gently, his tone calm and sincere.
She wanted to stay, to hear him out. Part of her truly did. But Kiara shook her head. "If there's any talking to be done, it will be in court. And there's no way I'm marrying you. That's my answer," she said, then walked on.
Fionn stood there, perplexed, his mind blank. He didn't know what to do. Part of him wanted to run after her, but what good would it do? It would change nothing. So he just watched as her figure slowly sauntered down the hallway, eventually disappearing into the lift.
"Princess? Are you kidding me?" Tom burst out laughing.
Ethan threw himself dramatically onto the couch, pretending to die. "Take me, Lord Jesus! There's nothing more I wish to see," he gasped, feigning his last breath.
Silas sat, trying and failing to suppress his laughter. "She's really something," he said, shaking his head. "I didn't know you were that weak."
"Let's get serious. There's a court order in my hands, and you all are taking it for granted," Fionn stressed.
"Ok, laughter aside, did you all recognise who she is?" Tom asked, still laughing uncontrollably.
"Kiara Miracle, even all these years, I can't fail to recognise her," Silas replied.
Silas and Tom couldn't stop their laughter, while Ethan, who had been pretending to be dead, finally gave in, resurrecting his laughter to join the others.
There was nothing Fionn could do. He simply sat there, reading through the document, fuming with rage and annoyance.
"Anyway, who is this Kiara Miracle?" Ethan asked, still laughing.
"You wouldn't know, back then, you were so young to remember who she is?" Fionn replied.
"That's enough, guys," Silas said, finally regaining his composure. "We don't have to overdo it. This is a serious matter."
"So what do you think we should do?" Fionn asked.
"Can't tell, I'll just give it a try, but I may have to talk to Beat in this regard," Silas said.
-------
The car rolled to a stop in a quiet, exclusive neighborhood six kilometers north of the city center, The Rich Haven, as everyone called it. The place was famed for its serenity and the kind of affluence only the elite could afford.
They drove through the towering gates and stopped right at the grand entrance of the Miracles' mansion.
Kiara stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by Beat, who had been waiting by the door. Beat stood with a smile tagging on her lips, with both her hands, she adjusted her glasses before walking towards her sister.
Before Kiara could even say a word, Beat wrapped her arms around her, pulling Kiara into a tight, warm hug.
"Ooh, how I missed you," she whispered. "I couldn't stop worrying."
"Don't fret, big sis. I'm a grown woman now," Kiara said with a smile, hoping to sound confident.
Beat pulled back slightly, cupping Kiara's face in her hands. She pressed a soft kiss on her lips. "Yes, you are grown. But to me, you, Sadie, and Kayla will always be my baby sisters, no matter how big you get."
That melted Kiara's heart instantly.
"I love you, big sis," She cooed, her voice soft and sincere.