"Seb, Steve, what are you doing here?" Dos asked, his voice laced with confusion as he looked at the two men standing in front of me and Fifth.
"He said, kuya. What does it mean?" Fifth whispered, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Does he want us to call him kuya? That's weird."
I didn't answer. I just stood there, staring at the two men. The tension between us was palpable, like something unspoken was hanging in the air. Yes, it's weird, Fifth. I thought, my mind racing. They had never acted like older brothers—kuya—not even close. They were never protective, never offering guidance. If anything, they had always been distant, more like acquaintances than family.
But seeing them now, standing there with the faintest hint of something in their eyes that I couldn't place, made me question everything. What had changed? And why did it feel like they were suddenly trying to fill a role they had never cared to play before?
Sebastian and Steven introduced themselves as Graham. They used our mother's maiden name as their last name, a detail that hung in the air like an unspoken secret, laced with both familiarity and mystery. It felt strange hearing our mother's name spoken in a context so foreign, yet oddly fitting.
Sebastian, tall and poised, always had an air of control, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if he were calculating every possible move before it was made. He handled the Graham Corporation in Europe, a powerful entity that had a reputation for discretion and influence. In his presence, it felt as if the entire world was being measured, analyzed, and orchestrated. The Graham Corporation was more than a business—it was a network of connections, deals, and power that spanned continents, and Sebastian was its orchestrator.
Steven, on the other hand, had an entirely different energy. His presence was quieter, more enigmatic, with an intensity that was hard to pin down. He managed a secret organization, one that we were also a part of, though the details were shrouded in secrecy. The organization's reach stretched far beyond what we could see, with layers of intelligence, covert operations, and agendas that remained hidden even from its own members. The truth about it all, like the man himself, was veiled in shadows. Steven's role in this underground world was a reminder of the delicate balance between loyalty and deception, and the dangerous game they all played.
Their roles were not just jobs; they were the embodiment of an intricate legacy. A legacy we were bound to, one that we had inherited not through choice, but by blood. And now, standing before them, I realized how little I truly understood about the paths they had walked—or the organization we were all tied to.
I already knew that Steven was the big man behind our organization, even though no one ever really said it out loud. It wasn't something you needed to hear to know. He had that commanding presence, that subtle authority that people couldn't ignore. But I had learned long ago to keep my mouth shut. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to it, to let anyone know that I knew them, personally.
The truth was, I hated them. Both of them. Sebastian and Steven. They left me behind without so much as a backward glance, abandoning me to deal with everything on my own. Maybe they had their reasons—some noble cause or grand design—but it didn't matter. Not to me. What mattered was that they were gone, and I was left to pick up the pieces. No explanations, no goodbyes, just silence.
So, I kept the secret. I never told any of my friends about the Grahams, never mentioned how they were tied to my past, to my blood. To most, they were just a name, a story in the background, a whisper in the shadows. But to me, they were the ghosts of my history, the ones who left me to deal with everything myself. And that silence? It was the only thing I could control in a world that had once been mine but was now crumbling.
But seriously? Why now? Why did they have to show up when everything was already messed up? The timing couldn't be worse. After everything that had happened, after I had spent years trying to piece my life back together, there they were—like a storm that had been waiting for the right moment to hit. And for all their power, their money, their control, they still couldn't see it. They didn't understand the mess I had to clean up, the chaos they left in their wake.
I wanted to scream at them. Ask why they felt the need to come back now, when the pieces were already falling apart. But I couldn't. Not yet. Not with everything still hanging in the balance. So, I kept my mouth shut, hiding everything behind a mask of indifference, pretending like it didn't hurt. But inside, I was burning with a million unasked questions, none of which they would ever answer.
"Why can't we be here? We were invited." Steven answered with a smirk, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that felt like he could see straight through me.
His tone was casual, almost mocking, but I could feel the weight behind his words. They were invited. Of course they were. Everything about them screamed entitlement, like they belonged wherever they chose to be, no questions asked. That smirk only made it worse—like he knew exactly how uncomfortable he was making me, how much I wanted to tell him to get lost.
Sebastian, ever the composed one, chimed in with his own brand of arrogance, his gaze drifting to Dos. "Well, we can be invited to a place like this." The words weren't just a statement; they were a reminder of how they moved in a world I could barely understand anymore. To them, invitations were mere formalities, meaningless words that held no real power.
But Dos… Dos wasn't as quick to dismiss them. He just stared at them for a moment, his mind clearly racing, trying to piece together why these two, these ghosts from my past, were here now. His eyes flicked to me, like he was waiting for some kind of explanation. But I couldn't give him one—not when everything inside me was a tangled mess of emotions.
I immediately avoided his gaze, not wanting him to see the storm brewing in my eyes. I couldn't let him see how much their presence was shaking me. It wasn't just the anger or the betrayal I was still carrying; it was the fact that their return felt like everything was about to change—again. The weight of that possibility was crushing, and I wasn't ready to face it, not with Dos looking at me like that, as if expecting me to provide answers I didn't have.
Steven and Sebastian, standing there like they owned the place, only made the situation worse. They were part of a world I had tried to forget, one I wanted nothing to do with. But here they were, pulling me back into it, whether I liked it or not.
Here's your revised version with added depth while keeping the dialogue intact:
"We'll talk after this party. For now, I just need Severa to be with us for the whole night," Steven commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. He then extended his hand toward me and smiled—that same insufferable smile I had hated since we were kids.
"Okay then. I'll tell the others," Dos agreed, his tone calm but firm. He turned to Fifth and me, my arms still clinging tightly around him, as if letting go would mean losing my last line of defense. "Let's go, Fifth. Nine, you'll go with them."
Fifth and I exchanged a quick glance before nodding in silent understanding. He hesitated for a second, as if debating whether to say something, but instead, he simply waited for me to loosen my grip. My hands trembled as I let go, my fingers brushing against his before I reluctantly reached for Steven's outstretched hand. The warmth of his palm sent an unsettling chill down my spine.
As they walked away, I swallowed hard. My hands were cold, my knees unsteady. I had thought I was prepared for this moment, but nothing could have braced me for the reality of standing beside them again. The weight of the past pressed heavily against my chest, making it harder to breathe.
It was almost laughable—how Dos and the others had no clue about my personal ties to them. It wasn't just them; barely anyone knew the truth. That was my brothers' decision. They were the ones who insisted on keeping our connection a secret. The secrecy ran so deep that only a handful of people even knew I had siblings.
Uncle Brian was one of the few who did. But of course
-
My brothers were busy mingling, effortlessly weaving through conversations with businessmen and politicians. Their presence commanded attention, not just for their influence but for the ease with which they carried themselves. From across the room, I watched as several women attempted to flirt with them, only to be met with smooth, almost mechanical rejections. My brow arched slightly at how flawlessly they handled it—no hesitation, no awkwardness. It was clear they were used to this kind of attention, used to women hovering around them like moths to a flame.
I rolled my eyes. Typical.
Why was I even here? The gala had already begun, yet I had no clue what was happening. Everything around me felt unfamiliar, like I had stepped into a world that wasn't mine. The chatter, the clinking of glasses, the polite laughter—it all blurred together into a meaningless hum. My dress wasn't helping either.
I shivered slightly, my arms wrapping around myself. The gold couture gown I wore was stunning, there was no denying that. Its delicate embroidery and flowing silhouette made me feel like some kind of celestial being—an ethereal fairy standing in the middle of a witches' gathering. Because that's exactly what this felt like. A sea of black surrounded me, their dark suits and dresses blending together, while I stood out like a beacon of light in the depths of hell.
This was all Ifor's idea. Even in her absence, she had found a way to make her mark on this night, and as much as I hated to admit it, she had nailed it.
I could feel the weight of lingering stares. Some men didn't even bother to be subtle about it, their gazes tracing the contours of my dress as if they had the right. Every time one of them so much as shifted in my direction, Sebastian's arm found its way around my waist—firm, possessive, and unmistakably territorial.
His grip sent a clear message.
And I wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"Where's your husband?"
I gasped, my breath hitching as Sebastian's voice brushed against my ear, his whisper sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could react, he had already left his previous companions and effortlessly pulled me toward one of the tables, isolating us from the crowd.
My eyes instinctively darted around the room, scanning the sea of faces. I had been searching for Calyx since the moment I arrived, yet I still hadn't seen a glimpse of him. Not even Jillian was in sight. It was strange—too strange. He was supposed to be here, supposed to be welcoming guests, ensuring everything went smoothly. Instead, he was nowhere to be found.
My fingers curled into fists against the fabric of my dress, unease creeping up my spine. I bit my lip, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling clawing at my chest. Something wasn't right. I could feel it—an unfamiliar tension hanging in the air, a sense of foreboding that made my pulse quicken.
And I hated it.
Because if there was one thing I had learned, it was that when Calyx went missing like this… it was never a good sign.
"Stop biting your lip, Severa!"
I nearly jumped in my seat when Sebastian suddenly slammed his hand against the table. The sharp sound cut through the ambient noise of the gala, drawing startled glances from nearby guests. Conversations momentarily paused, eyes darting toward us, but Sebastian didn't seem to care.
"Damn it! Why did you do that?!" I hissed, my hand flying to my chest as my heart pounded erratically. I glared at him, my frustration barely contained. "You're going to give me a heart attack!"
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head, his expression etched with disappointment. "You look so weak and vulnerable." His voice was laced with irritation, as if my mere presence like this was an offense. "I didn't push Steven to let you into the organization just so we could see you like this."
My jaw tightened.
This—this was exactly what I hated about Sebastian. He always thought he knew everything, always assumed I was fragile, incapable. He never treated me like I was his sister, his blood. Unlike Steven, who at least acknowledged my emotions—whether he cared about them or not—Sebastian never did. He only saw me as someone who needed to prove herself. Over and over again.
His piercing gaze locked onto mine, void of warmth, of anything remotely human. "Do you think we're here just because your husband invited us?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I didn't know how to answer. Something about his tone sent a cold chill through me, my body instinctively tensing.
Then he smirked. That same smirk that always meant trouble.
"We're here to see if you're still worth it," he said, his voice eerily calm. "To see if you still deserve to be part of the organization."
The blood drained from my face.
"What?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Puzzled. Stunned.
And suddenly… terrified.
"Do you really think you're still one of us?" Sebastian asked again, his voice low yet pressing.
I shook my head, my fists clenching at my sides. "What are you trying to say, Sebastian?" My patience was running thin, and he knew it.
"Stop it, Seb. We're here to party," a familiar voice cut through the tension.
Steven appeared out of nowhere, hands tucked casually in his pockets, his tie already loosened like he had grown tired of maintaining the formalities. His usual relaxed demeanor did nothing to ease the storm brewing inside me.
I immediately stood up, facing him head-on. "What do you want from me?" My voice was sharp, demanding. "Why are you both suddenly showing up in my life again? What do you need?"
Steven simply raised a brow, tilting his head slightly as if amused by my reaction. "We just came to remind you of something."
"Remind me of what?" I scoffed, my anger bubbling over. "I'm not a child who needs reminders. And I sure as hell haven't been treated like a sister who should listen to her brothers!" My voice wavered, not from weakness but from the sheer frustration clawing at my chest. "Now, tell me—what do you need to remind me of?!"
My blood was boiling.
I had no good memories with them—not even one. The only thing I remembered about them was the day they abandoned me. The day our parents died, and they chose to disappear, leaving me to grieve alone. From that moment on, I never wanted to see them again. Never wanted to hear their names.
But life had its own cruel way of forcing us back together, and I hated it.
Steven sighed, stepping closer. Instinctively, I took a step back.
"You're not a child anymore, Severa," he said, his voice steady, almost calculating. "But you weren't raised to be this weak either."
His words hit like a slap.
"You wouldn't have made it into the organization if we had seen you like this back then. No, you showed us strength. You showed us that you wouldn't let emotions rule over you. That no one—not a person, not a moment of weakness—could ever break you." His lips curled into a smirk. "But I guess I was wrong. You're still that same little girl. Too fragile. Too emotional."
I gritted my teeth, refusing to let his words sink into my skin.
"You can't even handle the problem right in front of you," he continued, his voice now dripping with something sharper. "Do you really think you deserve everything you have now?" His eyes darkened. "Do you even think you deserve to have Calyx as your husband?"
I felt the breath leave my lungs.
Steven took a step back, his smirk never fading.
"No," he said simply. "You don't deserve him."
Silence settled between us, thick and suffocating.
"That's why we're here," he added. "To remind you of who you were before. And to remind you…" His smirk twisted into something more sinister.
"To protect your marriage at all costs."