The Loid family mansion stood tall and pristine, an architectural marvel that reflected the vast wealth and status of its inhabitants. Inside, however, the atmosphere was far from tranquil. The spacious dining room, with its high ceilings and grand chandeliers, had turned into a battlefield of sarcasm and sharp retorts. The Loid family was in a full-blown war of words.
At the head of the long mahogany dining table sat Alex Loid, the patriarch of the family, calm and composed as ever. His hands were folded, his expression unreadable, but his sharp eyes darted from one child to the next. Beside him was his wife, Sasha Mane Loid, the ever-doting mother, who looked more like she was preparing for a heart attack than enjoying a quiet family dinner.
Across the table were the three Loid siblings, who were in the midst of what could only be described as a verbal wrestling match.
"I can't believe you actually tried to confront that woman," scolded Daniel Loid, the eldest son. His voice was calm but laced with sarcasm. Dressed in a sharp suit, Daniel exuded confidence, a businessman through and through. "Did it ever occur to you, Natasha, that trying to physically harm your ex-boyfriend's new fling might not be the best idea for someone with our last name?"
Natasha, the youngest and only daughter, crossed her arms and huffed. "Oh, please, Daniel. You wouldn't understand. You've never been in love! All you do is talk to spreadsheets and balance sheets. At least I'm trying to feel something!" Her eyes flashed with defiance, though her voice cracked ever so slightly.
"Love brain strikes again," muttered Xavier Loid, the second son, lounging lazily in his chair, his special forces uniform making him look even more intimidating. He smirked at Natasha, clearly unimpressed. "Seriously, Natasha, you're like a walking disaster whenever a guy shows you the slightest bit of attention. Maybe it's time you re-evaluate your standards. You keep falling for losers."
Natasha whipped her head toward Xavier, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "And what would you know about love, Mr. 'I'm married to my job'? Oh wait, you've never had a relationship that lasted longer than a military assignment. So spare me your lectures, Captain Loid!"
Xavier's smirk didn't falter, though his gaze sharpened. "At least I don't go psycho every time someone looks at me the wrong way. You need to chill before you end up on some reality show for crazy ex-girlfriends. 'Loid Daughter Goes Ballistic: Watch Out, Men.' Sounds like great PR for the family."
Sasha, their mother, looked like she was about to faint, but Alex calmly put a hand on her arm, signaling her to stay out of it. He didn't seem concerned about the argument—this was just a normal day in the Loid household.
"Xavier's right, Natasha," Daniel added, his voice smoother than his brother's but equally condescending. "You're always so impulsive. You can't just solve your emotional problems by hitting people. This isn't some soap opera."
Natasha glared at him, leaning forward across the table. "Easy for you to say, Daniel. You're a robot. The only thing you've ever loved is profit margins. Where's your great love story? Or are you planning to marry your company's stock portfolio?"
Daniel's jaw tightened ever so slightly. "Business is logical. You wouldn't understand that, Natasha, because you run purely on emotion. That's why you keep making terrible decisions. We don't all have the luxury of flinging ourselves into idiotic relationships for the fun of it."
Natasha's face flushed with anger. "I'd rather feel something, even if it's stupid, than live in the emotional vacuum you call a life! At least I'm not dead inside like you two!"
Xavier's eyes glinted dangerously. "Dead inside? Oh, sweetheart, I just know how to prioritize. Unlike you, I'm not out there trying to set a world record for bad decisions in romance. You're the queen of 'how did you not see that coming?' Maybe if you stopped chasing after every pretty face, you'd stop ending up heartbroken and plotting petty revenge."
Natasha huffed. "I don't chase after every pretty face!" She glanced toward her father and mother, searching for backup. "Mom, Dad, seriously, are you going to let them talk to me like this?"
Sasha opened her mouth, but Alex cut in smoothly. "Natasha, you're smart enough to know you made a mistake. I'm not going to baby you just because you let your emotions get the better of you. But," he glanced at Daniel and Xavier, "that doesn't mean your brothers need to act like they've never screwed up before, either. Right, boys?"
Both brothers exchanged a glance but said nothing. It was clear their father had a point, but that didn't mean they were about to let Natasha off easily.
Natasha leaned back in her chair, arms still crossed, her glare settling on both brothers. "Maybe if either of you found someone worth loving, you'd understand what it's like. But no, Daniel's married to his job, and Xavier... well, I'm pretty sure Xavier's married to his gun."
Xavier smirked again, not missing a beat. "Better to be married to my gun than to whatever disaster you keep dating. At least my gun doesn't cheat on me."
Natasha groaned and threw a napkin at him. "You're impossible!"
"No," Xavier said with a slow grin, catching the napkin midair, "I'm practical. There's a difference."
---
On the other side of town, the orphanage was in its usual state of chaos—but not the fun, playful kind. Alvin Bencio stood in the middle of the kitchen, arms crossed, staring at the disaster that lay before him. Broken dishes, flour scattered across the floor, and what looked like a failed attempt at breakfast spread out in a sad, burnt mess.
The children were hiding in the living room, peeking around the corner with wide eyes, clearly aware of the catastrophe they had caused.
Alvin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright, let's get one thing clear, you lot," he called out, not bothering to hide his irritation. "From now on, no one touches the kitchen unless I say so. I may not be a five-star chef, but I guarantee I'm better than... whatever this is." He gestured to the remains of the burned food with a flourish, his sarcasm thick.
Little Leo timidly raised a hand from behind the couch. "Master Alvin—"
Alvin shot him a look. "What did I say about calling me that? I'm not some stuck-up lord in a tower. You call me Father from now on. Got it?"
The children exchanged nervous glances.
"But... we've never called anyone 'Father' before," Lily murmured, stepping forward, her small voice wavering.
Alvin's expression softened just a fraction, though his tone remained firm. "You do now. I'm taking care of you, aren't I? That makes me your father, whether you like it or not. Besides, it's not like I'm asking for a crown. Just the basic respect due to someone who doesn't let you starve."
Leo perked up. "So... we're a family now?"
Alvin shrugged, walking over to the couch and plopping down lazily. "Guess you could say that. But a family that's about to starve if we don't figure out this food situation." He glanced toward the broken kitchen. "Cooking isn't exactly my strong suit, and clearly, it isn't yours either. So, let's do what any reasonable, modern person would do in this situation."
"What's that?" Lily asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Alvin pulled out his phone, tapping the screen. "We order food online. Let someone else deal with it."
The kids watched in awe as Alvin scrolled through the menu, picking out dishes faster than they could keep up.
"Wait, what are we ordering?" Leo asked, practically bouncing with excitement.
Alvin gave him a side glance. "Does it matter? I'm getting enough for all of you to stop complaining. Pizza, burgers, fried chicken... whatever shuts you up for the next few hours." He placed the order with a click, then turned back to the kids. "See? Problem solved. Now, get dressed. Once the food's here, we're going to do something productive with your day."
The children groaned in unison. "Not exercise again!"
Alvin smirked. "Exercise builds character. And considering how much pizza you're about to stuff down your throats, you'll need to burn it off." He stretched lazily. "But first, let's get something else straight. I'm officially taking you all under my family registration. You're my responsibility now, so start acting like it."
The kids blinked at him in surprise, their previous complaints forgotten.
"You mean... we're really a family?" Lily asked, her voice small but hopeful.
Alvin glanced at her, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "That's what I just said, isn't it? Now, get moving. I'm not going to repeat myself."
The kids burst into action, running around the orphanage in excitement. Alvin leaned back on the couch, watching them with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Family, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Guess I'm really stuck with them now."
But there was a warmth in his voice that hadn't been there before.
--