The private dining room at Westania's most exclusive restaurant buzzed with energy. For once, the three Rivera sisters and four Nollan siblings found themselves seated at the same table, an arrangement that promised more than just exquisite cuisine.
"I feel like we should start with a toast," Pearll announced as soon as they sat down, raising her glass of sparkling water. "To...family reunions and new friendships."
"Friendships?" Geraldine said, arching an eyebrow and exchanging a look with Carla.
"Interesting choice of words," Frances added, smirking.
Pearll grinned mischievously. "What? You all act like I'm lying. I'm an angel of truth."
Kellan cleared his throat. "Let's just eat."
Carla leaned back in her chair, her eyes darting toward Perce. "Do you think he's always this charming at meals?" she whispered loudly to Frances.
"I bet he practices," Frances quipped, deliberately loud enough for Perce to hear.
Perce, sitting opposite Carla, glanced up from his menu. "Some of us prefer to let our charm speak quietly," he said, his voice steady, but the hint of a smirk betrayed him.
Frances gasped theatrically. "Did he just call us loud?"
"Subtly, yes," Carla confirmed, grinning.
Pearll chimed in with a mock gasp, pointing her fork at Perce. "You better watch out. These sisters stick together, and they're like a storm when they do."
"Good thing I like storms," Perce replied coolly, earning an approving nod from Liam.
---
As the meal progressed, the teasing escalated. Frances set her sights on Kellan, whose stoic expression had barely shifted since the evening began.
"So, Kellan," Frances began innocently, though her tone dripped with mischief. "Do you ever...I don't know, smile?"
Liam choked on his drink, laughing as Pearll smacked him on the back.
Geraldine grinned, leaning in. "Yeah, I've been wondering that too. Does your face even know how?"
Carla, not missing a beat, added, "He's not bad-looking for someone who resembles a marble statue."
Kellan's eyes flicked between the Rivera sisters, his expression as calm as ever. But then, to everyone's surprise, the corners of his mouth twitched. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, he smiled—a small, reserved, but undeniably genuine smile.
Frances blinked. "Oh my God. Did anyone else see that? He smiled!"
Carla gasped dramatically. "It's a miracle!"
"Quick, someone take a picture," Geraldine joked.
Kellan leaned back in his chair, his smile fading but not disappearing completely. "Are you done?"
"Not even close," Frances said, winking. "You should smile more often. It's...endearing."
Kellan tilted his head, giving her a look that was almost amused. "Noted."
---
Meanwhile, Pearll had turned her attention back to Liam.
"So, Geraldine," Pearll began casually, though her voice carried a mischievous edge, "did Liam tell you about the time he tried to impress a girl by pretending to be a professional chef?"
Liam's eyes widened. "Pearll, don't."
"Oh, I'm doing it," Pearll said, ignoring his protests. "He made this...'gourmet' dish—mac and cheese with ketchup. The girl thought it was a joke and laughed in his face."
Geraldine burst out laughing. "Please tell me that's not true."
"It's not!" Liam protested.
"It totally is," Pearll said, grinning. "I was there. The poor guy hasn't cooked since."
Liam groaned, but he couldn't help laughing along. "Thanks for ruining my reputation, Pearll."
"You're welcome," she said sweetly.
Geraldine leaned closer to Liam, still laughing. "Don't worry. I find your ketchup mac and cheese...charming."
"See?" Liam said, pointing at Pearll. "At least Geraldine appreciates my culinary genius."
"Or she's just being nice," Pearll teased.
---
Across the table, Carla and Perce had fallen into their own rhythm of playful banter.
"You know," Carla said, spearing a piece of asparagus with her fork, "you're surprisingly tolerable tonight."
Perce arched an eyebrow. "Tolerable? That's high praise coming from you."
"I like to keep people on their toes," Carla said, grinning.
"Mission accomplished," Perce replied, his tone dry but his eyes warm.
Frances, ever the instigator, leaned over. "Carla, are you blushing?"
"I don't blush," Carla said quickly, though her cheeks betrayed her.
"Oh, she's definitely blushing," Geraldine chimed in.
Carla waved them off. "You're all impossible."
"And yet, you love us," Frances said with a wink.
---
As the evening wound down, the siblings lingered at the table, reluctant to leave the lively atmosphere they had created.
Frances leaned toward Kellan, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, Mr. Stoic, what's it like being the oldest? Do you boss them all around?"
Kellan regarded her for a moment before responding, his tone even. "They don't listen."
"Shocking," Frances said with mock seriousness. "You seem so commanding."
Kellan's lips twitched again, that rare, faint smile making another appearance. "Maybe you're just persuasive."
Frances blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Is that...a compliment?"
"Take it however you want," Kellan said, his voice steady but his eyes gleaming with amusement.
Frances leaned back, looking impressed. "Huh. You're full of surprises."
---
After dinner, the group parted ways, each heading back to their respective homes.
In the Nollan car, Liam leaned against the window, his thoughts miles away.
"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?" Pearll asked, breaking the silence.
Liam didn't deny it. "She's...different."
"Different how?" Perce asked from the driver's seat, his voice calm but curious.
Liam shrugged, a small smile on his lips. "She makes me laugh. She doesn't care about the whole 'Nollan' thing. She's just...Geraldine."
Pearll grinned. "Aww, little Liam's got it bad."
"Focus," Perce said, though a hint of a smile played on his lips.
"And what about you, Mr. Stoic?" Pearll shot back. "You and Carla seemed pretty cozy tonight."
"Mind your business," Perce replied, though his tone lacked any real bite.
"Translation: he's head over heels," Liam teased.
Perce sighed. "You're all impossible."
Back at the Rivera loft, the sisters gathered in the living room, still laughing over the events of the evening.
"Okay, but seriously," Geraldine said, turning to Frances, "you and Kellan. What's the deal?"
Frances smirked. "What deal? He's just...interesting."
"Interesting how?" Carla prodded.
Frances shrugged, her expression unreadable. "I don't know. Maybe I just like making him smile."
Carla and Geraldine exchanged a look, their smiles knowing.
"Looks like we're all tangled up with Nollans," Carla said, laughing.
"And somehow, it's not the worst thing in the world," Geraldine added, her thoughts drifting to Liam.
"Not the worst," Frances agreed, though her mind was on Kellan's rare, fleeting smile.