A Reminder For Revenge
1555 Words
Chapter Four
The café looked different.
Serena stood outside for a moment, staring through the glass doors.
“Wow.”
Xavier glanced at her.
“What?”
“They changed everything.”
He looked inside.
The old wooden tables were gone. The walls had been repainted, and the small couches they used to fight over had been replaced with modern chairs.
Even the little counter where they used to order their drinks looked completely different.
Serena smiled faintly.
“I barely recognize this place.”
Xavier opened the door for her.
“That's because you disappeared for years.”
She looked at him.
“Are you starting already?”
“I'm just stating facts.”
They walked inside.
Xavier looked around.
“Honestly, I liked the old place better.”
“Of course you did.”
“Why?”
“Because you practically lived here.”
He laughed.
“That is not true.”
Serena raised an eyebrow.
“You spent more time here than you did at home.”
“Okay, maybe a little.”
They found a table near the window and sat down.
Serena looked around again.
Memories came rushing back.
They used to come here after school.
On weekends.
Sometimes to study.
Mostly to talk about everything except what they were supposed to be studying.
“We really used to come here a lot,” she said.
Xavier smiled.
“We did.”
“You were always the one dragging me here.”
“And you always complained.”
“I had every right to.”
Xavier laughed.
“You complained about the food.”
“It wasn't good.”
“You complained about the music.”
“It was too loud.”
“You complained about the chairs.”
“They were uncomfortable.”
“And somehow, you still came back every time.”
Serena smiled.
“Because you wouldn't stop asking.”
Xavier shook his head.
“Some things never change.”
They ordered their food.
As they waited, the conversation slowly shifted.
Xavier leaned back.
“So…”
Serena looked at him.
“So?”
“You really disappeared.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“I know.”
“You didn't even say goodbye properly.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Serena looked down at the table.
“Everything happened so quickly. My family had to leave, and I didn't really have a choice.”
“You could have called.”
“I should have.”
She looked at him.
“I'm sorry.”
Xavier was quiet.
“You don't have to apologize.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Serena—”
“I left without saying anything. I know that hurt.”
Xavier sighed.
“It did.”
She lowered her gaze.
“I didn't mean to hurt you.”
“I know.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Xavier smiled.
“But you're here now.”
Serena smiled back.
“Yes.”
Their food arrived shortly afterward.
The conversation became lighter again.
They talked about school, old classmates, embarrassing memories, and all the things that had happened while they were apart.
For a while, Serena forgot about everything else.
She felt comfortable.
Familiar.
Like she had somehow returned to a part of her life she thought she'd lost.
---
The Moretti Estate
Across the city, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The Moretti estate was quiet, but never peaceful.
Men moved through the corridors.
Phones rang.
Low voices carried through the halls.
Business never stopped.
Lucian stood inside his private study, looking through a file when a man entered.
“Mr. Moretti.”
Lucian's eyes immediately lifted.
His expression hardened.
“Lucian.”
The man froze.
“Sir?”
“I said Lucian.”
“Yes, Lucian.”
“Good.”
The man swallowed and placed an envelope on the desk.
“This was delivered for you.”
Lucian looked at the envelope.
“By whom?”
“We don't know.”
Lucian's gaze sharpened.
“You don't know?”
“No, sir.”
“Then find out.”
“Yes.”
The man turned to leave.
“Leave the letter.”
The man stopped.
Before he could reach for it, another voice came from behind him.
“I'll take it.”
A tall man walked into the room.
Adrian Vale.
Lucian's oldest companion.
They had grown up together, and Adrian was one of the few people who could speak to Lucian without carefully measuring every word.
He walked over and took the envelope.
“You're getting worse.”
Lucian looked at him.
“At what?”
“Terrifying people.”
“I don't try.”
“That makes it worse.”
Lucian gave him a cold look.
Adrian smirked.
He opened the envelope.
As he unfolded the letter, his expression slowly changed.
Lucian noticed.
“What?”
Adrian looked at the paper again.
“You should hear this.”
“Read it.”
Adrian nodded.
He began.
«“Lucian Moretti.
You haven't forgotten the Valenti family.
You haven't forgotten what they took from you.
Revenge was the reason you built everything you have today.
Don't let time make you weak.
The Valentis are closer than you think.
And when the time comes, don't forget why you started.”»
Silence filled the room.
Adrian lowered the letter.
Lucian didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on the paper.
Finally, he spoke.
“Who knows this much about me?”
Adrian looked at him.
“That is the question.”
Lucian took the letter from his hand.
Very few people knew about the Valentis.
Even fewer knew the real reason behind his empire.
And almost no one knew that revenge had been sitting at the center of it all.
Lucian read the letter again.
His jaw tightened.
“Someone knows.”
Adrian nodded.
“Apparently.”
Lucian folded the letter slowly.
“Find them.”
Adrian's expression became serious.
“I will.”
Lucian walked toward the window.
The city stretched beneath him.
For years, he had waited.
For years, he had built.
And now someone was reminding him of the one thing he had never truly forgotten.
The Valentis.
---
By evening, Xavier drove Serena home.
The car stopped in front of the Valenti residence.
Serena unfastened her seatbelt but didn't immediately get out.
“Today was nice.”
Xavier smiled.
“Despite my terrible choice of food?”
“Especially because of your terrible choice of food.”
He laughed.
Serena opened the door.
“Thank you for lunch.”
“You're welcome.”
She stepped out, then turned back.
“Xavier?”
“Yeah?”
She hesitated.
“There is something I want to ask you.”
His expression changed slightly.
“What?”
“Be honest with me.”
Xavier nodded.
“Okay.”
“Do you think my family is hiding something from me?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Serena noticed.
“Xavier?”
He looked away for a moment.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Just answer me.”
He was quiet.
Then he looked back at her.
“Your family has always been complicated.”
Serena frowned.
“That doesn't answer my question.”
Xavier sighed.
“I don't think anyone knows everything about their family.”
“That sounds like you're avoiding the question.”
“Maybe I am.”
Serena stared at him.
“Why?”
Xavier held her gaze.
“Because some questions are better left alone until you're ready for the answers.”
Serena's expression changed.
“That sounds suspicious.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Maybe you're just overthinking.”
“Are you hiding something from me too?”
For the briefest moment, something unreadable crossed Xavier's eyes.
Then it disappeared.
“No.”
Serena continued staring at him.
Finally, she sighed.
“Fine.”
Xavier smiled.
“Don't worry so much.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
Her phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her younger sister.
Serena answered.
“Hello?”
“Serena, where are you?”
“I'm already home.”
There was a short pause.
“Oh.”
Serena laughed.
“Yes. Oh.”
“I thought you were still outside.”
“No. I just got back.”
“Okay. Can you please get something for me when you're coming?”
Serena looked toward the house.
“I'm already home.”
“I know. I forgot.”
Serena shook her head.
“You'll have to get it yourself.”
Her sister groaned.
“Fine.”
“Good.”
They ended the call.
Xavier laughed.
“Still getting ordered around by your little sister?”
“Apparently.”
Serena smiled.
“See you later.”
“See you.”
She closed the car door and watched Xavier drive away.
For a moment, she stood outside the house.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
Some questions are better left alone until you're ready for the answers.
She couldn't stop thinking about what Xavier had said.
Why had he sounded so certain?
Serena looked toward the house.
Then she walked inside.
She had no idea that the questions surrounding her family were only beginning.
And somewhere across the city, a letter had just reopened a revenge that had been waiting for years.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD