His Enemy's Daughter

Chapter 3

The morning after Rafael's homecoming felt different. Not because the house was any quieter - in this place, silence was an art form - but because it felt like it lighter.

I woke up to my alarm blaring, I don't even know why it is in this summer period. I dragged myself out of bed, cleaned up and pulled on a loose hoodie and leggings, tied my hair up, and went downstairs barefoot - ignoring the faint gasp I heard from one of the maids because apparently millionaires' daughters were supposed to wear slippers and silk robes like we were filming a vintage perfume ad.

The smell of good coffee and fresh bread drifting up from the kitchen, filled the corridor to the kitchen. The kind of breakfast scent you only got when Mrs. Baines was in an unusually good mood. She must have been bribed, Probably by Rafael.

Rafael was already at the kitchen island, by the coffee machine, sipping espresso like he'd invented it. Marco leaned against the doorway with his usual shadow energy, discussing something with Rafael, and Mrs. Baines was muttering about improper posture and unwashed fruit.

"You're up early," Rafael said, eyes flicking over me "Not your usual style."

"Blame the bread smell, Okay well my alarm." I said, grabbing a croissant from the basket before Mrs. Baines could slap my hand with a spoon. "Also, I thought if I got up early enough, you'd start teaching me those Jackie Chan moves."

Rafael chuckled,"Let's eat breakfast first then we'll talk about that later".

The dining table looked far too grand for just the two of us, but Mrs. Baines laid it out anyway—plates of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, a basket of croissants, and a jug of orange juice for me since I'm not allowed to take coffee.

I slid into a chair, pulling the basket closer before Rafael could stake a claim. “You know,” I said before taking a bite of my croissant. “for someone who just got home, you’re doing an awfully good job at stealing all the attention.”

Rafael smirked, pouring himself another cup of espresso. “It’s not stealing if it’s freely given.”

“Pretty sure Mrs. Baines only baked all this because you bribed her.”

He leaned back, toast in hand, and gave me a look that was both smug and unreadable. “Maybe I did. Or maybe she just missed me more than you want to admit.”

I rolled my eyes and reached for the coffee pot. “Uncle, please. She tolerates you. At best.”

“Ah, but toleration is the first step toward affection.” He took a bite, chewing with deliberate calm. “Something you might learn one day.”

I shook my head, laughing under my breath. “You’ve been home for less than twenty-four hours and you’re already insufferable.”

“And you’ve been awake for less than one,” he countered smoothly, “and you’re already eating like you haven’t seen bread in weeks.”

I smiled heartedly that it reached my eyes. I miss this, Me and Uncle Rafael playful banter. Although he is my uncle, he treats me like the little sister he never had.

___

By mid-morning, I was standing in the east garden - the one with the tall hedges and perfectly spaced marble statues - staring at a mat Rafael had rolled out on the grass. He'd swapped his tailored jacket for a plain black tee and cargo pants, looking more like the kind of man you don't want to bump into in an alley. Marco stood a few feet away, clearly here to "supervise," which really meant judge.

Rafael's tone was casual, but there was something in it that carried weight. "Before you learn to defend yourself, you need to learn to see."

"I have eyes," I said.

"Not good enough."

And then he spent the next thirty minutes making me close my eyes and identify where his voice came from, track the sound of footsteps, and point out changes in the wind. It felt ridiculous at first - like a trust exercise at an overpriced summer camp - until I started noticing how my own body moved in space.

"Most people don't notice they're being watched until it's too late," Rafael said, circling me. "Your advantage is knowing before they act."

I opened one eye. "So this is... what? Jedi training?"

"Sure," he said, grinning. "If the Jedi also carried knives."

By the time we stopped, my legs ached from standing still and my brain buzzed with the low hum of concentration. It wasn't flashy, but it made me feel awake.

When we went back inside, my father was in the study, flipping through a file so thick, I wonder how he has time to go through it. He looked up when we walked in, and his gaze lingered on me a little longer than usual - as if assessing whether I was still his overprotected daughter or something else entirely.

"How was your first lesson?" he asked.

"I didn't break a sweat," I said, shrugging. "Next time, maybe add a villain with a sword."

Rafael snorted. My father's mouth curved, just slightly. "Small steps, Isla."

We sat down for lunch together - rare, because usually he worked through meals. The sunlight spilled across the table, glinting off silverware and crystal glasses. Rafael and my father talked business in half-sentences that made no sense unless you spoke fluent Boardroom, but they kept pulling me into the conversation.

At one point, Rafael leaned in. "Your father tells me you're considering Paris for college."

I stabbed a piece of salad. "Considering. Haven't decided. Why?"

"Paris is a beautiful place to get lost," he said, and there was something in his voice -

My father's eyes narrowed. "She won't be lost. She'll be prepared."

I looked between them, that same prickle from yesterday crawling up my spine. Prepared for what, though?

But instead of asking, I smiled and raised my glass. "Well, gentlemen, to preparation... and to me kicking both your asses in training by the end of the month."

Marco almost laughed. Almost.

The clink of glasses felt louder than it should have, like the start of something I didn't fully understand. And maybe I didn't need to - not yet. All I knew was that I wasn't just the girl in the mansion anymore. I was moving, even if I didn't know exactly where the path led.

And somewhere, in the way Rafael kept glancing at my father, I could tell that they knew exactly why this training had to happen now.

They just weren't telling me. Yet.