Dead roses

Chapter 9

Kaidaira stepped into the dining room, the warm glow of the morning sunlight casting a welcoming atmosphere. Her parents were already seated at the table, their faces filled with a mix of warmth and concern. But it was the group of people standing by the window who caught her attention.

There were four men, each with a unique presence that seemed to command respect. Her father stood up, a smile on his face. "Ah, Kaidaira, come meet our friends," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

The men turned to face her, their eyes locking onto hers with genuine smiles. Kaidaira felt a sense of curiosity as they introduced themselves. There was Rocco, with his chiseled features and piercing blue eyes; Marco, with his rugged look and deep, brooding brown eyes; and Leo, with his boyish charm and piercing green eyes.

Kaidaira's eyes narrowed as a figure entered the dining room. He was tall, with piercing eyes and chiseled features that seemed to be carved from granite. His gaze swept the room, lingering on each face before coming to rest on her. Kaidaira's expression remained impassive, her eyes cold and calculating as she assessed the stranger.

There was something familiar about him, but Kaidaira's mind was a steel trap, refusing to yield any information. She studied him, her gaze lingering on the sharp lines of his face, the intensity of his eyes. He seemed to be looking at her with a piercing gaze, as if trying to read her thoughts.

As he took a seat at the table, Kaidaira's father smiled and nodded in his direction. "Ah, Kaidon, good morning," he said, his voice warm.

Kaidon. The name meant nothing to Kaidaira, but she filed it away for future reference. She watched as he interacted with the others, his ease and charm evident in every gesture. But Kaidaira was not fooled. She saw the calculation in his eyes, the precision of his movements. This was a person who was used to getting what he wanted, no matter the cost.

Kaidaira's gaze flicked back to the conversation, her mind working overtime to piece together the puzzle. Who was this Kaidon, and what did he want from her family? She didn't trust him, didn't trust anyone who seemed so smooth, so polished.

As the meal progressed, Kaidaira's attention remained fixed on Kaidon, her eyes never leaving his face. She was waiting for him to slip up, to reveal his true intentions. But Kaidon seemed to be a master of control, his emotions locked tightly behind a mask of courtesy.

The air was thick with tension, but Kaidaira didn't flinch. She was a statue, cold and unyielding, her eyes fixed on the stranger who seemed to hold secrets she was determined to uncover.

Kaidon looked like a mixture of his parents

Viktor and Natalya. Viktor's eyes were cold and dead, his gaze trying to Pierce into my soul. To bad my soul is already dead. I met his gaze heads on and I could not help but notice the side of his lips tilt up into a small smile which he cover up with a glass of wine.. Natalya's eyes sparkled with warmth, her smile trying putting me at ease.

But as the meal progressed, she noticed that there were moments when the conversation seemed to dip into more serious topics, and the atmosphere would shift slightly. Her parents would exchange glances, and the others would nod subtly. Kaidaira couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but she sensed that there was more to these people than met the eye.

The chattering in the dining hall became so long that it was easy for her to get lost in her subconscious.

Kaidaira's mother asked, her voice laced with concern, "Kaidaira, dear, how have you been? Really?" She leaned forward, her eyes searching for any sign of the girl she once knew. "We've missed you so much. How's life been treating you?"

Kaidaira's expression remained neutral, but her eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance. She didn't want to be asked about her life, didn't want to relive the memories that still lingered in her mind. "I've been fine " she said, her voice flat.

But her mother wouldn't let it go. She asked another question, one that caught Kaidaira off guard. "And are you coping after loosing Kiara ? I've thought about her so much since you left."

Kaidaira's eyes snapped up, her expression darkening. "My mother's dead, ," she said, her voice low and even. "You know that."

The room fell silent, her mother's face pales in realization of her mistake. "Kaidaira, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking," she said, her voice filled with regret.

Kaidaira's gaze turned icy. "You never do," she said, her tone biting. "You never think about how your words might affect me. You just keep asking questions, expecting me to open up and share everything with you."

I looked at her in disinterest not caring that All the conversations around us have been paused just so that they can observe this spectacle.

The air was heavy with unspoken words, the others watching the exchange with unease. Kaidaira's mother reached out, her hand hovering over the table. "Kaidaira, sweetie—"

But Kaidaira was already pushing back her chair, her movements swift and decisive. "I need some air," she said, her voice cold.

Without another word, she turned and walked out of the dining room, leaving the others in an uncomfortable silence. The sound of her footsteps echoed down the hallway, a stark reminder of the tension that had been simmering beneath the surface.

As she walked away, Kaidaira felt a sense of relief wash over her. She didn't want to be there, didn't want to pretend to be okay. She just wanted to be left alone, to deal with her emotions in her own way.