Chapter 10: Morning After: Wounds and Winnings
Elara woke early, the lingering tension from the night's argument heavy in her head. She pushed herself out of bed and immediately went to check on her children. She checked Iris's room first, relief washing over her to find Akari curled up on the small twin bed, sleeping soundly, a look of exhausted peace finally settling on her face. The girl was finally safe. But Iris, however, was missing.
Concerned, Elara quietly crossed the hall to Elijah's room. She knew where to look. With soft steps, she reached his door. She pressed an ear against the wood—silence. She hesitated before knocking lightly. "Eli?" No response. With a sigh, she turned the knob. It gave way with a faint creak; he hadn't locked it after all.
Elara pushed the door open just enough to peer inside. The room was dark, but the faint light revealed a startlingly intimate scene that softened her features instantly. Elijah was sprawled on his back, one arm flung over his face, deeply asleep—and curled against his side, half-burrowed under his arm, was Iris, her tear-streaked face pressed into his shoulder.
The sight was startlingly domestic, almost sweet, until Elara noticed Elijah's other hand resting limply atop Iris's head, fingers tangled loosely in her hair—not affectionately, but possessively, like a predator keeping its prey close.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Elara's lips. It was a familiar posture, one she hadn't seen since their father died—the aggressive one protecting the wounded one, even if they couldn't stand each other awake. She gently pushed the door fully open and walked to the bedside, kneeling carefully to avoid disturbing Elijah. She laid a hand on Iris's shoulder.
"Iris," Elara whispered, her voice soft but firm. "Time to wake up, honey."
Iris stirred with a muffled groan, burrowing deeper into the warmth, her eyelashes fluttering as she surfaced from sleep. She blinked, disoriented, before realizing where she was—and who she was clinging to. She stiffened instantly, shame and the raw memory of the smack hitting her simultaneously. She jerked upright, her face flooding with color. Elijah didn't move, but his fingers tightened briefly in her hair before releasing, a silent, unconscious warning.
"Mom," Iris mumbled, voice thick with sleep and lingering humiliation, "I can explain—" She didn't dare look at his face. Elijah exhaled sharply through his nose—not quite awake, but aware enough to register the interruption. His fingers flexed again, this time pushing her away with deliberate indifference. Iris scrambled off the mattress, her socked feet hitting the floor too loudly.
Elara smiled knowingly. "Let's go. We have a big day. Gently, now. Let your brother sleep." Iris nodded, her movements quick and quiet. She slipped out of the bed, feeling the sudden, cold exposure of the morning air.
Her eyes swept the room. Spotting a notepad and pen on his desk, she paused. With a sigh, she grabbed them and quickly scrawled a message. She placed it right next to his hand on the nightstand. She looked down at him for a long moment, a mix of profound disgust and exhausted affection warring in her expression. With a deep sigh, she followed her mother out, pulling the door shut behind her.
As soon as the click of the lock sounded in the hall, Elijah's eyes snapped open. He didn't move for several seconds, listening to the muffled voices downstairs. He waited another thirty seconds, then sat up with a fluid, efficient motion. He immediately spotted the note and snatched it up.
Iris's handwriting was small and messy: Your thugs said to meet them after your grounding.
Elijah smirked, closing the note. So, the boys are finally panicking about the associate, he thought, instantly cutting through the noise. He grabbed his phone.
The screen lit up with a notification from Vanessa.
First, the crucial message. Vanessa had forwarded him 50 Noxs with a brief text:
Got the 100 Noxs. Everything clean. Great job. Also, the video is doing well—142 views already. I'm hoping the 24-hour revenue share is big if it keeps trending. Thanks, E.
Elijah allowed a small, satisfied nod. The profit stream was established. His only problem was his grounding. He reasoned that the family's trip to Akari's home to finalize her stay and collect her things presented the perfect alibi. He needed to meet Yuri and Zigi and lay down the law before the Mafia associate escalated the situation further.
He snickered at the thought of the upcoming conversation with his gang—a meeting where he would re-establish dominance and set the rigid rules of their operation.
He pushed off the bed and walked towards the bathroom. Just as he reached the door, the phone rang, displaying a picture of Chloe. He frowned. Perfect timing, as always.
Meanwhile, in Iris's room, Akari was just waking up, stretching, her arms raised in a graceful arc as she woke up. Iris walked in, closing the door softly behind her. She paused, watching Akari's sleepy expression shift into confusion.
"Morning, sleepyhead," she said softly, moving to the dresser and pulling out fresh clothes.
Akari sat up quickly, her eyes wide. "Morning, Iris. I slept so well. Thank you." She hugged her knees to her chest. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Iris admitted, forcing a brightness into her voice. "Nothing a large coffee won't fix. Today is going to be big, Akari. We're going to get your stuff and officially get you out of that awful place."
Akari smiled shyly. "I still can't believe it. I didn't think... after what happened..." She trailed off, fingers nervously twisting the bedsheet. Iris tossed her a fresh blouse—one of her own, slightly oversized for Akari's petite frame.
Iris moved to sit beside her on the bed. "Hey." She put a hand on Akari's shoulder. "What happened to you was terrible, and it was not your fault. Please remember that. But you are here now. You are safe. You are strong for pushing through that."
Akari nodded slowly, finding courage in Iris's steady gaze. "Thank you, Iris. That really means a lot." She looked at Iris, her eyes suddenly widening in concern. "Iris... your face."
"My face?" Iris touched her cheek instinctively.
"Yes, your cheek," Akari murmured, leaning closer. "Did Elijah... was that him?"
Iris nodded once, briefly. She then gave a tight, dismissive wave of her hand. "It was nothing. Just a stupid sibling quarrel. We went too far, like we used to when we were kids. He gets mad, I say something vile, he loses his temper." She forced a light, strained laugh. "Don't worry about it. Don't let my chaos infect your new safe space, okay?"
Akari looked troubled, but she accepted the minimization, recognizing Iris's need to keep the peace. "Okay, Iris. I won't."
"Where were you?" Akari asked, noticing Iris's absence from the bed.
Iris made a funny face and waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, I accidentally fell asleep with Eli. Don't worry about it."
"Good." Iris stood up, trying to shift the atmosphere. "Right. Time to scrub the night off. Want to join me? We can use the big bathroom and get ready together for today's activities."
Akari's face brightened at the invitation—a simple gesture of inclusion she hadn't experienced in years. "Yes, I'd like that very much," she said, managing a genuine smile. They walked out of the room together toward the bathroom.
Elijah picked up the phone, cleared his throat, and answered. "Chloe."
"Elijah!" Chloe's voice was sharp with instant complaint. "You didn't call me yesterday. I waited."
"Yeah, well, we had a problem at home," Elijah replied, his voice flat. "Family drama. I was busy, then grounded, then I forgot. Can't exactly prioritize you over this mess."
"A problem? What happened?" she asked, a noticeable edge of curiosity overriding her feigned annoyance.
"I acquired a new stepsister," Elijah deadpanned. "Long story. The point is, I'm stuck here."
Chloe sounded genuinely put out. "Oh. That's... nice. Can we meet today then? Even for a quick lunch? I have the afternoon free. You know, can't spend the weekend alone..."
"No," Elijah replied, his tone firm. "I'm grounded. Still a week left on the sentence. Maybe next weekend."
Chloe made a noise of deep, melodramatic dejection. "Ugh, fine. You're impossible." Yet, even through the speaker, Elijah could clearly pick up the undercurrent of excitement beneath her feigned sadness. His frown deepened for a moment. Was she already planning her free day with Mark?
Elijah, however, suppressed the impulse to question her. Instead, a cold, evil smile spread across his face. "Oh my dear Chloe," he murmured, his voice dripping with false warmth, "don't worry. Next weekend, I'll make sure you're thoroughly entertained." His fingers tapped against his thigh in a slow, deliberate rhythm—already envisioning how he'd dismantle Mark's pathetic attempts to claim what wasn't his property.
"Gotta go, Chloe. Big day here. Try not to miss me too much," Elijah said with deliberate lightness, hanging up before she could respond. The moment the call ended, his face flattened into its usual cold neutrality. He tossed the phone onto the bed and strode to the window, peeling back the curtain just enough to scan the street below.
The family drama was annoying, but the money, and the power—they were satisfyingly real.