The Titan mansion glowed warmly in the evening light. The long dining table was covered with steaming dishes—beef stew, grilled fish, handmade noodles, fresh salad, and Leon's favorite spicy wings.
Aria and Leon sat side by side, eating as if they hadn't had food in years.
Leon stuffed noodles into his mouth with tears in his eyes."Ahhh… home food… I missed this so much…"
Aria chewed calmly. "You were literally eating junk food at the racing arena."
"That's why this tastes like heaven!"
Aria smiled faintly.
Just then—
CLICK.
The front door opened. Heavy footsteps came down the hall.
Elias Titan removed his suit jacket as he walked in, looking exhausted from a day full of meetings. His brows were tense, his shoulders stiff.
"Well, I'm home—"
He froze.
His eyes widened.
His mouth fell open slightly.
Aria was sitting at the dining table.
Leon… was sitting at the dining table.
EATING.
Leon Titan. The man who would rather starve than come home. The man who spent nights at the racing track. The man who considered the Titan mansion "boring."
Leon was eating.
Elias blinked. Once. Twice. Slowly.
"Did I… walk into the wrong house?" he muttered.
Aria waved lazily. "Welcome back, big brother."
Leon raised his chopsticks. "Yo."
Elias stared.
"Leon… you haven't been home in two weeks."
Leon shrugged. "Food tastes bad without Aria."
"You don't even drink water at home."
"It tasted lonely."
"And now you're eating… WITH CHOPSTICKS?"
Leon nodded happily. "She's back, so food tastes better."
Elias slowly placed his briefcase down.
He rubbed his temples."I must be hallucinating."
Aria giggled. "You're not. I'm here. Really."
Elias's eyes softened instantly. He walked to her and gently touched her head as if making sure she wasn't a dream.
"You're eating well?" he asked softly.
"Mm-hm."
"Leon isn't bullying you?"
Leon jumped. "Hey! Why would I bully her?"
Elias glared at him. "Because you're an idiot."
"YOU WANNA FIGHT—?!"
"Sit down," Aria ordered without looking up.
Both men instantly sat.
Elias sighed and sat opposite them."You two look like children fighting over snacks."
"We are NOT—" they both began.
"Stop," she said.
They stopped.
After dinner, the three of them relaxed in the living room.
Leon sprawled across the sofa like a cat, head in Aria's lap."Ariaaaa. Pat me."
"No."
"Please?"
Elias sat beside her, neatly upright, but silently fighting for her attention.
"You should rest," he said to Aria. "Your body is still in its younger state."
She nodded. "Yes. I'll sleep soon."
Leon lifted his head immediately."With me?"
Elias stiffened."No. With me."
Leon stood up."She slept with ME the day before the accident!"
"That was eleven years ago."
"A FACT STILL COUNTS!"
Aria sighed. This was bad.
Leon crossed his arms."She's sleeping in my room."
Elias coldly stared at him."Over my dead body."
"Sure, old man. I can arrange the funeral."
Elias cracked his knuckles."Say that again."
"Gladly—"
Aria slapped her hands together loudly.
"STOP."
Both men froze mid-attack pose.
Aria glared at them."I'm not a toy. And you two are grown men, not five-year-olds fighting over a blanket."
Leon pointed at Elias."He started it!"
"I clearly didn't," Elias argued.
"You're breathing. That annoys me!"
"I will send you to another race permanently."
"Bring it on—"
"STOP!" Aria snapped again.
Both brothers instantly fell silent like scolded puppies.
She exhaled."I'm sleeping with Amanda."
Both men went stiff.
"WHAT?!" they shouted in unison.
Elias frowned deeply."Amanda? Why her?"
"She snores," Leon added with dramatic horror. "And she sleepwalks!"
Amanda, passing by the hallway, muttered, "I only did that once—"
Aria stood and dusted her clothes."Amanda has work to do with me tonight. Important work. So I will sleep with her."
Leon's jaw dropped."You're choosing the assistant over your OWN BROTHERS?!"
Elias pressed a hand to his chest."It hurts here."
Aria placed her hands on their heads like she was calming two large, unruly dogs.
"You two are acting ridiculous," she said gently. "I'm not going anywhere."
Leon sniffed. "Promise?"
"Yes."
Elias nodded slowly. "Alright. If it's work… then fine."
But his eyes said he was still emotionally wounded.
Leon grumbled."I still don't like it."
Aria gave him a small smile."You'll survive."
Leon pouted so hard she almost laughed.
Before leaving for her room, Aria pointed at both men.
"No fighting after I leave. If I hear one sound—one SINGLE sound—I'm kicking both of you out of my room for the next week."
Both brothers straightened like soldiers.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Understood!"
Aria left with Amanda, who quickly followed, holding a stack of documents.
As soon as Aria disappeared into the hallway—
Leon whispered, "I'm still gonna sleep outside her door."
Elias grabbed him by the collar."Like hell you are."
They began wrestling in complete silence, rolling on the carpet, punching each other without making a noise because Aria's threat hung over them like a guillotine.
"Stop… choking… me…!" Leon mouthed silently.
"You deserve it," Elias mouthed back, headlocking him.
Amanda peeked out from Aria's room.
She saw two grown men wrestling silently on the carpet like cartoon characters trying not to wake their mom.
"…Should I tell Miss Aria?" she whispered.
Then she closed the door.
"No. Let them die quietly."
Inside, Aria prepared documents, unaware that her brothers were silently murdering each other outside.
But despite the chaos…
For the first time in years…
The Titan mansion felt alive again.