Beneath The Ashes - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The afternoon slipped by in a whirlwind of glass towers, modern lobbies, and offices that practically dripped power and wealth. After lunch, the boys took me to two — no, three more buildings they owned but didn't work at regularly. Each one was a marvel. The kind of places you'd expect to see in glossy magazines or movies, where the lighting was always perfect and everything smelled faintly of success.
Massimo guided me through each space, his voice low and steady as he explained what each building was for — one managed their international trade affairs, another housed a law firm they partnered with, and the last was an investment firm. It was overwhelming, but in the best way. Everywhere we went, people scrambled to greet them, bowing their heads slightly, voices low and respectful. The Vitalo name carried weight. Even in buildings they barely visited, they were treated like royalty.
Somewhere between the second and third tower, Zayn declared that the tour required a "mandatory sugar break." We pulled over at a little ice cream parlor tucked into the corner of a busy street. The place had colorful chairs and a giant chalkboard menu filled with flavors I'd never even heard of.
Zayn insisted I try three different flavors while Vale argued that his choice of double chocolate with caramel drizzle was superior. Jaxon rolled his eyes and ordered something simple, while Declan quietly picked mint chocolate chip — which, I noticed, he let melt slightly before taking a bite, like he liked it soft.
Massimo just watched us, arms folded, a hint of amusement in his eyes as Zayn dramatically tried to steal my cone and earned a sharp elbow to the ribs for his trouble.
By the time we got home, my stomach was pleasantly full, my heart lighter than it had been in years. As we stepped inside, I turned to them, excitement bubbling up in my chest.
"I think my favorite part was the first building," I said, eyes bright. "You know, the one with the huge glass atrium? It felt so... powerful. Like the whole place was alive. And the way you all just walked in, like you owned everything — I mean, you do, but still." I laughed softly. "It was incredible and w—-"
I was about to say more when a voice cut through the moment.
"Good evening, sir."
I turned to see Lucia, the maid manager, approaching from the hallway. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she wore her usual crisp uniform. Her eyes flicked toward me for a brief second before settling on the boys.
"I hope you had a pleasant day," she said, clasping her hands neatly in front of her. "There was... a visitor while you were out."
Massimo's expression sharpened instantly. "Who?"
"A man named D'Costa." Lucia's voice lowered slightly. "He arrived about two hours ago. Said he was a client and needed to speak with you."
Massimo's jaw tightened. "Did he say what it was about?"
Lucia shook her head. "No, sir. I told him you weren't home."
Lucia shifted slightly, her gaze darting toward me again. "I said you were out on a charity visit."
The room went deathly silent. My heart stuttered at the sudden shift in the air. The boys' postures stiffened, their expressions hardening into unreadable masks.
Massimo's voice was quiet. "What did u say!?"
Lucia swallowed. "Sir—. It's what your schedule says for Sundays." She glanced at me, almost nervously, before quickly adding, "I only mentioned it because I didn't know where you'd gone, and I thought it would sound respectable."
Declan stepped forward, his quiet presence suddenly suffocating. His blue eyes were like ice as they locked onto Lucia, his voice a low, deadly growl.
"Next time someone important comes to this house, you call us." The quiet authority in his voice made the hair on my arms stand on end. "And don't go around telling anyone about our schedules. You don't know us." His gaze sharpened, each word slow and deliberate. "You're a maid. Do your job. Or else I'll make sure Mary's vacation gets cut short."
Lucia paled. "Yes, sir. I'm very sorry." She dipped her head quickly and hurried away down the hall, her footsteps echoing in the silence.
I blinked, glancing at Declan in surprise. I'd never heard him speak like that before — cold, authoritative, his usual quiet presence sharpened into something almost dangerous.
"Jeez," Vale muttered, staring after Lucia. "Inner demon much?"
Zayn snorted. "Ivy's really bringing out the protective side of our resident calm king."
Declan shot them both a look, but there was no real heat behind it. His eyes softened slightly when they met mine.
"People don't need to know our business," he said quietly, like it was an explanation.
I nodded slowly, still processing everything. The shift in Declan — in all of them — was subtle, but it was there.
The morning was filled with the usual buzz of movement as the brothers got ready to leave for work. Even though I had barely wiped the sleep from my eyes, they were already dressed in their usual sharp suits, their presence commanding even in the early hours.
Standing by the door, I watched as they gathered their things. Massimo adjusted his cufflinks while checking something on his phone. Declan was quiet, but I noticed the way his gaze flicked toward me every now and then. Zayn was, unsurprisingly, the most awake, stretching and throwing me a lazy smirk. Jaxon and Vale exchanged last-minute words about something I didn't quite catch.
"Be careful," I said, my voice soft but firm. "And eat on time, okay? Don't just survive on coffee all day."
Jaxon smirked. "Yes, Mom."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious!"
"We know," Massimo said, slipping his phone into his pocket. "And you—" He met my gaze. "Make sure you eat too. Don't just bury yourself in those books."
I smiled at the concern in his voice. "I will."
With a few more lingering glances and a final wave from Vale, they stepped outside, leaving me in the quiet house.
With nothing else to do, I turned my attention back to the notebooks Jaxon had given me. He had told me they contained basic concepts I'd need to catch up on before starting college. It was thoughtful—more than I'd ever expected from him. I appreciated the effort, even if I wasn't exactly looking forward to struggling through pages of material.
Settling onto the couch, I flipped open one of the books and started reading. Some of it was familiar, things I had vaguely remembered from before I was forced to stop studying.
Other parts were new, complex, and frustrating. I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to make sense of a particularly tricky section.
That's when I heard footsteps.
Looking up, I saw Lucia approaching. She carried herself with the same poised elegance as always, her uniform perfectly in place, her expression unreadable.
"Lunch is ready," she said, stopping a few feet away. "If you want to eat."
My stomach grumbled at the mention of food, and I brightened instantly. "Oh, perfect! I was just starting to get hungry."
Closing the notebook, I stood and followed her to the dining area. The long table was already set, and the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. I smiled as I pulled out a chair and sat down, eager to dig in.
But just as I lifted my fork, Lucia spoke again.
"I heard you're going to college," she said casually, but there was something in her tone—something taut and pointed. "At twenty-one."
I hesitated.
"When you should have finished already," she added, the words laced with something almost taunting.
I set my fork down slowly, lifting my gaze to meet hers. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stay composed.
"It's my personal reason why I didn't go before," I said evenly, keeping my tone polite but firm.
I swallowed back the irritation bubbling in my chest. I wasn't going to let her words get to me. Not when I had fought so hard to get here.
Lucia laughed , crossing her arms over her chest as she stared down at me. "Oh, please," she sneered. "Everyone knows the truth."
I frowned, my grip tightening on the fork in my hand. "What truth?"
"You," she said with a bitter laugh, "are just some random girl the Vitalo brothers picked up one day. You're not even their real sister."
Her words slammed into me like a slap.
"And yet here you are," she continued, her voice dripping with disdain, "sitting in this house all day, doing nothing while they work their asses off. And on top of that, they have to pay for your college fees?"
I inhaled sharply, my chest tightening.
"That's not—"
she interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I'm just saying what everyone is thinking. You sit here, all comfortable, living off their money, while they deal with the real world. Do you even understand how much it costs to send someone to college?"
I clenched my fists on my lap, trying to stay calm.
"I've been nothing but nice to you," I said, my voice quieter now. "And you're being really mean."
Lucia scoffed. "Mean? No, sweetheart. I'm just giving you a reality check." She leaned forward, eyes sharp and unyielding. "You need to stop being such a damn child. Grow up. Get a job. Be useful to your brothers instead of just taking, taking, taking."
My throat tightened.
She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with something cruel. "Because one day, they're going to realize the truth—that you're just an annoying burden."
The words hit harder than I expected. I couldn't breathe.
Something inside me snapped.
I shot up from my chair so fast that my plate slipped from the table, crashing onto the floor. The loud shatter echoed through the dining room, but I barely heard it. My vision blurred, all I could see were Lucia's words circling in my mind.
A burden.
A financial, emotional, childish burden.
I turned and ran.
I didn't know where I was going. I just needed to get out.
The moment I reached the garden, I didn't stop at my usual spot. My feet carried me deeper—past the trimmed hedges, past the fountain, past everything that was familiar.
I ran until I was surrounded by trees, hidden from the house, hidden from the world.
And then I let go.
I sank to the ground, my chest heaving, my throat burning.
I didn't fight the thoughts this time. I didn't try to distract myself with flowers or warm memories.
I let the pain settle in.