Chapter 47 Hurricanes dressed in Suits
"Deborah Occeania Valmere!"
The air around the villa stilled the moment Caelum’s voice broke through it. The call echoed off marble and sea, slicing through the serene hum of Italy’s evening. Birds startled from the orange trees. A maid tending the flowers gasped and turned toward the gate, wide-eyed at the sight of four towering men striding down the path like a storm made flesh.
Inside, the villa’s warmth contrasted the tension outside. Deborah stood by the window, sunlight catching the soft strands of her hair. Her fingers trembled as she pulled back the sheer curtain. From where she stood, she could see them, her brothers. Their silhouettes, unmistakable even from afar.
Her breath caught.
They found her.
For a moment, she said nothing. The glass felt cold beneath her fingertips as she whispered, “Caelum…” — half in fear, half in relief.
\---
Outside, the Valmere brothers moved with sharp precision. Every step echoed with authority and restrained fury. The guard at the gate... one of Ylmaz’s men tried to speak, but Casper’s mere glance silenced him.
“Open the door,” Casper ordered.
“Signore, this is private property—”
Knight stepped forward, his voice dangerously calm. “Then consider this a family emergency.”
Lucio chuckled softly. “You don’t want to test him, my friend.”
The guard hesitated, but one look at the eldest Valmere’s eyes was enough. The iron gates swung open, creaking under tension.
They entered the villa’s courtyard, the gravel crunching beneath their polished shoes. The scent of Amalfi lemons and sea salt mixed with the faint hum of tension that hung in the air.
“Stay alert,” Casper muttered. “We don’t know who’s inside.”
Lucio gave a lazy grin. “Relax. I doubt Ylmaz would not hurt her.”
Caelum’s fists clenched. “That man convinced her to leave without a word. That’s enough.”
Knight looked over at him. “Don’t do anything stupid, Caelum. And as far as i remember it's Deborah's choice to leave without our permission.”
“No promises.”
\---
Inside, Ylmaz D’Arden was already at the base of the stairs when Deborah descended, her heart hammering in her chest.
“They’re here,” she said quietly, voice trembling slightly.
Ylmaz met her eyes. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”
“I thought I had more time,” she whispered. “I just needed peace, Ylmaz. For once, I wanted to breathe without them watching my every move.”
He sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Then face them. They’re your family... you can’t run forever.”
Deborah swallowed, her throat dry. “You don’t know my brothers. They’re not just family… they’re hurricanes dressed in suits.”
Before Ylmaz could respond, the heavy knock echoed through the house, deep and commanding.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Casper’s voice followed, cold and steady. “Miss Valmere, it’s time we talk. Care to explain?”
Deborah froze. Ylmaz looked toward the door, then back at her. “Do you want me to handle this?”
She shook her head. “No. This is my problem.”
The door swung opened.
The Valmere brothers stood on the marble steps, each one a mirror of strength, elegance, and danger. Casper at the front, expression unreadable. Knight with his usual smirk, Lucio leaning on the railing like he owned the place, and Caelum.... eyes blazing with restrained rage.
For a moment, no one spoke. The air was heavy enough to suffocate.
Casper broke the silence first. “So.... Amalfi, huh.” His tone was calm, almost deceptively polite. “You’ve certainly chosen a nice place to vanish to.”
Deborah’s lips parted. “Casper—”
Knight stepped forward, interrupting with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Do you know how many people we had to call to track you, little sister? You nearly gave Caelum a heart attack.”
Lucio laughed under his breath. “Nearly? That man hasn’t slept in days.”
Caelum didn’t say anything at first. He just stared as if memorizing every inch of her face, making sure she was real and safe. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp, but laced with worry.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Deborah straightened, forcing her trembling hands behind her back. “I just needed to leave. I needed—”
“You needed to disappear without a word?” Caelum cut in. “You think running off to another country makes your problems vanish?”
“Enough,” Casper warned quietly. “We didn’t come here to argue.”
But Caelum stepped closer, his eyes fierce. “No, we came here because she lied. When did you learn ti lie?”
Deborah’s voice rose, her frustration breaking through. “I didn’t lie! I just… didn’t tell you! I wanted time for myself, Caelum.. time away from all of this!”
Knight muttered, “She’s still stubborn as ever.”
Lucio smirked. “Told you so.”
Casper shot them a warning glare before turning back to Deborah. “We understand you needed space. But running off like this, it’s reckless. There are still people watching us, watching you. You’re a Valmere, Deborah. That name paints a target on your back.”
Her expression softened, guilt flickering in her eyes. “I know. But I couldn’t stay. Everywhere I went in that house, it felt like I was drowning in expectations. I just… wanted to breathe.”
For a moment, silence hung between them again, softer this time. Her brothers, for all their pride and fury, understood her in ways they’d never admit.
Lucio finally broke the quiet. “Well, you could’ve chosen anywhere else, you know. But Amalfi? With him?”
Ylmaz appeared behind Deborah then, calm but alert. “Gentlemens,” he greeted politely.
Knight’s smirk returned. “Oh, look. The charming heir of D'Arden.”
Caelum’s glare hardened. “Stay out of this, D’Arden.”
Ylmaz met his stare without flinching. “She’s not your prisoner, Valmere. She made her choice.”
That was the final spark. Caelum stepped forward, his voice dangerously low. “Her choice could’ve cost her everything.”
Before anyone could react, Deborah moved between them, her voice firm. “Stop! Both of you!”
The command shocked them all.... her tone wasn’t pleading, it was powerful. For a moment, even Caelum froze.
Deborah took a deep breath, meeting each of her brothers’ gazes. “I’m not a child anymore. You can’t keep protecting me from the world. I came here to find peace, not to abandon you, okay? Don't worry about me I know what I'm doing.”
Casper studied her silently, then finally nodded once. “Then prove it. Come home. And face us yourself.”
The weight of those words sank in. Deborah’s breath caught, she knew what that meant.
Knight adjusted his cufflinks, smirking faintly. “Well, this is going to be fun.”
Lucio sighed. “I’ll handle the jet.”
As her brothers began to leave, Caelum lingered at the door. He turned back, his expression unreadable, voice low but trembling with emotion.
“You scared us, deborah. You know I don't want you to get hurt.” he said simply. “Don’t ever do that again.”
And before she could answer, he stepped out into the Amalfi night, the waves crashing below like thunder... his voice echoing once more through the villa’s open doors:
“Deborah Valmere! You’re coming home. Right now.”