Chapter 6 The Joy
Chapter Six — Aria’s POV
The Joy
The room was alive with soft laughter and warm light. My chest still thumped in my ribs, my hands trembling as I held the gifts my brothers had given me. Each one felt heavy not with weight, but with the meaning behind it. Jewelry, clothes, tiny baby outfits… each gift seemed to say one thing: You belong. You are part of this family.
I tried to keep my tears in, but the warmth and care around me made it impossible. I had never felt like this before. Not even a little. My brothers’ gentle smiles, their careful eyes, the way they guided me through the room—it was overwhelming.
Then a soft laugh reached my ears. A voice that sent a chill down my spine.
Mina.
she didn’t speak sharply. Her tone was soft, almost sweet, she’s trying to pretend in the presence of four bothers.
“Oh… Aria,” she said, tilting her head, fake concern dripping from every word. “Are you… okay? You look so tired. I hope you’re not… uncomfortable.”
I blinked, confused. Her cruelty was always so loud, so easy to read. But now… it felt like a mask. Her eyes flickered toward the doorway where my brothers stood, their arms crossed, their expressions firm and watchful.
“I… I’m fine,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I just… I’m fine. I—”
“You’ve been through so much,” Mina interrupted softly, moving closer and smoothing a stray strand of my hair from my face. “You need to rest. Eat something. Don’t worry, I’ll… I’ll help you cook whatever you want to eat
Her hand lingered for a moment on my shoulder, and I flinched. But the brothers’ presence kept her from doing more than that. I realized she was pretending, she wouldn’t dare act cruelly with them around.
One of my brothers stepped forward, his deep voice calm but firm. “Aria, we will always protect you and your child”
I sank onto the couch, the gifts clutched to my chest. My body shook, not just from hunger, but from the whirlwind of emotions I could barely name: fear, relief, hope… and a strange, bittersweet wariness of Mina’s sudden kindness.
Another brother knelt beside me, gently picking up the baby clothes Mina had carefully not touched. “Look, Aria,” he said softly. “These are for you. We wanted you to have something that makes you feel safe.”
Tears pricked my eyes. Safe. For the first time in so many years, I felt safe.
Mina smiled at me, her lips soft and warm, but her eyes were sharp. “See? Your brothers care,” she said, her voice sweet, almost too sweet. “You’re welcome here… really. I just… I want you to feel comfortable.”
I nodded slowly, unsure whether to trust her words. But the brothers’ smiles reassured me. They were here. They were real. They had been waiting for me.
One brother handed me a small box of jewelry. Another offered a bundle of soft clothes. A third placed the tiny folded baby outfits carefully into my hands. And the last stayed behind me, strong and silent, as if he would protect me from anyone—even Mina.
My chest swelled with emotion. I felt the years of loneliness, fear, and hunger pressing down on me, and for a moment, it all seemed to lift. My hands shook as I held their gifts, tears spilling freely now.
Mina’s fake smile never wavered, but I saw the flicker of jealousy in her eyes. She tried to cover it with her gentle voice. “You see… everyone cares for you,” she said, softly patting my arm. “We all just want you to be happy.”
I nodded, clutching my gifts tighter. “Thank you,” I whispered, voice breaking. “I… I’ve never felt like this before.”
“You’re part of the family now,” one of my brothers said, kneeling in front of me and placing a gentle hand on mine. “Nothing will hurt you here. We promise.”
The room felt warmer, brighter. I could see the way the brothers’ presence held Mina back, forced her into pretending. I realized, for the first time, that I wasn’t entirely alone here. I had them.
I sank deeper into the couch, letting my body relax just a little. My brothers’ eyes were soft but firm, full of protection and understanding. And for the first time in my life, I felt like maybe… I could belong here.
Mina stepped back slightly, her voice soft and calculated. “Rest well, Aria,” she said, almost like a lullaby. “We’ll make sure you’re… comfortable. You have a place here.”
Her words sounded sweet, but I could feel the steel hidden underneath. Even with the brothers around, I knew she was watching, waiting, planning.
But for now… I didn’t care. My brothers were here. They were real. They loved me. And that love… that warmth… was enough to make me believe I could survive.
I closed my eyes, holding the gifts to my chest, letting the tears fall freely. The fear was still there, lurking in the shadows, but it no longer controlled me. For the first time, I felt a spark—a small, stubborn flame deep inside me.
I belong here. I am not alone. And I will survive.