Priscilla Maxwell was the first cousin that I met and it was a big disappointment. She had long blond hair and the same blue eyes as me. She had a pretty face and wore a stunning white gown. Her appearance was perfect but her personality was shitty.

We were only two seconds into a conversation and I was already tempted to throw her out the window.

What a fucking bitch.

She seemed to love pointing out all my insecurities about my body without even knowing me.

"I don't think the dress suits you, your breasts look even smaller than they already are."

We had literally just passed our introduction. How did she switch up so fast and easily?

I sat at the table with Victor, Amelia and the twins. Our parents were talking to the guests and our older brothers were discussing business.

"You don't even know me and you're already judging my boobs?" I snapped at Priscilla.

"She's fucking crazy." Leonardo explained.

Priscilla rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her bigger chest. She was eighteen years old but had the attitude of a child. We were related through my mom. Her mother was my mom's younger sister.

She was an only child and also lived in New York City. Apparently, she went to our high school as well but graduated last year and was now attending Standford.

That was the reason why I haven't met her prior and I was happy that she was far away.

"I have to go."

Out of nowhere, she got up from her seat. We watched how she lowered her neckline and walked towards her prey.

Alexander Ferrari.

I soon realised that I had no shot with this man. Almost all women in this party were trying their shot with him.

I'm not that competitive of a person and I still had my sweet Daniel.

One day, I'll ask him out. But for his safety, today was not the day.

My brothers were too crazy to even accept Daniel as my boyfriend.

"There she goes again." Leonardo rolled his eyes.

"She does it often?" I asked.

Amelia sighed and looked at me.

"She's been hunting him ever since kindergarten. I'm not even exaggerating. She's doing the absolute most to get into his bed."

"Amelia." Victor warned her.

"You know it's the truth, Vic!" She pointed out.

He sighed softly as a blush played on his cheeks. I was holding his hand again because I was very close to punching Priscilla and he needed it.

"Is she always this horrible?"

"Born a nightmare." Nicolas muttered while snacking on stuffed mushrooms.

He had taken so much food from the buffet to our table. Though he mostly ate it himself, he did share.

The character development.

"She doesn't even look good next to him." Amelia muttered.

She hadn't been eating except for a few bites of the pasta. Mom had encouraged her softly but it was still hard for Amelia. Therapy was helping but healing needed time.

"Are you still obsessed with him?" Leonardo asked annoyed.

Her cheeks turned red.

"I find him very handsome and charming. Priscilla's completely out of his league. She's not good enough for him." She crossed her arms over her chest.

Amelia had a big fat crush on him. I wasn't going to laugh at her like Nicolas was because an hour ago I was also thirsting over him.

Like, girl, I totally get you.

"He is very delicious, I'll have to admit." I nodded in agreement.

"Delicious?" Nicolas snorted.

I just shrugged my shoulders. I only use delicious to describe very hot people.

"I think you're too good for him. Don't think about him like that." Victor squeezed my hand.

Even my best friend Victor hated the idea of me dating.

I was going to end up as an old virgin with twenty cats.

"If he's too good for Elena, then I'll have him." Amelia grinned.

"Stop it." Leonardo snapped at her.

She laughed and took a bite of the red velvet cake that I told her earlier was bomb. Her eyes widened and then she took another bite. I couldn't stop the smile growing on my face.

I happily watched her eat and enjoy the food.

"Which one of my beautiful girls wants to dance with me first?"

Dad leaned in between Amelia and me. We grinned up at him and before we could respond, Nicolas did.

"I want to, papa." He joked.

Dad gave him an annoyed look and then noticed how much his son had been eating.

"Merda, Nicolas, you'll get an upset stomach."

(Shit.)

Nicolas didn't stop eating though.

I got to dance with dad first. He laid his hand on my waist and the other one held my hand. We danced together and I rested my head against his chest. I felt him place his chin on the crown of my head. The song was soft and slow. I felt secure and safe in his arms.

"Topolina, you look absolutely breathtaking tonight." He complimented me.

I smiled against his chest.

"I wished I could've watched you grow up into the little lady you are today." He whispered to me.

I wished the same. I really wanted to have been raised alongside my siblings by our parents.

"You have pictures."

I gave my parents all my childhood pictures. To me, they were only memories but they meant the world to them.

"Ah, I got quite confused to see you as a baby. It felt like I was staring at baby Hector." He chuckled.

I groaned which made him laugh. He pulled away slightly so I could look at him.

"It's not a bad thing to resemble your older brother."

"I know but we don't get along very well" I confessed.

After months of hearing that I look so much like Hector, I've decided to just accept it. It was hard to deny something so obvious. We looked very much alike and there was nothing that I could do about that.

Unless I would colour my hair or get plastic surgery.

"He cares a lot for you, Topolina. I know my son very well and it's been a long while since I've seen him truly happy."

"He always has the same expression. How can you even tell that he's happy?"

I only rarely see him smirk but I've never seen him smile before.

"He's my topolino. I know him better than he knows himself sometimes. Having you with us has made him very happy. Our family is complete thanks to you."

I was not going to cry in public but his words warmed my heart.

I felt happy with my family, so it was nice to know that they felt the same.

Though, thinking that Hector was happy with me still felt so odd. If he truly felt like that, why didn't he show it?

///////////////////

My arms went around Theo's neck as he spun us around. I giggled and held onto him tightly. His arms were secured around my waist as we danced to the more upbeat song.

"You're my favourite brother, did you know that?" I smiled at him.

"Oh, tesoro, you know that I have a special place in my heart for you. My little baby." He kissed my cheek.

I was so happy that nothing could ruin this moment, not even when Theo passed me on to Hector.

Hector secured an arm around my waist and grabbed my left hand softly. I rested my right arm on top of the arm that was around my waist. We softly swayed to a soft and slow song. I started to calm down from the rush I'd felt with Theo.

"You met Priscilla."

"Don't like her." I told him honestly.

"Nobody does."

He said it so bluntly and without care that I couldn't help but laugh. He gave me a look but then a small smirk crept up his lips. My dad's words came back to me and I searched his face for happiness.

He looked amused but not happy. Maybe I just don't know him well enough, despite feeling like I did know him.

"She bothered you."

He really knew everything. I don't even know how!

Like I had a whole hypothesis that he must be supernatural.

If Hector was a supernatural being, he'd obviously be a werewolf.

No one can change my mind.

He literally fits the description of those stereotypical alpha males.

Except he's much more composed.

"Yeah, she insulted my boobs." I nodded.

He closed his eyes while taking a breath. I tried to keep my grin down but it was hard.

"You're too blunt." He told me.

"They always say we look alike." I grinned.

He shook his head.

"I'll talk with her."

"Why?"

"She may be family but I don't allow any rude attitude towards my siblings."

I nodded.

Priscilla was standing at the side of the dance floor with Alexander while he talked to a brunette. He didn't look remotely interested in her, since he was in a deep conversation with the brunette's cleavage.

That was a turn off for me.

I looked away and my crush was over. It was as simple as that.

At least that's what I thought.

///////////

Happy New Year!

I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2022!

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