Once everyone left, Damon teased, snickering at the dumbstruck Leo, "Finally someone likes your foolish smile, baby brother."

Juliette's compliment ran circles in her brain. His lips automatically tilted into a wide smile and he beamed at the young girl who sat beside him.

"What can I say? I have always been the most attractive brother in the room. And, I am going to be her favourite brother too. Just wait and watch, " Leo retorted while he slowly chewed on his food.

" Ah you wi.." a quick glare from Stefano, instantly shut the two younger brothers.

The dark brown eyes of his elder brother focused solely on Juliette. As their eyes met, she instantly bowed down and played with her food. Eyes are the doorway to a person's soul, but her eldest brother's eyes looked like a pit of nothingness. Deep and blank.

"I genuinely hope you find this place to your liking, Juliette." Stefano started.

"I see you're a meek child, but if you encounter any problems, you can always approach one of your brothers," Stefano paused, glancing stealthily at Juliette, who was still staring down at her plate and bobbed her head silently.

"Little girl, look into my eyes when I'm talking to you," Stefano calmly commanded. Though Stefano didn't yell at her, she did not dare rebuke his command. Lifting her head, she slowly faced his blank eyes.

"Now, maintain this while talking to anyone. Never bow down. Not to me or your brothers or anyone else, "he stated while steadily looking at her with his firm gaze. Once she responded with a nod, he continued, satisfied with her response. " So do not hesitate to communicate with us. Even if we are busy, we will get back to you as soon as possible. "

She bobbed her head again, and stuttered out a small yes.

The apparent lack of a proper response bothered the brothers, but deciding to give her space, they silently went back to finishing up their dinner. One thing they had noticed from her behaviour was that she was skittish and easily scared.

" I honestly wonder how the Ricci bloodline has such a tame kid," Leo commented under his breath while looking at Juliette.

The jovial atmosphere in the room made Juliette feel at ease. She was also quick to note the change in her brothers' behaviour when they were alone in the room.

'Should I ask them about my mother now? Maybe not now... maybe later. '

Her thoughts were cut short by the loud ringing of Vincent's phone.

"Sprecht," Vincent spoke coldly on the phone.

His face immediately tensed at the content he heard. "Ich werde dort sein und ihn im Hafen festhalten" he hissed.

Julie realised all her brothers were calmly eating, paying no heed to the sudden coldness of their second eldest brother.

"Do you want to try the baklava?" Leo asked diverting her attention to the small plate he was holding with a pastry-like dish placed on it. His glittering eyes made it hard for the little girl to decline. Though her eating limit had been far exceeded, she slowly nodded, not wanting to disappoint her brother's enthusiasm.

Her gaze again focused on her second elder brother, who had just finished his call and silently went back to eating.

"Was ist passiert?" Stefano asked as he sipped on the aged wine.

"Der Arzt versuchte zu fliehen. Jemand gab ihm einen Hinweis auf die Arbeitsbedingungen und half ihm bei der Flucht aus unserem Quartier. Er wurde am Seehafen gefangen genommen," Vincent reported, his face scrunched in annoyance.

"There seems to be a group of rats. We need to do some sewer cleaning, brother," Leo stated excitedly, a wide grin on his face.

"D..o yo..u ne..ed my hel..p? I use..d to he..lp in cl..eaning old ho..uses ba..ck in my to..wn," Julie offered out loud.

Internally, she was screaming with happiness. 'Everyone in my old town used to be impressed with the way I can quickly catch rats and snakes. I can finally be of help to my brothers. ' Unconsciously, her head bobbed up and down as she imagined making all her brothers proud.

At the apparent lack of any response, she gently raised her head to look at all her brothers. Her brothers stared at her with wide eyes, as if she had grown a mushroom on her head.

"I am se..rious. I am good at hu.nting," she stuttered out, insisting further on her talents.

The room fell into a pin-drop silence, followed by loud boisterous laughter. All the brothers laughed out loud with an incredulous expression on their face at their sister's antics.

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(Translation)

Sprecht- Speak

Ich werde dort sein und ihn im Hafen festhalten- I will be there hold him in the port.

Was ist passiert? - What happened?

Der Arzt versuchte zu fliehen. Jemand gab ihm einen Hinweis auf die Arbeitsbedingungen und half ihm bei der Flucht aus unserem Quartier. Er wurde am Seehafen gefangen genommen. - The doctor tried to escape. Someone tipped him off about the working conditions and helped him escape from our quarters. He was captured at the seaport.

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(800 words)

Hello guys!

As I was very late on my last update, I prepared this short bonus chapter. Hope you guys love reading this part as much as I loved writing it. ≧◉◡◉≦

After Chapter 10, the pacing of the story might pick up. Though the bond between the siblings isn't too bad, too many secrets are being hidden beneath the carpet and we gotta wait and see on how they handle the hurdles along the way.

skrskrladies Thanks for all your support and love. As per your suggestion, I am planning to increase the wordcount to 2000 words from the next chapter. ᕙ('▿')ᕗ

Show all your love and support. -'ღ'-

Comment down your thoughts about this chapter.