Navier Romanoff by su

Navier's gaze flickered between the two young men standing awkwardly by the door. Their eyes, filled with hurt and disappointment, made her chest tighten. She could see how much her presence unsettled them. She knew the last thing she wanted was to be perceived as some greedy woman after their family's wealth—or worse, their brother's affection.

"Brother…" one of the twins began hesitantly, his voice trailing off as though he couldn't decide whether to speak or retreat.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Aiden interjected coldly, his tone sharp enough to cut glass.

Before Navier could even think about staying silent, her instincts took over. "No, they should stay," she said firmly, her voice softening as she looked up at Aiden. His emerald-green eyes locked on hers, confused but intrigued.

"Please?" she added, clutching his arm gently.

Aiden sighed, his jaw tightening. "T-they just got here," Navier pressed, her brown eyes pleading. She didn't know why she felt so compelled to defend them, but something about their dynamic struck a chord deep within her.

She had overheard their earlier conversation, piecing together the story: they had always visited him, but Aiden rarely made time for them. These brothers loved their eldest sibling enough to show up unannounced and cook him dinner, knowing full well how busy his life was.

"They thought I you were a burglar." he pointed out gently.

"That's a normal reaction, isn't it? This whole misunderstanding is my fault. I should've explained myself before jumping to conclusions."

Aiden's lips twitched into an amused smirk as he pulled her a little closer. "If you keep defending them like this, I might actually get jealous," he teased, his deep voice dropping into a softer, flirtatious tone.

Navier felt her cheeks flush as her heart began to race. "S-stop it," she stammered, avoiding his gaze while trying to wriggle out of his grasp.

"Why should I?" he asked, entirely unbothered by his brothers' presence, who were now watching the scene with wide, incredulous eyes.

"Because your brothers are watching!" she whisper-yelled, her tone laced with embarrassment.

Aiden arched a brow, his expression shameless. "All the more reason for them to leave, isn't it?"

"No, they can't!" she protested, her voice firm. "We were about to have dinner!"

With a resigned sigh, Aiden finally let her go. "Fine. Whatever makes you happy, darling," he said, leaning down to brush his lips against the corner of hers.

Navier froze. Her back was to the brothers, but their audible gasps told her they had misinterpreted the deceitful gesture as a full-on kiss.

Aiden pulled away, his green eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm going to take a shower. I'll be down shortly." He tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear before ascending the stairs, leaving Navier mortified and blushing furiously.

Turning back to face the brothers, she felt her embarrassment double as their eyes darted anywhere but at her, clearly unsure how to proceed.

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding earlier," Navier began, wringing her hands nervously. "It was wrong of me to jump to conclusions."

"You're quite right about that," one of the twins said bluntly, his arms crossed.

Navier bit her lip but pressed on. "To make up for it, I'd like to cook dinner for everyone. It's the least I can do after causing such a mess."

The twins exchanged surprised glances before one of them broke into a wide grin. "Wait—you can actually cook?"

"Of course I can!" Navier shot back, more confidently than she felt.

"Let me guess," the other twin said with a smirk. "Boiled eggs, potatoes, and sandwiches?"

Navier narrowed her eyes, determined to prove them wrong. "How about roasted lamb with rosemary, creamy mushroom soup, sautéed vegetables, and garlic mashed potatoes?" she listed, her tone crisp and self-assured.

The brothers' jaws dropped simultaneously, their expressions shifting from disbelief to awe.

"I'll help out," Diego offered suddenly, setting down the ice pack he had been holding to his head.

"Oh, no need!" Navier protested, panicking. "Your head is still—"

"I'm fine," Diego interrupted, a lopsided smile on his face. "Besides, I'm the only one willing to help you. The others will just sit around."

"Damn right," Raphael muttered from the couch, earning a snicker from one of the twins.

Navier sighed but nodded. "Alright, let's get started."

---

The kitchen quickly became a whirlwind of activity. Navier and Diego worked in sync, chopping vegetables, seasoning meats, and stirring sauces. Despite the chaos, Navier found herself enjoying the process. Diego even cracked a few jokes, which made her laugh despite her initial nervousness.

When the table was finally set and the food served, Aiden reappeared, looking effortlessly polished in a casual black jeckered vintage pajamas.

As the first bites were taken, the twins erupted with enthusiasm. "This is amazing!" one of them exclaimed, his eyes wide with delight.

"Best meal I've had in years," the other chimed in, his mouth full. "No offense Diego."

"Some taken," Diego muttered, clearly offended but trying to hide a smile.

Navier chuckled. "Thank you, Diego. I couldn't have done it without you."

Diego gave her a genuine smile, his earlier cold demeanor melting away.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, banter, and shared stories. Navier learned more about each brother, from Raphael's sharp wit to Cedrick's calm demeanor.

As the laughter and teasing continued, Navier found herself marveling at the brothers' individual quirks and talents, each one as unique as the next.

First, there was Raphael, the eldest after Aiden at 27. With striking green eyes that mirrored his brother's, Raphael exuded a sharp intellect and a composed demeanor. A lawyer and psychologist by training, he had a knack for analyzing situations with an unnerving precision. "And yet," Navier thought wryly, "he's just as cheeky as Aiden when he wants to be." Raphael also managed Blossom Suite, the family's luxurious hotel chain, balancing his work with a dry sense of humor that often made him the instigator of their playful squabbles.

Next was Diego, 26, the culinary genius who had quickly won Navier over with his calm and supportive attitude. As the family chef and director of Belait Restaurant, Diego was all about perfection in the kitchen. His soft-spoken nature didn't diminish his ability to hold his ground when needed—though it was clear he often played the mediator among his brothers. His rich, dark eyes and confident stance gave him an approachable charm, despite the teasing he endured from his siblings.

The third eldest, Cedrick, was 24, with a calm, almost ethereal presence. His steady hands and empathetic nature were no surprise given his profession as a surgeon at Mendel Hospital. With a warm smile that could ease any tension, Cedrick was the kind of person who inspired trust effortlessly.

'The peacemaker of the family.' Navier thought, noting how his deep brown eyes carried a gentleness that set him apart from the others.

Jason, 23, was the jet-setter of the group, working as a pilot at Genesis Airport. His sharp wit and love for adventure made him a bit of a wildcard, always ready to crack a sarcastic comment or challenge his brothers in an impromptu debate. Navier noted how his dark hair was always slightly tousled, as though he had just stepped out of a windstorm.

'Probably from sticking his head out of a plane,' she mused with a laugh.

Then came the mischievous twins, Jayce and Jacob, both 22. They were nearly identical in looks, with dark hair and matching mischievous grins, but their personalities were worlds apart.

Jayce, the manager of Icon Bar, had a sly, flirtatious streak that kept everyone on their toes. He was the type who could charm his way out of trouble—or into it.

Jacob, on the other hand, was more grounded, with a sharp eye for fashion as the director of Maze Boutique, the family's high-end clothing line. Though quieter than Jayce, Jacob had a talent for cutting through nonsense with a single witty remark.

Finally, there was Aiden, the eldest at 29 and the cornerstone of the family empire. Navier learned that Aiden wasn't just the CEO of StoneTech, but also the owner of every business his brothers managed. It was no wonder they looked to him with equal parts admiration and frustration.

As Navier's gaze swept over the group, a strange warmth bloomed in her chest. Despite their differences—and the chaos they often stirred up—it was clear these brothers shared a bond stronger than anything she had ever witnessed.

And yet, her eyes lingered on Aiden the longest. His smirk, his confidence, the way he seemed to orchestrate the entire evening without lifting a finger… She had a feeling she was just beginning to scratch the surface of who he truly was.

Despite knowing the entire evening was just an act, Navier couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging—like she was part of a family again.

As the night wound down, her eyes met Aiden's from across the table. His lips curved into a devious grin, as if silently taunting her.

Navier straightened her spine, silently vowing to give him a piece of her mind. One thing was for sure—this was only the beginning of a very long night