Chapter 30: Make a lot of effort

Soraya went upstairs with a cup of coffee.

Once she entered, she found Angelo looking around the room as if checking something.

"So, are you going to tell me everything about your trip, or should I guess from that smile on your face?" he asked.

Soraya laughed and sat on the edge of the bed. "There isn’t much to tell. We stayed in a house surrounded by snow, and I spent most of my time outside. I even had a snowball fight."

"With Santino?" Angelo narrowed his eyes in surprise.

"Who else would I have a snowball fight with?" she replied, then paused. "He was actually quite fun to be around."

Angelo raised an eyebrow at her answer. "Quite fun? That’s not something I expected to hear from you."

"Don’t make it sound like I’ve suddenly fallen in love with him." Soraya picked up a pillow and hugged it to her chest after resting the coffee mug on the table. "We had a good time. That’s all."

"Alright, I won’t ask any more questions." Angelo smiled before taking the chair beside her dressing table. "But since we’re talking about the future, I wanted to discuss something important with you."

Soraya’s smile faded slightly. "What is it?"

"Father has been asking about you. He wants you to join our Dalias corporation, and I think it will be a good opportunity for you. You can learn how things work, meet people, and become more involved with the family."

Soraya stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "No, Angelo. I already told you I won’t work in that company."

"Can I ask why?"

"Because I don’t want my entire life decided by our family." She placed the pillow beside her and looked directly at him. "I have only recently learned who my family is. Everyone keeps telling me what I should do, where I should go, and what I should become. I don’t want another person deciding my future for me."

Angelo listened without interrupting.

"I know they might have good intentions," Soraya continued. "But I don’t want to work there just because we’re related. I want to do something for myself, even if it’s something small."

"Like the bakery you mentioned before?"

Soraya looked at him in surprise. "You remember?"

"Of course I do. You asked me to find Claire’s number." He leaned back in his chair. "Is that still what you want?"

"Yes. I want to speak to Claire and ask whether the bakery needs someone. I don’t expect special treatment. If there’s a vacancy, I’ll apply. If there isn’t, I’ll find something else," Soraya said. She felt relaxed talking to Angelo.

He nodded slowly. "Alright. I won’t force you to join us. But promise me one thing. If you ever feel uncomfortable or someone gives you trouble, you’ll come to me."

Soraya smiled at him. "I promise."

Angelo took out his phone and sent Claire’s number to her.

"Thank you," she said. "I’ll call her now."

"You should. And Soraya?" Angelo said as she looked up.

"Don’t think that refusing to work with us means you’re turning your back on the family. You don’t have to prove your place among us by doing what everyone expects."

His words caught her off guard. For a few seconds, she simply looked at him.

"Sometimes, I still feel like a stranger here," she admitted. "I know you’re my brother, and I know our parents are my parents, but there’s so much I don’t know about them. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to act around everyone."

Angelo’s expression softened.

"You don’t have to act any particular way. You’re their daughter, Soraya," Angelo said. He wanted to say more, but he couldn’t tell her that their mother had been crying every night in silence for her and their father had been tormenting himself for sending her to Santino like that.

He simply didn’t want to put that burden on her.

"How... How are they doing?" Soraya asked in a low tone.

A warm smile spread across his lips hearing this question. "They miss you badly." He lowered his gaze briefly and continued. "Mom talks about you very often. She asks whether you’ve eaten properly, whether you’re comfortable here, and whether you’ve been happy since you returned."

Soraya’s fingers tightened around her phone. "What about Dad?"

Angelo let out a breath. "He doesn’t talk as much as Mom does, but he asks about you too. Sometimes, I find him looking at old photographs. He keeps them in his study."

Soraya’s expression changed. "Photographs of me?"

"From when you were little. Mom kept almost everything she could find. Dad rarely says anything when he looks at them, but I know he regrets all the years he missed."

She looked down at her hands. Part of her wanted to get closer to them, while another part was afraid of expecting too much. "Do they think I’m angry with them?" she asked quietly.

"Perhaps." Angelo paused before continuing. "But I think they’re more afraid that you’ll never feel at home with us. They don’t know how to make up for the past, and sometimes they try too hard."

Soraya swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I don’t hate them, Angelo. I just can’t suddenly forget everything and pretend we’ve always been a family."

"You don’t have to." He moved from the chair and sat beside her. "You can take your time. They should understand that getting you back doesn’t mean they can demand your love immediately."

"I’m glad I have you," she murmured as Angelo smiled.

Silence stretched between them, and after a while, Soraya straightened and glanced at her phone. "I should call Claire."

"Go ahead. I’ll be right here."

She went to the balcony, dialed the number, and after a few rings, a familiar voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Claire? It’s Soraya."

There was a brief silence before Claire responded.

"Soraya? Oh my God! Is that really you? Where have you been? I’ve been wondering what happened to you." A loud, cheerful voice came from the other side, full of complaints yet relieved.

Soraya smiled at the sound of her friend’s voice. "It’s a long story. I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner."

"It’s alright. Are you okay?" Claire asked in a worried tone.

"I’m fine. Actually, I wanted to ask you something. Is there any chance we could meet this evening?" Soraya asked.

"Of course. Come by around six. I’ll be free then." Claire replied as there was a hint of anger in her tone now.

"Alright. I’ll see you then," she sighed and hung up the call.

Angelo," Soraya walked in with a sliver of glint on her eyes. "Claire called me to meet her at six."

Angelo was quite surprised to see her this excited as she hugged him. "I really want to go there today."

As they were still holding each other, Santino entered the room. "Where are you planning to go?" He demanded as he looked at the two figures who were pulling away from each other and gritted his teeth.

’How come she smiles at him and hugs him without any reservation but when it comes to me... I have to make a lot of effort,’ he thought and glared at Angelo.

Sensing the pointed glare, Angelo looked back at him, giving him a provoking smirk.