The Rolls Royce's gentle deceleration signaled their arrival, and Ekaterina immediately shifted gears, mentally preparing for the performance she needed to deliver. She consciously cultivated an image of serene grace, a delicate flower amidst the potential thorns of the Marchetti family. It was a calculated move, a subtle manipulation designed to disarm and soften any potential hostility.
As the car came to a complete stop, a uniformed doorman smoothly opened the door for her. Ekaterina stepped out with practiced elegance, removing her cap – a practical accessory that had helped her blend into the crowds during her previous life – and cradling Buddy, her loyal Shiba Inu, close to her chest. The servants, eager to assist, rushed forward to retrieve her duffel bag and suitcase. However, their efforts were met with an unexpected challenge.
The luggage, deceptively heavy, proved too much for them to lift. It was a subtle display of strength, a silent declaration that she wasn't the fragile damsel they might have expected. The servants exchanged embarrassed glances, momentarily flustered by their inability to manage her belongings. Ekaterina simply observed the scene with an unreadable expression, maintaining her composure.
"Miss, follow me," Mr. Davis stated, his voice a low murmur that cut through the awkwardness. Ekaterina nodded in acknowledgment and fell into step beside him, her movements fluid and graceful.
As they walked down the expansive hallway, she allowed herself a brief scan of her surroundings – a detached assessment of the opulent surroundings rather than an expression of awe or excitement. Her face remained impassive, her gaze calm and indifferent, betraying none of the internal calculations swirling within her mind.
She paused in the middle of the hallway, her eyes settling on a figure that radiated an almost palpable aura of power. Standing before her was Vincenzo, the eldest grandson, a man who seemed to embody both ruthless strength and unexpected gentleness. His presence was so commanding that it could easily intimidate those less accustomed to such displays of authority. Yet, Ekaterina met his gaze without flinching, her expression remaining serenely calm—a deliberate act of defiance against the weight of his aura. It was a silent challenge, a subtle assertion of her own inner strength.
"Eldest Young Master Vincenzo," Mr. Davis announced, his voice respectful but formal.
"Hello brother…," Ekaterina began tentatively, attempting a polite greeting. It was a calculated risk, testing the waters and gauging his reaction.
Vincenzo's response was swift and dismissive.
"I am not your brother. Know your place," he stated, his voice devoid of warmth or emotion, a glacial dismissal that sent a ripple of tension through the hallway. Without so much as a glance in her direction, he simply walked past her, his long strides eating up the distance with effortless grace. The crimson coat billowed behind him, a silent declaration of his authority.
Ekaterina didn't react to his cold rebuff. She maintained her composure, allowing the slight sting of his words to wash over her without disrupting her carefully constructed facade. She followed Mr. Davis as he led her towards a grand pair of double doors. As they were opened, revealing a lavishly decorated room filled with the six elderly Marchetti family members, she braced herself for the onslaught of attention she anticipated.
"Darling host, these elders look so gentle,"
Taotao chirped, her voice a high-pitched, excited squeak that only Ekaterina could hear thanks to their unique mental connection. Taotao was a small, ethereal spirit who had bonded with Ekaterina during her previous life and had somehow accompanied her into this new existence. She acted as Ekaterina's confidante and advisor, providing a constant stream of commentary and observations.
{Yeah, I know what you mean.} Ekaterina inwardly responded to Taotao's observation, suppressing a flicker of amusement. The elders, far from the intimidating figures Jennifer had described, exuded an aura of warmth and genuine kindness. They were radiating an almost palpable wave of welcoming energy towards her.
As soon as they noticed Ekaterina's presence, the six elders surged forward, their faces alight with excitement and affection.
"My goodness, you are so beautiful!" Old Madam Nonna exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine delight. She reached out and gently clasped Ekaterina's hands, her touch surprisingly firm despite her age. The gesture was meant to be comforting, a sign of acceptance and affection.
{Um, Taotao, they don't look that scary at all, but very gentle and kind.} Ekaterina thought, a wave of confusion washing over her. She was genuinely bewildered by Jennifer's incessant warnings about the Marchetti elders being harsh and unyielding. She had braced herself for a difficult reception, anticipating a rigorous interrogation and a relentless scrutiny of her every move. Instead, she was met with open arms and heartfelt smiles.
At the same time, something extraordinary was happening within the room.
A strange paralysis seemed to grip them, a collective inability to break the spell of the impossible. The moment stretched, thick with unspoken questions and burgeoning bewilderment. It didn't matter that they couldn't speak; the sheer strangeness of the situation rendered verbal communication secondary. Their minds raced, grappling with a reality that defied logic and challenged everything they thought they knew about the world.
"You seem so tired," Old Lady Katherine said, her voice regaining some semblance of composure, though a tremor of uncertainty still laced her tone. She reached into a small embroidered purse and produced a crisp card. "Here is a card – 250 million yuan. For your pocket money." The words were delivered in a sweet, almost hesitant voice, as if unsure how to proceed in this unprecedented situation.
"Yes, yes,"
Old Man Conner echoed Katherine's sentiment, his booming voice slightly subdued. He fumbled in his pocket and produced a delicate, intricately carved jade necklace. "And here is a family heirloom—a jade necklace. May it bring you good fortune." He presented it with a flourish, his usual boisterousness tempered by an underlying sense of awe and bewilderment.
The gifts, extravagant as they were, felt almost secondary to the unspoken astonishment hanging in the air. It wasn't just the monetary value of the card or the sentimental worth of the necklace; it was the sheer absurdity of presenting them while simultaneously grappling with the revelation of Ekaterina's telepathic abilities.
Ekaterina, oblivious to their internal turmoil and focused on maintaining her calm facade, accepted the card and necklace with polite gratitude.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice soft and unassuming.
The words hung in the air, a simple expression of gratitude that somehow amplified the surreal nature of the moment. The six elders remained frozen, their expressions a mixture of shock, disbelief, and a dawning realization that their world had irrevocably shifted. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a hidden dimension to reality they hadn't known existed.
The silence stretched, punctuated only by the soft chirping of birds outside and the rhythmic ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner. Then, Old Madam Nonna, ever the pragmatist despite her current state of bewilderment, broke the stillness.
"Mr. Davis," she said, her voice regaining some of its usual authority, though still tinged with an underlying tremor.
"Please bring us some tea. Earl Grey, two sugars for me."