Trapped by Seven Mafia Wolves novel Chapter 58

**Chapter 58: Dinner… Again**

**Aurora’s POV**

Cuddled up at the far end of the couch, I find solace in the proximity of Jace, who’s engaged in a playful popcorn war with Leon. Leon, seated confidently in the single armchair opposite, tries to maintain an air of composure, though the smirk on his face betrays him as he retaliates with two expertly tossed kernels that land squarely on Jace’s lap.

This moment, as absurd as it is delightful, carries a peculiar charm amidst its chaos.

However, just as I start to let go of my worries and embrace the silliness, the door creaks open, and a maid steps into the room. Her hands are neatly folded in front of her apron, and her gaze is fixed on the floor, as if she wishes to shield herself from the playful ruckus surrounding her.

“Now that Master Raphael and Master Andrei have returned,” she announces in a formal tone that sends a shiver down my spine, “family dinners will resume every Friday evening. Starting tonight.”

The word ‘dinner’ hangs in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over my fleeting sense of peace.

Dinner. With everyone?

Leon lets out an exaggerated groan, slumping deeper into his seat, his teenage angst bubbling to the surface. “Can we not establish a rule that excludes certain family members?” he grumbles, his voice dripping with sarcasm that feels almost like a shield against the impending tension.

“Yeah,” Jace chimes in, casually tossing another piece of popcorn into his mouth with a grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Like the ugly ones.”

Leon flashes a cheeky grin back at him. “Then you’d be dining solo, Jace.”

Jace clutches his chest in mock offense, feigning an injury that is both dramatic and humorous. “How dare you! I’m objectively stunning. That’s no way to address your older young man.”

“You’re objectively something. And there are two years between us, not twenty,” Leon retorts, his tone playful but his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Yet, instead of feeling hungry, my stomach churns at the thought of eating.

All I can sense is the intense heat of Nico’s glare boring into my side, and the white-knuckled silence emanating from Luka across the table. Still, Jace and Leon engage in light-hearted conversation with Raphael and Andrei, their laughter mingling with the clinking of cutlery, creating a jarring contrast to the tension that wraps around me like a heavy cloak.

For a fleeting moment, I attempt to convince myself that this is just a regular dinner.

That I am simply a normal girl, navigating through the complexities of a family that feels anything but ordinary.

As the evening unfolds, I find myself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The laughter and banter of Jace and Leon serve as a fragile shield against the palpable tension that hangs in the air, yet I can’t shake the knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. Each glance exchanged between my brothers speaks volumes, a silent reminder of the fractures that have marred our family dynamics. I am acutely aware of my place at this table, a space that feels both familiar and foreign. In this moment, I am not just Aurora; I am the embodiment of our family’s unspoken struggles, a reminder of the past that lingers like a ghost in the room.

Yet, amidst the chaos, there flickers a glimmer of hope within me. Jace’s playful demeanor and Leon’s teasing remarks create a warmth that momentarily softens the edges of my apprehension. It dawns on me that perhaps this dinner, fraught with tension, could also be a step toward healing. As the maids serve the meal, I take a deep breath, allowing the rich aroma to ground me in the present. I realize that while the shadows of our history loom large, the possibility of forging new connections, of rewriting our narrative, lies within our grasp. This dinner may not be the idyllic family gathering I once envisioned, but it is a chance—a chance to confront the past, embrace the chaos, and perhaps, just perhaps, find a way to move forward together.