Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Mission

"Your eyes were really captivating," the makeup artist commented while putting a blush on her cheeks in front of the vanity. She was only staring at herself blankly. She's all done after this makeup.

"Have you ever heard that from anyone?" she asked.

She chuckled unbelievably. "I heard it a million times," she replied coldly. Does she think this is the first time she heard it? She kept hearing it since she was child.

"Oh, my bad. I was just enticed by your beauty, especially with those exquisite eyes." She complimented. Her eyes were hypnotizing. It can get everyone's attention in just a second.

"Larisa!"

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes when she heard her cousin call her name. Slowly, just like a wind that goes around, she can feel and hear the presence of the dagger coming towards her direction. It's like she has an eyes on it. She simply tilted her head as she raised her one hand with her eyes closed.

"Arrogant b*tch," he commented when she was able to catch it. As she felt it in her grip, she quickly opened her eyes and smirked. It feels like a dagger keeps calling her name as if they all belong to her.

"I'm fvcking busy!" She exclaimed with annoyance and threw it back to him on the door.

"What the hell, Noah? Your makeup artist is looking for you!"

And there she was, Candice Valestine the daughter of Gabriel Valestine. Her eyes were firing when she saw Noah Valestine, the son of Yna Valestine, making fun of them during the serious event.

"I'm coming back, chill." The jerk said and chuckled before he ran away.

"Look what that bastard did to me!" Candice exclaimed with annoyance and showed the small cut on her cheek. Larisa smirked and shook her head slowly.

"That is why there was blood on the dagger," she uttered.

"You know that I hate sharp things!" She said irritatedly that she could almost kill him for what Noah did.

"I love all the dangerous things," she mentioned before Candice marched out from there.

"T-That was scary," the makeup artist commented after witnessing that.

"Are you done?" Larisa asked and stood up. She put lipstick on her lips to finally finish her makeup. The makeup artist is a bit loquacious and she hates that.

"I'm back," Candice said and invaded her room. She's all done, wearing her black tube dress. They are all wearing black as the theme of the Valestine's family picture. Their parents want a family picture to display at their homes.

"I'm almost done," Larisa said.

"I'll be going now," the makeup artist said, who could not even look at their eyes.

"What's with her?" Candice asked as she watched her leave the room.

"She saw how Noah threw the dagger at me," Larisa replied and chuckled. That woman is probably scared.

"She's already scared of that?" Candice asked and shook her head. "Anyways, tell me the end of the story of the Castellan." Candice urged her all over again. Larisa mentioned to them how the Castellan was erased in the world of Mafia. Her mother told her their story before and among all the bedtime stories she told her, it was what she can never forget.

"It's a cruel story, okay? They all die at the end, even the baby. No Castellan is alive today. They are all gone after the attack. Besides, the hospital was also burned that night." Larisa discussed. That is exactly what her mother told her, Lucinda Valestine.

"Poor baby," Candice uttered. She also feels bad for that baby.

"Well, that's what happens when you let your guard down." Larisa commented while staring at herself in the mirror.

"What are you two still doing here? The photographer is waiting!" Lucinda exclaimed when she saw Candice lying down on her daughter's bed.

"Oh, sorry!"

"We're done here," Larisa said and gave her mother a wide smile on her lips.

"You're beautiful," she praised as her fingers lingered on her soft cheeks. The moment that her eyes locked in Larisa's eyes, she froze.

"What's the matter, Mom?" Larisa asked.

"Nothing," her mother replied. "Your eyes are indeed captivating," she added and held her hand.

"Let's go, then?" Larisa chuckled as they both went downstairs for the photoshoot. It was all set, the Valestine are all there wearing their black outfits.

"Larisa," Yna called and kissed her on her cheeks.

"What happened to your cheek Candice?" Gabriel asked when he noticed the small band aid on her cheek.

Larisa whistled and glanced at Noah who was pretending to be busy on his phone. He's a dead meat to his father. Noah doesn't have a mother, she died of cancer a few years ago. While Candice? Her mother wants her to use her surname and not her father's surname because Valestine is still powerful than that.

"Ask your son, Uncle." Candice answered and smiled fakely to Noah.

"Noah," Gabriel called his son.

"I was only playing around. Candice is just too weak! I did the same to Larisa but she didn't even have a cut," Noah explained and glared at Candice.

"Weak? Mom!" She shouted in irritation. That is exactly how a volcano erupts.

"That's why I told you to face your fears in sharp things," Yna uttered and shook her head disappointedly to her daughter.

"Enough," Aris Valestine said in his baritone voice—Larisa's father.

"Let's begin the photoshoot. I have a lot of things to do," he said firmly, which made them all silent.

"The three of you should sit on the couch then the rest of you will be behind them, standing." The photographer discussed their position in the photoshoot.

They followed the instructions of the photographer and finished the photoshoot as soon as possible. Larisa couldn't smile at the end anymore when none of them seems to remember what day today is.

"Nice, all done!" The photographer exclaimed delightedly and satisfied with all the pictures he took.

"Hold on, I'm gonna get something." Aris said while Larisa was already silent while scrolling through her phone.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you," her father began to sing while holding a cake filled with candles on top of it with her mother beside him. They all sang really slowly like it was a ballad.

"Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday Larisa."

"Come on, make a wish!" Her mother said with excitement.

"I thought you all forgot," she uttered, holding her tears back.

"We don't. I was stopping myself to greet you earlier," Candice said. "That's why I asked you about the Castellan. I know that it happened on your exact birthday." She whispered and chuckled.

"Make a wish now. The candles are melting," her father said with a smile.

She took a heavy breath before she closed her eyes for a moment and blew all the candles.

"Happy birthday, Larisa!" Her Aunt Yna greeted and embraced her.

"Happy 23rd birthday, Larisa." Gabriel greeted and patted her head with a soft smile.

"The maid brought all your gifts in your room during the photoshoot," Noah mentioned.

Yes, today is June 4, 1999. The day where Larisa was born.

"You succeeded in all the missions that we give to you," Aris said with a tender smile.

"Noah failed everything," Gabriel mumbled.

"Dad!" Noah exclaimed madly.

"It's true," Candice said and shook her head with annoyance.

"Larisa, it's time for you to have another mission and prove to everyone that you deserve to be our heiress and inherit everything we have." Lucinda said whole-heartedly, trusting their daughter's capabilities so much.

"What is my mission now?" Larisa asked fearlessly.

"To be a spy in the Clyborne clan," her father said.

"Your mission is to be the Valestine's eyes to know all their moves. That is why you have to enter their place and work under them," Lucinda explained clearly.

"What is this for?" Candice asked.

"We will erase them in the Mafia world." Aris said.

"What can you say, Larisa?" Yna asked.

She was silent for a while, thinking of the mission they were giving to her. Without any fear beaming in her captivating eyes, she drew a small smile on her lips as she glanced at her parents.

"I accept the mission," she said with bravery.