Side chapter: Christmas
Christmas in the my household was always a spectacle. From the moment the first snowflake hit the ground, my mother transformed the manor into a festive battleground.
Garlands hung on every available surface, the scent of spiced cider wafted through the halls, and my father became an unwilling soldier in her crusade of holiday cheer.
This year, however, was set to be even more chaotic than usual because Ciara was here.
"I thought Christmas was supposed to be peaceful," Ciara muttered beside me, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and apprehension. She was perched on the edge of the sofa, her usual regal confidence shaken by the chaos unfolding before her.
"Peaceful?" I scoffed, stealing a glance at her. Her white hair, slightly tousled from the cold, framed her face perfectly. "You clearly haven't met my family."