The dress above what Talia is wearing

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Important:

Carlotta's pronouns are she/they, to avoid confusion. Enjoy the story

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ACT 1

RENUNION AND REVELATIONS

"The truth is the truth even no one believes it, and a lie is a lie even everyone believes it,"

Gianna had stridden in with every click if her white Louboutin heels was another head turned to watch the Italian beauty find her way to her parent's small assemblage of them and her friend's parents.

Gianna's white simple Versace gown with Grecian folds and garnished from the neckline to the fixed bodice with silver Lesage embroidery had transformed her into an elegant snow maiden.

"Ah, there's my Belissima!" she heard her a familiar cheery voice called out as she made her way to her parents as everyone marvelled at the young beauty.

Everyone knew of the Italian beauty, the shining heiress of her family with her sun-kissed skin, chocolate locks and hazel eyes; only to support her beauty was her wealth, dawning from the de Bellucci's from her father's side of the family she was a double heiress, her mother a reigning Italian nobility family, her grandfather a Cavaliere, the equivalent to a knighthood.

"Mr and Mrs Vanderhaden, Mr Kadamskiynov, Mr and Mrs Hu, it's lovely to see you again," she smiled flashing a flawless smile as Quinn Vanderhaden had scrutinized her from head to toe, her simple ten-carat ice diamond earrings and Burmese pearls swaying to the rhythm of the music.

"You look absolutely beautiful as always," Quinn complimented, doting on her Elizabeth Taylor collection earrings afterwards.

"I've heard you've been in Milan your entire holidays, find any new pieces?" Quinn asked as she chuckled sheepishly.

"Well, you can say that," Gianna replied.

"Gigi's been good, she came to all the masses with me and charity work in Florence and Rome, it's only natural for me to reward her," her mother boasted.

"Did you enjoy the processions?" Talia's mother asked

"Yes, I never pass up the opportunity when I have nothing on, I love the serenity," she cast a fake sweet smile.

Lies

The reality was she absolutely hated attending mass, it was her mother who forced her to attend all of those believing it would wash all her dirty sins of her past with boys and having the chance to start a new as a virgin and God would forgive her.

"Well, invite me for your next trip, Tala is caught up in her conversion to Russian orthodox so I would be delighted to spend it with you and your mother," Angelina added.

"I would be delighted," she said politely as she then spotted her friend.

"Mila!" she called out as the female waltzed in, giving light hugs as she greeted the others as Quinn glared at her daughter for wearing such a glitzy piece to a party 'small' as this.

"Mila, dear," her mother dangerously smiled, "What an awfully blinding necklace your wearing," she tried to look as presentable as possible but the intention was rather clear as her husband cleared his throat.

Angelina only looked the other way along wither her husband as Gianna exchanged looks with Maxim who tried to contain his laugh.

I don't blame Quinn for getting angry this time Anna, Gigi's mother, thought That necklace makes her looks like a desperate whore.

"I think it looks, fine mother," she remarked I should have stayed in Holland a little longer she thought

"My, love I think your right, you look beautiful no matter what," Killian broke the tension as he smiled at his daughter who felt at ease.

"Where's your brother?" Quinn snapped.

"He fell off a cliff and died," she smirked as Maxim laughed and Gianna snorted a little.

"Hey, there you guys are!" a voice came from behind.

"Oh, look he resurrected," she rolled her eyes, "Cesar, where did you run off this time?"

"Oh, someone started to talk to me, no idea who. Forgot their names, anywho, mother, father, everyone," he greeted jovially.

The mothers had always described him as a modern-day James Bond, debonair good looks, his never-ending travels, a flirt and playboy, a knack of getting into trouble but always got away out with a champagne in hand. But like his father was absolutely devoted and adorned creating jewellery.

"Don't you dashing! Gigi, doesn't Cesar look handsome?" Anna budged her daughter.

"Mother!" she scolded.

"Aww, Gigi, I'm not handsome, I'm hurt," he dramatically put his hand over his chest as if he was shot.

"I'm starting to wonder if I should push you off a cliff right now,"

"Gigi! That's not nice!"

"It's okay," Cesar reassured the woman.

"Have you seen Tala yet?" Angelina sighed.

"No, Mikhail and Tala haven't arrived yet," Gianna sighed at her friend's behaviour towards parties.

"It was on short notice Ange," Richard confined

"Oh, my goodness it's Talia and Mikhail!" a member had called out as the two walked the steps as everyone soon became enchanted by the couple.

Mikhail looked like an exact caricature of an imperious Emporer with his hair gelled back slightly to the side with a full-on ivory white Tom Ford suit and matching pants, and his looks only did him justice with the light softly illuminating the high cheekbones that he was greatly praised for from inheriting from his father.

Mirroring the standards Talia with her hair let down in soft curls giving the illusion of her dark ebony hair flowing like a river. Her minty eyes glistened in the amber rays of the lights that it seemed the light only dripped from the bottom of her eyes and curved down her celestial nose down and around her soft lips and swepped down her bust, showing off her Ralf & Russo white silk dress strapless gown, hidden under her long open fur coat resting on her shoulders that was designed by Helen Yarmak.

"Oh, my gosh look at them, Talia looks so beautiful! Is that Ralf & Russo?! Only she could get away with such a simple gown!" someone had commented as chatter began as per usual.

Talia had formed her own sense of style that she didn't even know she had established. For instance, her last-minute clothes change such as one time her friends had forced her out of town on a weekend when Alderbridge had let them roam the streets of London she wore tracksuit leggings and put on a pair of heeled boots with a white tank top that was still wrinkled from her light night movie marathon.

Tracksuit leggings and boots?

She had somehow or another had managed to pull off the look and the rest of the girls had religiously followed her trend as it was a new colour being discovered. Talia also had a love for dressing up formally with pants suits, her most iconic black and silver flare leg sequin one evening that her aunts had always dubbed her as reincarnated charlie's angel.

"See, isn't nice putting a little effort, my love?" Mikhail whispered jokingly.

"I came cause I hid a secret stash of Tim Tams somewhere," she replied as Mikhail had only chuckled giving her a kiss on the cheek as they made their way through the ever-changing sea of people flooded with the small orchestra's pieces.

"Talia!" she heard a familiar voice call out as she cringed.

"Speak of the devil," she muttered praying in her head to send the approaching female away in an old Armani gown with a small white shoal walked to them.

"Alice," Talia mellifluously greeted as Alice Läckerburg appeared before them with a bright smile.

"Oh, I missed you terribly! You should have come with me when I was in Sydney, I was watching one of the performances in the Opera house," she told.

"I'm terribly sorry, I've been caught up with my aunties. You know how they are," she lied.

She was in Tasmania the whole time in her secret holiday house in Hobart by the beach as she collected seashells when it was low tide.

"I love your dress, what season is that?" she asked curiously.

"I'm not sure probably seven years ago," she shrugged.

"Only you could get away with such a thing," she winked, "Mikhail how are you?"

"Fine Alice, I've heard you're enjoying your days in Luxemburg,"

"Yes," she nodded.

Mikhail knew that Talia hated suck-ups, he couldn't blame her. But Alice was the daughter of the infamous Elsa Läckerburg and her father Vincent Läckerburg. Her family was indeed filled with a very impressive bloodline, her father's side who was originally from real estate royalty but founded the club many decades ago, and her mother's side who's father's ancestors held the title of Marquis, branching out from the old royal Swiss family for what rounded to two hundred years.

But it was with that where their training came in. To treat everyone politely, and the basics of psychology to easily bond with the acquaintance.

"Well, I'll chat with you more later. Mikhail and I have to talk to our parents," Talia apologised.

"Oh, of course, I'm off," she responded as the couple walked past her.

"Everyone," Mikhail greeted as they all lit up.

"My, my Mikhail, you're getting much more handsome every time I see you," Anna chuckled as she scanned him, "Maxim, what have you been feeding him?" the man chuckled.

"Mrs de Belluci, you haven't gotten a day older," he complimented as Anna was smiling with pride.

"Oh stop it, Mikhail, you know how to make an old woman feel so young," she gushed as Gianna cringed.

"How long did it take for you to take drag my daughter to come?" Ange asked as Talia scoffed.

"An hour,"

"No, it wasn't,"

"Tala, that would be a new record," Richard teased his daughter calling her by her nickname to which her grandmother from his wife's side gave her, meaning star in Tagalog.

"That's a beautiful bracelet dear," Quinn said starring at it calculating how many carats it was worth, "Where did you get it? I haven't seen you wear it before,"

"Boghossian," Talia replied revealing the blinding bracelet with hundred of small ice diamonds set in a Les Merveilles technique, the technique giving the illusion as if it was a levitating river of diamonds, cuffed around Talia's wrist.

Quinn instantly drooled over it, inspecting it at every angle.

Mila wanted to stab not only her mother most but her friend Talia. Yes, Talia was a good friend, it was hard to hate her but Mila hated her friends, Talia and her Italian friend. Her mother constantly boasted about how they were both so beautiful that it seemed she never mentioned her daughter.

Talia was perfect.

Talia this

Talia that.

Talia and her perfect love life

Talia the shining heiress loved by all

Talia why don't you come with me on my next trip to Paris.

Talia why don't you come with me to the show in New York

Talia is so talented

Mila why can't you be more like Talia?!

Talia is so skinny!

Mila, you should be an ice skater!

Talia knows all

Talia

Talia.

"I'm going to grab a drink," Mila said as her mother didn't here to busy vigorously talking to the Asian heiress.

"I'll come," Gianna said following her friend.

---

It had been two or more hours into the small party. Talia had isolated herself from the others to a small lounge, with a fire crackling brightly in the stone fireplace with trinkets and frames aligned on top, and besides two tall walls filled with novels.

Though not entirely familiar with The novel's language it was written in -Romanian which Talia sucked at greatly-, she had distracted herself with a novel she had picked, skimming through whatever she understood then piecing it together, in her other hand a Tim Tam to which she would algorithmically pick up when done with the biscuit and retrieving a new one. The brunette had always kept a secret stash of Tim Tams or snacks all over the place to cure her boredom.

Hearing loud footsteps, she knew who would come as Mikhail had flopped onto her lap. Needingly, wrapping his arms around her and stuffing his face around her waist, ignoring the fact she was reading.

Talia formed a small smile as she could feel the small odour of whiskey from him.

"How many drinks have you had this time?" she chuckled as she popped another Tim Tam in her mouth as he grumbled.

"I'm still sober," he yawned.

"I see," she replied flipping the page as she looked down at him with his formed into a pout, "Yes?"

"Can I have one?" he opened his mouth as she put the chocolate biscuit in his mouth, as some crumbs rolled down his jaw.

"Do you need a bib?" she teased as she moved her book to her other hand as using her free on stroked his vanilla locks.

"Your so pretty," he slightly slurred

"I thought you're sober," she raised a brow.

"I am,"

"Missha, what happened to a husband being able to see is grandchildren on their tenth birthday?"

"I want a baby!" he cheered as she deadpanned mentally face-palming herself.

"We're kinda required too,"

"I want a boy," he began his 'b' become a little tipsy

"Yeah?" she played along putting down the book.

"I want to go horse riding with him and play volleyball. He'll have your pretty eyes," she could feel his breath on her neck, "And I want g-girl, w-witttthhhhh your looks. I want to spoil her!"

"Of course you do," she nodded playing along

"Cause her mother won't ssssspend my money," he looked at her as she glared at him to which it seemed he wasn't bothered by, "You know милая?"

"Yeah?"

"You're the only person I want to be with," he snuggled her as she blushed slightly at the comment, "I love y-you,"

"I love you, Misha," she gently kissed his forehead as his eyes slowly closed.

---

Half an hour later Mikhail had woken up from his small nap, groggily sober he found Talia's small lean fingers running through his hair as he turned his head up looking at her with her eyes still glued to the pages of the book.

"Sober, dear?" she asked as he hummed a yes.

"How long was I napping for?"

"Half an hour,"

"I feel better," he smiled as he pushed himself up as his head slowly nestled on top of her shoulder, "How's the novel?"

"Crap," she replied as he chuckled giving her a kiss on her bare shoulder.

"Yo!" an amicable young voice came in as Mikhail turned to see Carlotta, Gianna's younger sister by five years perched her elbows on the couch.

"Lottie," Mikhail greeted, "Haven't seen you since-,"

"The race," they smirked, "In Barcelona,"

"How are you doing?" Talia tilted her head back, her vision of Carlotta's Scorpion face upside down as they then returned to her book.

"Fine, is Pytor not here?" Carlotta asked

"Nope, a celebration with his team," he informed.

"What was the score?"

"Five to one," he quipped as Carlotta whistled in shock.

"damn, did he scoff them down or something?"

"All I know the goalie on the other team pissed him off before the game started, showed him no mercy whatsoever,"

Pytor -who was now fifteen had joined a reigning championship local ice hockey team- whose team had advanced to nationals, again, and were without a doubt planning to win home gold... again.

Carlotta was rather not a carbon copy of her sister, rather the opposite. They had inherited her father's blondish-brownish hair rather than Gianna's laudable silky chocolate locks, her mother's azure orbs, unlike her dainty activities that a woman should have upheld they had rather take an interest in extreme sports -motor car racing and dirt bike racing her most loved, her sister's old addiction of a long chain boy flings and crushes she had found they were attracted to the opposite gender (only Pytor, Talia and Mikhail knowing), and of course her fashion sense a tomboyish yet a few feminine details (self-explaining her white Guo Pei jumpsuit).

"What's gotten you so immersed?" Carlotta asked as they snatched the book off Talia.

"Hey!"

"Kidding," they laughed giving the book back. Anywho, Lia, you're needed with your parents," the female groaned in response.

"I'll be back, hopefully," she kissed Mikhail's cheek as she left.

"Where's your secret stash?"

"What?"

"I know you keep a secret stash of whiskey somewhere," she raised a brow.

"Aren't you too young lady?" Mikhail sighed.

"Like you gave a sh*t when you were my age," they snorted.

"Third shelf from the top, to the right. Press the corner of the back," he said, "And pour me some. You're only having two, your parents are going to suspect," as they smiled as she gave him a phone, getting up.

"Isn't this your sister's phone?"

"Yeah, I 'burrowed' it," they winked as she grabbed the two small cups.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"Oh, I wanted to ask if you knew anyone named Lorenzo Cartelli? I thought it was some old noble family but I didn't recognise the last name," they shrugged as they poured the liquor in the glass.

If there was anyone who knew every old noble dynastic family it was Mikhail. Groomed from a young age, a part of his private history lessons were knowing every family, whether appointed or came from a family of wealth from the sixteen hundreds and so on, and as well any other marriages of combining two families.

"No," he shook his head, "Why?"

"It seems my sister has found some hope of a long-lasting relationship. According to her secret, secret private account on TakeIt she's been with him for almost a year now. And not a single vulgar thing! Guess mama will be proud," she logged onto the phone showing him the private account as he scrolled through the posts and pictures.

Mikhail had scanned everything with complete interest. Did he know that Talia's friend her relationships and flings but a year? This must have been serious, and not only did he not know this but the last name he didn't recognise.

Lorenzo Corsellini. He searched up as he tapped on one, to which displayed a male and with his posts of him and GIANNA!

As he looked at his information and other pictures he had gathered snippets of who he was.

Lives in Milan has a passion for photography, got into the University of Milan.

But still no posts about him flaunting and wealth of him at all, or a small glimpse of who he was.

He wasn't going to make assumptions, with Gianna God forbidding dating someone of no status or wealth (Especially new money) due to not only her parents and her milieu looking down at her but Mikhail's strong belief of marriage with other worthy households.

Carlotta peaked a little at the phone.

"Is that his brother or something?" Carlotta asked.

"That's the person she's dating," Mikhail replied as they're eyes widened.

"This guy must be loaded or something, he looks so... average. And when had Gigi ever taken an interest in someone like that? He's not even nerd hot," they snorted as they returned to her corner of the couch, "Oh! maybe she's run of hot rich guys, and hot American guys to hook up with-, wait or maybe average is the new hot," they said confused herself as they shut herself up.

Mikhail took a photo of the account and private account.

Intriguing.