**Chapter Seven: Why Bother Going to Hell When I Can Bring It Down Here, Cousin?** *Nik's POV* I surely didn't expect the scene to spiral into chaos—or to become this heated. My intention was innocent enough: a bit of playful teasing, a harmless prank. The idea of kissing her was the last thing on my mind. Thankfully, Tina intervened just in time; otherwise, we might have stumbled into something we'd regret for ages. I understood Tina's suspicions. After all, our relationship was built on fleeting desires rather than a solid foundation of trust. I never claimed to be a faithful man; I've always been more of a charming rogue. She had every right to seek her own pleasures, just as I did, and yet, there she was, furious about me mingling with another woman. It was a hypocritical stance, given her own recent entanglements. Well, I figured I'd just play along for the night—no harm in keeping face, right? Yet, guilt gnawed at me as I witnessed the disappointment flickering in Maya's eyes. After her breakup with Andrew, I had hoped to make her feel valued, cherished, and loved. Instead, I had somehow managed to push her into a corner of irrelevance and neglect. Well done, Nik. As I turned to leave, fate had other plans. Maya stumbled, narrowly avoiding a meet-and-greet with the floor when a hand darted out to catch her around the waist. Relief washed over me, only to drain away the moment I recognized who had come to her rescue. Eden? What was he doing here? Before I could confront my dear cousin about his uninvited appearance, Tina whisked me away, leaving my thoughts muddled. The old man had pitched this as a simple family dinner, yet invitations had clearly extended beyond that. It was starting to dawn on me—I had fallen squarely into his trap. Again. "Nik, darling," my sister Emily's melodic voice rang out, her bright smile lighting up the expansive living room. "You made it," she continued, planting affectionate pecks on both of my cheeks. Emily, with her petite frame and cascading brunette hair, looked like a sunbeam gliding through the room. Her dark blue eyes sparkled with mischief, and her full lips curved into a grin that could charm anyone. Though small in stature, Emily was a force to be reckoned with—stubbornness ran deep in our blood. She was the embodiment of joy: bubbly, vibrant, and seemingly untouched by sadness. Probably why the old man cherished her as if she were his lifeline. My father, in stark contrast, was the ominous cloud hanging over the family. He rarely smiled, his presence casting a shadow over everything. But when Emily was around, somehow that gloomy sky brightened. She had an uncanny ability to turn his world into a canvas of sunshine. "Is this Tina?" Emily squeaked, her excitement palpable as she beamed at Tina, who stood there, awkward and slightly taken aback. “Um, yeah?” Tina managed to respond. "Welcome to the family!” Emily exclaimed, attempting to wrap her arms around Tina, only for Tina to instinctively step back and extend a hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you," Tina said, her tone formal, her enthusiasm muted. Well, there goes the warmth. Thanks, Tina. “Excuse us, Emily,” I interjected, keen to prevent any further awkwardness. “We need to find the old man.” Emily shot me a disapproving look, arms crossed. “You mean our father?” “Yes?” I replied, slightly confused. “Seriously, Nik?” she retorted, raising an eyebrow. I recognized that stance; it was time to flee. “We’ll talk later,” I said, dragging a reluctant Tina away from the awkward scene. As we strolled hand in hand, I kept my eyes peeled for my father, anticipating him to be engrossed in flirtations with the latest damsel in his life. “Your sister is strange,” Tina remarked, breaking the silence. The irritation from earlier still lingered in my veins; I didn't appreciate her judgmental tone toward Emily. Couldn't she ditch the formalities just for one night? “What’s the problem?” she pressed, blocking my way and keeping a firm grip on my arm. “Seriously, what now?” I sighed, facing her, exasperated. “You’re ignoring me,” she complained, an edge of frustration in her voice. “She was about to hug me! That’s not standard etiquette!” Tina huffed, her chest rising and falling as she attempted to steady her breathing. She was frustrated, yet she understood the folly of making a scene—at least she excelled in her idea of social norms. “This isn’t a formal occasion; it’s just family,” I hissed, unwilling to let my sister be the foolish one. She visibly calmed, inhaling deeply. “I’m going to get a drink. You can text me when you find your dad,” she said before making her exit. “Fantastic,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. What was I thinking, bringing Tina to such an informal gathering? Just then, a boisterous laugh reached my ears—a laugh that belonged to Emily. I turned to see her animatedly chatting with Maya, who was in close proximity to Eden, his hand possessively around her waist. The sight jabbed at me with an unexpected pang of jealousy. I wished Tina could exhibit some of that warmth. No, stop it, I chastised myself. Why was I entertaining such wild thoughts? Maya had just come out of a relationship; pursuing her wouldn't assure me of anything successful down the line. Furthermore, she believed in love, while I merely sought fleeting fun and lust. It was a thought I should banish for good. "Nik, boy!" A deep voice rumbled behind me, sending chills down my spine. My father had located me. I turned slowly, murmuring, "Father," and saw a raised eyebrow in response. “I was looking for you,” I replied, my smile strained, knowing full well he could see through my facade. It was all for the lady at his side, and to my dismay, her cheeks flushed in reaction to my smile, while my father's expression soured. "Careful, Nik. You don't want to cross that line," he advised, though his warning didn’t intimidate me in the least. I smirked, meeting his gaze unabashedly. "We've both crossed that line countless times before, haven't we, Father?" I challenged, eliciting a scowl across his rugged features. "I didn't ask you here for a fight, son," he retorted, breaking eye contact as he reached for a drink from a passing waiter, draining it in one go. Clearly, he was serious about this family shindig. “Is that why you ambushed me with this dinner?” I questioned, grabbing a second drink and handing it to his girlfriend, who beamed at me in gratitude. I couldn't help but feel a subtle satisfaction; my father really knew how to neglect his charming date. "I knew you wouldn't come if I told you that Eden was here,” he grumbled, disapproving of my overt flirtation. “Especially Eden?” “Yeah, especially Eden…” he stumbled as he caught me smirking. It was clear he had invited Eden intentionally. “Good job,” I sarcastically complimented, watching his irritation turn into a hearty laugh. “I thought it was about time you two made amends.” “Perhaps in my next life,” I murmured behind my drink, bitterness coating my words. The rift between Eden and me was diverse and deeply rooted—reconciliation seemed impossible. “Nik, in life, there are no permanent enemies or friends.” “Yeah, thanks for your sage advice,” I scoffed. “Anytime,” he replied, humor lacing his voice, and I rolled my eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood, which fell flat. "What do we have here?" A dramatic voice rang out, and I didn't need a crystal ball to know who it was. Eden. "Isn't that the prodigal son, Nik?" he drawled, attempting to infuriate me with his smug demeanor. And it was working. I faced him with venom in my glare. “Go to hell,” I hissed, silently praying he'd vanish from my sight. But true to form, the jerk stepped closer, leaning in conspiratorially, whispering, “Why bother going to hell when I can bring it down here, cousin?”