They spoke loudly enough, Kiara heard but didn't mind them. She only moved to her spot, which was a table marked with the tag "THE MIRACLES". One of the only three tables having tags. The others being "THE CLARKSONS" and "THE MILLERS".
She wondered why no other table had a tag, but immediately brushed off the thought completely. She pulled a seat, but before she could sit, a voice came, attracting her attention.
"What does she think she's doing?"
"I guess she's never been to such events, thinking she can sit anywhere she likes. That's reserved for the Miracles."
"She thinks so highly of herself. Thinking that wearing an expensive dress grants her permission to sit at the Miracles table."
They kept on burbling, but she sat anyway; after all, she was a Miracle.
It was only at that moment that Kiara realized the respect and fame her last name commanded. That meant, if she and her sisters had embraced walking in their parents' spotlight, then would they be as famous as the Clarkson Brothers? She laughed at the thought.
Meanwhile, the Clarkson Brothers sat at their table looking on, just like the rest of the people in the room.
It was no surprise for them, though. They knew Kiara was a Miracle. What surprised them was seeing her there. It was the first time for any of the Miracle sisters to come out openly to the public.
Fionn sat back, and his thoughts wandered for some time, but he was brought back when Ethan clapped his shoulder as he took a seat. "My guy, thought you'd be over there keeping her company," He said.
Fionn leaned back casually, pretending not to care. "She didn't want me there," he said, voice cool and detached. Until he caught the sharp gazes of his brothers.
He sighed. "What? Not like I could force myself on her," he muttered, brushing them off with a wave of his hand.
"Wait, did you talk to Beat about all this?" Tom asked, turning to Silas.
Silas smirked slightly. "No. Of course, we have to let Fionn play his game."
"What if he fails? What happens after then?" Ethan asked, leaning forward.
Silas rested his elbows on the table, his tone calm.
"There are four of us?"
Tom frowned. "What are you driving at? I hope it's not what I think it is."
"Yes, exactly that," Silas said. "It's open, any one of us can take on the position. All we need is one of us getting married. He didn't name an heir; all there is, is simply that the heir should be married by thirty."
"I'm way past thirty, count me out." Tom blinked. "Wait, hold up. What if she shows up? What do we do then? You know those conservative geezers would pull for that."
"I'm never doing this with her, over my dead body," Fionn said with a scoff.
Silas chuckled under his breath. "I'm afraid, but in case she shows up, you may have to give up Kiara," he said simply.
"Then I'll be giving up everything, there's no way I'm marrying her," Fionn muttered. He then turned his attention to Kiara, who sat silently at her table.
"Anyway, if she shows up, I may have to do it. After all, to begin with, I was always the target. ... Oh God, this sucks." Silas said with a sigh. "So..."
"I could do it." Tom suddenly jumped in. "Well, I have nothing to lose, unless you tell me you're ready to give up Beatris for her."
"I think I'm the best candidate for this," Ethan said.
Silas raised an eyebrow. "You all are just so dumb. You just don't understand what a menace Emma can be."
Ethan leaned forward, his tone part doubtful, part dramatic. "Bro… you mean you'll give up Beat?"
Silas smirked again, calm as ever. "Beatris is my best friend, nothing more."
"Best friend, my foot." Tom scoffed, exchanging glances with Ethan.
"There's nothing between us," Silas said with deliberate pause.
Tom nearly spilled his drink. "Nothing between you?" he shouted, eyes wide and calling for the attention of the people around.
"You take us for fools, right?" Ethan said.
"Only a fool would believe there's nothing between you two. Unfortunately, I'm not a fool myself." Fionn said.
--------
A strange man watched everything that had taken place. Kiara bumping into Silas, spilling her glass on someone, Fionn stepping in and slapping the woman who tried to slap her.
A smirk appeared on his face before he dialed his phone, which was answered immediately.
"We've got some trouble. I didn't expect your sons to be present. They've already taken up the Clarksons' spot." He said.
"The Miracles, are they there?" A woman's voice came from the other side of the phone.
"It's their third daughter who is present." He paused, smiling again, before he spoke. "And I think the third young master has an interest in her."
There was silence for a moment before a voice came again from the phone. "Really!!! Are you sure? Fionn has an interest in Kiara?" She sounded both stunned and excited.
"Yes, ma'am." He said.
"Alright, there's no need for you to be there." She said.
"What about the teapot?" He asked, completely hesitant to leave the place.
"Don't worry, I'll get it, regardless. If not the boys, then Emily will bring it to me."
"What do you mean?" The man asked.
"The fact that she sent her daughter there."
The call was disconnected, and with just a glance back at the men, he left the room.
"Before we officially kick start the fundraising, allow me, as per the custom, to recognize the presence of the following families. For the many years this event has been around, they've been our greatest benefactors." The MC at the podium said.
"First and foremost, unfortunately, in their absence. They'll not be joining us this evening. The Millers' family." There was a round of applause.
"The second family, represented by the four most famous and handsome men in the entire city, men you never joke around with, men who mean business. The Clarkson Family." There was another round of applause.
"Lastly." He lowered his tone. "The greatest contributor to last year's fund is a family that is full of surprises. Tonight, they will yet come to us with another surprise." There was tension in the room.
"Tonight, they are represented by Kiara, a daughter of the Miracles."
The room remained in shock, and the only applause came from the Clarkson brothers and a few others.
Jaws dropped for some; they couldn't believe the Miracles even had children. The few who had gossiped earlier each sat hoping the ground swallowed them as the embarrassment gnawed on their faces.