Chapter 331: Home Sweet Chaos: Emma Explodes The scent assaulted us the moment the door groaned shut—Mom’s enchiladas steaming in their volcanic red sauce, the corn-dust ghost of fresh tortillas, and beneath it all, that alchemy of cumin and love that meant she’d been at the stove for hours, cooking her worry into spice. The house had shrunk since I’d last stood on this frayed rug, or maybe I’d outgrown it, yet its warmth pressed in, soft and absolute, like sinking into a well-worn hoodie after days in the straitjacket of Savile Row. "PETER!" Emma’s shriek tore through the quiet, a sonic boom of relief. She hit me like a train wreck—arms locking my ribs, hair whipping my chin until every breath tasted of her almond-vanilla shampoo. "You’re home! God, it’s been excruciating without you. Do you have any idea how boring it’s been without you here?" Sarah followed, her embrace less explosive but no less profound. When she spoke against my shoulder, it was a low current beneath the noise: "Missed you, you beautifully dramatic bastard." It struck me then, like a physical blow: How had I forgotten this? The glorious, unfiltered chaos. The love that needed no translation. The exquisite relief that these two CardContent had missed the fractured parts of me as fiercely as I’d missed their whole, steady selves. "Missed you too," I confessed, voice gravelly. "Pair of lunatics." "Lunatics?" Emma demanded, eyes bright with challenge. "That is so rich coming from the man who dropped off the grid for seventy-two hours and returned wrapped in Forbes magazine? What’s the price tag, Peter? Seriously, Peter, what did you do? Sell your soul to Elon Musk?" "A similar exchange." I snorted "The mansion you bought us suggests it was a pretty good deal," Sarah said dryly, studying my face with that analytical intensity she’d inherited from Mom. "Though you look tired. And older somehow." "Empires require sacrifices," I said, lightening the moment by tousling her hair. Emma was already zeroing in on Charlotte, but not with surprise - more like she was inspecting a prized possession. "Charlotte! You look like death warmed over. Did my brother work you to death saving your empire?" Charlotte managed a tired smile. "We’ve already met, Emma. Why are you being weird?" Emma laughed, bouncing on her toes. "Meeting legends can be overwhelming no matter how many times it happens. Besides, the talk of the world was actually being handled by my little brother. Can you believe that character development?" "Little brother?" I protested. "I’m taller than you." "Physically, maybe. Mentally, you’re still the kid I used to slap upside the head when you annoyed me." Emma grinned wickedly. "Which was daily, by the way." "You still do that," I pointed out. "Because you’re still annoying." "Children," Mom called from the kitchen, but I could hear the smile in her voice. "Dinner’s ready. And Peter, before you ask - yes, I made enough for an army. I know how you eat when you’re stressed." "ARIA!" Emma squealed. "Tell us everything! What kind of chaos did Peter cause in Miami? Scale of one to international incident?" "I’m bound by confidentiality agreements, Miss Emma. Though I will say your brother’s negotiation style is... uniquely effective." "That’s ARIA-speak for ’he threatened someone,’" Sarah translated. "I prefer ’aggressive diplomacy,’" I said. Madison stepped up beside me, slipping her hand into mine with that easy familiarity that came from weeks of being part of this family. "He was very diplomatic. Especially when he was destroying criminal networks." "Criminal networks?" Emma’s eyes lit up. "Peter, you’re officially the coolest person I know." "I was already the coolest person you know." "No, that was Madison. She’s the richest, remember?" The dining room table was set with Mom’s good plates, candles flickering in the center like this was some special occasion instead of just night dinner. But I guess it was special - the prodigal son returns and all that biblical shit. "So," Sarah said as she served enchiladas, "apart from saving Charlotte’s company and apparently destroying criminal networks, what exactly did you accomplish in Miami?" asking the same question as mom did. "The usual," I said, spooning rice onto my plate. "Made some connections, earned some money, liberated some women from sexual frustration." Dead silence. "I’m sorry," Sarah said slowly, "did you just say—" "Peter," Mom’s voice carried that warning tone that meant I was about to get lectured. "Business connections," I corrected quickly. "I meant business connections." "No you didn’t," Emma said gleefully. "You totally said what we all heard you say." Madison was trying not to laugh. Charlotte had her head in her hands. ARIA’s voice floated through the speakers with obvious amusement. "Master Peter’s social calendar has indeed been quite... comprehensive lately." "ARIA, you’re not helping," I muttered. "I rarely do." "Anyway," I said loudly, "speaking of comprehensive changes, I need to tell you guys something." The mood shifted immediately. Emma stopped talking, which was basically a miracle. "I’m moving out tomorrow," I said. "Getting my own place like planned." The silence was deafening. Emma’s face went through several emotions before settling on hurt. "What? But you just got back!" "Emma—" "No!" She stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. "This is bullshit, Peter. You disappear for three days, come back all mysterious and rich and different, and now you’re leaving again?" "It’s not like that—" "Yes it is!" Her voice cracked. "You’re too good for us now. You have your billionaire girlfriend and your AI assistant and your fancy clothes. Why would you want to stick around with your boring family?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮 "Emma, that’s not—" "Actually, this is perfect," she said, forcing that bright, fake smile she used when she was hurt but didn’t want to admit it. "Now I’ll be saved from having to listen to Madison moaning through the walls every coming nights when she visits. My poor virgin ears will finally get some peace." The table went dead silent. Mom’s mouth fell open. Sarah stared in shock. Charlotte looked between Madison and me with wide eyes, then shook her head like she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Madison burst out laughing, clinging to my arm as her shoulders shook. "Emma Grace Carter," Mom said in a voice that could freeze hell, "what did you just say?" Emma’s face went red, but she lifted her chin defiantly. "What? It’s true. They’re not exactly quiet about it." "Oh please," Madison gasped between laughs. "Like you’ve never had to listen to anything embarrassing in this house, he’s my fiancé." "That’s different—" "How is that different?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Because you’re my brother and you’re supposed to be innocent and pure and definitely not—" Emma waved her hands frantically. "—doing whatever it is you do that makes Madison sound like a dying whale." "A dying whale?" Madison sputtered. "Excuse me?" "Emma," Mom said firmly, "apologize." "For what? Being honest?" "For being inappropriate." Emma’s defiance cracked. I could see all the hurt and confusion underneath - the fear that I was leaving her behind, that money and power would change everything. "I’m not apologizing," she said quietly, then louder: "I’m not apologizing for pointing out that my brother has turned into some kind of... of..." "Sex god?" I suggested helpfully. "Peter!" Mom snapped. Emma made a disgusted noise and stormed toward the stairs. "I’m going to my room. Don’t follow me unless you want to hear about how much I hate you right now." She stomped up the stairs, and I could hear her bedroom door slam from here. "I should go talk to her," Mom said, starting to stand. "No," I said, pushing back from the table. "Let me. This is about me leaving, not about sex sounds. I need to fix this." Mom looked like she wanted to argue, then nodded. "Be gentle with her, Peter. She’s just scared and she feels vulnerable since the incident, you’ve been like her anchor since forever. The thought of you..." "I know."