The Crash

LIAM’S POV

"The hell is this?!" I screamed, my voice heavy and shaking as I stared at the mess on the sidewalk.

Everything, my clothes, my books, my whole life, tossed out like garbage all over the place.

I don't deserve this. 

Mr Gorge stood tall by the side, struggling with the padlock to my door.

I walked up to him and he finally turned to me, his face grim and without pity.

"I'm sorry, kid. You missed three payments. I don't run a charity here," the landlord spat from the doorway, and his face folded into thick scowl of disgust.

"But I told you I'd pay next week!" I cried, my fists clenched and my heart racing already. I was fighting the urge to not cry.

 "I have a gig coming up!" I tried to explain, but he wasn't interested and just shrugged.

"Save it," he snarled and slammed the door in my face.

I stood there, trembling. My heart was shattered. It was as if the world has crumbled now and to worsen it, rain started pouring, just to mock me. 

Perfect. Just perfect. I had nowhere to go, no money, and now, I was fucking wet.

I tried to gather a few things I could gather and get them out of the rain.

I grabbed my violin case, the only thing he didn't throw in the mud. After wrapping the little I could carry and putting on my hoodie, I had no choice left but to do the one thing I had been avoiding all these while.

 I had to go to her. My mother. The same woman who left me to marry some rich billionaire just because Dad passed on. She didn't even show up at his funeral, she was too busy attending meetings for him and sent a shabby note. I still remember it and to this day, I haven't forgiven her. But at this point, there's nothing I can do.

I walked for hours. My legs were aching, and my stomach rumbled with hunger. After walking for what seemed like forever, I finally reached the metropolis. 

The houses here weren't just houses, they were castles. The walls were made with power and wealth, the type that made me feel like an ant.

I checked the address on my wet phone. This was it. I nodded softly and kept walking, my teeth gnashing and cold seeped into my soul.

I stepped off the sideway to cross the street, my mind racing with thoughts of how I’d beg her for help. I hope she'll accept me back. I know yes, she had called me back but I refused and I hope I'll still have a chance.

But just then, a sleek, black sports car drove out of nowhere, barely missing my legs by an inch. I jumped back, falling hard onto the wet hard ground.

"Watch where you're going, you blind rat!" a voice thundered.

Instead of being sorry for almost running me over?!

The door flung open and a guy stepped out. He was tall, wearing a suit that probably cost more than my entire life right now. But his face... his face was burning with rage.

"Are you crazy?!" I yelled back, dragging myself up. "You almost killed me! And you can't even apologize?” I raised an eyebrow.

He walked closer, his blue eyes glowing with an intimidating aura, one that didn't even bother me. He looked me up and down like I was a piece of trash he could just step on.

"Maybe I should have," he spat, his voice cold. "Do you know how much this car costs? If you scratched it, your whole pathetic life couldn't pay for just the painting!” He cursed.

I wasn't trying to touch your car, I was just trying to cross the road! What in God's name is wrong with people! Rich people?!

"I didn't touch your precious car," I snapped, trying to clean my jeans. "You were speeding,” I reminded.

He laughed coldly and it only annoyed me to my bones.

"I do what I want. This is my road," he snarled, leaning into my face. "Get out of my sight before I lose my temper."

What?

He got back in the car, fired the engine loudly just to scare me, and sped off, splashing water all over my only clean hoodie.

Sly!

"Fuck you!" I shouted after him, kicking the air in frustration.

I hated him. I hated people like him. Rich, arrogant wretches who think they own the world.

I sighed deeply and walked up to the massive gates of the mansion. The security guard let me in after I called my mom, thankfully, she answered. At least she put her endless meeting on hold to save my life. I walked up into the long driveway, my heart pounding.

The door opened, and there she was, beaming with smiles I assumed to be fake.

"Liam!" Mom cried, rushing to hug me. She smelled like expensive perfume. "You're wet! Come in, come in."

She dragged me in immediately.

“Let's go get you some clothes,” she personally took me upstairs and made sure I was changed before taking me back downstairs to a dining room that was bigger than my old apartment. A man stood there, her new husband…I knew him, we'd met once, some weeks after the burial and I remember kicking both of them out of my house, but today, he was smiling warmly.

"Welcome, Liam. I'm Lucas," he said, shaking my hand. "Please, sit. Dinner is served."

I sat down, feeling awkward. The luxury was choking me, I hate here.

“It's good to finally have you with us,” they smiled.

“Mm.” I simply nodded.

"Where is your Cole?" Lucas asked Mom, his tone raised a little.

"He's just parking the car, he'll be here…"

The dining room doors flung open and a voice echoed across the room.

"Sorry I'm late," he said. A voice I recognized. "Some idiot jumped in front of my car."

My heart froze immediately. I slowly turned my head and boom! It was him. The guy from the road.

He froze when he saw me. His eyes widened, then narrowed into a dangerous stare.

"You?" he whispered, his jaw clenched.

Mom smiled nervously.

 "Cole, this is Liam. Your new stepbrother. I've told you about him, now you finally meet him.” She smiled warmly.

Cole’s lips curled into a wicked smirk that made my soul tremble.

"Stepbrother?" he chuckled weakly, pulling out the chair opposite me. 

"Well, isn't this interesting."

He stared at me, his eyes promising hell without saying anything further.

"Welcome to the family…rat," he mouthed so only I could hear.

I forced the food down my throat as shivers ran down my spine. I knew it, was trapped and this was just the beginning.