INICIAR SESIÓNEZRAN'S POVNobody moved for a long, suspended moment. We were simply rooted to our spots in shock.Sydney's hand flew to her cheek, shock and fury on her face, as the red imprint of Charlyn's palm already blooming visible against her pale skin."You—" Sydney's voice shook, disbelief coloring her face. "You actually just slapped me.""I did," Charlyn confirmed, entirely unrepentant, though I noticed her own hand trembling slightly at her side now. "And I'd do it again if you spoke to my sister like that a second time.""Your father will hear about this.""Good. Let him hear about it." Charlyn's chin lifted defiantly. "Let him hear about every insult you've leveled at this family since you moved in, every threat you've made, every member of the staff you've terrorized into submission. I'm done pretending this is normal."Sydney's eyes blazed with fury, though something beneath it looked genuinely shaken now, the calculated composure she usually carried slipping entirely."This family i
EZRAN'S POVI should've regretted my actions, but I didn't. Even as I walked back to my room, I still heard my subconscious applauding me for standing up for once. I think I even saw a small smile on Lucian's face.My phone vibrated in my pocket and I brought it out, taking a sneak peek at it.[Jeanne: Have you had dinner yet?][Me: Not yet.][Jeanne: Then join us here.]She attached the address link of a restaurant I had seen once on IG.[Me: Coming in twenty minutes.]I rushed into my room and towards my dressing table, changing into a vintage shirt and black pants. Quickly, I gave myself a final check through the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.I was going out to join the ladies and nobody was going to stop me this time around, not even Robert.As I walked down the stairs, mom obstructed my way. "Apologize to Robert, Ezran." "I'm doing no such thing, mom." I answered as I fixed my wristwatch, not even glancing up to look at her. "He's wrong, so he should deal with it." I left
EZRAN'S POVWithin a week of the official announcement, Sydney had wasted no time in making herself comfortable and showing her true colors."She asked the staff to move Madam Banks's porcelain dishes from their special place in the kitchen." Mrs Carter said that moment I entered the kitchen.By Madam Banks, I immediately knew it was Lucian's late mother. Even my mom didn't earn that title. She was still addressed as Mrs Banks."Why would she do that?" "She said she would love her own personal dishes to be arranged there. Thirty years and those sets have sat in that cabinet, not moving a spot. Now, she wants to replace it in just a week."I shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course she will replace everything here to her taste. I don't care what she does, but she shouldn't encroach in my space."Mrs Carter nodded, turning her attention back to the simmering pot on the stove. "I'm preparing dinner now. Is there anything you'd love to have?" "Chicken is fine." ….As I walked outside the kitc
EZRAN'S POVI woke to my phone buzzing itself off the nightstand, startling me in the process.Rubbing my eyes groggily, I tapped on the phone's screen and blinked slightly, my eyes widening at the number of notifications waiting: thirty-one notifications.What the fuck? When did I start having these large numbers of notifications?I quickly checked for the most important, the one from Erik.[Best bestie in the whole wide world: EZRAN, EZRAN, EZRAN WAKE UP RIGHT NOW.]I paused slightly. Whenever Erik typed in all caps, it meant he was either excited, worried or frightened.[Best bestie in the whole wide world: IT'S EVERYWHERE.]I quickly typed back. [Just woke up, dude. What is everywhere?][Best bestie in the whole wide world: OF COURSE PRINCE CHARMING, YOU JUST DID. FREAKING TURN ON THE NEWS OR JUST OPEN TT, IG OR ANYTHING. I DON'T CARE WHICH.]I sat up slowly, dread already filling in my stomach before I had even opened a social media app.Slowly, I logged in on my IG and the first
EZRAN’S POVI watched from the staircase as the seventh suitcase disappeared down the west wing hallway, Sydney trailing behind the staff with satisfaction.She hadn’t even glanced at me once since Robert's announcement.“You’re staring,” Jeanne muttered, appearing beside me, her arms crossed tight over her chest.I didn’t answer her immediately. Instead, I let out a despondent sigh. “I’m processing, Jeanne.”“Processing what? The fact that my dad just moved his son’s fiancée into the house without taking anyone’s feelings into consideration?”“That, and the fact that nobody in this family seems capable of stopping him. Not even Lucian.”Jeanne’s jaw tightened. “Charlyn is trying to talk to him now in the study.”I let out a small scoff and rolled my eyes. “Don’t tell me you think it’s gonna work.”“I know it won’t,” she admitted quietly. “but Charlyn is trying anyway.”We stood there a while longer, watching the last of Sydney’s belongings vanish upstairs, until Lucian’s voice cut sh
EZRAN’S POVErik faked a frown and jumped on his bed, the phone interface titling for a second. “What do you mean by that, Ezran? I was trying to be of help to you and got insulted by you.”“Insulted you?” I snorted. “I just stated the obvious truth. How did you even end up in the programming department?”Erik itched his nape, a wide grin settling on his face. “My love for tinkling codes outshines my love for gossip.”“You need an obvious recheck of that love, man. For you to fish out all this information about someone else, you deserve an accolade as the Paparazzi of the Year.” “Oh, please! A proper look online will give you all that info.”“Okay, Paparazzi of the Year.”The line went silent for a moment.“So—”“What—”We said simultaneously, drawing a chuckle from Erik.“Go first,” Erik said with a wink. “I feel like you have a more serious question to ask.”I shrugged nonchalantly. “If you insist.”“I insist, so tell me what I wanna hear.”I hesitated slightly before I continued.
The table fell into silence. Mom's eyes were pleading with me, Jenna was staring at her brother and Charlyn and Robert seemed unfazed by whatever we were doing.“What the fuck did you just call me?” I asked again, rage seeping slowly through me.“A selective brat. You have any issues with that?”G
The wedding dragged to an end and I heaved out in relief. Dragging my already tired limbs out of the hall, I dialed my best friend’s digits via video call.“Yo, Ez.” Erik’s caramel skin glowed as his face appeared on the screen. “Happy married life to you.”The heck?“My mom got married, not me.” I
Melbourne, Australia, 10:00am.EZRAN'S POV.I had exactly three problems that morning.One, my mother was getting married again, two, the black suit I was forced to wear made me look like a guest at a funeral, and three, this wedding was happening whether I liked it or not.I stood in front of the
@lucian.banks_paragon followed you back.My eyes widened and I covered my mouth to prevent myself from screaming out.Another notification popped in and I almost passed out.@lucian.banks_paragon sent you a message.Lucian: Go to bed, kiddo. It's way past your bedtime.I blinked repeatedly as I sta







