CHAPTER TWO — CONFRONTATION 

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 said as-a-matter-of-factly, rolling my eyes.

“Well, you're literally made from your mom, so that means this marriage is a part of you.”

I paused for a slight second and burst into laughter, clutching my belly tight.

“Man, your reasoning scares me sometimes.”

He chuckled and went silent for a split second.

“So…. what do you want to do?” He asked, munching from a bag of chips on his bed.

“I don't know, Erik. I just got to know I've got an overly sophisticated stepsister, an overly friendly one and an ‘I don't know’ stepbrother.”

Erik grinned at me mischievously, “The recluse Lucian Banks? Lucky you! You’ll get to see him daily.”

Well, Erik was an information gatherer. There was virtually no one he didn't know in the whole of Melbourne.

“Ezran?” Mom's voice echoed behind me and I cast a glance over my shoulders before returning my eyes to the call.

“Will chat you up later, Er.” I said and ended the call, turning my attention back to mom who was already standing behind me.

“What is it, Mrs Banks?” I spat, placing emphasis on her new last name.

“We're heading to our new home.”

“Our?” I almost laughed out loud. “It's yours, mom—not mine.”

She walked to my front and tapped me on the shoulders, her eyes dimming slightly. “Accept it or not, you're no longer a Williamson, Ezran. You're now a Banks. You'll learn to embrace the family while living with them. By the way, I'm selling the old house.”

“Of course, I don't have a choice. Do I?”

I walked out on her. Not because I was furious, but because I didn't want to say stuff that would upset her.

I just wanna die.

…

The Banks Villa was paradise on Earth but I didn't even bother to admire or take a look around. I just needed a new place to sleep.

New house, new stepfamily, new rules, new boundaries. And the new older stepbrother? Dangerous, untouchable, and entirely out of my control.

I watched as the maids dragged my luggage into the house and I sauntered behind them.

When did mom even prepare all my things?

“Ezran!” Jenna called, running towards me. 

My brows curled upwards.

“Dad said I should show you to your wing of the house.”

I nodded and watched as she moved ahead of me.

The villa was pretty but I wasn't going to stare at anything. At least, not now.

We took the stairs, walked through hallways stopped in front of a door at the far right end of the West Wing hallway.

“Remember to come down to the dinning hall for dinner. Ask the helps to show you around.” Jenna said as I touched the handle of the door.

Dinner. No way I'm joining them for dinner.

“I'll pass.” I muttered, stepping into the room. “I'm not hungry.”

A gasp escaped my lips as I gaped at raw beauty.

My room was breathtakingly to my taste. Blue sheets, blue duvets, blue curtains, a king-sized bed, a bedside table and chair, full-length mirror, jewelry locker stacked with different jewelries of gold, silver and diamond.

“What the hell!” I almost passed out in shock.

I staggered slightly, my fingers grabbing my chest.

A Bvlgari watch and a Rolex? 

“Shit!” 

I rushed into the bathroom and my mouth dropped open.

Blue tiled walls and blue towels. Mom must have convinced her husband to refine the room to my taste.

I peeled off my clothes and entered under the shower, the cool water dripping on me.

This was a whole new level of rich.

After bathing, I tried to focus on my laptop, on the codes I’d been working on for weeks, but my thoughts kept drifting off to him. I imagined him, standing tall in the hallway, dark eyes unreadable, the smallest crease in his jaw betraying a flicker of curiosity or—was it annoyance?

The next morning, a soft knock sounded on my door. Jeanne knocked gently before entering.

“Ezran, breakfast is ready.”

I groaned. “Can I skip?”

“Nope. Dad said it's essential for bonding and Mom said it’s important we start normal,” she said, tossing me a half-smile before heading downstairs.

Reluctantly, I followed, my schoolbag hanging on my right shoulder. And there he was. Lucian. Sitting at the head of the table like a statue of perfection. Black tailored shirt, perfectly ironed trousers, hair slicked back in that impossibly neat style that screamed control. He looked untouchable, dangerous and infuriatingly handsome.

Our eyes met briefly. Neither of us smiled and neither looked away. A silent challenge passed between us but I refused to back down and he didn’t flinch. I wanted to scream out in discomfort.

“Good morning.” I said to no one in particular.

“Take your seat, Ezran.” Mr Banks said, beckoning towards a vacant seat.

I looked at the seat he offered. It was right beside Lucian!

“Uh…can I sit elsewhere?” 

“No dear,” Mom chipped in. “Sit closer to the family.”

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I dropped on the chair.

Sit closer to the family or sit next to Lucian? Which did she mean?

Breakfast was unbearable. Lucian barely spoke in mumbles, only answered when necessary, his words clipped, brief and precise. Jeanne tried to keep the conversation light, Charlyn’s comments were sharp and subtle, like she was testing us all.

I realized something important: this man wasn’t just a stepbrother. He was a rival, a mirror, and an obstacle. One I hadn’t asked for but could not ignore.

I picked out all the spring onions and green peas in the rice, placing them on an empty plate.

“You don't like them?” Jenna asked in concern and I shook my head, my eyes drifting off to Lucian.

“Selective brat.” he muttered under his breath. But I heard anyway.

My eyes dimmed slightly and I clenched my fists. 

“What did you just call me?”