The First Breaking Point

CHAPTER 5 – The First Breaking Point

Ariana's POV

I'd spent the last three days avoiding all three of them. At breakfast, I ate quickly and left before anyone could corner me. At school, I took different routes between classes, ate lunch in the library, stayed late for study groups I didn't need. At home, I locked myself in my room, claiming mountains of homework. It was exhausting. But it was necessary.

I couldn't keep living in that pressure cooker of tension and unspoken desires. Something had to give, and I refused to let it be my sanity. Thursday afternoon, I thought I'd made it through another day unscathed. I was heading to my locker, already planning my escape route home, when a hand closed around my wrist.

Ethan.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"I have to get to.."

"Now, Ariana."

He caught my wrist down the hallway, his grip firm but not painful. Students parted around us, whispering. I tried to dig my heels in, but he was too strong, too determined. He dragged me not roughly but firmly into the library, past the front desk, all the way to the back corner where no one ever went. And guided me towards the end of the hall way blocking the only exit with his body.

"Please, Ariana. just hear me out".

"What are you doing?" I demanded, rubbing my wrist.

"What am I doing?" His laugh was harsh. "What are you doing? You've been avoiding me. Avoiding all of us."

"I wonder why."

"Because of the other night?" He stepped closer. "Because Luca's an idiot who can't control himself?"

"Because all three of you are acting insane!" I kept my voice low, aware we were still in public. "The fighting, the possessiveness, the way you all look at me like, like.."

"Like what?" His eyes burned into mine. "Say it."

"Like you want something you shouldn't."

The words hung between us, heavy and dangerous.

Ethan's jaw clenched. "And what if I do?"

My breath caught. "Ethan, we can't.."

"Why not?" He moved closer, caging me against the bookshelf. "We're not related by blood. Our parents got married, but that doesn't make you my sister."

"It makes it wrong."

"Does it?" His hand came up, fingers trailing down my arm. "Because the only thing that feels wrong is pretending I don't feel this."

"Feel what?"

"This thing between us. Don't tell me you don't feel it too."

I did. God help me, I did. The air crackled when he was near, my heart raced at his touch, my body betrayed me every single time.

But that didn't make it right.

"Well, isn't this touching?"

We both spun around. Luca stood at the end of the aisle, his expression thunderous. "Having a private moment, brother?"

"Walk away, Luca," Ethan warned.

"Why should I?" Luca stalked toward us. "You get to corner her, but I can't even talk to her?"

"You were spying on her in the bathroom!"

"I made a mistake! I apologized!"

"An apology doesn't erase what you did."

Luca's hands clenched into fists. "You self righteous bastard. You act like you're so much better than me, like your feelings are more valid. But we both want the same thing."

"I would never disrespect her the way you do."

"No, you just manipulate her with your whole protective act." Luca's eyes flashed. "At least I'm honest about what I want."

Ethan moved toward his brother, and I saw the violence building in both of them. "Stop it," I said. "Both of you, just stop."

They ignored me.

"She doesn't want you," Ethan said coldly.

"And she wants you?" Luca shot back. "Keep telling yourself that."

"Ethan took a hard step forward, anger simmering. For a moment, I feared what he might do but then he stopped himself, jaw tight.”

"Enough!"

Victor's voice cracked through the library like thunder. He strode down the aisle, his face a mask of barely controlled rage. Students scattered, sensing the danger. Even the librarian retreated to her desk.

"Both of you, outside. Now." Victor's voice was deadly quiet.

"Dad.." Luca started.

"I said NOW!"

They went, but not before Ethan shot me one last burning look. I tried to follow, but Victor's hand shot out, gripping my arm. "Not you."

"Let me go."

His fingers tightened fractionally before releasing me. "What were you doing with them?"

"Talking. Not that it's any of your business."

"Not my business?" He moved closer, and suddenly I was backed against the bookshelf again, but this time it was Victor caging me in. "Everything about you is my business, Ariana. You live in my house. You're my responsibility."

"I'm your stepdaughter. That's all."

Something dark flickered in his green eyes. "Is it?"

The question hung in the air, loaded with meaning I didn't want to examine.

"Professor Sterling.."

"Victor," he corrected, his voice rough. "We're family now. Use my name."

"Victor," I whispered. "Please move."

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't. His eyes dropped to my lips, his breathing shallow. Then he stepped back abruptly, running a hand through his hair.

"Stay away from my sons, Ariana. They're dangerous when they want something."

The irony wasn't lost on me. "And you're not?"

His smile was cold. "Oh, “I don’t lose what I want, Ariana. And right now… I’m trying not to want the wrong thing.” Because I always get what I want."

He left me there, trembling and confused.

+++++++++

I managed to avoid everyone for the rest of the day. Took a taxi home, snuck in through the back door, locked myself in my room. Mom knocked around seven. "Honey? Are you okay? You missed dinner."

"I'm fine. Just not hungry."

"Victor's worried about you. He said something happened at school."

Of course he did. "It was nothing. Just a misunderstanding."

She lingered outside my door. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Could I? Could I tell her that her new husband and his sons all looked at me like I was something to possess? That I felt like prey in a house full of predators?

"I know, Mom. I'm just tired."

She finally left, and I collapsed on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

My phone buzzed. I almost ignored it, but something made me look. Unknown number.

My hands shook as I opened the message.

Meet me tonight. We need to talk. Alone.”

Ice flooded my veins. I jumped up, running to the window. The gardens were dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. Then I saw it. A shadow, tall and broad shouldered, standing beneath the old oak tree. Just standing there. Watching my window.

I stumbled back, my heart racing.Who was it? Ethan? Luca? Victor? Or someone else entirely?

Another text came through.

"Midnight. The garden. Come alone."

I looked back at the window.

The shadow was gone. But I knew, with terrible certainty, that at midnight I would go. Because the message was right. If I didn't, someone would get hurt. And I had a horrible feeling that someone might be me..