005

LEAH

“That’s a lot to take in,” Emily said, her hands dropping into her lap as she sat stiffly, staring up at me with an expression that mixed disbelief with sudden awe.

“That’s my story.” I zipped my bag shut. “I’ve got to get going.”

“Even with how complicated it sounds—” she grinned, nudging my shoulder, “—it’s still kind of hot that you’re basically family with Asher now. Same roof and everything.”

The comment made my stomach tie itself into a painful knot. I turned back to her, my hand resting on the metal door handle. "It is not as fun as it sounds, Emily. In fact, it is very complicated because now I need to find a absolute way to avoid him at all costs."

Emily walked past me into the corridor, her previous shock settling into a supportive presence. "Do not worry too much about it right now," she said, pulling her car keys from her pocket and letting them jingle between her fingers. "Come on, let me drop you off."

I did not have the energy to argue, nor did I want to risk standing around the school gates where Asher or Noah could find me again. I nodded and followed her out to the parking lot.

I climbed into her car, and a while later we pulled up somewhere just short of the mansion, close enough to see it through the trees.

Within fifteen minutes, the car slowed to a halt, at a spot that was hidden from the front gates but gave a clear view of the sprawling estate. Emily killed the engine and rested her hands on top of the steering wheel.

Emilia let out a low breath. “That house is unreal.”

“It is,” I agreed, staring at it through the windshield like it still hadn’t fully become real to me either.

She turned her head to look at me, a wistful, almost dreaming expression on her face. "I am low key jealous, Leah. You are so lucky. I would honestly do absolutely anything to be in your shoes right now."

“Easy to say from the outside.” I grabbed my bag and climbed out. “Thanks for the ride.”

I walked the rest of the way up the drive alone, nerves tightening with every step, silently praying I wouldn’t run into Asher before I made it to my room. I slipped in through the back door, moving quiet, sticking close to the wall, and I’d nearly made it to the stairs when two voices, raised and overlapping, stopped me cold.

Asher and his father. Arguing.

“How could you bring another woman into this house?”

The voice belonged to Asher. It was loud and laced with a furious heat that resonated through the walls.

"I can do whatever I want with my life and my home," Mr. Romano’s voice boomed back, matched in volume and dripping with a heated, unyielding authority. "It is none of your business, Asher."

"Then stop calling her my new mom!" Asher shot back, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of his rage. "I do not need one. My real mother is dead, and she is the only mother I am ever going to have."

I stood frozen in the hallway, heart slamming against my ribs, unable to make myself move another inch.

The raw grief and anger in his admission smacked into me.

“You’d better find a way to accept it,” his father said, his voice dropping low. “Because I am not changing my mind.”

"The woman is nothing but a gold digger," Asher hissed, the words dripping with utter contempt. "And whoever her child is, they are nothing but gold diggers too, trying to perch themselves directly into your wealth."

The words felt like a slap across my face, as the humiliation turned my skin entirely numb.

"I am completely done with this conversation," Mr. Romano announced, his footsteps immediately echoing against the floor as he walked out of the room, coming my direction.

I didn’t have time to move.

His father rounded the corner and stopped short, nearly walking straight into me. My whole body went rigid.

Oh no.

Mr. Romano stumbled back half a step, his expression instantly softening as his eyes landed on my face. He smoothed down the front of his expensive suit jacket, taking a deep, calming breath.

“Hey, darling.” He said, his voice instantly shifting into a warm, welcoming cadence that felt entirely out of place after the violence of the argument. “You must be Leah.”

I stammered something back, my voice barely holding together. “Hi—yes, I’m Leah.”

Mr. Romano glanced back toward the room he had just vacated, then looked at me with a reassurancing smile. "I know you have overheard everything my son just said," he said gently, reaching out to pat my shoulder. "But you should not think much of it. I am the owner of this house, and you should feel completely free in this home."

Before I could even attempt to construct a polite response, another set of footsteps sounded from the doorway. I didn’t need to look to know who it was, but I looked anyway, and my whole body locked in place the second our eyes met.

“Leah?” Asher’s voice came out low, disbelieving, like the word itself didn’t make sense in his mouth. He stared at me, his eyes darting between his father and my face as the pieces began to collide in his mind.

I opened my mouth to speak, to defend myself, to say absolutely anything to break the suffocating tension, but nothing came out. My vocal cords were entirely useless.

“Don’t tell me.” A short, humorless laugh broke out of him, his eyes still fixed on mine like he was waiting for the punchline. “You’re the daughter of the woman moving in here?”

“Enough, Asher.” Mr. Romano snapped, his voice warning his son to drop the tone immediately.

Asher completely ignored his father. He shook his head, staring at me as if I were a ghost. "I cannot believe it," he breathed.

He took a slow step forward, closing the distance between us until he was standing directly in front of me, his large shadow completely eclipsing the light in the hallway. He looked down into my face, his dark eyes wide with a desperate, searching intensity.

“Please.” His voice dropped lower, quieter, almost like he didn’t want his father to hear this part. “Tell me it isn’t you.”