ARROGANT STEPBROTHER

ELLIANA'S POV

As we got closer to our reserved table, I saw a familiar face but I thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me.

“This is your Step Brother to be Tom, and this is his father Jeffery.” My mum introduced them to me.

I was shocked. “Tom?”

My heart sank as I saw Tom sitting there, waiting for us with his father. I felt my stomach twist into knots, and I could feel my palms start to sweat. My mother didn't seem to notice anything amiss, and she greeted Jeffery with a warm smile.

"It's so nice to finally meet you," she said, reaching out to shake his hand. Tom stood up, his eyes sweeping over me, and a sly smile playing on his lips.

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied, his voice smooth and confident.

“This is my daughter, Elliana.” My mum introduced me.

"I've heard so much about you." Jeffery commented. “Good things of course.” He added and gave me a broad smile.

“It's nice to meet you.” I shaked hands with Jeffery, forcing myself to smile despite the awkward moment.

"It's nice to meet you, Elliana," Tom's voice dripped with fake sincerity.

I could feel my blood boil at his audacity, but I forced myself to keep a calm facade. "Likewise," I blurted out, my voice icy and measured. "I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about."

Tom's eyes narrowed slightly, and I could tell that he was not expecting me to be so composed. He was used to me being the timid, shy girl he had bullied in the past. But I wasn't that girl anymore.

I chatted with my mother and Jeffery, making polite small talk and asking them questions about their lives. But the entire time, I was aware of Tom's eyes on me. He was watching me intently, trying to get a reaction out of me. But I refused to give him the satisfaction. I remained cool and collected, even as my insides were screaming at me to say something. I took a deep breath and focused on the conversation at hand, ignoring the weight of Tom's gaze.

“You guys should take a walk out and have some more conversations, get to know each other well.” Jeffery said to I and Tom.

I felt my heart sink as Jeffery Spoke those words. I didn't want to be alone with Tom, I didn't trust him. But I didn't want to make a scene, so I nodded and stood up from the table. "Come onTom," my voice tightened. "Let's take a walk."

Tom stood up, a sly smile on his face. He followed me out of the restaurant, and we began to walk down the street. I tried to keep my distance from him, but he kept moving closer, until we were shoulder to shoulder.

Do you really think you belong with my family?" Tom asked, his voice full of condescension. "You're nothing like us. You're not good enough."

I stopped walking, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I struggled to control my temper. "Just because I'm not like you doesn't mean I'm not good enough," I snapped, my voice shaking with anger. "I'm not going to let you put me down. I'm better than you think." Tom's eyes narrowed, and he leaned in close to me.

"What are you going to do, huh?" Tom sneered, his face inches from mine. "You think you can take me? You're not strong enough, and you never will be."

I felt my blood boil, and I gritted my teeth. "Don't underestimate me," I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. "I'm not as weak as you think I am."

Tom laughed, a cruel sound that cut through the air. "You're nothing but a pathetic little girl," his eyes glittering with malice. "You can't even defend yourself, do you think that you are superwoman?" He asked.

I got mad and went back into the cafe.

“We won't be having a wedding, I and your mother would just legally register our marriage and move in together. We decided not to have a wedding.” Jeffrey informed me as Tom and I came back.

I was happy that they wouldn't be having a wedding, I never liked the idea of a wedding in the first place.”

I went back to the house alone, likewise Tom. Our parents went for their marriage legal registration.

I walked back to the house, a weight lifted from my shoulders. I knew that things were going to be different from now on, but I felt like I could finally breathe. I went to my room and closed the door, sinking down onto my bed.

While I was at home, I called Kora on the phone and told her who her Stepbrother is. “He is no other person than Tom, the school's most famous playboy.” I broke the news to her.

Kora was utterly shocked and wowed by the news.

"No way!" she exclaimed. "You're kidding me, right? This has to be a joke."

I shook my head, even though she couldn't see me. "I'm not joking," I replied. "It's really him. My mom is engaged to his father, they are registering their marriage now. We will move into Tom's house.”

There was a long pause, and then Kora spoke again, her voice full of concern.

"What are you going to do?" she asked. "How are you going to handle this?"

“I don't know.” I signed. “Tom was so arrogant earlier, he said many mean words to me.” I added.

“I know right. He has pride.” Kora stressed.

“The worst part of it all is that I've had sex with him, how do I face him and live together under the same roof with him. My mum would kill me if she gets to know that I had sex with Tom.” I complained.

The next day, my mother and I packed up our belongings and moved into Jeffery's house. My mum left our house like that, she decided that she wouldn't put it on sale.

“Do you want to seduce me for the second time like how your sly mother seduced my dad?” Tom snapped when I mistakenly entered his room. I mistook his room for mine because I was not yet familiar with their big house.

“What?” I snapped. “How dare you!” I yelled.