Chapter one: Grumpy step brother

If my mother lectured me any harder, the entire steering wheel would melt from the heat of her disappointment.

“Jenna, I am begging you, please behave yourself this time.” She said.

For the tenth time. In twenty minutes.

I slouched deeper into the passenger seat, pushing one earbud in. Not both, because as reckless as she thought I was, I still valued my life and didn’t want to get us killed by ignoring her completely on the expressway.

She continued anyway.

“You’re 19. You’re in college now. You should be focusing on your degree, not creating chaos.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes hard enough to detach my retinas.

My mind rolled back to two weeks ago and his stupid face still flashed in my mind. It brought me nothing but anger, I could have done more than stabbing that bastard.

He’s the reason why I’m being exiled to this fucking countryside and the old ass only college that the town has.

“What happened back home was embarrassing, Jenna. Absolutely embarrassing. And don’t roll your eyes. Your father is already stressed with work, and now we have to explain that you—”

Earbuds in. Volume up.

She kept talking, gesturing dramatically, voice rising and falling but all I heard was the soft thump of music. I could still see her lips moving though, and honestly, I felt a little bad. Just a little. Not enough to unplug.

By the time we pulled up in front of my father’s house—sorry, mansion—I’d already rehearsed a dozen versions of ‘I’m fine’ and ‘No, I’m not getting into trouble again’.

Dad stepped out before the car even stopped fully. Same stiff posture like it was, ten years ago when Mom tragically broke his heart. Same judgmental scan from my shoes up to my hair like he was checking if I’d brought shame in my suitcase.

“Jenna,” he said, pulling me into a quick, awkward hug that felt like he was greeting a colleague, not his daughter.

“Dad,” I replied.

At least he didn’t mention The Incident. Small victories.

Before the tension could choke us all, a warm voice cut in.

“Oh my goodness, you must be Jenna!”

A woman hurried toward me—pretty, mid-forties, kind eyes, brown hair in a loose bun. I’m guessing she’s my father’s wife. She wrapped me in a hug before I could dodge.

“I’m Anna,” she said, pulling back with a big smile. “Welcome home.”

Home.

That was generous.

I managed a small smile because her energy was… actually nice.

Mom folded her arms. “Please keep her on track.”

Anna squeezed my hand. “She’ll be fine.”

My mom mumbled something dramatic, climbed into her car, and drove off without looking back.

Anna turned to me immediately.

“Oh, sweetheart, welcome home.” She squeezed my hands again. “You must be exhausted.”

Exhausted from the lecture? Yes. From the drive? No.

Dad cleared his throat “Your room is upstairs. Anna will show you.”

She grabbed my bag off my shoulder before I could protest.

“You will meet your brother soon,” Anna said cheerfully. “He’ll be so thrilled to have someone to call sister. Follow me, let me take you to your room. It’s right across from his.”

I almost snorted.

Thrilled?

Still, I nodded politely and followed her upstairs. The house smelled like lemons and rich people, literally. Everything was polished, floors, stairs, even the bannister looked like it got moisturized every morning.

Halfway down the hallway, I heard laughter. Low, loud, male voices drifting from a room ahead.

Anna heard it too. She smiled, eyes sparkling like she was imagining some cute family moment.

“I think he’s got friends over,” she said. “Would you like me to introduce you now?”

I shook my head very fast.

Absolutely not.

“Later. It’s fine.”

I wasn’t ready for some bratty stepbrother and his equally bratty friend group. I wanted peace, quiet, maybe a door I could barricade with furniture.

But Anna had other plans.

“Why not? You’ll meet his friends too. They should know you so they can treat you well in school.”

“Really, I—”

She didn’t even give me time to fake a reason.

“Come.”

Her hand wrapped around mine and she dragged me like a bag of rice toward the door.

Great.

She knocked lightly, and after a few seconds, the door swung open and my breath paused like I’d accidentally swallowed it.

A tall boy stood at the doorway. Jet-black messy hair.

Sharp jawline. Broad shoulders straining against a black t-shirt.

Eyes darker than his hair, staring at me like I was a problem he didn’t remember ordering.

He looked… unfairly handsome. The kind of handsome that annoyed you on sight because you just knew he didn’t even try.

“Mom,” he said in a deep voice that vibrated in my spine. He looked at her first, then at me and he frowned instantly. Like he’d just realized exactly who I was.

“Alec,” Anna said cheerfully. “Am I interrupting? I thought of introducing Jenna to you and your friends.”

“It’s only me and Roman here, Mom.”

“Oh! You guys were so loud, I thought there were dozens of you!” Anna laughed.

“Cool,” he muttered, eyes flicking back to me.

“Welcome.” He said it so quietly that if I wasn’t literally staring at his lips, I wouldn’t have caught it.

He started closing the door but then someone else stepped out behind him.

And dear God.

Another boy.

Blond hair, soft curls falling over his forehead.

He had warm hazel eyes, and he was Tall as well—maybe taller than Alec.

And Pretty. Charming-pretty. Dangerously-pretty.

“What’s—oh! Anna!” His face lit up as he took her hand and kissed it. “Always a pleasure.”

Then he noticed me and his eyes widened slightly.

“Lec, is this your stepsister? Damn—she’s pretty.” He held out his hand toward me. “Hey, I’m—”

He didn’t let him finish.

Alec dragged him back inside like a sack of potatoes and slammed the door shut in my face.

Right.In.My.Freaking.Face.

I blinked.

“…What?”

Anna sighed dramatically. “Don’t mind Alec. He’s just a grumpy kid.”

Great.

Anna led me down the hallway to my room, chatting like we were old friends already. I nodded occasionally, trying to sound interested, but mostly I was plotting how to survive living across the hall from Alec without becoming a permanent casualty of teenage angst.

My room was… actually nice. Big bed, desk, warm light spilling through sheer curtains. I dropped my bag with a dramatic thump and flopped onto the bed. Peace, finally.

“Dinner’s in an hour,” Anna called from the hall. “Come down when you’re ready. Your father and Alec will be waiting.”

I groaned. I didn’t need waiting. I needed a personal force field.

But apparently, life was cruel.

Dinner was in the main dining room. Long table, polished wood, candles lit. Dad sat at the head. Anna on one side, me on the other. And across from me… Alec.

He didn’t look up from his plate nor say a word.

Dad cleared his throat. “So… Jenna, how was the drive? The town is… quieter than the city, I imagine.”

“Quiet enough,” I said, trying to sound polite without seeming desperate for approval.

Anna smiled. “She’s already settling in wonderfully.”

I shot her a grateful glance. She was keeping the peace, at least.

“Good, I suppose you’ve met your sister Alec” My eyes darted to Alec, who merely nodded, keeping his attention on his food.

“You still riding those stupid bikes around the property?” Dad asked “Hope its not blocking the driveway?”

Alec’s head snapped up like he’d been slapped. “It’s a driveway,” he said flatly. “Bikes move. Cars move”

“It’s for cars, not your junkyard toys.”

“Dont worry I’ve been careful enough not to crash into your stupid Tesla,” Alec snapped.

Anna cleared her throat softly. “Boys, please. Jenna’s just settling in—”

Dad leaned back, arms crossed. “I don’t want trouble, Alec. Just… behave while she’s here.”

Alec’s eyes flashed towards me. “I behave just fine. It’s not my fault if your city kid can’t handle living here.”

Ouch.

Dad’s jaw tightened. “Whether she’s handling it or not, she’s my daughter. You treat her with respect.”

It was looking like hell would break loose any moment, thankfully Anna stepped in.

“Alec, what your father is trying to say is that she’s your sister. You have to protect her and help her get use to this place”

She turned to me.

“Ignore them, they’ve always being cat and mouse”

God help me, this was going to be one hell of a year.