Chapter 1

NELLY:

At the Santiago's mansion, I sat on a black leather couch, watching my stepbrother, Rowan Santiago, a tall, attractive, dark-skinned man, become engaged to my college bully, Elena Rapheal.

Seeing the way Elena clung to Rowan as our two families finalised their engagement made my chest tighten. I wanted to end that union. I never expected Rowan to accept someone as vile as Elena.

I was supposed to be happy for them. But I pressed my lips into a firm line and forced a tight smile, one that didn't reach my eyes, as Elena's parents, her older brother, Dave, and her younger sister, Diane, smiled and congratulated her. They wore expensive black clothing and jewellery. They were the second most powerful mafia family in Suncrest City.

I shifted slightly on a black chair across from Rowan and Elena, who sat together in the living room of the Raphaels' exquisite mansion.

As tradition demanded, the newly engaged couple needed to sit together while the groom announced his intention to marry her.

It was only an engagement, but I knew that Rowan couldn't back out now. He sat stiffly, his face icy. His blue eyes met my brown ones across the vast room, as if he were trying to assess what I thought of their engagement.

I immediately lowered my head and avoided looking at them.

My mother, Clara Collins, was the happiest. She sat beside Rowan's father, Harry Santiago, as they all wore black, too. I was wearing a long, black dress that hung loosely around my chubby figure.

I lowered my head as I took a sip from my glass filled with red wine. But its sharp, sweet taste didn't soothe the ache in my heart.

------

For a long time, ever since I was ten years old, I'd had a crush on Rowan.

My mother, Clara Collins, was a single mother. She was a supermodel, so she had me out of wedlock. She bluntly told me that she didn't know who my real father was because she'd lived a reckless life. But then, I knew I couldn't blame her.

Her beauty was top-notch. I lived with my aunty, Sabrina Collins, who later got married and told my mother that she couldn't care for me. Thus, Mom had no other option but to bring me over to live with her new husband, who was a powerful Mafia Don.

The first day I arrived at the Santiago's manor, I caught Rowan standing at the front door. His expression was cold. He didn't smile or offer me a handshake.

When my sharp brown eyes locked with his icy blue ones, I first saw a flicker of admiration in his gaze. But then, his gaze darkened. His eyes narrowed, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

I swiftly lowered my head, avoiding Rowan's stone-cold face, even as my mother happily introduced us, as though she didn't know how cold and unwelcoming the boy was.

"Nelly, meet your new stepbrother, Rowan Santiago. He's fifteen and the heir to Santiago Group and Corporation. He'll protect you, alright?" Mom said sweetly.

Her new husband, who bore a striking resemblance to Rowan, smiled at me.

"Fifteen..." My lips trembled as I raised my head and peered at Rowan's face. He wore black clothings and stood there with an expressionless face, as though he were being forced to welcome me.

I knew Rowan would snap at me if his father weren't present. It didn't seem like he welcomed me.

"Rowan, don't scare the little girl. She's Clara's daughter, and you should start seeing her as your stepsister," his father's voice boomed across the courtyard.

I stood trembling, knowing that I had to keep my distance from Rowan.

But his icy expression softened for a fraction of a second after his father's warning. He stepped forward when he saw me trembling, despite my little hand clutching my mother's hand.

Rowan walked closer to me, and I felt like cowering away from him. But when he parted his thin lips and spoke, "Welcome, little sister."

My heart froze. His voice sent a wave of bashfulness crashing over me. My cheeks heated up, and I lowered my head, muttering, "Thank you."

I hadn't seen a guy as handsome and tall as Rowan. I quickly lowered my head, waiting for the introduction to end.

The tense atmosphere disappeared, and Mom chuckled and turned to Harry.

"Thank you, Harry. I promise my daughter won't cause any problems for you."

"It's alright, Clara. You accepted Rowan as your son, so it's not a bad idea for me to accept yours. Your daughter is my daughter from today onwards."

Mom showed me to my room on the top floor of the magnificent, palace-like mansion. I had a handmaid who took care of my needs. I was treated like a princess.

But that night, Rowan appeared at my door, and I froze when my tiny hand turned the doorknob and I saw him standing there, dressed in black.

I started trembling when I saw him standing at my door.

"What do you want, Brother Rowan?" I asked him, trembling. But his expression darkened as he peered down at me.

The corner of his lips twitched as he spat out the words. "Brother Rowan? Who told you we're siblings? We're never going to be siblings. I'll only tolerate you calling me Brother Rowan in front of my parents. But keep your distance from me if you value your life."

Rowan turned and stormed off. I stood there at the door for a long time, trembling.

I was supposed to step out for dinner, but I couldn't move.

Silent teardrops slipped from the corners of my eyes. I knew I was the unwanted child. My mother didn't want me and was only tolerating my presence because she had no other option.

Her parents were annoyed with her because she had chosen to become a model and hung around with wealthy men, even other women's husbands, before she gave birth to me.

I silently moved downstairs for dinner that night, clutching my black dress as I avoided meeting Rowan's gaze. He sat to his father's right. My mother sat close to her husband on his left.

I moved to sit farther away from them.

"Nelly, is everything alright?" Mom asked me, and I nodded.

"Yes, Mom," I replied weakly.

As long as Rowan didn't say anything, I wouldn't either.

My admiration for him faded after that first dinner night. But as time went by and I learned to keep my distance from him, I grew up trying to understand him and amend the broken relationship between us, especially since my mother didn't give birth to another child.

However, it seemed difficult to obey that one rule to stay away from Rowan, as I couldn't help but admire the powerful man he'd grown into. His expression remained stoic, but his face was as attractive as the devil's.

------

I sighed, sipping my red wine gently as the engagement ceremony came to an end.

I shot to my feet, ready to leave the vast living room and step outside to clear my head and distract myself.

Why would Rowan marry Elena?

I started planning my departure from the Santiago's mansion, as I couldn't stay in the same house as them, especially when Elena became Rowan's wife.