Earn Your Chance.

Lina West's POV

LA could be many things.

For some, it was heaven on Earth. But to me, this was hell in a mansion.

Why? Because a fucking devil dwelled here. In fact, he was sitting right across from me.

He slouched in his chair, his leather jacket looking entirely out of place in this civilized room. Hell, he didn't belong here either. But Riven Rykerthrone was here anyway. My soon-to-be stepbrother.

"Darling, is there something wrong with the croissant?" Ma asked, drawing my attention away from him.

Given how hard my features were pinched right now, it probably looked like I absolutely despised the pastry. I wished that was the only problem. The savory, sweet taste of breakfast was completely ruined by his presence. I couldn’t hide how repulsed I was.

"No, Ma," I muttered, letting my gaze drop as my posture sagged.

I was wound up tighter than a spring.

"My words are merely words, but believe me, Lina, you'll enjoy it here," Mr. Ryker added, his voice carrying that effortless, old-money wealth.

I didn't need to look at him to know he genuinely meant it. Who wouldn't love staying in a mansion? The fresh scent of tulips in crystal vases mixed with the literal aroma of cash, filling my lungs. Anyone would kill to be in his family tree. But to be his stepdaughter? A stepsister to Riven?

"And Mer's College is so gorgeous, darling. I can't wait for you to start!" Ma chirped.

"True. They have top-tier teaching equipment and..."

Their voices started to fade, the clinking of silverware blurring into background noise. That noise instantly morphed into the memory of Olivia's screams. My hand froze on my fork, my grip tightening until my knuckles turned white.

Across the table, Riven tilted his head slightly. His gaze cut right through me.

Remembering last night, I knew this psychopath was capable of anything. He literally snatched Olivia and me from a club and left her dangling over a pool of sharks. All because I bumped into him and he lost his watch. That wasn't my fault. Not even a little bit.

‘You'll get your chance soon.’

Damn him.

It took everything in me not to drive this fork straight into his hand. No, his heart would be better. Then he'd be dead, and I wouldn't have to earn a damn thing to fix a mistake I didn't even make.

"Ugh," a small, frustrated sound slipped past my lips, immediately followed by a sharp clack.

"My fork fell," Riven said.

I wanted to focus on my plate, but his heavy stare trapped me in place.

"Darling," Ma called out, and I forced my eyes over to her. "Be a dear and help your brother." She flashed that signature smile of hers—the kind that was sweet enough to cause diabetes.

"My son isn't missing any limbs, dear," Mr. Ryker chimed in.

"But—"

"Of course I'm not, Old Man," Riven cut in. His tongue was like a razor, constantly slicing right through everyone else's sentences. "But I'd never reach it."

I glanced at him sideways. He wasn't looking at me. He just propped an elbow casually on the table, completely devoid of basic manners or etiquette.

"It's too far. Someone more capable should grab it."

Those blue eyes narrowed, settling onto his father. Mr. Ryker’s face hardened, a shadow of irritation passing over his features. The room turned icy fast.

Fine. It was a stupid fork. I’d just grab it and get it over with. There was no need to sit through a toxic father-son drama over a piece of metal.

"Aren't you in support of that, Old Man?" Riven’s voice echoed through the dining room. I could practically feel the vibration of it down in my chest.

"We came here for breakfast and introductions; behave yourself, son."

"Sweetheart, please," Ma cut in, trying to play peacemaker.

Dropping to my knees onto the plush rug, I reached under the table. I didn't see it at first. The morning light pierced through the edges of the tablecloth, illuminating the space, so it wasn't dark. My eyes darted around until they landed on my lovely future stepbrother’s sneakers.

The absurd price of his shoes wasn't what made my eyes widen. It was the fork. He was actively stepping on it.

What the actual fuck?

With a sharp exhale, I crawled closer and poked the side of his shoe.

A cold shiver raced up my spine, and I instinctively looked up. Riven was staring down at me.

The boredom was entirely gone from his eyes. There were no taunts or amusement. Just... expectation.

My brows knit together, and he let out a quiet, mocking chuckle. His smirk stretched wide, showing off that sharp, unusually pointy tooth. Then, his gaze dropped deliberately, guiding my eyes straight toward his lap.

What?

‘You'll get your chance.’

Panic hit me full force, my mouth instantly going dry as his words rang in my head. Wait. This? This was my chance? Hell to the absolute fuck no.

Color drained from my face. My breath hitched, trapping air in my lungs.

Was this seriously his game?

"M-Ma, I think I spilled something on myself. I can't come up yet," I called out from beneath the table, my hands curling into tight fists against the floor. My voice sounded muffled, my lips trembling as the words left my mouth.

"Oh! I understand, darling. We'll be done soon," Ma replied smoothly.

Even her warm tone couldn't thaw the absolute panic freezing my blood. Nothing could. Especially not with Riven staring down at me with those icy, calculating eyes.

No words were spoken between us, but the message was loud and clear. I knew this bastard would do something horrific if I didn't play along. It would involve Olivia. He would drag her right back into his twisted web and ruin her.

"Damn it," I whispered. My stomach rolled with nausea, but I forced myself to move closer.

He stayed completely still until I was right there. Then, he shifted his thigh, deliberately brushing it against my shoulder.

This was insane.

My heart battered against my ribs as I extended a trembling hand.

This was actual insanity.

My knuckles grazed the heavy denim of his pants. Riven Rykerthrone was completely out of his mind. The thoughts screamed in my head, loud enough to drown out the distant sound of forks meeting porcelain above us. My breath came in ragged, uneven shallow gasps.

Swiftly, my eyes darted up to his, but his focus had already shifted. My fingers never even made it to his belt loop because the next second, he suddenly stood up.

The asshole just stood up.

"I believe you two sweet couple are a bit much for me," Riven chuckled, the sound low and dark.

The harsh scrape of his chair against the floor snapped me out of my trance, and my soul slammed back into my body.

"And I hate sweets."

His heavy footsteps receded across the room, and I finally, thankfully, drew in air.

Oh, God.

My fingernails dug deep into my palms as I shut my eyes, a suppressed whimper dying in my throat. Above me, Ma and Mr. Ryker started talking again, but their words were just background noise. I didn't care to listen.

Pressing my forehead against my knees, I wished for only one thing. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I needed it to. Because if it didn't... that literal psycho was about to become my brother.