Prologue

"Oh, let's not pretend anymore that money and wealth aren't what you're after, just like your mom." he said in a sharp, probing tone, laced with heavy sarcasm. I was flooded with rage, so intense it wiped out every bit of control I had.

"You have no right to accuse me of that!" I shouted, my voice cracking not just with fury, but with a raw hurt. 

Tears started to stung my eyes, but I blinked them away so fast. I would not let him see me break.

Every day we crossed paths, this annoying stepbrother of mine always  found a way to slice me apart. I'd tried so many times to walk away, to dodge the fight but he always pushed, always prodded until I snapped. He was a bully. He had been ordering the maids to ignore me, to be cruel to me. He made me feel like a ghost in this house, like I only belonged here because his father had married my Mom. Like this luxurious life was a handout I didn't earn. Well, to hell with their wealth. Fuck their money. I could make it on my own, pay for my own studies without a single cent from his Dad.

"You're just like your mom, a low-class woman who doesn't belong here!"

And that was the point where I couldn't hold back anymore. Out of sheer anger, I slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room and the sting on my palm was nothing compared to the fire in my chest. Shock was written all over his face, like he never expected me to do that to him.

Before I could react, he shoved me roughly against the wall. A sharp pain shot up my back as I hit the cold stone and I winced. His hands wrapped around my arms, so tight I was sure they'd leave bruises, like he wanted to crush me. The anger in his eyes was a mirror of my own. But under that anger, I couldn't deny that I was affected by how close we were to each other.

"Never has a woman dared to strike me like that." he growled, his voice low and rough, so close his lips brushed my ear and sent shivers down my spine. "Push me one step further, and I'll give you exactly what you gave me," he angrily said.

"And what are you going to do? Do you think I'm scared of you?" My voice was steadier than I felt. 

I hardened my expression, forcing myself to meet his eyes like I didn't care how close we were. He hated me. I hated him. This is so wrong. I shouldn't be feeling this way towards him. But I couldn't understand why being this close with him felt like both safety and danger. 

I struggled against his grip, but he held on tighter. His body pressed against mine, and I hated the way electricity zapped through my skin where we touched, the way his warmth seeped into me despite everything. 

I noticed his sharp gaze drifted slowly from my eyes down to my lips. I watched his adam's apple bob as he swallowed, and my breath caught in my throat. Everything in me screamed to look away, but I couldn't.

"You better be, you have no idea what I'm capable of doing to you." his voice was softer now, almost a whisper, like he was fighting with himself. His sweet breath fanned my face, we were so close I couldn't help myself to swallow an imaginary lump.

"What the hell? Let me go! You're hurting me, you bastard!" I screamed, thrashing against him. But he was stronger, and I was helpless. His grip on me squeezing tighter and  the pain was already coursing through me. Then I saw my chance, my legs were free so without thinking, I lifted my knee and kicked him hard right in his balls.

Regret hit me the second he cried out, doubling over in agony and releasing me.

"You motherfucking bitch!" he roared, the sound made me flinch. I stumbled back, my hands shaking, as his face contorted with pain. 

The first thing I thought of out of fear was to run and that's what I did. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, like my life depended on it. The anger in his eyes was so sharp I knew he'd hurt me if he caught me. I heard him yelling in fury behind me, and I pushed myself even faster. 

A scream tore from my throat when I saw him chasing me. His footsteps thundered as he raced to catch up. I scrambled up the stairs to reach my room, my heart hammering so hard I thought it would burst through my ribs. When I finally reached my door, I threw it open and rushed inside. I tried to slam it shut, but he was there in an instant, shoving his hand against it to stop me and forcing his way in.

I stepped back, but he caught me by the waist before I could escape, his hands firm against my skin. "You bitch!" He said, his voice tight with rage. 

"Get off me!" I tried to struggle, hitting his chest with my weak fists but I couldn't even make him budge. The rage on his face made my blood run cold. 

I was so sure he would hurt me, but to my surprise, he crashed his lips against mine, so rough and demanding. I fought to push him away, but he was too strong, my resistance meant nothing to him. He pinched my jaw until I opened my mouth, and his tongue slipped inside, moving against mine in a way that made my head spin. My eyes widened when he squeezed one of my breasts hard. I winced in pain and discomfort, yet at the same time, I felt as if my body went weak from the strange sensation I felt.

I tried to scream, but I knew it was useless. Our parents were away, the maids had the day off. We were alone, trapped in this house with only each other. Then he tore at my clothes, and terror coiled in my stomach 

Oh God, what is he doing!  I was terrified of what he's doing, yet right alongside that fear, a strange warmth was spreading through my body, making me hate myself even more.

His kisses moved down to my neck, and I hated myself for the tickle that ran through me. They were rough and punishing,yet despite it all, I felt a strange warmth spread through my body. He pulled off my dress completely, then my bra, leaving me naked before him. I kept struggling, but he held my hands down and pressed his weight on top of me, trapping me.

When his hand slid into my panties, I gasped as my body went weak. I didn't realize when my fighting turned to responding, that I stopped pushing and started leaning into his kisses. He let go of my hands, and to my horror and my delight, I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

He groaned against my lips, clearly pleased by my reaction. Without warning, he slid a finger inside me while still kissing me. Slowly, his rough lips softened into something gentler and slower. I moaned when he added a second finger, moving them in and out while his thumb rubbed my clit, sending waves of pleasure that made me forget everything, my anger, my fear and the fact that he was the last person I should be feeling this way about.

Something wild and desperate took over me so I reached down and touched the bulge in his pants, feeling him tense against me. I was sure I heard him groan, a sound of pure need, so I kept going as my fingers fumbled for his zipper. But just as I was about to pull it down, he slapped my hand away and shoved me hard. He rolled off the bed and laughed, a cold, mocking sound that cut through me like ice.

"Look at that," he said, his voice sharp with disgust. "I was right all along. You're just as slutty as the rest. Acting like you don't want it, but the truth is you want it so bad."

I stared at him, blank and numb. This had to be a dream right? I didn't give in. I didn't want this, did I?

He stood up, his eyes raking over my naked body with a look of disgust that made me want to vanish. "Maybe that was your plan from the start, to make me angry so I'd push my limits and do this to you."

I scrambled up and wrapped myself in the nearest blanket, my face burning with shame. Tears stung my eyes, threatening to spill over. "I was right," he spat. "You're just like every other whore out there."

"You're so cruel," I tried to shout but it came out as a whisper. I felt so embarrassed. 

I tried to lunge at him, but he moved too fast, blocking me and shoving me back onto the bed. Then he laughed again, that same cold, mocking sound before turning and walking out, slamming the door behind him. 

I curled up under the blanket and sobbed, my body shaking with shame and grief. I was so stupid to let myself feel anything for him, to let his touch make me forget how much he hated me. Now he had even more reason to bully me. But worse than that, I couldn't believe I had let myself hope, for just a moment, that maybe he felt the same attraction and lust I felt for him. 

Regret burned through me as my fists clenched tight with rage. How could I have come so close to betraying myself, to almost giving myself to him? Then a terrifying thought came over me as a gasp came out my lips, what if our parents find out about this? Oh God, what had we done? How did we end up like this? Now I was trapped in a mess I didn't know how to fix...