CHAPTER FOUR

I felt a chill run down my spine the moment he walked in.

Lucian.

He stood like someone who had walked straight out of my worst nightmare.

 I couldn't breathe.

His piercing dark green eyes met mine, and recognition flashed across my face.

He knew me.

The stranger I had promised myself I'd never see again. Was standing before me at my mother's new husband's house.

And judging by the way Xavier looked at him, I could already tell.

I gripped the edge of the table.

No.

This couldn't be happening. My mother glanced at us.

“Nyla?”

I forced my eyes away from Lucian. “I'm fine.”

She smiled, unaware of the panic racing through me. “Good. Then you can finally meet Xavier's son.”

I swallowed.

Lucian stepped farther into the dining room.

He looked different from the man I'd met that night.

He wasn't dressed casually like before. His black shirt fit perfectly across his broad shoulders, and his expression carried an authority that made the room seem smaller.

But his eyes were the same.

Those unmistakable dark green eyes.

The eyes I had stared into only hours ago.

My mother gestured toward him.

“Lucian, this is my daughter, Nyla.”

His gaze remained on me.

“I know.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

My mother frowned. “You know each other?”

My heart pounded. Lucian's expression didn't change.

“We met yesterday.”

My stomach dropped.

My mother brightened.

“Oh, really? Where?”

I opened my mouth, but Lucian answered first.

“At a party.”

“A party?” My mother looked at me.

I quickly nodded.

“Yes.”

She smiled.

“Well, that makes things easier. At least you're not meeting for the first time.”

I forced a smile.

“Yeah.”

If only you knew.

Xavier pulled out the chair beside him.

“Sit down, son.”

Lucian took the seat.

Unfortunately, it was directly across from me. I lowered my eyes to my plate.

I could feel his gaze on me.

I refused to look up.

My mother picked up her fork. “Now that you're both here, we can eat.”

I moved my food around without taking a bite.

My appetite had disappeared.

“Are you not hungry?” my mother asked.

“I'm fine.”

“You've barely touched your food.”

“I said I'm fine.”

She studied me for a moment, then she looked at Lucian.

Xavier glanced at Lucian.

“You're always working,” Xavier said 

“I have a lot going on.”

“You're still taking on that new acquisition?”

“Yes.”

I kept my attention on my plate.

I didn't care about his business.

I just wanted dinner to end.

“So,” my mother said, “Nyla will be staying here.”

Lucian's fork stopped.

His eyes lifted.

Lucian's gaze met mine.

Neither of us spoke.

Xavier smiled.

“Good. The house could have life.”

Lucian leaned back.

“I see.”

My mother looked pleased.

“You two should spend some time together.”

I nearly choked; Lucian's expression hardened.

“I don't think that's necessary,” I said 

My mother frowned. “Why not?”

“I'm busy.”

“So is Lucian."

She looked between us.

“But you're family now.” My fingers tightened around my fork.

That word made everything worse.

I pushed my chair back.

“Excuse me.”

My mother looked surprised.

“You're leaving already?”

“I've lost my appetite.”

I stood.

Before I could leave, Xavier spoke.

“Nyla.”

I stopped.

“Give him a chance. Lucian isn't as difficult as he looks.”

Lucian gave his father a dry look.

“Thanks.”

Xavier laughed.

I forced a smile.

“Good night.”

I turned toward the door.

I barely made it halfway down the hallway before I heard footsteps behind me.

I already knew who it was.

“Wait.”

I stopped.

Lucian walked toward me.

I turned.

“What?”

He stopped a few feet away.

“You're really going to pretend this isn't happening?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Talk to me.”

“We shouldn't.”

“Why?” his voice was almost loud.

I stared at him.

“Because you're my stepbrother.”

The words felt strange leaving my mouth.

He looked away for a second.

Then his eyes returned to mine. “We didn't know that yesterday.” “That doesn't change what we know now.”

“No.”

His voice became quieter.

“But it changes what happens next.”

I swallowed.

“I don't want any problems.”

“Neither do I.”

“Then stay away from me.”

His expression tightened.

“You think it's that easy?” he stared into my eyes.

“It has to be.”

He took a step closer.

I immediately stepped back.

He stopped.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he nodded.

“Fine,” he said, calm but threatening.

He turned.

I watched him walk away.

Something inside me wanted to call him back.

I didn't.

I couldn't.

I returned to my room and shut the door.

My back rested against it as I closed my eyes.

This was a nightmare. There was no other explanation.

And now I was supposed to live under the same roof as him.

I walked toward the window.

The estate was quiet beneath the night sky.

Everything looked peaceful. My life was anything but.

My phone vibrated.

I picked it up.

“ So? How's the mansion?”

I stared at the message. It was from Audrey 

I typed, “Complicated.”

Her response came almost immediately.

“Complicated how?”

I didn't answer.

How could I explain this?

My one night stand is my new stepbrother.

Even thinking about the sentence made my stomach twist.

I dropped my phone onto the bed.

A knock sounded.

I froze.

“Who is it?”

“Mom.”

I opened the door.

She stood outside, smiling.

“Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

She studied me.

“I'm just tired.”

She nodded slowly.

“Get some rest.”

She started walking away, then stopped.

She smiled.

“Good night, darling.”

“Good night.”

I closed the door.

For several seconds, I stood there silently.

Then my phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn't Audrey.

It was an unknown number.

My heart skipped.

I opened the message.

We need to talk.

I stared at the screen.

Another message appeared.

Unknown: Tomorrow. Alone.

I knew exactly who it was.

Lucian.

I locked my phone.

“No.”

I wasn't going to reply.

I wasn't going to encourage this.

I was going to keep my distance.

Th

at was the only sensible thing to do.

I placed the phone on the nightstand and climbed into bed.

But sleep refused to come.

Because no matter how many times I closed my eyes, I saw him standing in that doorway.

The man I'd left behind.

The man I'd never expected to see again.

The man who was now living under the same roof.

And somehow, I already knew

This was only the beginning.