Chapter One – The New Beginning
The last thing Ariana expected on a rainy Sunday evening was to be standing in front of a mansion that looked like it belonged in a magazine.
The air smelled faintly of wet roses, and the tall marble pillars made her feel like she was walking into another world.
Her mother's voice was filled with excitement beside her, but Ariana's heart wouldn't stop racing. She wasn't nervous about meeting her mother's new husband — the man she'd married just two weeks ago in a quiet ceremony.
No. She was nervous about him.
Ethan Cole.
Her new stepbrother. The man whose face had appeared on business magazines, whose name carried weight in every corner of the city.
And no he was family.
When the heavy wooden door opened, Ariana's breath caught.
Ethan stood there tall, composed, with dark eyes that looked like they could read every secret she'd ever tried to hide. His jaw was sharp, his expression unreadable, and his presence filled the space before he even said a word.
"Welcome," he said finally, his tone calm but distant. "You must be Ariana."
She nodded, trying to smile. "Yes. It's nice to meet you."
His gaze lingered for a second too long before he stepped aside to let them in. Ariana could feel his eyes on her as she walked past him, her skin tingling like it had brushed against static.
The house was silent, elegant, and cold — much like its owner. The ticking of a clock echoed faintly through the hall.
As her mother and Ethan's father disappeared into conversation, Ariana found herself standing awkwardly near the staircase. She glanced up, noticing a large painting that hung above — and then she felt it again.
His eyes.
Ethan was watching her from across the room.
When their gazes met, he didn't look away this time. There was something in his eyes — curiosity, maybe? Or something darker.
Ariana's throat went dry.
"I— I should probably check my room," she murmured, breaking the silence.
Ethan nodded slightly. "It's upstairs. Second door on the right." His voice was deep, calm — the kind that could both comfort and intimidate.
She turned and climbed the stairs, her pulse quickening with every step. She didn't know why she felt this way.
He was her stepbrother now.
He was supposed to be off-limits.
But the way he'd looked at her…
It didn't feel like family.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Ariana couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, the storm outside matching the chaos in her chest.
When she finally gave up and stepped out into the hallway for some air, she froze. Ethan was there — leaning on the railing, a cup of black coffee in hand, staring out the tall window at the rain.
He turned when he heard her footsteps.
"Can't sleep?" he asked.
She shook her head softly. "The storm's too loud."
"Hmm." He took a slow sip, his gaze steady on her. "You'll get used to it. This place is… quiet, most days."
Ariana hesitated. "Quiet doesn't always mean peaceful."
He raised a brow, surprised by her boldness. "You're not afraid to speak your mind."
"Should I be?" she challenged, her voice barely above a whisper.
Something flickered in his eyes then — the faintest hint of a smirk, quickly gone. "Most people are."
She smiled lightly. "Then maybe I'm not most people."
For a moment, the storm outside faded into the background. The air between them felt charged, thick with unspoken thoughts neither dared to voice.
Finally, Ethan looked away. "It's late. You should rest."
Ariana nodded slowly. "Goodnigh Ethan."
He said nothing, just watched as she turned and disappeared down the hall. But even after she was gone, he could still feel the warmth of her presence and he hated that he did.
Because the one person he shouldn't be drawn to…
was the one he couldn't stop thinking about.