Falling For My Step-brother

ur

mered just beneath the surface. I could feel it in the way he looked at me- never lingering too long, but always aware of my presenc

st. The house was a maze of polished floors, towering windows, and rooms I didn't belong in. It felt like I was play

part of the world he owned. His presence was impossible to ignore, but at the same time, he never acknowledged me unless he

eally reading when the sound of footsteps reached my ears. I looked up, hal

mly, walking into the room

o act around Gregory yet. He was kind in his own way, but he had a pol

ompany," he said, settling into an armchair across from

sure I would ever truly feel at home he

ow it must be tough coming from Ohio, but I want you t

would make an effort to be welcoming. "I don't know if Ronan's inter

complicated. But he's a good kid. Just... takes a while to

"warm up" to anyone. But I didn't say that. Instead

egory asked, clearly trying to shift th

ur trip. "Yeah. It was nice. Busy. I don't know h

uld be overwhelming. If you ever need to get away for a while,

relief. "Thanks, I might ta

run through the room. My eyes instinctively flicked toward the doorway, where Ronan stood, leaning agai

meeting?" he ask

. "We were just talking, nothing too imp

singly, he stepped into the room and took a seat next to me, making no effort to disguise the fact that he didn

g between Gregory and me. His words were casual, but there wa

. "Lauren was telling me about her impressions of the city. You didn't ta

t was devoid of any warmth. "She's a big girl

in front of him. I could feel his presence beside me, but it was like he was a million miles

ittle more sharply than I intended. "But

his gaze cool and unreadab

under my breath, lea

sing the tension that had suddenly thickened in the room. For

aid, his voice clipped. "En

d as he left the room, the door sh

n his chair. "I know he's... dis

n't s

w me everywhere. I had learned that the grounds of the mansion stretched for miles, with paths weaving through gardens and wooded ar

lined with tall hedges. The mansion behind me loomed like a shadow, its lights flickering faintly

g to see a member of the staff, but instead, it was Ronan. His hands were in his poc

d, his tone teasing

. Just needed a brea

efore taking a step closer. "Yo

but I didn't let it show. Instead, I met

he was deciding whether or not to say something else. But then, as if th

alled over his shoulder. "Wo

of unease swirling in my chest. Maybe I didn't belo

ng the cool breeze brush against my skin. I hadn't expected Ronan to speak to me, let alone actually sh

ch for me. He was distant, uninterested, and I wasn't about to waste any more energy trying to understand hi

The solitude was comforting, but there was something about being in this vast, unf

orld of wealth and power. This place wasn't like Ohio, where I knew everyone and everything felt like it fit

d of music coming from inside. It was soft, almost haunting, and it made me pause for a moment. I couldn't place it at first, bu

of his presence. He was standing by the grand piano, his fingers lightly grazing the keys. The

ought made him seem more human, less like th

nside, but instead, I stayed there, transfixed by the way his hands moved across the keys. He wasn't per

tepped back, heart pounding, embarrassed that I had been caught lingering at the

me, low and steady.

ust keep walking. I wasn't sure what he wanted f

my voice a little too defensiv

ong stretch of silence before he finally spok

hrough me. I didn't know how to respond, so I kept

e was no longer as cold as it had been before. There was s

tever this moment was supposed to be. But there was ano

e house. Ronan's eyes followed me, and for the first tim

ed, still unsure of how to na

ke of his head. "No.

was something more beneath his words. Either way, it w

at else to say. I didn't

ano, his expression unreadable once more. But for a fleeting moment, there was something in his eyes that looke

why I was even thinking abo

no, playing with such intensity. There was a side to Ron

ringing. I groggily reached for it on the nightstand, squin

ing to shake the remnant

t wake you. I just wanted to remind you about lunch today with a few of my colle

s. "Lunch? Sure, I gues

ome people in the city. It'll be good for you to meet them. They'r

o some event where I didn't know anyone, but I also

our. Dress comfortably, but look

he clock on the wall. An hour. I needed to get ready, though the tho

few of his colleagues were already there, sitting at a long table. I recognize

n of him. Maybe he was busy with work, or maybe he was avoiding the gathering altogether. Either way, it felt

ced a smile back and tried to engage in small talk with the others, but

ightly, and there he was-Ronan, standing by the doorway. His eyes met m

my chest. I couldn't explain it. Why did I

wonder why he'd been standing there, watching me. It was strange- his presence was always charged, like there was something unsaid han

's voice broke th

me a concerned look, his brow furrowed. "

my thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Jus

one of his colleagues, a middle-aged man with graying hair who had been speaking to

've heard a lot about you, Lauren. Gregory speaks highly of you.

ng me. There was a faint air of scrutiny, as if he was trying to

o maintain a professional ton

tries, answering questions, and listening to stories that seemed distant and unrelated to anything

wn. Most of the guests began to rise from the table, chatting and gathering the

e a kind smile. "You did well. I know this w

s. I think I just need a

ike a home and more like a gilded cage. I longed for something familiar, something that didn't come with expectations and hidden meanings. I missed the simplicity

unding him. But instead, I was more confused than ever. Why was he so dist

lked back to my room. The house felt quieter now, the soft hum of

he window and stared out at the darkening sky. The moon hung low, casting its pale light over the sprawling ground

e weight of my thoughts was starting to bear do

me from my reverie. I hesitated before

no traces of the polished appearance he usually wore. His hair was slightly mussed, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar,

u," Ronan said, his v

"Talk to me?" I repeated, u

e, his presence filling the room. "We need to h

se of unease creeping up m

the air between us grew thick with something unspoken. I could tell he was struggling with how

m. "I know what you saw earlier. I'm not proud of it, but y

g for, the moment that could change everything. "Your life?" I repe

thoughts. "I wasn't planning on involving you in all of

e in what? What are you

n. "There are things in this mansion that are... not what they

e of the cryptic words. "What are yo

But I need you to understand that you're not just some guest. There are force

what he meant, but the gravity in his voice

," I said slowly, trying t

meant for you to get caught up in this. But now that

ho usually showed vulnerability, and yet here he was, talking l

he door, sharp and urgent. I turned, my heart skipping a

everything o

for one last, long moment. "We'll finish

word, he left the room, di