(Sierra's POV)
I don't cry. But my chest aches so much it feels physical. I sit out on the balcony outside the guest room, pulling my knees up close, letting the cold wind hit my face. What did I do to him? Why does he despise me so much? Why does he watch me like he wants me close sometimes… and then slice into me the next second?
Maybe Stefano hated me because he didn't want me here.
Maybe I reminded him of something he didn't like.
Maybe it was all in my head. But one thing was clear:
Something was shifting between us.
Something neither of us fully understood.
Something that scared him enough to lash out— and hurt me without hesitation.
And deep inside…
Something else was starting to stir. A secret I didn't yet know. A secret this house seemed to hide inside its walls.
The door creaks. Soft steps. Sebastian sits beside me, uttering not a word. He hands me a small wrapped chocolate.
"For my Sunshine," he whispers. My throat tightens.
"Thanks, Seb" I manage.
He hesitates. "Sierra… don't listen to him. Stefano's going through something. You didn't deserve any of that."
"I don't think he'll ever like me," I whisper. Sebastian sighs, looking down. "He will," he says quietly. "Trust me. He will."
I hug my knees tighter. And I try not to wonder— Why that thought is scaring me.
(Stefano's POV)
I stand outside her door. Hand lifted. Unable to knock. I don't know what to say?
Sorry I humiliated you because I'm jealous of guys talking to you?
Sorry I can't control the way you get under my skin?
Sorry that every time you look at someone else, something inside me feels like a threat alarm?
I drop my hand. Walk away.
Because I'm not ready to face her tonight. But as I reach my room, Marko's words echo in my head. "Someone lied about your mom's accident." And Sierra's soft tone from earlier haunts me. "Why do you hate me so much?" I grip the doorframe until my knuckles whiten. I don't hate her. I hate how she makes me feel. Too much. Too fast. Too dangerously.
(Sierra's POV)
I touched my chest in an attempt to steady my heartbeat. Why… why did he affect me like this?
I fall asleep, wondering who Stefano would be… If only he were to fight himself less.
The Blackwood mansion felt colder today. Maybe it wasn't the house. Maybe it was him. Stefano hadn't said a word to me since dinner last night, the night he humiliated me so brutally I cried silently into my pillow like a child. And the worst part of it all was that I still replayed his face. Why did his anger affect me this much? Why did he affect me?
I dragged myself through morning classes, ignoring the constant attention. Some days it felt like almost half the campus stared when I walked. Today wasn't any different-especially after James had approached me again.
"Morning, Sierra," he said with a too-perfect smile. "You look beautiful today. As always."
"I… thanks," I answered politely, stepping aside so he wouldn't follow too close. I didn't give him any special importance; the staring around us increased, though. Some girls glared, some boys paused to take a second look. James walked with me until class. He attempted to flirt. I did my best to avoid encouraging him. But somehow… Stefano always saw. I walked toward the field to meet Sebastian; he had promised to help me with some kind of an assignment. But the moment I arrived, I just froze.
Stefano was there, with Marko and Ethan, all three leaning against the railing. Stefano's shirt was half lifted as he wiped sweat off his neck, revealing his tense abs and sharp waistline. Some girls literally stopped walking when they saw him. Their eyes widened when they noticed me. Marko whistled under his breath. Ethan elbowed Stefano. And Stefano… went rigid. He looked away immediately, jaw tight, as if my presence irritated him. Sebastian ran up to me, happy.
"There's Cupcake he grinned, using the nickname he had coined. I smiled despite everything. "You and your names…"
"You love it," he said, nudging my shoulder. Behind him, I could feel Stefano's stare burning a hole through us. But then when I did, he just looked disinterested again. Still… he wasn't. Not even close.
(Stefano'S POV)
What the hell was that guy doing with her? James.
That pretty-boy transfer student with perfect curls and more confidence than sense. I saw him this morning walking beside Sierra—too close, too casually. And Sierra didn't push him away. She didn't encourage him either. Which only irritated me more. Now, here she was, walking across the field in that stupidly simple outfit that somehow managed to make half of the football team forget how to breathe. Even Marko muttered, "Bro… she's unreal." I glared at him. Hard. "Careful," Ethan teased. "With that expression, you look like a jealous—"
"Finish that sentence," I growled, "and I'll break your wrist." Ethan snorted. "Anyway. She does look gorgeous today." I turned away, for he wasn't wrong—and that made everything worse. Then Sebastian ran to her, called her Cupcake, and made her laugh. And something in me twisted. Sharp. Ugly. Unwanted. What the hell was that? "I swear," Marko said, "you're gonna explode one day with all that pent-up—" "Shut up." But my eyes still wandered back to her. Automatically. Helplessly. I hated it.
(Sierra's POV)
Sebastian and I studied in the campus library for a while. He was sweet, funny, patient-the sort of boy anyone could trust. He also, at one time, flicked my forehead. "Stop overthinking. You do that scrunchy-eyebrow thing when you're stressed."
"I do not."
"You do," he grinned. "And it's too cute." Cute. No one had called me that in years. I smiled, and he ruffled my hair a little. And for the first time that day, I felt lighter. I felt someone is there to take care of me like a true friend. But that feeling didn't last. Because when we came back home… Everything fell apart again.
Stefano was already sitting at the dining table when I walked in. Rigid in posture, tight in his jaw, cold in his eyes. Mom sat next to Nicolas, smiling softly. Sebastian sat down alongside me. But Stefano didn't look at anyone except—
Me. And not in a good way. Nicolas smiled warmly. "Sierra, how was your day at college?" Before I could answer, Stefano cut in.
"I'm sure it was perfect," he said flatly. "She has enough admirers to carry her textbooks for her. And enough boys lining up to keep her busy." My heart stopped. "What?" I whispered.
He glanced at me, an unhumorous smirk on his face. "Saw you walking around today. You know… acting like you own the place."
"I— I didn't—"
"She didn't do anything wrong," Sebastian interrupted sharply. Stefano snorted. "Of course you'd defend her." His words became increasingly sharp. "Girls like her play at innocence," Stefano went on. "But the moment someone pays them any attention, they cling to it like—"
"Stefano!" Nicolas snapped. "Enough." But he didn't stop. He leaned back, eyes cold. "Just saying the truth. Gold diggers don't change. Doesn't matter if they're eighteen or forty." Everyone froze. Everyone but Stefano, who looked proud of the damage he had caused. My chest tightened painfully. Mom whispered my name softly, but I had already stood up. My throat burned as I walked away from the table. I didn't look back.
(Stefano's POV)
I shouldn't have said it. I knew that the moment the words left my mouth. But watching James earlier… watching Sebastian call her Sofi-star… watching Sierra laugh, smile, glow— Something inside me snapped. I went too far. Too far even for me. And as she rose-her eyes sparkling, her lips quivering-something ugly twisted inside my chest. Regret. But it was too late.
We were in my room, the night quiet but tense. Ethan folded his arms. "You messed up bad today." Marko sighed. "She looked destroyed, man." I glared at them both. "Don't start lecturing me."
"We're not lecturing," Marko said. "But you act like you hate her so much… yet you react to all she does. Especially with other guys."
"I don't—" Ethan raised a brow. "Jealousy is loud, bro."
"I'm not jealous!" Marko and Ethan exchanged glances.
"Fine," Ethan said. "Then why do you stare at her like she's the only person in the room?" I clenched my fists. "I just don't trust her."
"Or yourself," Marko murmured. I didn't answer. Not because I didn't want to, because I didn't have any answer even to myself.
(To be continued….)