( Sierra's POV)
My body still trembling from the earlier moment with Stefano. What was that? He was so close to me, we're about to kiss! What happened to him? What happened to me? One thing was sure entering Blackwood Mansion my whole life turned.
James showed up again at break. I didn't not like him-he was nice and smart and athletic, and he did attempt to make me laugh-but there was no spark. No pull. No warmth in my chest the way there was when Stefano merely entered the room. James leaned against a locker. "Sierra, you're ignoring me again."
"No, I'm not."
"You didn't even look at me when I called your name twice."
"Sorry… I was distracted."
He smirked. "By who? Your handsome elder stepbrother?"
My breath caught. "W-What? No. Why would you even say that?"
"Just a guess." His eyes gleamed. "Every time Stefano's around, you flinch. Or blush. Or glare. Or… something."
I froze. Because he wasn't wrong.
Before I was able to answer, Stefano passed by behind us — Marko and Ethan trailing. He didn't look at me. Not once. But his steps stilled for the tiniest second when he saw how close James was standing.
He kept walking. But his shoulders were stiff, tense. As if something burned under his skin.
(Stefano'S POV)
I was fine. I was perfectly alright. James wasn't being touchy. He wasn't leaning into her way too close. He wasn't smiling at her like she belonged to him.
Nope. Totally fine.
Ethan nudged me. "You look like you're about to break his jaw."
"I don't care," I said flatly. Marko lifted an eyebrow. "Right. You don't care so much that your fist is literally clenched."
Damn it. I loosened my fist. They exchanged a knowing look.
"Shut up," I muttered. But even after I walked away, my ears stayed sharp. Every laugh she gave James was a blow. And every time she didn't give him attention. Something warm flickered inside me before I crushed it down.
Even Marko and Ethan texted me earlier clash on Sierra.
Marko: "Bro… that's too much, man."
Ethan: "She looked hurt. The real kind." I knew. I knew the second Sierra's eyes shimmered. But something inside me snapped when I saw her laughing at James earlier.
Something ugly. Something I couldn't control. Something I didn't want to name. Sebastian burst into my room without knocking. "What the hell is wrong with you!? I remained silent.
"She did nothing to you, and you keep hurting her-why?!"
Still silence.
Sebastian shoved my shoulder. "Stefano, seriously. What has she ever done to you?"
I opened my mouth, but the truth was messy and twisted and confusing, even inside my own head.
"I don't like her mother," I muttered instead. "They come into our house—act like—"
"Like what? Like normal people trying to live their life?" My jaw clenched. Sebastian's voice softened. "You're angry at something else… someone else… but you're taking it out on her." I looked away. For, deep within, the truth whispered:
I'm angry that she makes me feel something I don't want. Sebastian left from my room.
The next day at campus, Marko pulled me aside behind the football stands. "No jokes today," he said seriously. "Sit." I rolled my eyes but sat. Ethan crossed his arms. "You planning to keep attacking her for existing?" "I'm not attacking her."
"You are obsessed," Marko said matter-of-factly.
"I'm NOT—"
"Yeah you are," Ethan cut in. "And you hate that you are."
I froze. Both of them looked at me knowingly.
Marko said, "We agreed to help with your stupid plan of digging info on her, figuring out her past, making her leave. But now…"
Ethan sighed. "Now it seems wrong.
"She's not what you think," Marko said softly. "She's… kind." Their words engendered irritation and… something else.
"You two are getting too close to her," I muttered. "Maybe because she deserves that closeness," Marko said. And something inside me tightened-a strange twist of jealousy I didn't want to admit. "We're not backing out of the plan as of now," Ethan said. "But we're not hurting her blindly either." I didn't answer. Because, the more I came to know Sierra… The harder it was becoming to hurt her. And that terrified me.
Flashback :Few days ago after Sierra's arrival
I roll my wine glass sitting on Ethan's couch. " Bro, why're u here all of a sudden, u're again thinking about ur hot stepsister." He said smirking. Marko also laughed.
" Yeah, I'm thinking how both of u will help me digging her past, pretend to be her friend, confess her past and how I will use that to throw her and her mother out of our house, so as our life" I replied smirking evilly. Marko and Ethan surprised asking me if I was sure. I noded. I needed to throw her out of my life soon as possible.
Present
I made this plan and I don't feel any regret doing that. I have to succed my plan as soon as possible. I can't loose my mind over her anymore. The sooner it happens, the better it'll be...….
(Sierra's POV)
The Blackwood mansion seemed colder than usual tonight. Too many silences, too many glances I didn't understand.
Classes had already drained me, especially with James appearing beside me again and again with that sharp, confident smile of his. He wasn't rude… just persistent.
I didn't give him much attention. I didn't know how. I didn't want to. Maybe because all my attention was on a arrogant jerk, asshole, hot fucking bastard. I never intend to give him any attention still it goes on him. And I'm really frustrated on my mysef for this. Why I am attracted toward him so so much. Why I want that bastard so badly.
Still, I felt Stefano's eyes follow every interaction, like heat pressing against the back of my neck. Not that he cared. Not that he should. But he watched. Maybe he is watching my ass like always , Idiot!
(To be continued...)