(Sierra's POV)
The morning sun hit Blackwood mansion's wide glass walls.
Nightmare again. I don't understand one thing, why I can't forget my past. The past gave me nothing but pain.
I didn't tell anyone how I woke up choking on a sob, trembling like the six-year-old girl who once held onto her father's shirt and begged him not to leave.
And I didn't say anything to anyone about how it was Stefano—of all people—who woke me. I could still feel the ghost of his warm hand on my back… the way he'd brushed my hair from my forehead, whispered something I couldn't fully catch, and kissed the side of my head. I had pretended to still be sleeping.
I didn't know why he did it. I had no idea why it made my heart ache.
At the Café Patio "SO-FI-AA!" Marko's voice boomed across the café terrace. The next thing I knew, he was jogging toward me, waving his bandaged hand about dramatically in the air. Angel smiled. "Your brother-from-another-universe is here." Marko reached us, slightly out of breath. "How's my doctor?"
"I'm not your doctor," I said, though I couldn't stop smiling. "But how's your hand, did you do your usual reckless boy things?"
He puffed his chest out. "I followed everything, I swear. Ethan threatened to break my leg if I didn't."
Angel snorted. "That sounds about right."
Marko leaned closer. "You shouldn't have wasted that much time on me that I know how much u care people, don't always put other people before u."
"You were in pain," I replied softly. "And you're my friend." His expression softened so much, it almost resembled guilt. "Yeah,"
I slowly exhaled. Why did he always have to be this way? Why can't we sit and talk normally. Then suddenly a thing came to mind , is he in love with someone else?
Modern Campus — Walking to Architecture.
Sebastian jogged up to us, Ethan at his back, waving two football flyers. "Stefano needs me at the field," Sebastian said, eyes bright. "He got the new match schedule."
"Cool," Angel said. "We'll go to class." Marko nudged Arko. "Go, dude. Don't be late for your football boss."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "He's your boss too." They started running off, but Marko paused and turned.
"Sierra, I'll walk you to the architecture building. You know, in case you fall into a ditch and die."
I frowned. "I'm not that clumsy."
"Sure," he grinned, "but you're one of those who gets lost in the clouds."
I shoved him lightly and he laughed, loud and boyish. We walked. Easy. Comfortable. Like siblings who had known each other since birth. I never thought coming to Blackwood mansion my whole life will be changed. I would be blessed with the love and care I never thought I'll ever get.
(Stefano's POV)
She was laughing. At something Marko said. And I didn't like it. I wasn't jealous of Marko, no. I knew exactly what he felt toward her now. Brotherly. Protective. He told me last night, voice heavy with guilt:
"Stefano… she's not what we thought. She's… good." He had no idea how right he was. Because I saw it too. I saw her kneeling beside Marko thatday, her hands shaking, because she thought his wound might be deeper than it was. I saw her scold him like some tiny storm cloud. I saw that she gently held his wrist to re-wrap his bandage. And I hated it. Not because I didn't trust Marko. But because… Because—
I didn't know.
(Sierra's POV)
Marko was waving wildly when Angel and I stepped out of the building. "Doctor Bella!" he called—using the nickname I didn't know he picked up from Angel.
Angel grinned. "Bella suits you. Your dad used to call you that, right?" My chest warmed painfully. "Yeah…"
Ethan jogged up with water bottles. "We're stealing Sierra."
"Approved," Angel said, skipping away to her sociology class.
The boys and I sat under a huge oak tree, where a small group of students were eating lunch, laughing raucously, phones out, gossip spreading. It felt normal. Pleasant. Real.
Marko dramatically leaned his head on my shoulder. "I'm weak. My hand hurts. Carry me."
"Get off me," I said, frowand pushing him, "you big baby."
Ethan chuckled. "You spoil him."
"You're worse!" Marko shot back.
Their bickering made me laugh so hard my stomach hurt. This-this felt like belonging. For the first time since moving in… I didn't feel alone.
(Stefano's POV)
If anyone saw me now, they'd think I'd lost my mind. I was standing behind a wall, near the quad, peeking at them like some sort of deranged stalker. Marko teasing her. Sierra laughed freely. Ethan smiled in that soft way he used to reserve only for Angel. Sebastian was soft for her from beginning.
It tore something open inside me. Because this wasn't the plan anymore. They were supposed to gather information about her. Use it. Send her mother away. That was the plan. But now? Marko looked at Sierra the way he would look at his little sister.
Ethan guarded her with his eyes. Sebastian treated her as if she was made of something rare. And I—
I couldn't even pretend I hated her properly anymore. Every time she smiled, something inside me flipped. Every time she bit her lip, my pulse jumped. Every time she hold Marko or Sebastian's sleeve with her little baby fingers I wanted it to be mine. My chest would constrict painfully each time she looked confused or scared. Something was wrong with me. Very wrong. And when she brushed a leaf from Marko's hair, playful and innocent— A sharp heat shot through me. Not jealousy. Possession. I didn't want her with Marko. Not because I thought she liked him—she didn't. But because… Because I wanted her attention on me. I wanted her time. I wanted her touch. I wanted her scent. And mostly I wanted her..
WHY?
WHY?
WHY?
(To be continued…..)