Chapter 3

　　Ariana's POV

　　I couldn't sleep. At midnight, I gave up and crept out of my room, thinking maybe I'd find the kitchen and make some tea. The hallway was dark except for thin strips of moonlight through the windows. Voices drifted from somewhere nearby. Low, male, arguing in harsh whispers. I followed the sound, my bare feet silent on the thick carpet.

　　"I saw her first." That was Luca.

　　"You see everything first. Doesn't mean anything." Ethan's voice was cold.

　　"I'm not letting you have her just because you're older."

　　"This isn't about age. It's about what's right."

　　"What's right?" Luca laughed, bitter and sharp. "There's nothing right about this situation. But she's here now. Living under our roof. Sleeping just down the hall."

　　My heart hammered against my ribs.

　　"We need to decide," Ethan said.

　　"Decide what?"

　　A pause. Then Ethan spoke, his voice dropping even lower.

　　"She's here now… and I'm not letting you get to her first."

　　His voice was low, dangerous.

　　"But don't fool yourself, Ethan—we both feels something for her.And that changes everything."

　　Ice flooded my veins. I pressed myself against the wall, barely breathing. What the hell had I just walked into?

　　That was the moment I realized… moving into this house at twenty wasn't a new beginning—it was stepping into a fire I might not survive.

　　Monday morning came too quickly. I stood in front of my closet, staring at my fitted white top and pleated skirt like it might bite me. It was just a basic outfit I wore to lectures something I'd chosen for comfort, not attention but today it suddenly felt too short, too tight...too noticeable

　　"Ariana! Breakfast!" Mom called from downstairs. I grabbed my bag and headed down, each step feeling heavier than the last. The kitchen was full of morning chaos. Mom hummed while making coffee, Victor read the newspaper, and Ethan and Luca were already seated, dressed in their usual tailored jackets and dark jeans, the kind of sleek style you'd expect from billionaire heirs even on a university campus."They both looked up when I entered.

　　"Morning, princess," Luca said with that infuriating smirk. I ignored him, reaching for a piece of toast.

　　"We're giving you a ride," Ethan stated, not asked.

　　"I can take the bus."

　　"The bus doesn't come out this far." He drained his coffee cup and stood. "We leave in five minutes."

　　Victor folded his newspaper. "I'll see you all in class. Ariana, I'm looking forward to having you as a student."

　　My stomach dropped. "What?"

　　"Didn't your mother tell you?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm teaching your Advanced Literature class this semester. Professor Michaels retired."

　　No. No, no, no. Mom kissed my cheek, oblivious to my horror. "Isn't that wonderful? Victor's an amazing teacher."

　　Wonderful wasn't the word I'd use.

　　Ethan's car was a sleek black Mercedes that probably cost more than a year of college tuition. I climbed into the back seat, hoping for some distance. Luca slid in beside me instead of taking the front.

　　"There's a whole front seat available," I pointed out.

　　"Yeah, but you're back here." He stretched his arm across the seat behind my shoulders. "Besides, we need to talk about the rules."

　　"Rules?"

　　Ethan's eyes found mine in the rearview mirror. "School rules. About us."

　　"At school, you don't know us that well," Luca said, his fingers playing with a strand of my hair. I batted his hand away. "We're not going to broadcast the whole stepsister thing."

　　"Why not?"

　　"Because people talk," Ethan said, pulling out of the driveway. "And we don't need that kind of attention."

　　"Plus," Luca added, leaning closer, "it's more fun this way."

　　I shoved him. "Stay on your side of the car."

　　He laughed but didn't move away. "Make me."

　　The fifteen minute drive to school felt like an eternity.

　　My first three classes passed in a blur of stares and whispers. News had apparently spread that I was living with the Sterling brothers. Girls shot me jealous glares. Guys looked at me with new interest. I hated all of it.

　　Advanced Literature was my fourth period class. I walked in to find Victor already at the desk, writing on the board. Students filed in around me, claiming seats. I aimed for the back corner.

　　"Miss Cole," Victor called without turning around. "Front row, please. I like to keep my best students close."

　　Heat crept up my neck as everyone stared. I had no choice but to move to the front, sliding into a seat near the window. Ethan entered next, his presence commanding immediate attention. Girls straightened in their seats. He surveyed the room with those dark, unreadable eyes before walking straight to the desk beside mine.

　　"Taken," he said to a girl who'd been heading for it.

　　She scurried away. Luca arrived just as the bell rang, dropping into the seat on my other side with a lazy grin. "Saved me a spot, princess?"

　　"I didn't save you anything."

　　"That hurts." He pressed a hand to his chest in mock pain. "And here I thought we were bonding."

　　"Mr. Sterling," Victor said sharply. "If you're quite finished."

　　"Sorry, Dad." But Luca didn't sound sorry at all.

　　Victor's jaw tightened before he turned to address the class. "Today we're discussing forbidden love in literature. Romeo and Juliet, Lancelot and Guinevere, relationships that society deemed unacceptable."

　　Great. Just great. I pulled out my notebook and tried to focus on his lecture. Victor was a good teacher, I had to admit. His voice commanded attention, his insights sharp and thought provoking. But every time I looked up, his eyes were on me.

　　"Miss Cole," he said suddenly. "What's your interpretation of forbidden love? Is it more powerful because it's forbidden, or doomed because of it?"

　　All eyes turned to me. I swallowed hard. "I think... I think calling something forbidden just makes people want it more. Even when they shouldn't."

　　"Interesting." Victor moved closer, stopping right in front of my desk. "So you believe the forbidden nature enhances the attraction?"