Chapter 4

　　Ariana's POV

　　"I believe people are drawn to what they can't have."

　　"And is that wrong?"

　　The question felt loaded, dangerous. "That depends on why it's forbidden in the first place."

　　Luca shifted beside me, his knee pressing against mine under the desk. I tried to move away, but Ethan was a solid wall on my other side.

　　"Let me see your notes," Ethan murmured, leaning over.

　　"I'm still writing."

　　He didn't ask again. He simply angled his body toward mine, one hand reaching across to point at my notebook. "You missed the point about Guinevere's agency. Here."

　　His breath was warm against my ear as he leaned in, his chest nearly touching my shoulder. His hand covered mine, guiding my pen across the page. The touch sent electricity racing up my arm.

　　"Got it?" he whispered.

　　I couldn't find my voice, so I nodded.

　　He lingered for a moment longer than necessary before pulling back.

　　"Mr. Sterling," Victor's voice cracked like a whip. "Do you have something to share with the class?"

　　"Just helping Ariana with her notes, Dad."

　　"Miss Cole is perfectly capable of taking her own notes." Victor's eyes flashed with something dark. "Keep your hands to yourself."

　　The class went dead silent. Ethan's jaw clenched, but he said nothing. The rest of the period was tense. I could feel both brothers on either side of me, could feel Victor's gaze burning into me every time I moved. When I shifted in my seat, Luca's hand brushed my thigh. When I reached for my water bottle, Ethan was already handing it to me. I was suffocating.

　　Lunch was worse. I tried to sit with my friend Maya, but Luca appeared out of nowhere, sliding his tray down beside mine.

　　"Move along, Maya," he said with a charming smile that didn't match the warning in his eyes.

　　"Luca, what are you doing?" I hissed.

　　"Eating lunch with my stepsister. That's allowed, isn't it?"

　　Maya gathered her things and left, shooting me an apologetic look. Ethan joined us moments later, claiming the seat across from me. "How was your morning?"

　　"Fine until you two showed up."

　　"Ouch." Luca stole a french fry from my plate. "Is that any way to talk to your loving stepbrothers?"

　　"We're not.." I lowered my voice. "We're not family. Not really."

　　Something flickered in Ethan's eyes. "No. I guess we're not."

　　The way he said it made my stomach flip.

　　A guy from my English class approached, smiling nervously. "Hey, Ariana. I was wondering if you wanted to study together for..."

　　"She's busy," Luca cut in, his voice dropping to something cold.

　　"I didn't ask you."

　　Luca stood slowly, and despite being the same height, he somehow seemed to tower over the other boy. "I'm telling you. She's busy. Walk away."

　　"Luca," I started.

　　But the guy was already backing up, hands raised. "Sorry, man. Didn't know she was taken."

　　"I'm not taken!" I snapped, but he was gone.

　　I rounded on Luca. "What is wrong with you?"

　　"He was bothering you."

　　"He was being nice!"

　　"He wanted more than studying." Ethan's voice was matter of fact. "Trust me."

　　"I don't care what he wants. You don't get to decide who I talk to."

　　Luca leaned in close, his eyes intense. "Yeah, princess. We really do."

　　The rest of the day passed in a haze of confusion and frustration. Everywhere I turned, one of them was there. Watching. Waiting. Claiming space beside me like they had every right. By the time the final bell rang, I was desperate for space. I went to my locker, planning to grab my things and find somewhere, anywhere, to be alone. The door swung open.A folded piece of paper fell out, landing at my feet. My hands shook as I picked it up, unfolding it slowly.

　　The handwriting was elegant, controlled:

　　"Ariana... don't forget who you belong to."

　　The paper slipped from my fingers. I spun around, scanning the crowded hallway. Students rushed past, laughing and talking. Normal. Everything looked so normal.

　　But someone was watching me. I could feel it like a physical touch, crawling across my skin. Was it Ethan, standing by the water fountain with his phone out? Was it Luca, leaning against the lockers twenty feet away with that knowing smirk?

　　Or was it Victor, visible through the classroom window, his green eyes locked directly on mine? I didn't know. And that terrified me most of all...

　　The tension in the Sterling mansion had become a living thing, thick enough to choke on. I'd been living here for two weeks, and every day felt like walking through a minefield. One wrong step, one wrong word, and everything would explode. Tonight was no different.

　　"Move," Ethan said flatly, standing behind Luca's chair at the dinner table.

　　Luca didn't even look up from his phone. "I'm sitting here."

　　"That's my seat."

　　"Since when do you have an assigned seat?"

　　"Since you decided to sit next to Ariana every single night." Ethan's voice dropped dangerously low. "Move. Now."

　　I set down my water glass, my appetite vanishing. "Can we please just eat in peace for once?"

　　"We could if Luca knew his place," Ethan said.

　　Luca's chair scraped back as he stood, squaring up to his brother. They were the same height, both broad shouldered and intimidating. "My place? You mean the place you've decided I should have? News flash, brother, you don't run everything."

　　"Boys." Victor's voice cut through the argument like a knife. He stood in the doorway, still in his work clothes, his expression thunderous. "What's going on here?"

　　"Ethan's being a controlling ass," Luca said.

　　"Luca's being deliberately difficult," Ethan countered. Victor's jaw clenched. He moved into the room, his presence immediately dominating the space. "This is about where you sit at dinner? Are you children?"

　　"It's about respect," Ethan said through gritted teeth.

　　"Respect?" Victor's laugh was harsh. "You want to talk about respect while you fight over a chair next to Ariana like dogs fighting over a bone?"