NEW HOUSE

Three Days Later,

“Miss Katherine! We’re going to be there in five.” The old chauffeur said, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I gave him a weak smile when our eyes met, but it quickly faded as soon as he turned his attention back to the road.

I sighed, trying to quell the nervous flutters in my stomach. My fingers fiddled with the hem of my shirt, and I looked out the window, trying to absorb the new environment. Washington was much greener and wetter than the dry town where I spent my teenage years.

The lush trees lined both sides of the winding road, their leaves glistening under the soft drizzle that had begun to fall. The air was cool and smelled of pine, a stark contrast to the dry, sun-baked earth I was used to. I’d always dreamed of visiting a place like that, but now that I was here, all I could feel was dread. My heart pounded against my chest as the feeling of unease consumed me.

I was moving in with seven stepbrothers, none of whom I had ever met, and without my mom there to make me feel welcome. My highly anti-social self was about to be thrust into a house full of strangers—boys, no less—in their territory while my mom was enjoying her vacations in Europe with their dad.

It was my fault, to be honest. I was the one who declined the invitation to their wedding. I could have met the whole family back then, and it was quite apparent that Derek wanted me there. There were two flight tickets along with the invitation, and yet, I chose to stay behind, making excuses about school and work.

Now, I was paying the price.

The car pulled up outside a gigantic mansion, and my breathing quickened. I stared at the white and gray structure with wooden panels and vast glass walls in places. It was one of those modern mansions with a flat roof and huge balconies, loaded with overgrown potted plants.

It was a nice-looking house, but the contrast against the forest seemed odd to me. My only experience with a mansion was from Dad’s estate in London, and it was a Victorian mansion with acres of open fields all around. This felt... odd, almost too structured, like something out of a architecture magazine.

I stepped out of the car, tucking the loose strands of my copper hair behind my ears and looking around nervously. There were four sports cars—a Lamborghini, an Audi, and two Porsches—parked in the driveway. They gleamed under the muted sunlight, and from inside the house, I could hear Taylor Swift blasting through the walls.

“That must be Alex. He likes to annoy his brothers by blasting loud music,” the chauffeur said, rolling my bag out from the trunk. He chuckled before continuing, “He’s around your age. All the others treat him like a king. You’ll either love him or absolutely hate him.”

“Do you love him, or hate him?” I asked, trying to gauge what kind of person Alex was.

“Probably hate,” he said with a laugh. “He’s spoiled and wastes money like water. But don’t judge him based on my feelings.”

I nodded, “Okay.”

As the old man knocked on the door, I felt my anxiety spike. I wasn't ready to meet them, yet, the door opened almost immediately, and a handsome man came into view. He had black hair and big brown eyes, hidden behind thick glasses. He looked older than me and seemed slightly surprised to see me standing there.

I forced out a polite smile for him as the chauffeur carried my bags inside the house. The man returned the favor with a weak attempt of his own, and suddenly, it was just the two of us standing awkwardly on his front porch, waiting for the other to say something.

Unable to stand still or look him in the eyes, I let my gaze drift inside the house, taking in the spacious entryway and modern décor. Maybe sensing my discomfort, he broke the silence.

“We’re not going to kill you if that’s what scares you,” the man said with a friendly smile. Though I could sense he was joking, I couldn't help but look at him in confusion out of habit. “Don’t have much interest in humor, got it. Anyway, I believe you’re Katherine, right? I’m Dev. Come inside.”

He leaned against the door frame, and I let out a sigh of relief, ready to leave the awkwardness that was dancing around us.

“Don’t like meeting new people?” he asked, noticing my actions. I shook my head, staring at the floor. “Well, there are only seven of us. It won’t be that hard.” He joked again, but I could only offer him a tight-lipped smile in return.

Talking to strangers for the first time has always been difficult for me… unless I was drunk, of course.

The night from three days ago flashed before my eyes, and a pang of sadness settled in my chest. I still remembered everything about that night, about Lucas, and those memories stung. The next morning, I had woken up in an empty bed. Lucas had left while I was still sleeping, leaving only a note behind, nothing else.

“I-I will be okay. Just some time, I’ll adjust,” I answered honestly, trying not to let my sadness show.

“That’s nice to hear,” Dev said in an encouraging, friendly voice. “Come on, let me show you around.”

His warm tone made me feel slightly better, but the anxiety still gnawed at me as I followed him through the entryway. The inside of the mansion was even more impressive than the outside. High ceilings, large windows letting in natural light, and sleek, modern furniture made it feel both luxurious and strangely impersonal.

“This place is huge,” I muttered, more to myself than to Dev.

“Yeah, it’s easy to get lost in here,” he replied with a chuckle but noticing the hint of fear in my eyes he added. “But don’t worry, you’ll find your way around soon enough.”

We passed by a room with the door slightly ajar, and I peeked inside to see a guy lounging on a beanbag chair, his eyes glued to a video game on the big screen. He had silver dyed hair, and his features were sharper, more intense than Dev. He looked up and met my gaze for a split second before returning his attention to the game, not saying a word.

“That’s Ian,” Dev said in a low voice as we continued walking. “He’s… quiet. Don’t take it personally if he doesn’t talk much.”

I nodded, trying to remember the name and the face that went with it.

We walked into another sitting area, and it was even larger than the previous one, which I assumed was the entrance hall. The space was overwhelming, making me feel even smaller and more out of place.

Dev glanced back at me, catching the awe in my eyes. “This is the family room,” he said with a slight smile, trying to ease my nerves.

I was immediately enveloped in an aura of modern luxury. The charcoal-gray furnishings at the center of the room were seamlessly blended with ivory-colored rug, creating a sophisticated contrast. Sunlight streamed through the massive windows above and the sliding doors that opened to the backyard, casting a golden glow on the polished marble floors beneath my feet.

Gilded accents caught my eye—from elegant chandeliers that hung gracefully overhead to a meticulously crafted coffee table in the room's center. Everything in the room screamed wealth and careful curation, from the plush cushions on the couches to the abstract paintings adorning the walls.

As we walked further in, I noticed a stunning water feature on the left, starting from the end of a conversation pit and flowing into the pool outside. I had never seen anything like it before. There was an art installation at the corner of the pit, a series of sleek metal sculptures that seemed to dance in the sunlight. Intrigued, I drifted closer, wanting to examine it further.

Just as I was about to reach out and touch one of the sculptures, I jumped back, startled by the sight of a man sprawled on the sofa. His presence had gone unnoticed until he shifted slightly, his disheveled hair falling over his eyes.

He groaned softly, stretching his arms above his head as he slowly woke up. His voice, thick with sleep, filled the room, “Is that our little sister?”