Chapter 1

ELLIE

You can’t really say you’re living when you’re living in constant fear. That saying summed up my entire 17 years of existence on this godforsaken planet we call Earth.

As my father and I sat in the car in an almost deafening silence, we made our way to Manhattan to start what Dad called “a brand new life”. A brand new life in a brand new place, with a brand new family. My dad was getting married to a chick I barely even knew and only ever met once.

“When are we going to get there?” I asked as I placed my feet up on the dashboard. The heat was melting my soaked thighs on the leather seat even though summer was practically over.

My dad’s eyes were focused on the road, but he gave me a warm smile. “In like 30 minutes, be patient Ellie.”

My eyes scanned his relaxed face, eased shoulders, and warm brown skin. As much as I hated the idea of leaving my life behind to move in with a broad I didn’t know, she seemed good to him. He seemed...happier. I guess I’d just have to put up with her...and her son.

God! I almost forgot about that, I have a fucking brother now too.

“You’re going to love Manhattan, trust me. This will be good for you...for us Ellie.” I forced a smile on my face as he reached out to draw soothing circles on my thigh.

On the plus side, a new life also meant a life far far away from my mother, the woman who ruled our life with paralyzing fear. The woman who never found it hard to bring her hands down on her daughter, never afraid to draw blood, never afraid to slam her own daughter’s head on the wall until it bled.

I guess my dad was right. A new life meant no more “Tell your father anything and I’ll smother you in your sleep you little shit” or “Do you really think anyone’s going to believe a little brat?” or her personal favorite “If anyone asks, you fell.”

“You hear me, Ellie, you fucking fell!”

I bit down on my tongue to erase her hoarse voice from my mind as my dad pulled over to what I’d confidently say was the biggest house I’d ever seen in my entire life. To think just one person owned such a massive house was beyond me. An audible gasp left my mouth as I entered the front yard, circling the giant ceramic fountain in the middle.

Why would anyone even need a fountain in front of their house?

When my dad had said Emily was comfortable, this wasn’t what I thought he meant. This wasn’t comfortable. This was filthy rich. Comfortable was maybe having a small apartment you can sometimes make rent for, this was the “oh my gosh, I just finished having lunch at the white house” level of rich.

“You said she was comfortable, you didn’t say she was fucking loaded!” I said to my dad as I got out of the car. Our rusty truck looked like scrap metal next to the ridiculously clean white mansion.

“Ellie, your language please.” my dad sighed.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, my heart fluttered with excitement as my eyes circled my surroundings.

Snap out of it Ellie, this is how they get you. They show you their shiny new toys, and their shiny new cars and houses, and boom you’re in their grasp.

Living in Coney Island wasn’t the best, it was the worst, the absolute worst but it was home. It was all I’d ever known. The noisy streets and decaying buildings of my neighbourhood were familiar. The worn flooring and chipped paint of my house were familiar. The flickering light bulb which constantly fought to stay on and the tingling air of garbage were all familiar. They were all awful but they were all I had ever known.

My excited smile dropped as my brain fully took in where I was. I wasn’t in Coney Island anymore, I wasn’t in that shabby house anymore, I wasn’t with my mother anymore. She was taken away a long time ago but now there wasn’t any chance of her coming back. I was safe now in Manhattan, this is my home now. I knew I was supposed to be happy, anyone in my shoes would have been but God, the heavy presence that lingered in my heart had such a suffocating weight.

“Ellie” my dad’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Emily and a bunch of butlers and maids stood in front of me. I hadn’t even realized when they got there.

Emily wore a warm smile on her face as she pulled my father next to her, wrapping her arm around his, affirming her grasp on him.

“I’m so happy you two got here safely” Her voice was like a melody woven with warmth, like a gentle lullaby. It fit her angelic face perfectly.

I could see why my father fell in love with Emily, as much as I wouldn’t like to admit. She possessed a soft elegance, with eyes that held a warmth that almost looked like kindness. She was exceptionally beautiful as well, with ethereal blue eyes and hair that cascaded down her back like white blonde waves.

God, I hated how perfect she was.

I replied with silence and simply went to the trunk to get our bags, but one of the butlers had beaten me to it.

“Ellie...please” my father whispered into my ear. I turned around to see a pleading look in his eyes.

Before I could say anything back, Emily’s voice broke through “Aiden, there you are. I sent the butler to get you hours ago.”

And out walked Aiden Castro, my new stepbrother. As he came down those steps, my chest twisted with a fiercer loathing than it did for Emily. He looked like he walked straight out of a magazine, all perfect and shit. He flashed my dad and I a smile which for some reason, made my irritation brew.

“It's nice to see you again, Mr Sanders.”

The asshole basically was the epitome of perfection, a painful balance of sharp features seamlessly woven together with his deep green eyes and silky dark hair drawing you in. The allure of his rich, deep voice echoed charm, and every gesture he made exuded a confidence I silently wished I had.

“It’s good to see you too, Aiden. This is Ellie.” My dad said, pulling me to his side.

Aiden towered over me slightly. The polite smile on his face drew into a smirk as he pulled out his hand. “It's nice to meet you, Ellie”.

The scowl on my face equally grew as I reluctantly took his hand in mine. “It's nice to meet you too Aiden.”

Our parents went into the house, leaving us with the butlers and maids who were occupied with our luggage.

“I’m glad you made it in one piece, baby sister,” he whispered in my ear with a mocking smile.

“I’m not your fucking baby sister.”