Chapter 1

I sat at the dinner table, surrounded by the savory aroma of various dishes meticulously arranged by my mom. Mr. Jaxon Harrington, my stepfather, always insisted on these morning feasts, and my mom always prepared them.

We sat together, everyone looking joyful and happy. At least, that's what we all thought.

Maxwell, my stepbrother, occupied the seat opposite mine. His presence was all that kept me sitting on the dining table, and I couldn't help but notice him.

Our legs danced beneath the table; his toes were kind of ticklish even as he used them to caress my legs. Avoiding eye contact became increasingly difficult, even as we giggled silently and smiled at each other.

“The food is really nice,"  Mr. Jaxon said, even as he looked at my mom with a big smile on his face.

"Thanks, baby,"  my mom said, even as she blew him a kiss.

“Love birds,"  I said under my breath, thinking no one heard me.

“I heard that,” my mom said, even as Mr. Jaxon laughed.

Suddenly, Mr. Jaxon asked. "So, Elara, how's your preparation going for your big day tomorrow?" he asked.

Of course, tomorrow was a big day for me—my graduation from college. Although it still seemed like every ordinary day to me,.

I turned away from Maxwell, redirecting my attention to Mr. Jaxon. "No preparations, really. Just the usual me going to wear my graduation gown, snap pictures, and come back home," I replied nonchalantly.

However, my response fell short for my mom. "Oh no, darling. Aren't you going to invite your boyfriend?" she asked.

Mum's words hit Maxwell hard; he choked on his water as he avoided eye contact with me.

"Your boyfriend?" Mr. Jaxon was questioned.

Caught in the spotlight, I cleared my throat and redirected my attention to my mom. "I don't have a boyfriend, Mom," I asserted.

Yet my mom persisted. "Can you explain where you sneak to every night through your window?" she asked.

It was my turn to choke; I did so instantly, even harder than Maxwell.

"Are you alright, dear?" Mr. Jaxon inquired.

I nodded slowly, trying to compose myself as my mom quickly handed me his glass of water. Maxwell eyes and mine locked, conveying more than words ever could as I drank the water in one gulp.

My mom's mind was basically in the questions she asked; even she continued with her inquiries.

"Where do you go all night, then?" she asked.

How was I going to tell her that I spent each night in my stepbrother's room?

I avoided Maxwell's gaze but could tell he was worried too; I noticed he stopped playing with my legs underneath the table.

"You're not going to tell me?" Mom continued, but Mr. Jaxon intervened. "Let her be; Elara is not a child."

It struck me as ironic—Mr. Jaxon was usually more understanding than my mom.

She swiftly diverted the conversation, bringing up Hunter Morgan, the son of one of Mr. Jaxon's business partners.

She turned her attention to Mr. Jaxon as she said, "So honey, how about Hunter Morgan? The last time I checked, he was deeply infatuated with Elara.

Money and status fueled her interests; it was obvious in her marriage to Maxwell's father.

My mom remarried within three months after his passing due to a heart attack caused by a financial collapse. We lost our home to the bank.

Suddenly, my mom was married to Jaxon Harrington, a business mogul. While I understood her motives to secure our financial stability, I resented the fact that she was also trying to do the same with me.

"Oh, Hunter? I didn't know he was into  Elara." Mr. Jaxon remarked. He turned his attention to me. "Is that so Elara?"

I managed a forced smile, responding with a hesitant "yes."

Complicating matters, Hunter and Maxwell were close friends, trapping me between two men while my heart belonged to one—a forbidden desire with no direction or outcome.

My mom suggested once again: "I'll invite Hunter over for your graduation tomorrow," she declared.

Swiftly, I objected, "No, Mum!" I wanted to avoid the uncomfortable tension between Hunter and Maxwell that had haunted me.

My Will’s gaze bore into me, clearly confused by my sudden objection. "Do you have a problem with Hunter attending your graduation?" he inquired.

Stammering, I struggled to find words...

I faltered, struggling to articulate my thoughts. "Ah, I... I just..."

Before I could gather my composure, he interrupted, "He's a close friend of your brother, isn't he?" He turned to Maxwell, seeking confirmation. "Or do you have a problem with him attending your sister's graduation?"

Maxwell reluctantly cleared his throat and replied, "No, no, it's fine."

However, beneath his words, I detected the unmistakable jealousy in Maxwell's eyes. He avoided meeting my gaze, even as he abruptly stood up.

"I'll take my leave now, Dad," he said. Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Oh, and Evelyn too; I'll invite her to my sister's graduation as well," he added.

I could sense the sarcasm in his voice. Of all the people to invite, he chose his ex-girlfriend? He was definitely out to make me jealous. And he did that remarkably well.

Jaxon responded with a smile on his face, "Oh, you're back with Evelyn?"

My mom chimed in as usual, "That's nice, son."

Maxwell shot me a sharp, serious glance before turning back to his father with a sly smile. "Since it's a family occasion, anything is possible, right?" He remarked before making his exit.

Fueled by anger, I dropped my cutlery onto my plate, the clattering sound drawing my mom and stepdad's attention. "What's wrong with you?" my mom asked.

"I need some juice." I hastily excused myself, claiming I needed juice, but my real intention was to catch up with Maxwell.

As I left, Jaxon turned to my mom, clearly perplexed because we were having a pleasant dinner, then suddenly, something seemed off.

"What's wrong with those two?" he wondered.