Victoria adjusted the strap of her backpack and stared at the massive white house in front of her. It looked straight out of a magazine—gleaming windows, a perfect lawn, and a porch decorated with bright flower pots. Everything about it screamed perfection, which only reminded her of how messy her life had become.
“This is home now,” her father said, forcing a cheerful tone as he opened the car door.
Victoria hesitated. She wasn’t ready for this. Not the new house, not the woman standing at the door smiling at her, and definitely not the complicated family situation she was walking into.
The divorce had already been hard enough. Watching her parents’ marriage fall apart had shattered everything she knew. And now, moving in with her dad and his new wife felt like saying goodbye to her old life for good. She missed her mom, even if their relationship had been rocky lately. At least at her mom’s place, things were familiar—messy, but familiar.
“Victoria!” Lydia’s voice rang out, overly sweet. Her dad’s new wife. The woman who had replaced her mother.
Victoria forced a polite smile as she walked toward her. Lydia wrapped her in a hug that smelled like expensive perfume, whispering, “We’re so happy to have you here.” The words felt rehearsed, and the hug lacked the warmth Victoria longed for.
“You must be tired from the drive,” Lydia continued. “Come inside. I made lemonade.”
Victoria muttered a quiet “thanks” and followed them inside, her eyes wandering over the perfectly arranged flowerpots by the door. Everything here was too perfect. She already felt like she didn’t belong.
Then she saw him.
Ethan.
He stood just inside the doorway, casually leaning against the wall. Dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his sharp eyes met hers with a look she couldn’t quite read—curiosity? Disinterest? Something in between?
“This is Ethan,” Lydia said, beaming. “My son.”
Ethan gave a small nod, a polite but distant smile on his lips.
“Nice to meet you,” Victoria said, keeping her voice steady despite the strange feeling creeping up her spine.
“Likewise,” Ethan said, his voice low and smooth.
For a brief moment, their eyes locked, and something flickered in her chest—something she quickly ignored. He was just Ethan. Her stepbrother. Nothing more.
As she followed her dad and Lydia deeper into the house, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t yet understand. And somehow, she knew Ethan would be at the center of it.
Inside, the house was just as pristine as the outside—gleaming floors, modern furniture, and artwork that looked expensive. It felt more like a model home than a place where people actually lived.
“Let me show you your room,” Lydia said, leading her upstairs. Her dad trailed behind, offering her an encouraging smile. She tried to return it, but nerves made it difficult.
Ethan stayed downstairs, leaning against the back of the couch, scrolling on his phone. Victoria found herself glancing at him one last time before disappearing upstairs.
Lydia opened the door to a spacious room at the end of the hall. “Here we are,” she said, stepping aside
.
The room was bright, with a large window overlooking the backyard. The walls were a soft blue, and the bed had a fluffy white comforter. A desk and a half-filled bookshelf sat in the corner, clearly picked out for her.
“I hope it’s to your liking,” Lydia said, her voice filled with nervous excitement. “If you need anything, let me know.”
“It’s nice. Thanks,” Victoria said, setting her backpack down by the bed.
“I’ll let you settle in. Dinner’s at seven,” Lydia said before leaving with her dad.
As soon as they were gone, Victoria let out a breath and sank onto the bed, running her fingers over the comforter. Everything about this place felt foreign. She wasn’t sure how she’d ever fit in.
She glanced out the window. The backyard had a pool, a stone patio with a fire pit, and a small garden—like something from a lifestyle blog. It was easy to see why her dad had fallen for Lydia. This was the kind of life he had always wanted.
But where did that leave her?
She spent the next hour unpacking, trying to make the space feel like her own. She placed a few framed pictures on the desk—one of her and her mom at the beach last summer, another of her old cat, Milo. She draped a colorful scarf over the chair and pinned a postcard from an old friend onto the corkboard above the desk.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
At seven, she made her way downstairs, stomach twisting with nerves. The dining table was set with fancy plates and cloth napkins. Lydia bustled around the kitchen while her dad poured water into glasses.
Ethan was already at the table, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up briefly when she walked in, giving her a small nod before looking away.
“Victoria, sit here,” Lydia said, gesturing to a seat across from Ethan. “I made roast chicken. I hope you like it.”
“Sounds great,” Victoria said, even though she wasn’t particularly hungry.
Dinner was awkward. Lydia and her dad carried most of the conversation, filling the silence with small talk. Ethan barely spoke, answering questions with short, uninterested replies. He seemed to be avoiding looking at Victoria, though she caught him sneaking glances when he thought she wasn’t looking.
“So, Victoria,” Lydia said brightly. “Have you thought about joining any clubs at your new school?”
“Not really,” Victoria admitted. “I just want to survive the first week.”
“That’s understandable,” Lydia said. “But Ethan could show you around. He knows all the ins and outs of the school.”
Ethan looked up from his phone, raising an eyebrow. “I’m sure she’ll figure it out.”
Lydia frowned. “Ethan, don’t be rude.”
“I’m not,” he said, shrugging. “She seems capable of handling it.”
Victoria’s cheeks burned. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to compliment her or just avoiding responsibility. Either way, it made her uncomfortable.
“It’s fine,” she said quickly. “I’ll be okay on my own.”
The rest of dinner passed in a blur. Victoria kept her eyes on her plate, nodding along to whatever her dad or Lydia said. She barely registered the conversation. Her mind was stuck on the reality that in just a few days, she’d be starting school in a town that didn’t feel like hers, surrounded by strangers.
She glanced up once more and met Ethan’s gaze for the briefest second before he looked away.
He was a mystery—calm, detached, yet strangely magnetic. He carried himself like someone who was used to keeping others at arm’s length.
Did he see her as a threat to his life here? Or was she just another piece in Lydia’s perfect family puzzle?
After dinner, Victoria offered to help clean up, but Lydia waved her off. “You’ve had a long day. Go relax. Ethan, why don’t you show her around the house?”
Ethan barely hid his annoyance. “I think she can figure it out.”
Lydia shot him a warning look. “It’ll take five minutes.”
Ethan sighed but nodded. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Victoria followed him, unsure what to say. The silence between them felt like an unspoken challenge.
“This is the living room,” he said flatly, gesturing toward the large, modern space.
“It’s nice,” she said, though it felt too perfect, too staged.
“Yeah, Lydia likes things to look like no one actually lives here,” Ethan muttered.
Victoria glanced at him, surprised. His voice carried a sharp edge, hinting at something deeper.
For the first time since she arrived, she realized something: Ethan wasn’t just closed off. He was unhappy.
And for some reason, that made her even more curious about him.
