Chapter 1 Chapter One

To them, today is a big day. To me? It’s just another disaster waiting to happen.

Valentine’s Day.

Our school forum is blowing up. Girls are posting nonstop about where they’re going, what they’re wearing, what gifts they’re getting. Some are already screaming about “the best day ever” like it hasn’t even started yet.

I lie on my bed, staring at my phone like it owes me something. No texts. Well except one.

Lois.

(Happy Valentine’s Day Freya ❤️)

(When are you coming out so we can walk to school?)

I sigh.

What exactly makes me happy about Valentine’s Day? Everyone is excited. I’m annoyed.

Today is just going to be the same thing: Sit alone in the art room, avoid getting picked on, watch pretty girls get flowers like it’s a movie scene and somehow survive seeing Xen.

Ugh. Xen.

My stepbrother. My personal curse. Actually, scratch that! My whole life lately feels like a curse. We just moved into my stepdad’s mansion. And when I say mansion, I mean Mansion. It's big, fancy and annoying. Mum says it’s “better for us” because it’s closer to school. Yeah. Sure.

Totally not because she’s been dying to move in with that rich Italian man,Vesco Romano.

Her perfect husband. And his even more perfect son who walks around like the world should thank him for existing.

And now? Xen’s starting at my school today. So yeah. Valentine’s Day just upgraded from bad to the worst day of my life.

“Freya, time for school!” Mum calls.

I ignore her.

Maybe if I stay still long enough, I’ll disappear.

“Freya, are you still sleeping?” she calls again.

I groan and pull my pillow over my face. If today had a face, I’d punch it.

I sigh and finally sit up.

“Yeah, I’m awake!” I shout back, my voice full of fake energy because apparently, I’m a morning person now. How exciting.

I drag myself out of bed and head to the bathroom. My reflection greets me like it always does.

Unimpressed!

I brush my teeth slowly, staring at myself like I’m trying to solve a mystery. After a quick shower, I stand in front of the mirror again, towel wrapped around me.

I tilt my head.

“Am I ugly?” I ask my reflection.

“Or am I just… invisible?.” That feels more accurate.

I study my face like there’s something I’ve missed all these years. What exactly is my problem? Why do other girls get attention so easily? What do they have that I don’t?

I squint at myself. “Is it my face? My vibe? My entire existence?”

I sigh and turn away, reaching for my uniform. Another day to put on this. Evermont High doesn’t joke with appearances. The uniform is annoyingly perfect.

A pleated skirt that falls just elegant, not too short, not too long. A crisp white shirt and a fitted black blazer with silver buttons that scream expensive, together with a thin tie, dark and neat, like we’re all secretly training to run a company. Everything about it says class and it's too bad I don’t feel like I belong in it.

When I walk downstairs, the smell of breakfast hits me first. Then reality hits harder. They’re all there. Mum is smiling like this is some perfect family morning while Vesco Romano sits at the head of the table, calm and composed like a man in a magazine.

And then there’s him.

Xen.

Sitting there like he owns the air we breathe. He’s already dressed in the Evermont uniform.

His blazer on and tie loose, looking like he walked straight out of some rich-kid fantasy.

He eats like nothing matters, like today isn’t about to ruin my life. Like he isn’t about to ruin my life!

I pause at the stairs, already annoyed. Of course he looks good in the uniform. That's a fact I can't deny and I hate it.

Xen glances up for a second. His face is expressionless then he goes right back to eating. That nonchalant punk. I narrow my eyes.

Oh, this is going to be a long day.

I walk to the table slowly, like maybe if I take my time, this whole thing will disappear but it doesn’t.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Mum says brightly.

I force a tight smile and sit down. “Morning.”

A plate is already set for me. Toast, eggs, fruits and everything is arranged perfectly. I pick up a fork and poke at the eggs like they personally offended me.

“We were just talking about school,” Mum says.

“That’s nice,” I mutter.

She ignores my tone.

“Since Xen is starting Evermont today, I was thinking…”

“No.”

The word slips out before she even finishes.

Mum blinks. “Freya, at least let me finish”

“I already know what you’re going to say,” I cut in, taking a slow bite of toast. “And the answer is still no.”

Across the table, Xen doesn’t even look up. He just keeps eating like this is background noise.

Annoying.

“Freya,” Mum says, her voice tightening slightly, “it would be nice if you could help him settle in…”

“He looks very settled to me,” I say, glancing at him. “In fact, he looks like he owns the school already. I think he’ll survive without my assistance.”

Vesco clears his throat softly. “It’s just a simple suggestion.”

“Oh, I know,” I say quickly, giving him a polite smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Everything here is always just a simple suggestion.”

Mum sighs. “Why are you being like this?”

“Like what?” I ask innocently.

“Difficult.”

I pause, then shrug. “Maybe I learned from my environment.”

There's silence. Mum’s lips press together. Vesco looks mildly uncomfortable. Xen? He's still eating.

Mum tries again, softer this time. “Freya, he’s your brother. The least you can do is…”

“Coexist peacefully?” I cut in. “I am. I’m sitting here. I’m breathing. I haven’t flipped the table. That’s growth.”

Xen lets out the faintest huff almost like a laugh but it’s gone so quickly I’m not even sure I heard it. I glare at him.

“Oh, did I amuse you?” I say.

He finally looks up, calm as ever. “Not particularly.”

I scoff. “Good. I’d hate to entertain you for free.”

“Freya!,” Mum warns.

“What?” I throw my hands up slightly. “I’m just saying. If he’s going to be around, we should set boundaries.”

“Boundaries?” Mum repeats.

“Yes. For example ” I gesture lazily toward Xen. “He stays on his side of existence, I stay on mine. Everybody’s happy.”

“That’s not how a family works,” Mum says.

I smile, but it’s thin. “Then maybe we shouldn’t pretend this is one.”