Ariana POV
If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be packing up my life to transfer universities, I probably would've laughed in their face. Or at least given them one of my Are you serious? looks.
But life has a funny way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it. And somehow, here I was—standing in my bedroom, surrounded by half-packed suitcases, about to start a whole new chapter.
"You're seriously taking all that?" a voice whined from the doorway.
I didn't have to turn around. I already knew who it was.
My younger brother, Damien—the absolute pest of my existence, even though he was barely a year younger than me—stood there with his messy hair sticking up in every direction, wearing the kind of smug grin that made me want to throw a pillow at him.
"It's called being prepared," I said sweetly, tossing a pair of heels into my suitcase.
"Prepared? Ariana, you packed like you're moving to another planet, not transferring schools."
He waltzed into the room like he owned it, dramatically collapsing onto my bed and squishing the clothes I had just neatly folded.
"Damien!" I shrieked, launching a throw pillow at his face. He caught it effortlessly, laughing like he hadn't just destroyed an hour's worth of my hard work.
"You should be thanking me. Lighten the load a little," he said, flipping onto his stomach and kicking his legs like a little kid.
I stormed over and tried to yank him off the bed, but Damien was faster. He scooped me up like a sack of potatoes, spinning me around the room while I screamed and laughed at the same time.
"PUT ME DOWN, YOU GREMLIN!" I yelled, pounding my fists against his back.
"Say 'Damien is the cooler sibling!'" he teased.
"NEVER!"
With a wicked grin, he plopped me onto the bed, and in revenge, I grabbed the closest thing I could—a rolled-up pair of socks—and whacked him squarely on the head.
Damien yelped dramatically, clutching his head like I'd seriously injured him.
"MOM! Ariana's trying to murder me!" he hollered, already laughing as he rolled off the bed to dodge another sock missile.
"Good! Maybe you'll finally shut up!" I shouted back, both of us grinning like idiots.
"That's enough, you two!"
Our mother's voice floated up the stairs, full of exasperated fondness.
Damien stuck his tongue out at me and sprinted down the hall before Mom could come investigate.
I flopped back onto the bed, breathing heavily, a stupid grin still plastered across my face.
As annoying as he was, I knew I was going to miss him like crazy.
A soft knock sounded on my door, and a moment later, Mom poked her head in.
She looked like she always did—elegant but effortless.
My mom, Amelia Smith, was a professional interior designer, known for turning even the dullest rooms into something magical. She had that natural touch, like she could see beauty where no one else could.
"You ready, sweetheart?" she asked, walking in and smoothing my messy hair back with her hand.
"Almost," I said, blinking faster than usual.
I hated goodbyes.
From the hallway, I heard the sound of heavy, careful footsteps. My dad, Dr. Liam Smith, appeared in the doorway, leaning slightly on his cane.
He'd been forced to retire early from his career as a doctor after being diagnosed with a chronic illness.
But he still wore that same kind, proud smile—the one that made me feel like no matter how crazy the world got, everything would be okay.
"You'll be amazing, Ari," Dad said warmly. "You always are."
I tried to smile, but my heart squeezed painfully in my chest.
"I'll miss you guys so much," I said, voice wobbly.
"We're just a call away," Mom reminded me, pulling me into a hug.
"And besides," Damien's voice called from downstairs, "the house will finally be peaceful!"
I laughed through my tears. "You wish!"
After a flurry of last-minute checks, a million hugs, and Dad insisting on carrying my suitcase even though Mom and I tried to stop him, we finally loaded up the car and my mom and I sat in.
My stomach twisted in nervous knots as I waved at my father and my brother, we pulled out of the driveway, my old world shrinking behind me.
I was transferring to Westbridge University, one of the top schools for Business and Enterprise Management. It was prestigious, competitive, and, honestly, a little terrifying.
But I knew it was the right step.
Especially with the internship opportunities they promised—including some at major companies... like the one owned by Garcia's Group.
_________
The drive felt like forever with all the thoughts bouncing around my head.
Just as I was about to spiral into another panic attack about new beginnings and prestigious programs, my mom's phone rang.
"It's Anna," she said, putting it on speaker.
Anna Dawson was one of my mother's closest friends—practically family at this point. She had a warmth to her that made you feel at home, even through a phone call.
"Hi, Amelia!" Anna's cheerful voice filled the car. "Is Ariana ready for her big adventure?"
I smiled, a little shy. "Hi, Auntie Anna," I said.
"Sweetheart, I'm so excited for you! And listen, don't you worry about anything, alright?" Anna said brightly. "The boys are thrilled to have you."
"Boys? Mom you didn't tell me I was going to live with boys" I said, a little alarmed. She didn't say anything and just blinked, I smiled at that.
"Oh, yes!" Aunt Anna laughed. "My son, Ivan, and his two friends, Max and Ethan. They're all attending Westbridge too. The mansion's much too big for just the three of them, and honestly, it'll be good for them to have someone responsible around."
I blinked. Mansion?
What kind of setup was I walking into?
"And don't mind Ivan, alright?" she continued in a conspiratorial whisper like she thought I couldn't hear. "He might come off a bit cold at first, but he's a really sweet and funny guy once you get past the iceberg exterior."
I bit back a nervous laugh.
Sweet and funny iceberg... great.
"And who knows," Anna teased, "maybe you two will hit it off. I'd love to see you end up together!"
I felt my cheeks warm, and I glanced helplessly at my mom, who was stifling a giggle.
"Auntie Anna!" I whined.
"What? I'm just saying!" she laughed. "You're both young and gorgeous—what's the harm in a little fate?"
I shook my head, smiling despite myself.
Love? Relationships?
Please.
Those words weren't even in my dictionary right now.
I was here to study, chase dreams, and maybe figure myself out along the way.
Falling for some cold, funny, handsome boy was definitely not on the agenda.
______
The heavy oak doors swung open before I could even lift a finger.
Two maids in neat uniforms greeted me with polite smiles and immediately took my suitcase and carry-ons, making me stumble over my own feet.
"Welcome, miss," one of them said warmly.
"We've been expecting you."
I blinked, still trying to process the fact that real-life maids were carrying my bags like I was some VIP.
This place... wow.
Stepping inside, I felt my breath catch.
The entrance hall alone was bigger than my entire house back home.
The floor was polished marble that gleamed under the massive chandelier above.
Sweeping staircases curled up into the floors above, and enormous paintings lined the walls, each one more impressive than the last.
"Is this a house or a museum?" I whispered to myself.
As I was turning in a slow circle, admiring the luxury, a voice drifted through the hall.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
I spun around—and nearly lost my balance.
Standing at the base of the stairs was a guy who could easily pass for a model.
He had messy blond hair that looked perfectly styled, deep-set grey eyes full of mischief, and a lean, athletic build.
He wore ripped jeans and a white t-shirt, and the way he leaned against the banister so casually made him look like he belonged in a magazine ad for "Effortless Cool."
He smiled at me, a warm, slightly teasing smile, and started walking toward me, each step smooth and elegant like he had music playing just for him.
"Hi there," he said, his voice light and friendly. "You must be Ariana."
I gulped—literally gulped—and nodded.
"Uh, yeah. That's me."
"Welcome to the madhouse," he joked with a wink.
I laughed, instantly feeling a little more at ease.
He had one of those smiles that made you want to trust him... or maybe just blush uncontrollably.
Just as I thought maybe I could survive here, another voice cut in.
"Are you flirting with the new girl already, Ethan ?"
Turning my head, I spotted another guy walking toward us from the other side of the hallway.
Just like Ethan, this guy was also striking and magnetic.
He had sharp features, olive-toned skin, and eyes so dark they looked black under the light.
His black hair was short and messy in a perfect "I woke up like this" way, and he wore a fitted dark green shirt that showed off just enough muscle to make me look away quickly.
He smirked, a confident tilt to his lips as he sized me up.
"And who," he said slowly, like he was savoring the words, "allowed someone this gorgeous into our house without warning?"
I felt my cheeks burn.
Ethan rolled his eyes but grinned.
"This is Max," Ethan introduced with a mock bow.
"And yes, he's always this dramatic."
Before I could respond, Max casually reached for my hand—stealing it right out of Ethan's—and pressed a mock kiss to my knuckles.
"Pleasure to meet you, beautiful," Max said with a dazzling smile.
"Please tell me you're staying forever."
I gaped, not knowing whether to laugh or run.
These boys were too much.
Too handsome.
Too charming.
Too... everything.
Ethan snorted and lightly shoved Max shoulder.
"Easy, Romeo. She's not even unpacked yet."
I laughed at their antics, feeling a strange giddiness bubble up in my chest.
How on earth was I supposed to live with guys like this?
"Names officially: I'm Ethan Carter," the blond one said, giving a half-salute.
"Max Reyes," added the dark-haired flirt with a wink.
They both looked at me expectantly.
"I'm Ariana, Ariana Smith" I said.
---
Later, after a brief tour full of jokes, random directions, and playful bickering, I was led to my room.
And wow.
The bedroom was straight out of a luxury catalog—
Soft golden light flooded the space from large windows draped in velvet curtains.
A king-sized bed sat elegantly in the center, topped with plush pillows and a silky cream comforter.
There was a cozy sitting area with a mini library on one wall, and a small balcony that overlooked a sparkling backyard pool.
It was cozy and grand at the same time, with hints of warmth in the soft rugs and paintings.
It felt... safe.
Special.
I threw myself onto the bed with a happy sigh.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
---
That evening, feeling a little restless, I decided to go find the kitchen.
Maybe snag a snack or, more realistically, get lost trying to remember which hallway led where.
I slipped out of my room, tiptoeing into the massive hallway.
And then—
Wham.
I collided straight into something solid.
Someone solid.
Strong hands caught me before I could fall backward.
Heart racing, I lifted my head to apologize—and froze.
The guy standing in front of me was unlike anyone I had ever seen. Wow, he was tall, towering even, with messy dark hair that looked like he'd just rolled out of bed but somehow made it look damn sexy.
Sharp, angular jawline dusted with the lightest stubble.
Eyes—oh God, the eyes—icy blue, piercing right through me.
I could see his thin pink lips curved, jeez, he was soo handsome.
He wasn't just handsome, he was was devastating.
My words died in my throat cos how can I even speak, I was oo shocked, falling into the arms of this, this, I didn't even know what to say.
This was not a mortal. This was a masterpiece. A real Adonis.
He looked at me, cool and unreadable.
"Watch where you're going," he said, voice low and rough, almost lazy.
Then he smirked—like he knew exactly the effect he had on me—and walked past without another word.
I stood there, speechless, still feeling the heat of where he had caught my arm.