Lin splashed cold water on his face, his trembling fingers gripping the sink as droplets slid down and blurred his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His heart hadn't stopped racing since earlier that afternoon. The fear of his mother noticing, of her questioning eyes, of her worrying thoughts everything weighed on him. He pressed his palms into his cheeks as though he could wash away not just the sweat, but the heaviness suffocating his chest.
A few minutes later, he forced himself downstairs. The faint scent of spices and oil drifted into the hall, warm and homely, a comfort he didn't feel inside. His mother was in the kitchen, bent slightly forward as she sliced onions with practiced movements, her soft humming cut by the rhythm of the knife against the cutting board.
"Lin," she said without looking up, as though she had been waiting for him. "Dimitri called me earlier to check if you were at home."
Lin stiffened at his brother's name. He quickly straightened his expression and walked further in. "Oh… I'm back, Mom," he said, forcing a casual tone, though his voice came out too thin. His gaze shifted to the kitchen counter, overflowing with dishes in preparation. "What's all this? Are we… having a party? Why are you cooking so much food?"
His mother, Jana, smiled softly and brushed her hand over the chopped onions before placing them aside. "Dimitri is bringing his girlfriend today. He wants to introduce her to me and your father." Her eyes shone with hope as she spoke. "Isn't that wonderful? I only hope you'll do the same for us one day, Lin."
The words pierced him like glass. His breath caught, his heart stuttering painfully. Mira. Mira is coming here? His body froze before he forced a weak, broken laugh. "Oh… I see."
"Yes," Jana continued warmly, unaware of the way he flinched. "Now, go take a shower and change out of those clothes, baby."
Lin nodded quickly, already retreating toward the stairs. "Yes, Mom."
But before he could escape, his mother caught up to him. Her hand pressed lightly but firmly against his shoulder, and when Lin turned, he noticed the faint tremor in her fingers. Her eyes darkened with something unspoken, something she had been holding back for too long.
"Lin…" she whispered, her voice barely above breath. "You need to stay away from Dimitri. Do you understand?"
The air left his lungs. His body froze mid-step. The sudden seriousness, the way her hand shook against his shoulder his mind raced, panicked, searching for words, for a reason, for the truth hidden in her trembling warning.
But before he could ask why, the front door opened.
The sound of heavy footsteps filled the hall. Dimitri stepped inside, tall and imposing in his crisp shirt, his presence commanding the space as always. Beside him walked Mira, her delicate figure just a step behind, her smile polite as she clutched her bag nervously.
Lin's eyes widened. Dimitri's gaze fell on him immediately, sharp and unwavering, and Lin's instincts screamed. He quickly turned his head, avoiding that heavy stare, his chest tightening until it hurt.
"Good evening, Mom," Dimitri said smoothly, his deep voice commanding attention as he stepped further into the house. Mira followed, bowing politely. "Hello, Mother."
Jana quickly withdrew her hand from Lin's shoulder, masking her earlier seriousness with a warm smile. "Oh, hi, dear," she said kindly, gesturing for them to follow her. "Come, come. Let's go to the dining table."
Taking the chance, Lin slipped away, his footsteps fast but quiet as he retreated upstairs.
Downstairs, Jana engaged Dimitri with warmth. "How was work, dear? I hope it's not too stressful."
Dimitri untied his tie with one hand, his eyes sharp but softened faintly for his mother. "It is a little," he admitted, his tone carrying both exhaustion and something unspoken. He glanced at Mira, who caught his gaze and understood instantly.
Standing nervously, she smoothed her dress and bowed again. "H-Hello, ma'am. I'm Mira… Dimitri's girlfriend."
Jana's smile widened, genuine warmth in her eyes. "Sit down, my dear. I already know. Dimitri has told us about you."
Mira's cheeks flushed pink. She hesitated, then asked quietly, "Then… may I… may I call you mother?"
Jana chuckled softly and reached over to pat her hand. "Yes, dear. You can." She glanced toward the kitchen. "I'm still cooking dinner, so I'll have to leave you two here. Dimitri, your father went to see Lynx, but he'll be back soon."
Mira quickly stood again. "Then, may I help you in the kitchen, Mother?"
"Of course. It's been so long since someone helped me here." Jana's smile deepened as she led her toward the kitchen.
Dimitri exhaled, his eyes scanning the living room. His jaw tightened when he noticed Lin's absence. Without a word, he rose from his seat and headed upstairs, his long strides purposeful.
At the top, he paused in front of a slightly open door. Inside, Lin was moving about, freshly showered, his damp hair dripping water onto his pale skin. His slender fingers shifted through hangers, searching for something to wear. His phone, still glowing on the bed, buzzed faintly as he ended a call.
Dimitri's gaze fixed on him, tracing from the delicate line of his pale neck to the droplets sliding down, disappearing beneath the loose towel wrapped around his slim frame.
Lin, sensing footsteps, spun around and froze. His eyes widened in horror. "Big brother—!" He dropped his phone, scrambling to clutch the towel tighter around his body, panic flashing across his face.
Dimitri stepped inside without hesitation. His hand shot out, gripping Lin's chin with icy force. His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Didn't I warn you about this… this morning?"
Lin's throat tightened. His hands trembled against the towel. "I-It's not what it looks like, big brother. I… I promised myself to stop. So don't worry about it." His voice cracked, desperation breaking through. "And since Miss Mira-
since you have a girlfriend now, I won't pursue you anymore…"
Dimitri's eyes narrowed, dark and unreadable. His grip loosened, but before he could speak, Lin's phone lit up again with a sharp ringing tone.
Lin bent down quickly, picking it up as though clinging to an anchor. His voice softened as he answered, pretending calm. "Wait, senior… what time should I come home? Oh, the lecture will only take three hours? Okay. You don't need to pick me up I'll come by myself." His lips curved in the smallest, fragile smile. "Yes. Thank you." He ended the call, relief flickering briefly in his expression.
Dimitri's voice cut through the air, cold and heavy. "Who was that?"
Lin froze, then answered quickly, "Oh… it's our class president. I'm going to study at his house today. Re—"
He didn't finish. Dimitri's hand suddenly wrapped around his neck, pressing hard, pinning him against the wall. His grip was merciless, his eyes glinting with raw danger.
Lin coughed violently, clawing at his brother's wrist. His voice broke into ragged gasps. "B-Big brother… I can't… breathe…"
Just then, Mira's hurried footsteps echoed in the hall. She appeared at the doorway, her face paling at the sight. "Dimitri!" She rushed forward, shoving at his arm. "What is wrong with you?" she hissed in a low voice, terrified Jana would overhear. "Do you want to kill him?"
Dimitri's gaze flickered, and for a brief moment, the madness drained from his eyes. He released Lin, who collapsed to the floor, trembling, gasping for air, his eyes red with tears. He looked as fragile as a frightened rabbit, his chest heaving as sobs finally broke free.
Mira quickly crouched, wrapping her arm protectively around him. She stroked his back, her face tight with both fear and anger, before she turned a cold glare at Dimitri.
Dimitri looked at the scene in silence, his breathing rough. Finally, his voice dropped, dark and commanding. "Don't go anywhere today." Without another glance, he turned and walked out.
Left behind, Lin clung to Mira, tears streaming down his pale face as she gently petted his hair. Her eyes fell on the angry red marks circling his neck, and her chest tightened with dread.
Mira tightened her hold around the trembling boy in her arms, her hand stroking his damp hair as if soothing a frightened child. Lin's body shivered against her, and she felt the faint quiver of his breaths brushing against her shoulder. Her chest tightened. How could Dimitri treat him like this?
"Lin," she whispered gently, lowering her voice so no one downstairs could hear. "Are you okay? What were you two arguing about this time?"
Lin slowly raised his tear-streaked face, his eyes glistening red, lashes clumped together with wetness. He looked so small, so breakable. His voice came out cracked, trembling with disbelief.
"I… I just said I wanted to go to my friend's house," he whispered hoarsely. "And he...he did this to me. I've never seen big brother like that before…" His lips trembled as he forced the words out, his breath hitching as if speaking them made the reality heavier.
Mira's heart twisted painfully. She stroked his cheek with her thumb, silently wiping away a stray tear. Your brother is a monster, she thought bitterly, though she kept her expression calm for Lin's sake. "Listen," she murmured softly. "Your mother is waiting for you downstairs. You can't let her see you like this it'll break her heart. Go and wash your face. Change into something fresh. You'll be fine, alright?"
Lin nodded, his little head bobbing as though he didn't trust his voice anymore. He slipped away reluctantly, his small frame unsteady as he walked toward the bathroom. Mira stayed behind a moment, staring at the closed door with anger still simmering in her chest.
A few minutes later, Lin returned. His face was freshly washed, though his eyes were still a little swollen. He had changed into clean clothes, his damp hair combed neatly, trying so desperately to mask the storm inside him. Without a word, he descended the stairs with Mira following behind him like a silent shield.
Downstairs, the dining table gleamed with dishes prepared by Jana. Lin slipped quietly into the seat beside his mother, his trembling hand hidden under the table. Mira took her place next to Dimitri, her posture straight and polite, though her heart still burned with quiet fury.
Just as Jana was about to serve the food, the front door swung open.
"Welcome home, darling," Jana said quickly, standing to greet the tall man who stepped inside.
Mr. Ashford Dimitri's father entered the room with the weight of authority, his presence filling the space. He smiled faintly, glancing around. "Ah, they're here already."
Mira stood at once, bowing slightly out of respect. "Hello, Mr. Ashford. I'm Mira, Dimitri's fiancée."
The man paused, then laughed heartily, impressed by her formality. "Well, well. A polite girl indeed. Dimitri, do you know how lucky you are?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward Dimitri. But Dimitri didn't even glance up. His jaw was set, his gaze distant, as though his mind had drifted far away from the table. The words seemed to slide off him, unacknowledged.
Jana, sensing the sudden awkwardness, quickly interjected. "So, Mira," she said warmly, her tone light. "He's proposed to you already? I didn't know about this…"
Mira flushed pink, her hands nervously clutching the strap of her purse. "Y-Yes, ma'am. Dimitri said we should keep it… a secret." Her voice trailed off into a shy murmur as she blushed deeper.
"Oh?" Jana raised her brows in surprise.
Before Mira could elaborate, Dimitri's voice cut through the air. Calm, decisive, with no room for discussion. "We'll be married in six months." His dark eyes finally lifted to his father's. "You can wear the ring now."
Mira blinked, startled, but quickly nodded. She reached into her purse, carefully taking out a small velvet box. Inside lay a dazzling diamond ring. With trembling fingers, she slid it onto her finger, her eyes shining.
Mr. Ashford's lips curled into a smile as he looked at his son. Pride flickered in his eyes. "Good. Very good." He shrugged off his outer suit and laid it across a chair.
Jana also rose, her smile soft though her gaze seemed clouded. The couple began discussing wedding arrangements with excitement, their voices warm, even laughing at the possibilities dates, locations, guest lists.
But through it all, Dimitri's mind was elsewhere. His gaze lowered again, fixed on nothing in particular, his thoughts drifting to places no one at the table could reach.
Mira, seated at his side, turned her hand slightly so the ring caught the light. She leaned forward, holding it up for Jana to see, her lips curving in a faint smirk. "Mother," she said sweetly. "Isn't this beautiful?"
Jana looked at her hand. The diamond gleamed under the warm dining light, bright and flawless. But the smile in Jana's eyes faltered, the warmth dimming. "Yes," she said softly, almost reluctantly. "It's… beautiful."
Meanwhile, Lin sat stiffly beside his mother, his body trembling no matter how hard he tried to still it. His nails dug into his palms beneath the tablecloth. Marriage? His thoughts screamed, his vision blurring at the edges. They're getting married already?
His lips pressed together tightly to stop the sob rising in his throat. He bit down hard, tasting the faint sting of blood. He couldn't cry here not in front of everyone. Not when Dimitri was sitting just across from him.
But despite everything, his eyes betrayed him. They lifted helplessly toward his brother's face. Dimitri sat in silence, detached, unreachable. And Lin's heart ached so violently he thought it might tear apart right there at the dinner table.