CHAPTER 2
Nathan's POV
By the time I made it downstairs, I had already braced myself.
For whatever this new life was supposed to be.
But—
Someone else was already seated at the table.
He looked up the moment I stepped in.
And for a second—
Everything slowed.
He was… soft.
Not in a weak way.
But in a way that felt easy. Calm.
His features were sharp, but not harsh. His eyes warm. And when he smiled—
It was effortless.
Beautiful.
I didn't realize I had smiled back until he stood up.
"You must be Nathan," he said.
His voice matched him.
Gentle.
"Yes…"
"I'm Zane."
Before I could react, he reached for my hand.
And shook it.
His grip was warm.
Steady.
"Welcome," he said.
Something in my chest eased.
Just a little.
Then—
"Hello, family."
The word sounded wrong coming from him.
Kieran.
I turned.
He walked in like he owned the place.
But technically he did.
Like everything—and everyone—was beneath him.
That same smirk sitting lazily on his face.
Chris didn't even look pleased.
"Sit down. And drop the attitude."
Kieran chuckled under his breath but obeyed.
He took the seat beside me.
Too close.
I could feel him there.
Even without looking.
Dinner began.
Silence at first.
Then—
Chris spoke.
"Nathan."
I looked up immediately.
"You'll need a haircut."
The words caught me off guard.
"To look more presentable," he added. "More… appropriate."
More manly.
He didn't say it.
But it was there.
I instinctively looked at my mother.
She nodded.
That hurt more than it should have.
"And your last name," Chris continued.
"You'll be changing it."
My head snapped up.
For a moment, I thought I misheard.
But no one else reacted.
My mother avoided my eyes.
"Would that be a problem?" Chris asked.
I opened my mouth—
"Why would it be?"
Kieran.
"It's not like his last name amounts to anything anyway."
My hand tightened around my spoon.
I swallowed.
Hard.
I looked at my mother again.
She said nothing.
Didn't even react.
Kieran leaned forward slightly, picking food straight from my plate.
"Be civilized," Chris said sharply.
Kieran ignored him.
"I'm sure my baby stepbrother doesn't mind," he added, resting his chin on his hand as he watched me.
"Kieran, come on," Zane said, his tone low.
For a moment—
Kieran's eyes flicked to him.
Then he smirked.
And leaned back.
"I'm full, actually."
He stood up.
"Excuse me from this… graceful gathering."
Sarcasm dripped from every word.
Chris didn't respond immediately.
But I could see it.
The anger.
"Don't worry, uncle," Zane said, standing up. "I'll talk to him."
Chris nodded once.
"Thank you, Zane."
Zane gave me one last glance.
A small smile.
Then left.
Chris left afterwards.
And just like that—
The room felt empty again.
A few seconds passed.
Then my mother stood up.
Without a word.
Without looking at me.
She left too.
I sat there.
Alone.
The food in front of me untouched.
This was supposed to be a new beginning.
But it already felt like something was slipping.
Something I couldn't hold onto.
---
After a while, I stood up.
I didn't want to sit there any longer.
—
The house felt even bigger upstairs.
Quieter.
I walked slowly, trying to remember the way back.
Left.
Right.
Another turn.
Then—
Nothing looked familiar.
I stopped.
"…Great."
I was lost.
I turned again—
And saw a door open.
Zane stepped out
For a moment—
That same feeling came back
Relief.
He looked up and smiled.
And again—
I smiled back without meaning to.
"Hey."
"Hi."
"You heading to your room?" he asked.
"Yeah… I mean—I was."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I'm lost."
He laughed softly.
Not at me.
Just… amused.
"Yeah. That happens," he said. "I used to get lost here all the time when I was younger.
"Don't be embarrassed," he said with a grin. "Come on. I'll walk you."
I nodded.
---
We started walking together.
---
"So… how fitting in going?" he asked.
---
"Well, it's not as bad as I thought it was,I guess."
---
"It gets easier."
---
"I hope so."
---
"It will," he said simply.
---
And for some reason—
I believed him.
---
We stopped in front of a door.
---
"I think this is it."
---
"Thanks."
---
"No problem."
---
There was a pause.
---
Then his eyes shifted slightly.
To my hair.
---
A small laugh escaped him.
---
I frowned slightly.
"What?"
---
"Nothing," he said quickly. "It just… suits you. You look good with a long hair."
---
My chest tightened.
---
"Can I…?"
---
He hesitated.
---
"Can I touch it?"
---
I blinked.
---
"…Okay."
---
Slowly—
He reached out.
---
His fingers brushed against my hair.
Soft.
Careful.
---
He ran his hand through it gently.
---
And I—
Closed my eyes.
---
Without thinking.
---
His fingers lingered slightly longer than necessary.
Moving a strand away from my face.
---
Barely touching my skin.
---
I swallowed.
---
Opened my eyes—
---
And then—
---
"What's going on here?"
---
Kieran.
---
Zane pulled his hand back immediately.
---
"Hey, K," he said casually.
---
Kieran walked toward us slowly.
His eyes locked on me.
---
Sharp.
---
Uncomfortable.
---
I stepped back slightly.
---
"Thanks," I muttered quickly, turning to Zane.
---
And before anything else could happen—
I went into my room and shut the door.
---
My heart was racing.
---
I leaned against it for a second.
---
Then—
I pressed my ear to the door.
---
"What the hell was that?" Kieran's voice came through.
---
"Nothing, man," Zane replied. "I've gotta go. My old man been ringing me."
---
A pause.
---
Then footsteps.
Fading.
---
Silence.
---
I stepped back slowly.
---
The house was starting to feel suffocating.
---
And I had a feeling—
It wasn't going to stop.
-----
Kieran's POV
The door to my room clicked open.
I stepped inside and saw the envelope sitting on the desk.
No name, no sender.
I knew what it was before I touched it.
The detective I hired had done his work.
He always did.
I ran my fingers over the edge of the envelope before ripping it open.
The papers inside were exactly what I expected. The details.
The information I could use to send both Nathan and his mother packing.
Nathan.
I was not expecting surprises. Nothing I didn't expected.
His past. His mother's debts. The mess they'd left behind in Raventon.
The whispers about Nathan selling his body for money.
He really is a golddigger.
I smiled.
But something did caught me off guard.
Something buried deeper in the report.
A case file.
Not confirmed. Not resolved.
The boy who looked like he couldn't even hurt a fly…
was connected to a death.
He was wanted for a case involving murder.
Never trust a book by its cover.
My fingers tapped lightly against the paper.
Slow.
Measured.
There were so many ways I could use this.
But for the first time…
I wasn't just thinking about control.
I was curious.
He didn't know it yet, but he was already in my trap.
This… was going to be fun.
-----
The next morning
Nathan's POV
I tried not to look at the mirror as I walked past it.
But I couldn't help it.
I couldn't look away.
The reflection staring back at me felt wrong. Almost foreign.
I had just stepped down from the stairs, having gotten ready as Chris had instructed.
The house, the meals, the air around me—it was all about control.
Every moment was meticulously crafted for perfection. For order.
And now my hair—long and untamed, a part of me, was gone.
Stripped away.
My fingers reached up instinctively to touch the short strands now framing my face.
It was like someone else had done this to me. I barely recognized myself.
It felt like I had lost something real, something that was mine.
A small act, yet somehow it meant everything.
The maid had finished cutting it, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of being changed, molded into someone else's vision.
A soft knock at the door snapped me from my thoughts.
"Yes?" I said, my voice hoarse, though I hadn't even realized I'd been holding my breath.
The door opened.
It was my mother.
She smiled at me, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't the smile I remembered from back in Raventon. It was something… forced.
"Well, it's done. You look good, Nathan."
She said it like she was trying to convince herself.
And I couldn't blame her.
She had to have known this moment was coming.
She was probably just as tired as I was, tired of pretending that everything would be okay.
I didn't say anything, just smiled.
Then she reached for my hands.
Her grip was warm. Familiar.
"This is a new beginning for us," she said softly. "I know it may not be what you expected… but this—this is our second chance to be happy."
I nodded.
"I know, Mom."
I forced a small smile.
"I won't disappoint you again. I won't make the same mistake."
I pulled her into a hug.
She held me tightly, like she was afraid I might slip away if she didn't.
Then she kissed the top of my head.
"Are you happy?" I asked quietly.
She pulled back just enough to look at me.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she said, smiling.
There was a pause.
Just a second too long.
But she still smiled.
She lingered in the doorway for a moment, watching me like she wanted to say more but couldn't find the words.
"I'll be downstairs," she said softly.
Then she left.
I stood there for a long time after the door closed.
Still.
Quiet.
My eyes drifted to the mirror.
My reflection stared back at me.
But it didn't feel like mine anymore.
Not really.
Not after everything.
I wasn't sure I could recognize who I was becoming.