I woke up with a rare jolt of energy coursing through me. It was strange, as if some unknown spark had triggered it overnight. My fitness tracker buzzed, reminding me of the daily workout I'd set up to earn mc. Free mc was something I couldn't ignore, especially with the upcoming fights—I needed every bit I could save. As I got out of bed, Mom's voice drifted down the hall, calling for me to help her pack.
"Rowan, could you come over here, please?" she called, a hint of tension in her voice.
I sighed, reluctantly heading to the living room, where she was neatly folding clothes and packing a few boxes. Her gaze flicked toward me as I stepped in, though she continued packing without saying much.
"Mom, I don't see why we have to live with Mr. Darien," I began, trying to inject a hint of reason into the conversation. "It doesn't make sense. We have everything we need here."
Mom's hands paused mid-fold, and she looked at me with a patient smile. "It's just a one-month get-together, Rowan. We're trying to see if our families could be compatible for marriage." She went back to packing, her tone suggesting that there was no room for negotiation.
A little family compatibility trial. I could barely stifle the groan bubbling up inside me. Frustrated, I threw on my workout gear, grabbed my headphones, and headed to the lawn. A one-kilometer run for the day was the only thing that would clear my head.
After finishing, I checked my mc balance. Another 500mc added. Nice.
I showered, changed into a pair of jeans and a casual shirt, then packed a few essentials for the month-long stay. When I returned downstairs, Mom had already finished packing. She was avoiding my gaze, a clear sign she didn't want to revisit our little argument about Mr. Darien.
"Ready to go?" she asked, her voice cheerful but her eyes a little too bright, betraying her own nerves.
I nodded, suppressing a sigh. This was happening whether I liked it or not.
---
When we arrived at Mr. Darien's house—a modern duplex with a polished stone facade—my first impression was that the place felt weirdly welcoming. As we pulled into the driveway, I noticed a shiny, dark sedan parked out front. Mr. Darien's, I guessed. He was here before us, which meant this little meet-and-greet was already rolling.
I stepped out of the car, slinging my bag over my shoulder as I took in the house's sprawling, manicured lawn. It was the kind of place that screamed both wealth and comfort. Mom looked nervous as we walked up to the front door, and I could feel the tension between us building.
Mr. Darien opened the door himself, flashing a wide, enthusiastic smile. "Ah, my beautiful damsel," he greeted, pulling Mom in for a kiss. I quickly looked away, rolling my eyes. Did they really have to do that right in front of me?
"Oh, hey, Rowan," he added, nodding in my direction. "Glad you could make it."
"Nice to meet you," I replied, trying to sound civil.
Then he called out to someone in the house. "Luna! Come meet Rowan, your future stepbrother."
I tensed, my mind spinning. Luna? There was only one Luna I knew—a girl who was both my crush and my biggest rival in school. A girl I'd never, in a million years, imagined being my stepsister. My stomach twisted as I watched her descend the stairs, her gaze flicking up to meet mine. Recognition flashed in her eyes, followed by a smile that seemed both amused and challenging.
"Rowan, this is my daughter, Luna," Mr. Darien said proudly, gesturing to her.
"Oh, I know him, Dad," Luna said with a smirk. "He's the guy who always tries to steal the spotlight in class."
Mr. Darien chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Well, Rowan, you must be pretty sharp to keep up with my Luna. She hates when anyone challenges her. She studies all night just to stay ahead."
"Dad!" Luna hissed, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she glared at her father.
As Mr. Darien led me to my new room, I felt a mix of dread and amusement. This was going to be interesting.
---
After settling in, a soft knock on the door interrupted me. I opened it to find Luna standing there, her expression unreadable.
"Dinner's ready," she said, her voice surprisingly calm.
As we walked downstairs, I couldn't help but admire the house's architecture—the high ceilings, the elegant staircase, the polished wood floors. The dining room was spacious yet cozy, and to my dismay, the seating arrangement left me directly across from Luna. Mom and Mr. Darien sat opposite each other, lost in stories of their youth that seemed to delight them both.
As the laughter bubbled around me, I couldn't stop glancing at Luna. She laughed at her father's jokes with genuine warmth, and I could see how happy she was to see him so animated. That rare glimpse of her softer side made her seem even more... intriguing.
"Rowan," Mr. Darien's voice jolted me from my thoughts. "Why aren't you joining in? You look a little out of it."
I forced a polite smile. "Oh, I've heard most of Mom's stories a hundred times already."
"But you haven't heard mine," he shot back with a grin, as if determined to break through my defenses.
I shrugged. "Not really in the mood, I guess."
Mom's brows knit together in worry, and she looked at me, her gaze searching. "Rowan, are you okay?"
I didn't reply, unable to bring myself to tell her that the real reason for my discomfort was seated directly across from me.
Sensing the awkwardness, Mr. Darien stood up abruptly, clapping his hands. "Who's ready for dessert?" He headed to the kitchen, and, to my surprise, Mom quickly followed, leaving me alone with Luna.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "here we are."
"Here we are," I replied, fidgeting with my fork.
Luna smiled, her voice softening. "I never knew your mom was still so young and beautiful."
I blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. "And I never knew that handsome man was your dad."
"Guess they make a perfect match," she said, shrugging as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. I glanced up at her, confused by her easygoing demeanor.
"You're... different now," I observed, a bit puzzled.
She chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, well, no point competing with my own stepbrother, is there?"
"So, you really hated me that much?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
She hesitated, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her napkin. "Not hate, exactly. Just... annoyed, I guess. It's in the past."
As the kitchen door swung shut behind us, a thought crossed my mind. "Where did Mom and Mr. Darien go, anyway? They've been gone for ages."
"I thought they said they were getting dessert," Luna replied, rising from her seat. She moved toward the kitchen door, and I followed, both of us curious.
The kitchen was empty, silent except for the faint hum of the fridge. No sign of dessert or our parents.
"They must've slipped out the back," Luna muttered, her voice amused.
"So... here we are. Alone," I said, my voice faltering slightly as the realization sank in.
Luna looked up at me, her eyes twinkling with something I couldn't quite decipher. "Guess so," she said, her tone playful. She leaned against the counter, tilting her head. "Tell me about your mom."
I paused, glancing at her. "You really want to know?"
"Why not? We're family now," she said with a smile that made my heart pound just a little bit faster.