MIA’S POV
The car rolled to a stop in front of the house, and Tristan turned to me with a small smile. “I’ll pick you up tonight for the party. Be ready.”
I nodded, my heart fluttering at the thought of the evening ahead. The idea of finally stepping out of the shadows, dressed in something beautiful, made me feel a spark of excitement I hadn’t felt in years.
“Thank you for everything,” I said before stepping out of the car.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Tristan replied with a wink before driving off.
I hurried inside, clutching the bag that held the midnight blue dress. My mind was already racing as I thought about how I’d style my hair, what shoes I’d wear, and how I’d manage to survive a room full of people without falling apart.
When I reached my room, I tossed the bag onto my bed and pulled out the dress. Holding it against my body in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile. It was perfect. I hung it carefully on the wardrobe door and turned to grab some casual clothes to wear for the rest of the day.
Just as I was about to slip out of my dress and into something comfortable, I heard the door slam open. My heart stopped as I spun around, realizing too late that I was standing there in nothing but my underwear.
Nathan stood in the doorway, his eyes dark as they raked over me.
“What the hell are you doing?” I shouted, grabbing a nearby blanket to cover myself.
Nathan leaned against the doorframe, his gaze unapologetically fixed on me. “Relax. I didn’t know you were putting on a little show.”
“Get out!” I snapped, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
But he didn’t move. Instead, he stepped into the room, his smirk growing. “I was just passing by, but I have to admit… I didn’t expect this.”
“Stop staring at me!” I backed away, clutching the blanket tighter.
Nathan chuckled, his tone low and teasing. “Why? It’s not like you’ve got anything to be ashamed of. In fact…” His eyes swept over me again, lingering in ways that made my skin crawl. “You’ve been hiding a body like that under those awful clothes all this time? Damn, Mia. Who knew?”
“Shut up,” I hissed, glaring at him.
He ignored me, his smirk widening as he stepped closer. “You’re full of surprises. I never realized how… distracting you could be.”
“You’re disgusting,” I spat, taking another step back.
Nathan raised an eyebrow, his gaze locked on mine. “I’m just being honest. And you’re not exactly making it easy to leave when you’re standing there like that.”
“Then leave,” I snapped, my voice firm.
Instead of listening, he moved even closer. “Why would I do that when the view is so much better in here?”
My hand flew up before I even realized what I was doing. The slap echoed in the room, and his head snapped to the side.
Nathan touched his cheek, his smirk disappearing as his expression darkened. “You shouldn’t have done that,” he growled, his voice cold.
I dropped the blanket and tried to dart past him, but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back. “You think you can just hit me and walk away?”
“Let me go!” I shouted, struggling against his grip.
He leaned down, his breath hot against my ear. “You’ve got some fire in you, Mia. I like it.”
“Get away from me!” I yelled, shoving against his chest.
He pulled me closer, his breath hot against my skin as he sneered. “You’re mine, Mia. You can’t run from me.”
Just as I thought I’d have to fight my way out, a voice boomed from downstairs.
“Mia!”
It was Diego. Relief flooded through me, and Nathan’s grip loosened just enough for me to break free.
“I’ll deal with you later,” Nathan hissed before storming out of the room.
I stood there for a moment, my heart racing, before quickly grabbing my clothes and changing into something more presentable. My hands trembled as I adjusted my shirt, trying to calm my nerves.
By the time I made it downstairs, Diego was already in the living room. His presence, as always, commanded attention, but what caught my eye was the two girls standing beside him.
“Mia,” Diego said, motioning for me to come closer. “These are Layla and Scarlett, your stepbrothers’ cousins.”
The girls were beautiful, dressed impeccably in designer outfits that screamed wealth and status. Layla had long, wavy blonde hair, while Scarlett’s dark hair was sleek and straight. Both of them had sharp eyes that seemed to take in every detail about me in a single glance.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said hesitantly, unsure of how to approach them.
Layla smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “So, you’re Mia,” she said, her tone light but laced with something I couldn’t quite place.
“She’s… different than I expected,” Scarlett added, her gaze lingering on me.
I wasn’t sure if it was meant as a compliment or an insult, but I nodded politely. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
“They’ll be staying with us for a while,” Diego explained. “Family matters.”
Great. Just what I needed-more people to navigate around in this house of chaos.
“I’m sure we’ll get along just fine,” Layla said, her smile still firmly in place.
“Of course,” I replied, though my gut told me otherwise.
Diego looked at me, his gaze softening slightly. “I wanted to check on you after everything. How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine,” I lied, my voice steady.
He nodded, though I could tell he wasn’t convinced. “Good. Make sure you enjoy the party tonight with Tristian.”
I excused myself as quickly as I could, heading back upstairs. The encounter with Nathan still lingered in my mind, but I pushed it aside.
Tonight, I was going to show them all that I wasn’t the same scared girl they thought they could control.