My Stepbrother Wants Me Chapter 1: A NEW HOME

Catherine’s POV

The first thing I noticed when we pulled up to the Vaughn mansion was how quiet everything felt. It was so quiet that it made feel like I didn’t belong. The air had this expensive sll, like wet stone, fresh-cut grass, and sothing cold I couldn’t na.

I sat still, watching the house from the car window, my stomach twisting as my mom smiled nervously in the front seat.

"We are finally here, Catty. Our new ho," she whispered like she was trying to convince herself.

Ho? That word didn’t sound right in my mouth.

I stared at the tall iron gates closing behind us, then at the mansion that looked more like a museum than a place anyone could live in. There were no kids on bikes, no neighbors, no walking dogs in sight, just silence, and space too big to breathe in.

This wasn’t the ho I was used to. Ho to was the tiny apartnt we’d left behind this morning.

Mom turned off the engine and looked back at , with her perfect lipstick and hair. She’d tried too hard today, probably because we were finally moving into her husband’s house. I could see the hope in her eyes, the kind that hurt to look at.

"Catherine, honey," she said softly. "Please be kind. He’s a good man."

I didn’t answer. Mom already knew I hated the idea of her remarrying.

"Catty?" She called my na again but this ti it ca out more soft and baby like.

I rolled my eyes and replied imdiately.

"I’m not deaf, mom."

She rubbed my palm and got out of the car, while I followed suit. When we got out, a man in a gray suit opened the front doors before we even reached the steps, smiling like he was trained to.

"Welco, Mrs. Vaughn. Miss Brown."

"Mrs. Vaughn"? Ugh! I hated how this sounded too.

The man took our bags, while I followed my mom inside.

The minutes we stepped into the house, the air-conditioning hit first, cold enough to make the strands of my back hair shiver. My sneakers squeaked on the floors, echoing in the huge hall.

If outside of this house looked like a museum, then trust when I say the inside was much more.

"How rich is this man?" I thought in my head.

For a man this wealthy, he could have gone for a woman on his level, I an in terms of finance. n like him had nothing to do with single mothers who lived in a two bedroom apartnt.

"There they are," an excited strong male voice rang out and I quickly looked up to see Richard Vaughn, the man who married my mother after knowing her for barely six months.

6 P.M and he was still dressed professionally, in suits and a tie. Not surprised though, what more was expected of a politician running for the position of Mayor?

"Oh honey, welco ho," he greeted as he descended the stairs. Once close to us, he kissed my mother lightly on the lips, and for a second, I wanted to loudly HATE.

"And this must be Catherine," he said, turning his smiley face to .

I nodded and his eyes scanned in that sharp, assessing way that made want to hide my hands in my jacket pockets.

"Welco to our ho," he said, opening his arm for a hug. I forcefully pulled myself in for it and pulled back almost imdiately.

"I’ve heard so much about you."

I smiled the polite kind of smile that showed I didn’t believe a word of it.

He turned toward the stairs. "Julian, Gabriel! Co down, the full family is here now.."

My stomach dropped at the word family and within a minute, footsteps sounded from above, two sets, different in rhythm.

When they appeared at the top of the stairs, my breath caught before I could stop it.

The older one, Julian, I think that’s his na moved first. Tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans that sohow looked like they cost more than my whole wardrobe. His hair was dark, a little ssy, and his expression showed pure boredom. His cold gray eyes t mine for barely a second before he looked away.

Then there was Gabriel whose smile ca easily, soft and warm, like sunshine in this frozen house. His hair was lighter and his brown eyes held a kindness that felt real.

"Julian, Gabriel," Richard said proudly. "You’ve t your stepmom already but I’m not sure you’ve t Catherine, your stepsister."

Gabriel was the first to move, walking down the stairs quickly and offering a hand. "Hey Catherine. Welco to the family."

I took it, grateful for his warmth. "Thanks Gabriel."

Julian didn’t say anything, he just leaned against the banister with crossed arms, watching us while his jaw moved slightly like he was chewing on sothing he didn’t want to say.

Mom noticed and tried to create a conversation. "Julian, Gabriel, I’m so happy to finally move in. Your father ntioned a lot about the two of you, I hope we get along soon."

Julian’s lips curved slightly, not in a smile but sothing close to it, mockery, I guess. "I don’t hope for that."

Mom’s expression faltered and I noticed Richard shot Julian a warning look.

To lessen the tension, Gabriel cleared his throat and tried to change the subject. "Your room’s upstairs," he said to . "Second on the right. Mind if I lead you?"

I nodded quickly. "Oh, not at all. Thanks."

I followed him up, trying not to notice Julian’s eyes on as I passed, even though they felt like a burn against my skin, cold and almost creepy like we were in a cheap rated an girls movie.

We finally got to the room and Gabriel turned to with a smile. "Here. If you need anything, just knock next door, that’s my room."

I smiled back. "Thanks." Maybe Gabriel was going to be the best thing to happen to here. With him around, I believe I won’t have much problem settling in.

He gave a small nod and left, leaving alone in my new room, which by the way was the most beautiful room I’d ever seen.

I sat on the huge bed, which I doubted belonged to just , before pulling out my phone, only to realize I had no signal.

"Just Perfect," I muttered with aggression.

I lay back, staring at the white ceiling, trying to convince myself I could fit into my new life.

My mind suddenly drifted to Julian, to the way he’d looked at mom and I, like he wasn’t happy about our presence. Sothing inside my head told he was going to be bad news.