Chapter 1: An Inconvenient Surprise

Angus.

As soon as my family and I entered the luxurious lobby of the Miller mansion, we heard music coming from the grand ballroom on the first floor.

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Blake. Gavin will accompany you to the main hall," said James Conway, the famous and efficient Miller butler and Gavin's grandfather, as soon as he saw us.

Eight years ago, Gavin’s parents died in a car accident. Since Gavin's father was James Conway's only son, Gavin came to live at the Miller mansion and became part of the family. This was requested by Miller's great-grandfather, who wanted Gavin to have the same opportunities as his grandchildren. That's how our friendship was born—the trio of achievers: Roy, Gary, and me—the handsome, rich, top students and athletes at Horacio Mann Private High School. Not to mention our success with the ladies—we had it all.

Next year, Gary is going to Juilliard to study acting and composition. Meanwhile, Roy and I are going to Stanford University in California to study business and economics. We're enjoying the time we have together now.

"How's everything going? Is Roy still insisting on going to California to acclimate before college starts?” I asked Gary as we climbed the stairs to the second floor, followed by my sister and parents.

"Now more than ever, it seems that Ailan wants to go to London to study design and architecture. After what happened this afternoon with Amelia..." I didn't let him finish.

"What happened with Amelia?" I asked, alarmed.

He just smiled and put his arm around my shoulder.

"You'll find out soon. It'll be the big sensation of the night," Gary said with a smile.

I couldn't ask him anything else because, when we got to the living room, Penelope's annoying friends practically assaulted us at the door. Gary was delighted because he liked being the center of attention. I, however, was quite uncomfortable.

Dodging a loud brunette who was about to pounce on me and Penelope, who was pouting at me in an attempt to look more attractive, I managed to reach a secluded, sullen, and grumpy Roy Miller.

"Is it just me, or do I have the wrong impression that your parents invited every brainless, husband-hunting woman within a hundred miles?" I asked him as soon as I saw him.

"I don't think my parents did that. It must be the work of that damn Wendy. She loves seeing us have a hard time dodging those heir hunters. Today, she didn't have to try so hard; long before the party, I was already going through hell," said Roy, taking a long swig of his beer—a can he had secretly stolen from the bar. We were only eighteen and weren't allowed to drink until we turned twenty-one.

"If your father catches you drinking, you'll really know what hell is like," I said, trying to hide the beer can so no one would see it. "Well, what's the problem? According to Gary, your sister Amelia has something to do with all this," I said, surprised.

Amelia was the least troublesome girl in the world. Certainly, she was nothing like Ailan. Not to mention that cheeky eleven-year-old I have for a sister. That little brat was going to give me more than a headache when she grew up.

A bitter laugh escaped Roy's lips. Looking at me, he said, “You think so? Why don't you look up the stairs, and then tell me if I have problems?” I did just that and immediately regretted it.

At the top of the stairs was a vaporous and desirable ethereal priestess wearing a tight-fitting white and gold dress that fell above her knees. She descended the stairs slowly, almost deliberately. Her red, voluptuous lips contrasted with her enormous, enigmatic blue eyes. Her long hair, like cascades of honeysuckle, fell shamelessly over her bare shoulders. The neckline of that damn dress was held up by thin, tempting straps that were tangled in a cameo around her neck. It was definitely sinful.

It took me a few seconds to identify the bewitching muse as the calm, somewhat tomboyish Amelia. I even rubbed my eyes, thinking I was seeing things.

But the whistles of admiration, the almost animalistic gasps of desire, and the inappropriate comments from the horny young men watching the muse descend convinced me that I wasn't seeing things.

"How many mouths can you break in ten seconds?" Roy asked me. He had also realized that his quiet, peaceful life as an older brother was over. He had thought he would be freer in California while his twin sister was in London, but this new Amelia proved him wrong.

"I haven't counted yet, but if necessary, I'll start now," I said, taking off my jacket.

Only Gary's intervention at that moment prevented the party from turning into a scene from an action movie, complete with gratuitous violence.

“Hey! Calm down, guys. How about Rocky Balboa, Apollo Creed, and some of these beardless kids go to the pool attendant and have some fun with alcohol, thus eliminating the attention that the new Amelia generates? Or would you rather die at the hands of Miller and Blake for ruining their beloved girl's birthday?" Gary's idiotic logic was overwhelming on rare occasions.

Of course, it wasn't that effective, since this strategic escape only postponed the disaster, especially when you combine young people fresh out of adolescence with overstimulated testosterone and huge amounts of alcohol. Logically, nothing good can come of it, especially when your big mouth gets you into serious trouble. It took me many years to realize that, and by then, my life had become a living hell because of that night.