CHAPTER FOUR: House of Rivatry

CHAPTER 4 – House of Rivalry

Ariana's POV

The tension in the Sterling mansion had become a living thing, thick enough to choke on. I'd been living here for two weeks, and every day felt like walking through a minefield. One wrong step, one wrong word, and everything would explode. Tonight was no different.

"Move," Ethan said flatly, standing behind Luca's chair at the dinner table.

Luca didn't even look up from his phone. "I'm sitting here."

"That's my seat."

"Since when do you have an assigned seat?"

"Since you decided to sit next to Ariana every single night." Ethan's voice dropped dangerously low. "Move. Now."

I set down my water glass, my appetite vanishing. "Can we please just eat in peace for once?"

"We could if Luca knew his place," Ethan said.

Luca's chair scraped back as he stood, squaring up to his brother. They were the same height, both broad shouldered and intimidating. "My place? You mean the place you've decided I should have? News flash, brother, you don't run everything."

"Boys." Victor's voice cut through the argument like a knife. He stood in the doorway, still in his work clothes, his expression thunderous. "What's going on here?"

"Ethan's being a controlling ass," Luca said.

"Luca's being deliberately difficult," Ethan countered. Victor's jaw clenched. He moved into the room, his presence immediately dominating the space. "This is about where you sit at dinner? Are you children?"

"It's about respect," Ethan said through gritted teeth.

"Respect?" Victor's laugh was harsh. "You want to talk about respect while you fight over a chair next to Ariana like dogs fighting over a bone?"

My cheeks burned. Mom looked up from her wine glass, finally noticing the chaos around her. "What's happening?"

"Nothing, Miriam," Victor said, but his eyes never left his sons. "The boys are just forgetting themselves."

"I haven't forgotten anything," Luca said quietly, dangerously. "Have you, Dad?"

The air went electric. Victor took a step toward Luca, and for a moment, I thought he might actually hit him. "Watch yourself."

"Or what?" Luca challenged. "You'll send me away? Lock me in my room? We both know you won't."

"Luca," I said softly, standing up. "Please. Just sit down."

His eyes snapped to mine, and something in his expression softened. "Fine. For you, princess."

He moved to the other side of the table without another word. Ethan claimed the seat beside me immediately, his thigh pressing against mine as he sat. "Thank you."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. The whole situation was insane. Dinner was a silent, miserable affair. Victor kept watching all three of us with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Every time I moved, every time I spoke, his attention fixed on me like a spotlight. When Ethan passed me the salt, Victor's knuckles went white around his fork.

When Luca made me laugh with a stupid joke, Victor's jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth grind.This wasn't parental concern. I felt more controlling than protective.

+++++++

After dinner, I volunteered to do the dishes just to escape the suffocating atmosphere. Mom and Victor had disappeared into his study, leaving me alone with the brothers. Or so I thought. I was elbow deep in soapy water when Ethan appeared beside me, dish towel in hand. "I'll dry."

"I can manage."

"I know you can." He picked up a plate anyway. "But I want to help."

We worked in silence for a few minutes, the only sound was the clinking of dishes and running water. It was almost peaceful. Until Luca walked in.

"Cozy," he said, leaning against the counter. "Very domestic."

"Go away, Luca," Ethan said without looking up.

"Make me."

I slammed a pot into the sink, water splashing everywhere. "Both of you, stop. I'm so tired of this constant fighting."

"Then tell him to back off," Ethan said.

"Tell him to stop acting like he owns you," Luca countered.

"I don't belong to either of you!" The words exploded out of me. "I'm not some prize to be won. I'm a person. A person who didn't ask for any of this."

Luca had the grace to look ashamed. Ethan just stared at me with those unreadable dark eyes.

"You're right," Ethan said finally. "I'm sorry."

The apology shocked me into silence. He set down the dish towel and left the kitchen without another word. Luca watched him go, then turned to me. "He's not wrong, though."

"About what?"

"About wanting to be near you." He moved closer, backing me against the counter. "We all do. Even if we shouldn't."

My heart hammered. "Luca..."

"I know. It's messed up. All of it." His hand came up, fingers brushing my cheek. "But I can't seem to help myself."

The sound of footsteps made him step back quickly. Victor appeared in the doorway, his eyes taking in the scene with frightening intensity. "Ariana, shouldn't you be doing homework?"

"I was just finishing the dishes."

"Luca can finish them. Go. Now."

The command in his voice left no room for argument. I dried my hands and fled upstairs, my heart still racing.

++++++++

I needed a shower. I needed to wash away the confusion and fear and strange attraction that seemed to cling to my skin. The bathroom was blissfully empty, the hot water a temporary escape. I stayed under the spray until my skin turned pink, trying to make sense of the madness my life had become. When I finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel, I felt eyes on me. I spun around.

The door was cracked open, just slightly. And through that crack, I saw movement. Someone pulling back into the shadows. Rage replaced fear. I yanked open the door, not caring that I was only in a towel. Luca stood in the hallway, his eyes wide with surprise and something darker.

"Were you watching me?" My voice shook with fury.

"I was just walking by.."

"Liar!" I shoved him, hard. "were you watching?!".

"What's going on?" Ethan's voice came from behind me. I turned to find him emerging from his room, his hair wet like he'd just showered too. His eyes took in the scene, me in a towel, Luca looking guilty, and his expression turned dangerously dark.

"You sick bastard," Ethan growled, stalking toward his brother.

"I didn't see anything.."

Ethan grabbed Luca by the shirt, slamming him against the wall. "Stay away from her."

"You don't own her!"

"Neither do you!"

They grappled, and I stumbled backward, clutching my towel. "Stop it! Both of you, stop!"

Ethan's fist connected with Luca's jaw. Luca returned with a hit to Ethan's ribs. They crashed into the hallway table, a vase shattering on the floor.

"Ethan, please!" I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. He turned to me, his chest heaving, and something in his eyes made me freeze. Something dark and deeply protective.

His hand came up, cupping my face almost gently despite the violence still thrumming through him. "Go to your room, Ariana. Lock the door."

"But.."

"Now."

I ran. Behind me, I heard them start fighting again, and heard Victor's shout as he intervened. I slammed my bedroom door and locked it, my whole body shaking. This was insane. This whole situation was completely insane. I changed into pajamas with trembling hands and climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. The house eventually went quiet. Too quiet.

I was just starting to drift off when I heard it. Footsteps.Slow, deliberate footsteps in the hallway outside my door.They stopped right outside my room. I held my breath, my heart thundering so loud I was sure whoever was out there could hear it. The doorknob turned slowly. Once. Twice.

The lock held. Then, a whisper, low and rough and desperate.

"Ariana... open up."

I squeezed my eyes shut, terror freezing me in place.

The voice was too muffled, too distorted to identify.Was it Ethan, still possessive and protective? Was it Luca, reckless and unapologetic? Or was it Victor, with his burning stares and territorial warnings?

I didn't know. And I was too terrified to find out. The doorknob rattled once more, then stopped. The footsteps retreated, fading into silence. I didn't sleep at all that night..