Chapter 2

• [Not continued from prologue]
• Isabelle’s Point of View:
• I roamed the halls with a worried expression.
• “This is not right. I have told her many times, but she just won’t listen.”
• “What should we do?”
• “Why are you asking me?”
• Numerous mutterings fluttered across the room as my mom, and stepdad talked between themselves.
• It was completely stupid.
• I just wanted to get a career of my own, but my stepdad—Mr. Richard Roman wanted me to join him and his son in his company.
• I finally stopped and walked over to them.
• “So?” He asked me with a hopeful expression.
• “My decision is not going to change. Moreover, I believe Achilles is more than capable of handling the company on his own,” I confidently replied.
• “Oh, I know I am.”
• A deep voice resounded in the room. I froze for a second. Then, making my breathing stable, I turned around.
• Achilles was coming down from his room. He wore casual clothes but still looked so devilishly handsome. When he looked up and met my eyes, my heart raced and I looked down.
• “And of course, he isn’t going to give you the management post. Right, dad?”
• I looked at Mr. Roman, who had a troubled face. “Well, about that…”
• “So, it is not about my skills,” he cut him in between and I looked back at him. “It is about yours.”
• “What?”
• He smirked. “Why don’t you tell her about that, dad?”
• It felt as if everyone knew what was happening other than me. They were clearly making me feel embarrassed, but… why? I had always been the daughter they had wanted me to be!
• I looked back at Achilles, but his smirk was enough to shut me up. I took a deep breath as I processed my options.
• “I see what this was about.” I turned to Mr. Roman with a bold face. “And I will prove to you and everyone who doubts me. I will leave this house to make my career and come back successful.”
• I was about to turn around and go to my room when Achilles suddenly blocked my way. I jerked back and looked at him, trying to quiet my racing heartbeat. “What?”
• “And what if you don’t?”
• “I will do anything,” I replied sharply.
• A satisfying smirk appeared on his lips yet again, and I scoffed. I went back to my room to pack things up.
• Of course, what was I expecting? Achilles was a good person—but the worst step brother anyone could ask for. He was so devilishly handsome and his features were perfect. And having him as my stepbrother?
• Not good.
• Things were worse because now that we were ‘siblings’, there was a competition. A competition I couldn’t and didn’t want to win.
• So, I could only suffer in silence with my feelings alone.
• After packing up all of my stuff, I went downstairs. Everyone was back in their rooms, so I just had to up and leave with the guards being the last ones to see me here.
• ________________________
• “I know, I know. No, I am just moving now.” I laughed and said to my friend, Chloe, who I was conversing with on the phone.
• “But really? I never thought you’d go away from that house. From Ac—”
• “Chloe!” I exclaimed, and she laughed.
• Chloe and I were best friends for almost seven years now. She knows everything about me and I do about her—including my crush on him.
• “Anyway. Where do you think you would go?” She asked me.
• I didn’t have any universities in mind. As I was just done with high school, I had to join a medical university to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. However, I wasn’t even sure which city would be perfect for that.
• “I don’t know. Do you have any universities in mind?” I asked while looking outside the window of the cab I was in.
• “I have a lot of them, but their acceptance rate is less. You should apply to a few, even if I know you’re talented. I will send you a list after I research them.”
• I smiled, even though she couldn’t see me. “Thank you, babe. Meet me at the club tonight?”
• “Sure! Tomorrow my college is closed, anyway. The usual?”
• “The usual.”
• “Okay. Gotta go.”
• “Bye.”
• I kept the phone down and immersed myself in my thoughts. Tonight was probably my last night in Lebanon, Kansas.
• Tomorrow, I will be away from everyone. I will not see Achilles and I don’t know how I will survive because in my mind, seeing him gave me a reason to live. The energy to survive in this endlessly tiring life.
• And even though he hated me, I couldn’t stop loving him. I wanted to—God knows how much I tried. But just one glimpse and I was back to square one.
• The car stopped in front of Chloe’s house. I was going to give her a surprise visit—after all; we were also going to be apart. I was really glad she put me first and wasn’t sad about me leaving.
• I got out and paid the fare. After ringing the doorbell of her house, I painted a smile on my face.
• “Coming!” I heard her voice and waited. The door opened, and she was shocked—not happy—when she saw me.
• “Hey!” I exclaimed, and she curved her lips into a fake smile.
• “Hey, Isa!”
• “What’s wrong?” I asked and tried to peep inside the house from the half door that she had opened.
• “N-nothing, I—”
• “Chloe, who’s at the door?”
• When I heard that voice, my breath hitched. No, it wasn’t possible!