My brother, Leo, is devastatingly handsome and an incorrigible flirt—a walking trail of broken hearts. So when I caught a glimpse of him at the gala, engaged in a subtle, flirty exchange with the fiancée of Julian Sterling, the head of the entire Sterling dynasty, my world went dark. Stunned and furious, I frantically stomped on my brother’s foot under the table, a desperate, silent plea for him to stop. But then Jason, who had been studying his cards with his gaze lowered, slowly lifted his eyes to meet mine. His look was deep, unnervingly direct. Oh God. I stomped on the wrong man. 1 It was the engagement party for the Sterling family's eldest daughter. As close family friends for generations, my brother Leo insisted on dragging me along to offer our congratulations. On the way there, he gave me the usual lecture, a litany of warnings to steer clear of certain trust-fund types. I nodded obediently through it all. “When it comes to love, Elara, remember this: all men are trash. Every single one.” I shot a silent, sidelong glance at my brother, with his ridiculously charming smile and eyes that promised nothing but trouble. “You do realize you’re a man too, right?” I reminded him. Leo just laughed. “Exactly. And I’m the worst of them all.” I was speechless, rolling my eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck. He pinched my cheek, a devilish grin spreading across his face. “Elara, are you cursing me out in your head again?” “No!” I yelped, a little too quickly. Leo is five years older than me. Handsome, wild, with a romantic life that could fill a novel. But with me, he was a warden. Before I left for college, his rules were absolute: no dating, no late nights, and every outing had to be reported and approved. He was a tyrant. When we were kids, he’d parade me around in front of his friends. “Look! Isn’t my sister the prettiest, cutest thing you’ve ever seen? Bet you wish you had one.” Now that I’m older, he barely lets his friends near me and scrutinizes every interaction I have with the opposite sex. His justification? “My sister is beautiful, and the world is full of scumbags. I have to keep her safe. I won’t let anyone fool her.” Tonight’s gala was supposed to be my official entry into this world now that I’d graduated—a chance to network, to see and be seen. The Sterlings were the pinnacle of high society, after all. The guest list was a who’s who of power and wealth. I just never imagined that the one to cause the biggest scene would be my own brother, the very person who’d lectured me on propriety all evening. He was a player, a Casanova. But I never thought he’d be reckless enough to target the fiancée of Jason Sterling himself. The engagement party was held at a magnificent private estate, a sprawling garden that felt like something out of a fairy tale. After the formal ceremonies, Leo and Jason retreated to a quiet conservatory overlooking the grounds, joining a high-stakes poker game and talking business. I had wandered off, exploring the rose gardens, and was making my way back along a stone veranda. I glanced across a small koi pond towards the conservatory, and what I saw made my blood run cold. Even from a distance, my eyes locked onto the scene. Under the table, my brother’s foot was shamelessly, intimately toying with the woman beside him. I could see the amethyst silk of her dress ripple with the movement. And that woman was Stella Dalton. Jason Sterling’s fiancée. Jason was a man with a fearsome reputation. He had the face of a saint and the heart of a shark. He was impossibly handsome, exuding a gentle, cultured charisma in every interaction. But in the boardroom, his tactics were ruthless, merciless. He wouldn't have clawed his way to the top of the Sterling family, surpassing six older siblings, if he were anything less. Had my brother lost his mind? His audacity was terrifying. My heart pounding, I hurried over to the conservatory. The men at the table barely glanced up as I entered, their focus locked on their cards. I squeezed myself into the small space beside my brother, positioning myself right between him and Stella. I pretended to watch the game, but my eyes were burning holes into the side of Leo’s head, wishing I could knock him unconscious and drag him out of there. “Care to play?” Jason’s voice, cool and smooth, cut through the tension. Startled, I flinched, my guilt over my brother’s actions making my heart leap into my throat. I looked up at him—at that face, with its flawlessly sculpted features and eyes that seemed to hold ancient secrets. The sheer force of his beauty left me flustered. I shook my head, managing a shy smile. “I’m not very good.” Then, trying to be playful, I added, “Besides, I’m broke. I haven’t even gotten my first paycheck yet.” A faint smile touched Jason’s lips. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, his voice a low murmur. “Your winnings are your own. Your losses are on me.” Unsure how to respond, I looked to my brother for help. A smug, unreadable smirk played on Leo’s lips as he patted my arm. “What are you waiting for? Thank your Uncle Jason.” Jason was the youngest of his generation, the Sterling patriarch's last son. Though he was only seven years older than me, our parents’ generation considered him a peer. Technically, I was supposed to address him with a level of formal respect. “Thank you… Jason,” I mumbled, feeling my brother was deliberately trying to make this awkward. On the rare occasions I’d met Jason before, I always called him Mr. Sterling. Leo called him by his first name, yet he wanted me to call him ‘uncle’? Jason gave a slight nod, his eyes warm. Then, a ghost of a smile touched his lips as he looked from me to my brother. “If she’s calling me Jason, perhaps you should stick to Mr. Sterling, Leo. After all, you’ll be calling Stella ‘Mrs. Sterling’ soon enough.” Leo’s eyes narrowed, the smile on his face turning frigid. Stella, who had been sitting quietly beside him, kept her eyes downcast, a silent statue. Something was deeply wrong here. A love triangle? Some dark, hidden secret? My curiosity was a frantic, buzzing thing I couldn’t contain. Sensing the sudden frost in the air, I jumped in, my voice bright and eager. “Let me shuffle!” My attempt was clumsy, the cards fumbling through my fingers. It was obvious I barely ever touched a deck. Leo scoffed. “You don’t even know how. Why offer?” Stella finally looked up, offering me a gentle smile. “I can do it.” Jason just watched, his expression unreadable as he took a slow sip of tea. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The oppressive atmosphere in the room seemed to lift, just a little. As it turned out, my luck was incredible. I won three hands in a row. But I couldn’t enjoy it. My brother was at it again. I’d been watching them like a hawk, and I saw the blush on Stella’s cheeks deepen. That was it. Furious, I kicked my leg out under the table and stomped on Leo’s foot. He didn’t even flinch. I stomped again, harder this time, then a third time, trying to signal that I knew exactly what he was doing and he needed to stop. Now. Still, he ignored me completely. I pressed my shoe down on his, grinding my heel in, baffled by his lack of reaction. It was then, in my confusion, that my eyes met Jason’s. His brow was furrowed slightly, his gaze resting on me, quiet and intense. A horrifying realization dawned. I froze, staring at him. I hadn’t just stomped on the wrong person. I had stomped on Jason Sterling. Repeatedly. Under the table, in front of everyone. An act that could only be interpreted as a brazen, intimate adHavens. Leo finally noticed my stunned silence. He flicked my forehead. “What are you staring at Jason for?” he asked, his tone sharp. Jason’s expression smoothed out, a slow, amused smile gracing his lips. “Yes, why are you staring at me, Elara?” he purred. “Want one of my cards?” My mind was a complete blank. Shock made me blurt out the first thing that came to it. “You’re just… stunning.” The moment the words left my mouth, reality crashed back in. My face exploded in heat. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. Jason’s gaze remained calm, and he simply gave a small, dismissive smile. He’d probably heard it a million times. My brother snorted. “What, more stunning than me?” Flustered, I just stammered, “You’re both stunning, everyone’s stunning…” The game ended soon after. Leo and Jason started talking business, their tones deceptively casual. After a few minutes, Stella excused herself to go to the restroom. A moment later, Leo got up and left too. Leaving me alone with Jason Sterling. I immediately leaned forward, my voice a mortified whisper. “Mr. Sterling… Jason… I am so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to.” My words tumbled out in a rush. “I was trying to mess with my brother, I thought that was his foot.” There wasn't a hint of annoyance on his face. Seeing my panic, he even teased me. “And here I was, thinking my shoes had personally offended you.” My face burned even hotter. He had accepted my apology and wasn't pressing the issue. He changed the subject, his voice casual. “You’ll be starting your internship at Sterling Corp soon, won’t you? Does your brother know?” Leo wanted me to work at our family’s company, but I’d refused. I lied and told him I wanted to enjoy my last summer before starting a real job. In reality, I’d secretly applied to Sterling Corp and gotten in. But I was just an intern. How would the CEO of a global conglomerate even know who was being hired for a bottom-rung position? Yet, here he was, mentioning it. He knew. Panic seized me. Did he think I was some kind of corporate spy? I was wrestling with how to deny it without sounding even more suspicious when he seemed to read my mind. “It was just a question,” he said, his voice soothing. “You earned that offer on your own merit. Come in, work hard, and don’t worry about it.” Relief washed over me, and my eyes lit up. I beamed at him, my gratitude shining through. Jason paused, his cool, moon-like eyes half-lidding for a fraction of a second, hiding an emotion I couldn’t decipher. It was as dark and complex as storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Leo and Stella were still gone. A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. Using the restroom as my excuse, I slipped out to find them, muttering curses at my brother under my breath. The first thing I was going to do when I got home was call our older sister, Eleanor. We had three siblings. Eleanor, the eldest, was the business prodigy, the one who had inherited our family’s company. Leo was just her second-in-command. He’d spent his entire childhood on the receiving end of her discipline. He was terrified of her. I passed through a rock grotto, the mist from a small, man-made waterfall raising goosebumps on my arms. A sudden chill, like a silken thread, wrapped around me. I quickened my pace, only to stop dead a few yards later. There, in a shadowy alcove, were Leo and Stella, locked in a tense struggle. Before I could process it, Leo pushed her against the stone wall and crushed his mouth to hers. After a brief, token resistance, Stella melted into his embrace. Oh, Leo. My dear, idiotic brother. Were you trying to single-handedly destroy our family’s company? Making a move on Jason Sterling’s fiancée, on Sterling property… My vision swam. Seeing my own brother in such a sordid scene made my skin crawl. I couldn't watch. I started to turn away, but a cold presence drifted into my senses, followed by a voice, right beside my ear. “Enjoying the show?” The voice was flat, devoid of emotion, and colder than the night air. The garden was dark, illuminated only by the faint, swaying red light of distant lanterns. Every hair on my body stood on end. A scream built in my throat, but it was smothered by a cold, firm hand clamped over my mouth. An arm snaked around my waist, trapping me against a hard chest. Terrified, I twisted my head and saw him. Jason. His face was a mask of indifference as he stared at the scene unfolding in the shadows. In the dim light, his perfect profile took on a terrifying, beautiful edge. I thought my heart was going to beat its way out of my chest. My mind reeled. Slowly, carefully, I brought my hand up to his, the one covering my mouth. I turned my body to face him, my eyes wide with fear. He looked down at me, his gaze dark and unreadable. His voice was a low, dangerous whisper. “Your brother is playing with my fiancée... So tell me, how would you feel if I played with his little sister?” 2 My brain buzzed and then went completely silent. It felt like it had short-circuited. What did he mean by that? Was he being literal, or was there some twisted, veiled threat I was failing to grasp? I was frozen solid, forgetting even how to breathe. The warm body pressed against my back, the clean, crisp scent of sandalwood that was distinctly Jason’s—it all enveloped me. But it didn't feel comforting. It felt like being coiled in the grasp of a cold, venomous snake. “Jason… p-please don’t joke like that,” I stammered, my voice trembling uncontrollably. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, a sound that sent a paralyzing chill straight up my spine. “Do I look like I’m joking?” He wasn’t even looking at Leo and Stella anymore. His gaze was fixed entirely on me, intense and possessive. “Your brother has humiliated me. I have to get my dignity back, don’t you think?” “Elara,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Be my fi-an-cée.” He drew out the word, each syllable a nail hammering the terrifying proposition into my mind. Tears welled in my eyes. How did I get dragged into this mess? My brother’s romantic conquests had nothing to do with me. Why was I the one paying the price? “N-No… you can’t… my brother, he…” “Your brother,” Jason interrupted smoothly, his tone flat but carrying an undeniable weight of command, “is about to find himself in a world of trouble. The Havens family has money, it’s true. But compared to the Sterlings, it’s nothing.” “He crossed me. I could make him, and your entire family, pay for it. Or…” He paused, and the pad of his thumb began to gently stroke my cheek, a deceptively comforting gesture, like soothing a cornered animal. “Or, you could be a good girl and do as I say. Become my fiancée. Not only will I forgive your brother, but I’ll even ensure Stella gets what she wants—a clean break from our engagement, freeing her up to run off with the man she truly desires.” “So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?” I was stunned into silence. His offer sounded… terrifyingly tempting. He wouldn’t just let my brother off the hook, he’d actually help them get together? It seemed too good to be true. I tilted my head back, my gaze meeting his deep, bottomless eyes. There wasn’t a trace of humor in them, only the cold, dark glint of calculation. I had no doubt that if I refused, every terrible consequence he’d laid out would become my reality. Leo was an idiot, but he was my brother. I couldn’t stand by and watch him burn our family to the ground. “I… I’ll do it,” I whispered, closing my eyes. My voice was so faint it was barely a sound. “Good girl.” Jason smiled, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes, and released me. The moment he let go, my legs gave out, and I nearly collapsed onto the stone path. He caught me in a flash, his hand steadying my arm. “So scared of me?” he murmured, an eyebrow raised in amusement. I wanted to cry. Of course I was scared. You’re Jason Sterling, the man they call a gentleman predator! “So… what do I have to do?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Act,” Jason said simply. “From this moment on, I am pursuing you. Soon, you will be my girlfriend. And after that, my fiancée.” “In public, you must act completely and utterly smitten with me.” I stared at him, dumbfounded. Smitten? With his terrifying, ice-cold poker face? The acting challenge of a lifetime. As if reading my thoughts, he added coolly, “And if you’re a bad actress, we’ll just have to make it real.” A shiver went down my spine. I nodded frantically. “I understand! I’ll be the best actress you’ve ever seen. Oscar-worthy, I swear!” Across the garden, the sordid kiss finally ended. 3 Leo and Stella exchanged a few words before parting ways. As my brother turned, he saw me standing with Jason in the shadows. His expression froze, a flicker of panic in his eyes. Jason, however, acted as if nothing was wrong. He casually draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close in a gesture of effortless intimacy. “Finished your chat?” he called out to my brother, his voice deceptively light. Leo’s eyes darted between the two of us, finally settling on the hand resting on my shoulder. His brow furrowed into a deep, angry line. “Jason, what the hell do you think you’re doing with my sister?” “Exactly what it looks like,” Jason replied with a lazy smile. “I find your sister… charming. I’m thinking of pursuing her.” The color drained from Leo’s face. “No way,” he snapped, his rejection instantaneous. “She’s too young!” “Oh?” Jason’s eyebrow arched. “Younger than Stella?” That one sentence shut my brother down completely. His face cycled through shades of red and white, a spectacular display of impotent fury. I huddled against Jason’s side, barely daring to breathe. When titans clashed, it was the mortals who got crushed. “Elara, get over here,” Leo ordered, his voice tight with restrained anger. I looked up at Jason, my eyes pleading for help. He patted my back reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Then, he turned his cool gaze back to my brother. “She doesn’t want to go with you right now. After all, compared to a brother who publicly humiliates his future brother-in-law, I seem like the more trustworthy option, don’t you think?” “Jason!” Leo seethed, a vein pulsing in his forehead. I genuinely feared he was about to throw a punch. If he did, the Havens family wouldn't just pay a price; we’d be wiped off the map. I quickly tugged on Jason’s sleeve and forced a smile at my brother that felt more like a grimace. “Leo, it’s… Jason and I… we’re…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, my mind blanking on a plausible lie. Jason, however, had no such problem. “We’re perfect for each other,” he finished smoothly. I could have died. How could he say that with a straight face? My brother obviously didn’t buy it. He stared at me, his eyes boring into mine. “Elara, tell me the truth. Is he forcing you to do this?” Could I say yes? If I did, our family was done for. I could only shake my head, tears welling in my eyes as I choked out the lie. “No, Leo. It’s my choice. I think Jason is… wonderful.” As I said it, I could feel my toes curling in my shoes from the sheer force of the lie. Leo looked at me with the heartbroken expression of a man whose beloved sister had completely lost her mind. “What do you know about him? Stay away from him! He’s not a good person!” You’re not exactly a saint yourself, I thought. It was the pot calling the kettle black. The standoff finally ended when one of Leo’s friends intervened, pulling him away. Jason, meanwhile, led me from the estate. As I sat in the silent, plush interior of Jason’s car, my head was still spinning. In the span of a single evening, I had gone from an ordinary recent graduate to the "scandalous new girlfriend" of a corporate tycoon. Life, it turned out, was full of terrifying surprises. The silence in the car was heavy. I stole a glance at Jason beside me. He was leaning back against the leather seat, his eyes closed. In profile, he was as perfect and unyielding as a marble statue. Without the mask of gentle charisma, a cold, unapproachable aura radiated from him. I shrank into my seat, trying to make myself as small as possible. “My driver will pick you up tomorrow morning at eight,” he said suddenly, his voice breaking the silence. “Huh? Pick me up… for what?” “To go to my house.” My heart skipped a beat. “W-what for?” He opened his eyes and turned to look at me, a playful glint in their depths. “To meet the family. And to get you acquainted with your duties as a fiancée.” My face flushed instantly. “So soon?” “What did you expect? For me to wait until your brother recovers and puts you under house arrest?” Jason said coolly. “For this to work, it has to be believable. And the first step is convincing everyone in your life that it’s real.” “Including your formidable older sister.” At the mention of Eleanor, my stomach dropped. I was done for. Leo was scared of our sister, but frankly, so was I. Eleanor was the acting CEO of Havens Industries, a ruthless workaholic who didn’t suffer fools. 4 If she found out I was tangled up with Jason Sterling, she would skin me alive. “Um… Jason, about my sister… can we maybe take it slow?” I ventured, my voice small. “No,” he replied without a shred of pity. “You’re coming with me tomorrow.” “That’s an order.” My shoulders slumped in defeat. Fine. When you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, you do what the rock says. This was all my brother’s fault. The next morning, I was in the middle of a nightmare where I was tearfully confessing my sins to Eleanor when my phone rang, jolting me awake. It was Jason’s driver, informing me he was already waiting downstairs. I scrambled out of bed, rushing through my morning routine. After tearing my closet apart, I settled on a simple, innocent-looking white dress. When I got downstairs, my parents were having breakfast. My mom paused, taking in my outfit. “Elara, you look so lovely today. Are you going out?” I nodded, my guilt churning. “Yeah, I’m meeting a friend.” “Which friend? A boy or a girl?” my dad asked, his protective instincts immediately on high alert. “A girl! Definitely a girl!” I insisted. Just then, the doorbell rang. My mom went to answer it, revealing a man in a sharp suit standing on our doorstep. It was Jason’s driver. He gave my parents a polite, formal bow. “Good morning. Is this the Havens residence? I’m Mr. Sterling’s driver. I’ve been sent to pick up Miss Elara.” My parents froze. “Mr. Sterling? Which Mr. Sterling?” my dad asked, his voice cautious. “Mr. Jason Sterling.” The air in the room instantly evaporated. My parents stared at each other, their expressions even more horrified than my brother’s had been the night before. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. Jason was ruthless! He’d brought the battle directly to my front door. My dad recovered first, his face darkening. “My daughter isn’t going anywhere today.” The driver’s polite smile never wavered. “Mr. Havens, I’m only following Mr. Sterling’s instructions. He said that if you were to refuse, he would be happy to come over and have a chat with you and Mrs. Havens personally.” He paused for effect. “And perhaps discuss some of Leo’s… recent activities.” My dad’s face went rigid. He knew all about Leo’s reckless behavior. Starting a war with Jason Sterling would be suicide for our family. In the end, choking back his anger, my dad could only watch as the driver “escorted” me to the car. As I left, I saw my mom standing in the doorway, her face etched with worry. My heart ached. Jason, you absolute monster. The Sterling family estate was even grander and more imposing than I had imagined. It was a true heritage mansion, surrounded by acres of meticulously landscaped gardens, exuding an aura of old-world power. I followed the butler down a long, echoing hall, my stomach in knots. In the main drawing room, the patriarch of the family, Mr. Sterling Sr., was seated in a high-backed armchair, sipping tea. Several other stern-looking, middle-aged men were seated around him. Jason was sitting just to his father’s right. When I walked in, he beckoned me over with a subtle smile playing on his lips. To me, it looked like the smile of the devil himself. “Grandfather, uncles, this is Elara Havens,” Jason announced, his tone so natural it was as if we were actually dating. “The young woman I’m courting.” Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to me. My palms began to sweat. I forced what I hoped was a sweet and harmless smile onto my face. “Good morning, Mr. Sterling. Good morning, everyone.”
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