Not My Stepbrother

Chapter 1:

April's POV

"Smith is a nice man, and oh my God, he can't wait to meet you!" Mom tucks my hair behind my hair and smiles at me.

While I just ignore her and stare out the car window.

Just last week, I turned eighteen and I had no idea that my life would change forever.

My mom's getting married to this mogul and I can't hide my dissatisfaction about it. Call me selfish, but it's just been the two of us since my dad died twelve years ago. I've never had a father figure since then. My mom and I learned to cope fine on our own, unbeknownst that mom was actually seeing her boss, and now they're getting married in two days.

I never knew my mom was engaged to him until just yesterday, and then boom! She announced we're moving out of our crappy apartment.

And here we are, in the car, heading to Smith Villa, with our stuff in the truck behind us.

Mom's the one driving. There's a boring love song blaring from the speakers, and she tunes it high to sing along with the artist.

While I just roll my eyes in their sockets.

Everything is just happening so suddenly that I can't help being in a sour mood. Because I don't know how I'll handle being with a stepfather who already has a son around my age.

And mom is filled with the brightest of smiles. I've never seen her look this happy before.

After the torturous ride for a few minutes, the car goes to a screeching halt in front of this large black gate and when it gets jerked open, my eyes widen in their sockets.

There's a fountain in the middle, with water gushing out of the mouth of a lion.

Behind the fountain sits a grandiose mansion, and the sight of it is so magnificent that you can't help but gawk.

"Honey, this is where we'll live from now on," Mom informs me.

"It's way too big and spacious, and it's secluded from other houses," that's the only thing I can say. Because I don't even know how I'll get used to this place. It's way too much.

"Not to worry, April. With time, you'll love it here," Mom unbuckles her seatbelt before alighting from the car, and I do the same.

"Oh, you're back," There's this blonde man who's already waving at us, as pushes his hands into his pockets and takes long strides toward where we have our car parked.

"That's Smith over there, he's going to be your stepfather," Redness spreads across Mom's face as she informs me.

And I puff out a breath before tucking my hair behind my ear, as I wait for the man to reach our side.

"You must be April," he stretches his hand out for a handshake. While I take a step backward to examine his face.

It's my first time seeing him, and he doesn't look as old as I expected. In fact, he seems to be around the same age as my mom.

"Uhm…" Because I am yet to accept his handshake, Smith withdraws his hand and scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

"Don't get the wrong impression about April, she's not very social," Mom throws me a quick frown.

"It's no big deal, she'll get used to me in time," Smith has this yearning and desperation in his eyes as he looks at me. It's more like he's wordlessly pleading with me to accept him.

I can't fake being nice to him because I'll fail woefully. I've never had a father figure around and it's just seemingly weird that this wealthy man will get to be in my life and that of my mother's.

"We should get going," he puts his arm around Mom and she tips her head up to stare at him, before breaking into a smile. While he stares at her lovingly.

And it's rather unsettling.

Why are they doing this in front of me?

Smith singlehandedly draws the attention of his servants with just a snap of his finger, and they hurry over to our side to help pick up our stuff.

"I ensured the servants set up your room, I don't know if it's up to your taste," Smith informs me.

"You shouldn't have bothered, besides I am leaving for college next year." This is the first time I am giving him a response.

And he just nods and says nothing else.

Inside the mansion looks even more exquisite. Marble floor, coved ceiling, high walls, chandeliers.

In the middle sits a twin giant staircase that connects to the rest of the mansion.

"Let's leave April to tour around the house, shall we?" Mom inquires and Smith nods to this.

"Just heading to her room seems a bit boring," and then he turns to me, "You can look around as much as you want. And you won't have a problem finding your room because it's on the second floor, first door, cause there's just two large rooms there."

To think they arranged all this without my knowledge. I sigh and turn away from them.

And the sound of their footsteps on the stairs indicates that they're ascending the stairs, to probably smooch and swap saliva in their room.

I stay in one spot, staring at a half-naked portrait of a siren for the past five minutes.

"You must be the stepdaughter," A voice says from behind me and my head quickly reverts to take a look at this person.

A confused frown takes over his face as he looks at me, "April?"

"Declan!?" I shudder upon seeing the last person I was expecting to cross paths with.

"What are you doing here!?" He raises a questioning brow at me, as he puts his towel on his shoulder. It seems like he just stepped right out of the pool because his hair is wet, and he's shirtless, wearing just shorts, and my eyes rake at his well-defined abs, and the V-line down his abdomen.

"Hello, Earth to May!" He snaps his finger in my face to pull my attention back to him.

"How did you even find this place?" Declan continues in a much firmer tone.

"I should say the same for you," Throwing my arms across my chest, I jut my chin outward as I maintain eye contact with him.

Declan lowers his eyes into a squint as he nears my side to examine my face.

"Wait a minute, don't tell me you're Melissa's daughter?"

My heart tumbles in my chest.

He knows my mom's name?

"Yes..are you.." I barely finish with my question before he cuts me short.

"Heck yes!" He speaks up before I can complete my question.

Dear me!

I can't believe Declan is Smith's son. They don't even resemble each other.

Why didn't Mom make it known to me? She could've shown me a picture of both father and son and then I would not be this stunned.

My heart is pounding so loud in my chest that it's the only thing I can hear in my ears.

Mom never mentioned Smith's last name is Butterfield.

Declan is our school's heartthrob. Captain of the football team and lastly Aimee's boyfriend. Aimee and I have been best of friends since forever, and now I'll be her boyfriend's stepsister?

What in the seven hells is happening?

Declan and I don't get along.

He's dated my best friend, Aimee since ninth grade.

Are we close because he's dating my best friend? Hell no. Because he's a jock with straight As, while I'm a nerd with struggling grades.

He's a bit of a bully though. He and his friends laugh at my clothes, and then he ceaselessly rubs it in my face for being skinny.

But he's down for my best friend, and maybe, just maybe that's why I don't hate him as much as I ought to.

I can't believe we're going to be stepsiblings! What the actual f**k?

"Earth to May, again," Declan waves his hand in my face to get back my attention because I zoned out for three minutes.

"It's April and you know it," I snap.

"Okay, June. Welcome to hell," He twitches a brow and smirks.

"What do you mean by that?" A frown hits my face.

"Cause you're mine to torment," He pokes my forehead as if I am a mannequin before scoffing and walking away. Leaving me upset that I would get to live in the same house with someone like him.