MY STEPBROTHER AND I

IAN, A JERK IN DISGUISE

Chapter One

IAN, A JERK IN DISGUISE

SERAPHINA

The sharp clink of my fork against the porcelain plate echoed louder than intended, but I didn’t care. My eyes drilled into Ian’s smug face, wishing I could set him on fire with my glare alone.

Jerk.

The word rang in my head like a bitter anthem. If my mother hadn’t decided to get all lovestruck and marry his father, Theron Hardin, I wouldn’t be stuck here in this pretentious family dinner from hell.

I stabbed another piece of asparagus, but my appetite was long gone. Instead, my mind spiraled back to the months before my life got tangled with Ian Hardin’s.

We were finally free. That’s what I told myself when my mom packed up our things and left my father’s suffocating grip behind. Freedom tasted like hope back then—no more yelling, no more bruises disguised as accidents, no more walking on eggshells. For once, it felt like we could breathe.

And then came Theron Hardin.

Up till this very moment, I still haven't understood what exactly my mom saw in him? Sure, he had a big house and expensive suits, but he was hardly Prince Charming. Not to top that watching them flirt and act like teenagers makes my skin crawl.

She deserved better than a man who seemed more obsessed with his image than anything else.

And just when I thought my suffering peaked at the sight of their nauseating romance, in walked Cassian Hardin—Ian, as everyone called him—the golden boy.

To my mom, he was polite and respectable. To his father, he was perfect—aspiring to be a lawyer, acing every exam, and charming every adult in sight. But to me? He was the most pompous, arrogant jerk I’d ever met. The kind of guy who thought the world owed him applause just for existing.

“Dad,” Ian suddenly spoke, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a folded napkin. “About what we discussed earlier, it’s almost nine. I need to leave for Chris’s place. His dad asked me to come by and discuss a case with him.”

Of course, he had a case to discuss. Mr. Future Lawyer couldn’t go ten minutes without reminding everyone how important he was.

Mom tilted her wine glass and emptied it before chiming in. “Why are you helping Chris’s father? Does he need assistance with something specific?”

Theron practically beamed with pride. “It’s so Ian can get familiar with handling cases. Chris’s dad has been mentoring him. It’s all part of his preparation.”

“Is there anything Ian can do besides boasting?” I couldn’t help the scoff slip out before I could stop it. I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. “He could study law for fifty years and still learn nothing except how to be pompous.”

“Phina…”Mom shot me a sharp look.

“No, Mom. Let’s be honest for once. Ian’s entire personality is just one long brag. I mean, he…”

Ian suddenly shoved his chair back. “I’m leaving.”

“Good,” I snapped, rising from my seat as well. “And since this little ‘family gathering’ is clearly over, I’ll be leaving too.”

Mom’s eyes widened. “Phina, where do you think you’re going? We just arrived in Paris, and you don’t even know your way around yet.”

I shrugged, forcing a smirk. “I’ll figure it out. I vibe with the night.”

“You? Vibe with the night?” Ian laughed, grating on my nerves. He leaned against the chair casually, his smirk deepening. “The only thing you vibe with is getting lost. Don’t pretend you’re not scared of the dark.”

My blood boiled. I opened my mouth to retaliate, but mom jumped in. “Enough! Ian, aren't you already heading out? Take Phina with you.”

“What?!” Ian and I shouted in unison.

“Absolutely not!” I added, pushing my chair back further. “I’m not riding anywhere with him!”

Ian smirked. “Like I’d let her sit in my car. She’d probably cry the whole way there.”

“Cry? Please.” My voice dripped venom. “In less than a month, I’ll have my license, and I’ll make your life a living hell on the road.”

He leaned in, eyes dark with amusement. “You? Drive? That’s rich. The day you get behind the wheel is the day I pray for the city’s safety.”

“That’s enough!” Theron’s voice cracked like a whip, silencing both of us. “The two of you…out! Now!”

Ian tossed his keys onto the table, the sharp jingle making my fists clench. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “Better buckle up, princess. I’ll drive you to death.”

Before I could reply, he straightened and strode out the door.

My hands trembled, but I shoved back my chair and followed. I wasn’t about to let him have the last word. Not tonight.

__________

Ian’s car roared down the road, the tires screeching against the pavement as the needle on the speedometer crept dangerously close to the red zone. My hands gripped the edges of my seat, but I refused to let him see my fear. Instead, I shot daggers at him from the passenger side.

“Are you trying to kill us both?” I snapped, my voice sharp over the thrum of the engine.

“Relax,” Ian replied coolly, one hand lazily gripping the steering wheel as if we weren’t seconds away from crashing into a tree. “You’re acting like this is your first time in a car.”

I scoffed. “And you’re acting like this is your last.”

He cut me a glance, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk. “Maybe it will be—for you.”

My nails dug into the leather seat, but before I could fire back, he struck a nerve that made my blood boil.

“If you hate being part of my family so much, then why did you let your mother crawl into my father’s life?”

I turned to him sharply, my voice laced with venom. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe if your w***e of a mother hadn’t ditched your dad for another man, my mom wouldn’t have even looked twice at him!”

Ian’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel, and without warning, he yanked it to the side. The car veered off the road, bumping onto a dirt path before screeching to a halt in the middle of an open field.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I clutched the door handle. “Are you insane?!”

Ian leaned back in his seat, completely unbothered. “I just wanted to learn something from you.”

My mouth opened to fire another insult, but something else caught my attention. I glanced around and froze.

Loud music pounded through the air, the kind that rattled bones and drowned out reason. Neon lights flickered, casting shadows over groups of people. Some grinding against each other, some making out in dark corners, some drinking, smoking, others dancing or casually drinking. .

I turned to Ian, my brow furrowed. “Is this the case you and Chris’s dad are solving? Or is this Chris’s ‘house’?” I asked mockingly. This guy was worst than I thought, he is a pathetic liar! A criminal!

Ian chuckled, stepping out of the car and stretching like he hadn’t just dragged me into a scene straight out of a raunchy music video. “You’re still a child baby sis, so stay in the car and sulk. I’m going to enjoy my night.” He grinned before walking off, and I had to storm out of the car after him.

“Ian!”

He didn’t turn around. Instead, he peeled off his shirt mid-step and tossed it over his shoulder. It smacked me right in the face, and by the time I yanked it off and prepared my death glare, he’d already disappeared into the crowd.

I scanned the sea of bodies until my gaze locked onto him—his arms wrapped around some girl, his lips devouring hers like he didn’t have an audience. And just when I thought he couldn’t get any worse, another girl sidled up to him, and he kissed her too, running his hands down her curves before switching to another.

My jaw dropped. Not only was he a jerk, a liar, he topped it all by being a complete playboy.

An idea hit me, and I quickly pulled out my phone. If Theron thought his son was perfect, I’d make sure he saw just how “perfect” Ian really was. And my mom? She’d regret ever forcing me to live under the same roof as him and might maybe end her upcoming wedding with Theron.

Just before I could hit record, a notification popped up. I clicked it, and my stomach plummeted.

It was of Dan, My boyfriend. In the picture, his lips were locked with another girl’s. I swiped through the next few photos, each one twisting the knife deeper.

Tears blurred my vision as his betrayal hit me like a punch to the gut. I’d trusted him—loved him. He promised to wait for me until college. I even chose his school. But he still went ahead and cheated?!

Gosh! Damn that motherfucker!

“Don’t cry.”

I jolted, finding a girl standing beside me. Her hand brushed my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn’t even realize had fallen.

“I’m not crying,” I said quickly, shoving my phone against my chest, but it was too late. The girl already peeked through to see the pictures and I felt embarrassed.

The girl smirked. “Boys are assholes, they'd just break your heart as if it were a cookie. Don’t let them get to you. Just drink it off and…”

“...get a guy to lay with,” I finished, forcing a laugh,but we both ended up giggling.

She seemed familiar as if I'd seen her before but I can't wrap my head around where exactly. I turned to her to ask her name if that would give me a clue but before I could, someone called out to her.

“Annie!”

She turned, and in seconds, a guy yanked her into his arms and planted a kiss so deep it made my cheeks burn. I slipped away before I witnessed more, weaving through the crowd until someone grabbed my arm and spun me around and a shirtless guy with tattoos across his chest smirked down at me.

My eyes widened staring at him, he was handsome, dangerously handsome, more like a mafia and God knows I don't wElara get intertwined with Mafia's. Ian was enough to deal with.

I gave him a weird smile before trying to wriggle free but he held me firm.

“Loosen up,” he said, his voice thick with arrogance. “You look like you need it.”

I tried stepping back, but instead pulled him closer to him and I could fill his d**k on my p***y, if not to our clothing. He was hard rocked.

“Or you are just an under-aged kid tryna fit in with adults?" He raised his brow and I quickly nodded nervously. “Of course…not”

He suddenly shoved a drink into my hand. “Drink it, if you aren't scared.”

I glared at him, my pride flaring. But before I could raise the cup, it was slapped out of my hand.

The next thing I knew, Ian’s fist connected with the guy’s face, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“What is wrong with you?!” I shoved Ian. “I was just vibing, and you had to butt in!”

Ian’s eyes burned as he turned to me. “That guy, Drake? He’s a gangster. And that drink you almost had? It probably had Lucid in it.”

I froze. Lucid. The drug that made girls, horny, lost control and memory.

Swallowing hard, I tried to act unaffected. “What if I wanted to get wasted? What if I wanted to have s*x?”

Ian scoffed. “You wouldn’t. Hell, you’re probably still a virgin.”

I glared. “I have a boyfriend.”

He smirked. “Right. All girls say that.”

Before I could retort, he grabbed a girl and kissed her, right there in front of me—deep and messy. He pulled away, shoving her aside, then turned back to me.

“Your turn, prove that you Elara get wasted and not cry to mommy instead?”

Challenge accepted.

I marched up to the nearest guy sitting on a chair, grabbed him by the collar, and crashed my lips against his. He stiffened, then melted into it, his hands gripping my waist.

Cheers erupted around us, and when I finally pulled away, Ian stood there, smirking.

“Not bad, stepsister,” He grinned.

I met Ian’s gaze, my heart pounding. He wanted chaos? Fine. Two could play this game.