Under One Roof

Now Under His Care

The knock came again.

But instead of opening, I hid behind the door, gripping the hairdryer tightly like my life depended on it. Slowly, I reached for the handle.

The knock came again, louder than before, and my heart raced instantly with it, thousands of thoughts running through my head at once.

“Aria?”

A female voice.

Familiar.

My body relaxed instantly.

That wasn’t him.

I quickly dropped the hairdryer, adjusting the towel and pulling my top down properly before rushing to open the door.

The moment I pulled it open, my mother stood there, already pushing her way inside like she owned the space.

“Why did it take you so long to—”

She stopped mid sentence, her eyes scanning the room then me.

She paused.

Just for a second.

But I caught it.

The way her brows pulled together slightly. The way her gaze lingered just a little too long.

Her face said it all.

She was suspicious.

I forced a normal expression, stepping further into the room.

“I was in the bathroom,” I said quickly, brushing past her.

She didn’t reply immediately.

Instead, she walked in slowly, then sat on the edge of the bed like she was trying to read something in the air.

“You look… flushed,” she said, her eyes still scanning every corner of the room.

I let out a small laugh, forcing it to sound normal.

“It’s… it’s hot in here. I think the AC isn’t working.”

She glanced toward the AC, checking it.

Fortunately for me, I didn’t even turn it on.

Her gaze returned to me.

That look.

The one that said everything seemed fine but she didn’t believe me.

Not completely.

I kept my face steady, refusing to let anything slip.

She held my gaze for a second longer, then let it go.

But the suspicion didn’t leave her eyes.

“Anyway,” she said, smoothing her dress as she sat, “I came to talk to you.”

I nodded, pretending to listen, even though my mind was far from here.

What if he comes back?

What if Wyatt suddenly walks in again?

What if he’s not done?

“Aria.”

Her voice snapped me out of it.

“Are you even listening?”

“Of course I am,” I said quickly, forcing a small laugh.

She studied me for a second, then continued.

“This family,” she started, her tone softer now, “it’s a fresh start for both of us.”

I didn’t respond.

I just scoffed quietly and looked away.

She kept talking.

“Your stepfather is a good man, Aria. And this house, this life, it’s different from what we left behind.”

My jaw tightened, but I said nothing.

She noticed.

“But it won’t work if you don’t try,” she added, her voice taking on a firmer edge.

“If you want to actually benefit from this, you need to act like it.”

That caught my attention.

I folded my arms slowly.

“And what exactly does that mean,” I muttered.

My mind was already racing.

Benefit.

Act like it.

Does she mean enduring some dirty things.

Like tonight.

Like Wyatt.

Was he here on purpose.

No.

I won’t accept that.

Even though I want him no one is forcing me to do things I don’t like.

“A simple thing,” she said calmly. “Something I shouldn’t have to explain before you understand.”

She paused, then looked at me directly.

“First, you need to accept him as your father.”

My body stiffened.

“There’s nothing like Mr. Lucas or anything like that,” she continued.

“You will call him your father. That’s how we can make this works.”

My head snapped up.

“What?”

I stood up immediately.

“First it was the divorce,” I said, my voice low but sharp. “Then the move.”

I stepped closer.

“And now this. Forcing me to call him father.”

My voice came out sharper than I expected.

But she didn’t flinch.

Instead, she looked up at me calmly, like she had already prepared for this reaction.

“No one is forcing you,” she said evenly. “I’m telling you what’s expected.”

I let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

“That sounds exactly like forcing.”

“Aria,” she sighed, like I was the one being difficult, “you’re not a child anymore. I’m doing this for us. You should understand how things work.”

“And how exactly do they work,” I shot back. “You marry a man and suddenly I’m supposed to pretend he’s my father.”

“It’s not pretending. It’s respect.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Respect is earned. He has a son. His son should respect him, not me.”

Her expression hardened slightly.

“He’s given us a roof over our heads. A life you couldn’t have had before. If that’s not enough reason to show respect, then I don’t know what is.”

I shook my head, anger bubbling in my chest.

“No, don’t drag me into it,” I said more calmly. “You mean the life you wanted.”

That hit.

I saw it in the way her eyes narrowed slightly.

Right where I wanted it to.

But she recovered quickly.

“This isn’t about me.”

“It’s always about you,” I snapped.

A heavy sharp silence fell between us.

For a second, I thought she would lose her temper.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she straightened slightly, smoothing her dress like she was pulling herself back together.

“I’m not asking you to love him,” she said more quietly. “Just make things easier for both of us.”

She paused, then added.

“Let’s be honest, it’s not like we had a perfect life with your father. He didn’t treat you well either. He never gave you half of what you wanted, and yet you respected him. You called him Dad for twenty years.”

Her eyes held mine.

“This man may not be your biological father, but as you can see, he has a lot to offer. You won’t lack anymore. You won’t be looked down on again. He will give you whatever you want.”

Her voice softened, but her words didn’t.

“Isn’t that enough reason to call him dad.”

I looked away, my jaw tight.

That hit somewhere deeper than I expected.

“I’ll… think about it,” I said finally.

My tone made it clear I wasn’t agreeing.

Just ending the argument for now.

She studied me for a moment, like she knew exactly what I was doing.

But she let it go.

“Good,” she said simply.

Then her tone shifted.

“Speaking of adjustments, there’s something else.”

I frowned slightly.

“What again?”

“From tomorrow,” she said calmly, “you’ll be attending a new school.”

I blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve already arranged everything,” she continued. “It’s been taken care of.”

My anger came rushing back.

“You’ve what?”

“I’ve changed your school. From tomorrow, you’ll be attending Lucas Private University.”

“Mum, why are you doing this to me,” I snapped, the disappointment clear in my voice. “You didn’t even think to ask me first.”

“Aria, you’re not being sent to just any school,” she said calmly. “It’s Lucas Private University. One of the best in the country.”

“That’s not the point,” I yelled, cutting in. “Don’t I have any right to know anything anymore. First the divorce. Then bringing me here. And now you’re deciding where I study too.”

My chest rose and fell quickly.

“Do I not get a say in my own life.”

“It’s a better school,” she replied. “Better opportunities. Better connections. It’s all for you.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Then what is,” she asked, her patience thinning.

“That you keep making decisions like I don’t matter.”

She went quiet for a second that I almost thought she was finally agreeing with me.

“Aria,” she said again, and just like that, I understood.

She was my mother.

She would never admit she was wrong.

“Let’s not drag this any further. Tomorrow, prepare yourself. You’re going to a new school. No debate.”

Her tone was calm.

Final.

She stood up.

And just like that, the conversation was over.

I stayed where I was, staring at her back, not even knowing what to say anymore.

As she reached for the door handle, she suddenly paused.

Then turned back.

“Oh, and one more thing,” she said.

I looked up.

“That school you’re going to.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Wyatt, your brother, is the one in charge there.”

Something in me shifted instantly.

My head snapped toward her.

“What.”

She nodded.

“He oversees it.”

And just like that.

My anger disappeared.

Replaced by something else.

“…He’s in charge,” I asked, slower this time.

“Yes. I purposely chose that particular school so you would have enough chances to build a good relationship with him.”

“…Of course I’ll build a good relationship with him,” I said, a small smile forming on my lips before I could even stop it.

She watched me carefully, like she noticed the sudden change.

I quickly looked away, hiding the spark in my chest.

She didn’t say anything else.

She just turned.

And walked out.

The door clicked shut behind her, locking instantly.

And that was when I finally pulled myself out of whatever I was feeling.

Maybe it was excitement.

Maybe it was hope.

I couldn’t tell anymore.

I just knew.

If Wyatt Lucas was the one in charge…

then maybe this was exactly where I needed to be.

“Wow,” I whispered under my breath, a small breath of excitement slipping out before I could stop it.

“It’s getting more interesting.”