FATE BETWEEN US

NEW WALLS ,OLD WOUNDS

Chapter One – New Walls, Old Wounds

The mansion wasn’t as big as she’d expected. That was Lena’s first thought as the car slowed in front of the wrought-iron gates and rolled up the winding driveway. It wasn’t a palace, but it was still too much — too perfect, too clean, too far from everything she’d known.

Her hands clenched in her lap as her mother hummed softly beside her, oblivious to the storm brewing under Lena’s skin. They’d driven hours to reach this small town, far from the city where Lena had friends, plans, and a life that made sense. All gone now.

The car stopped.

“Lena,” her mom said gently, as if speaking to a child, “try to smile, sweetheart. It’s a fresh start for both of us.”

Fresh start. The words tasted bitter.

The front door swung open before they even reached it. A tall man with kind eyes — her new stepfather — greeted them warmly. And beside him stood a boy.

Not a boy. A presence.

He leaned casually against the doorframe, dark hair falling into his eyes, one hand shoved into his jeans pocket. He was effortlessly composed, like someone who knew the world bent for him without him ever having to ask.

“This is Eric,” her mom said, far too cheerfully. “Eric Leone. Your new stepbrother.”

The name scraped against her ears. Eric.

His gaze met hers, and for a heartbeat, the world went still. Lena couldn’t breathe. There was something about him — something magnetic, dangerous, wrong. The air around them felt heavier, charged, like a storm about to break.

Eric’s lips curved into a slow, unreadable smirk. “Welcome home.”

The words made her bristle. This wasn’t her home.

Her mom clasped her hands together, oblivious to the tension crackling between them. “Eric, I was hoping you could show Lena around the school tomorrow. You know, help her settle in.”

“No.” The word left Lena’s mouth sharper than she intended.

Her mother blinked. “Sweetheart—”

“I don’t need a guide,” Lena muttered, crossing her arms. “I’ll manage.”

Eric arched an eyebrow, his gaze sliding over her like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “Suit yourself,” he murmured, though something dark flickered behind his eyes — something that sent an involuntary shiver crawling up her spine.

The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. Even the servants seemed to hesitate before her mom cleared her throat and gestured toward one of them. “Why don’t you show Lena to her room?”

Lena followed the maid up the grand staircase, her suitcase wheels thudding softly against each step. She didn’t look back, but she felt him — Eric — still watching her from below. And worse, she felt something deep inside her twist in response.

It made no sense. She hated this place. She hated him. She hated everything he represented.

And yet… something in her chest thudded harder than it should have.

Her new room was spacious, elegant, with a view of the forest beyond the estate. But she barely saw it. She stood by the window, fingers tightening around the curtain, trying to steady her breathing.

Back home, everything had made sense. Here, nothing did. Especially not the way her heart had stuttered when Eric looked at her.

Somewhere downstairs, she heard footsteps. A door closing. A low voice that sounded like a promise or a warning — she couldn’t tell which.

And in that moment, Lena knew one thing for sure:

This house was hiding secrets. And Eric Leone was one of them.