The sin of loving her: She is my stepmother

Pov: Leo The taxi stops in front of the lavish mansion and I am not surprised that my father has remarried a rich woman who will unfortunately be my stepmother. I get out of the taxi and walk with determined steps towards the mansion. I am greeted at the door by an older woman, likely a housekeeper. "Good evening, Mr. Rivera" she says warmly, taking my bag from me before leading me inside. She leads me through the grand foyer, our footsteps echoing on the polished marble floor. "Your father is in his study" she informs me as we climb the wide staircase. The study door swings open, revealing my father seated behind a massive desk, several telephones laid out before him. He stands as soon as he sees me, his face breaking into a smile. "Leo! Welcome home!" His words are genuine, though there's an undercurrent of something else. Before I can decipher it, a presence enters the room from another doorway. A woman glides into view, tall and elegant, her every movement exuding an air of confidence that demands attention. Her hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, a cascade of platinum that catches the light and seems almost ethereal against her porcelain skin. "The new Mrs. Valmont" my father announces proudly, moving to stand beside her. "Celine, this is Leo, your new stepson." Celine extends a hand to me, long fingers tipped with cherry-red nails. "A pleasure to meet you, Leo" she says softly, her voice low and sultry. I take her hand, feeling the cool smoothness of her palm against mine. Her grip is firm, yet delicate. As I bow slightly to kiss her hand, I catch a whiff of her scen, a hint of jasmine and vanilla. Celine's touch sends an unexpected shiver down my spine, and I'm suddenly aware of how close we are standing. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, time seems to freeze. Then, she gives me a small smile. I let go of her hand and my little sister Beatrice Valmont from my father's other marriage enters the office. "Brother!" She hugs me tightly. Beatrice pulls away, her cheeks flushed pink. She's grown so much since the last time I saw her, now more woman than girl. Behind her, Celine watches us, her expression unreadable. "Leo is going with the housekeeper to show you your room" Celine says, breaking the silence. I nod and the housekeeper leads me out of my father's office. The housekeeper guides me up a winding staircase, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet beneath us. We pass numerous closed doors before arriving at one marked with a discreet bronze plaque bearing my name. She opens the door, revealing a large bedroom decorated in dark hues. The king-sized bed sits against one wall, draped in rich fabrics that shimmer under the soft lighting. I set my suitcase down on the chest at the foot of the bed and look around the room. "Mrs. Valmont wishes you to dine downstairs with the family tonight" the housekeeper informs me as I unpack my suitcase. I turn back to the housekeeper. "Thank you" I say. She nods and leaves, closing the door softly behind her. I finish unpacking, wondering what awaited me downstairs. It couldn't just be dinner... could it? Downstairs, the dining table had been set with fine china and sparkling crystal. My father, already seated at the head of the table, stood as I entered. "Ah, here comes Leo" he said warmly. "Sit here next to me, dear brother" Beatrice patted the seat beside hers, tucking a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. I took the offered chair, feeling the softness of the burgundy velvet beneath me. As I sat down, Celine glanced over at me briefly before turning her attention back to her plate. Her silverware moved with practiced ease, cutting pieces of meat into neat bites. "Tell me Leo, what are you going to do this summer?" my Dad asked. "Well... to be honest, I don't know yet" I replied hesitantly. I glance casually at Celine while answering my dad, catching her looking in my direction. There's a slight flush on her porcelain cheeks, whether from embarrassment or excitement, I cannot tell. "I'll help you figure something out, Leo" Beatrice offers, her blue eyes bright with enthusiasm. She turns to Celine, asking, "Can he stay here this summer, Mom? Please?" Celine paused mid-bite, her eyes meeting mine once more. For a brief moment, she seemed lost in thought, then she nodded slightly. "Of course" she murmured, resuming eating as if nothing happened. After dinner, Celine excused herself, saying she needed to make some business calls. The three of us remained at the table until late night, chatting about various topics. 🥀 I wake up early the next day to find myself alone in the vast bedroom. Throwing on clothes quickly, I decide to explore the house. Walking downstairs, I follow the sound of voices coming from one of the rooms. I round a corner to find the voice belongs to none other than Celine, her back to me as she speaks on the phone. She sounds irritated, her French accent more pronounced in anger. "Darling, you're impossible" she mutters, slamming the phone onto its cradle. Sensing someone's presence, she pivots sharply, her icy gaze melting when it lands on me. "I wasn't expecting anyone" Celine says, her voice regaining its usual composure. I notice that even angry, she exudes s*x appeal; the way her pale skin is flushed, those full lips parted... "I'm sorry... I was just looking around the mansion and I heard someone shouting" I said, my voice shaking slightly. Celine's eyes narrowed as they raked over my body, lingering on certain points before returning to meet my gaze. "You may explore" she said, turning to leave. "But don't disturb me again." I watched her hips sway as she walked away, each step oozing power and poise. I continued to explore the mansion and it had changed a lot since I had left. "Brother!" Beatrice called out from behind me. I stopped and turned around. "Hey, what's up, sis?" "Come on" she urged, taking my hand and leading me towards the pool. "Let's have a swim." I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect from Celine after our brief encounter earlier. Beatrice dragged me forward regardless, eager to reach the poolside. We reached the pool, a gleaming oasis in the middle of sprawling green lawns. I stripped down to my trunks and dove into the water, feeling its cool embrace envelop me. Beatrice laughed as she hit the water beside me. With a shake of her head, she flipped wet strands out of her face. Celine emerged from the house moments later, swathed in a white bikini that clung to her curves. Her eyes found mine as she approached the edge of the pool. Beatrice, noticing Celine's presence, waved enthusiastically. "Mom, come join us!" she cried out excitedly. Celine raised a brow, looking at both of us before diving gracefully into the water. I undressed slightly and sat on the edge of the pool. Beatrice was swimming and laughing, Celine was swimming gracefully, as if she were in a swimming competition. Celine, still in the water, swam closer to where I was sitting. She hoisted herself effortlessly onto the side of the pool, her lithe body glistening with water droplets that caught the sunlight. As I leaned against the edge of the pool, watching Celine elegantly remove her sunglasses to reveal her captivating gaze, Beatrice's voice interrupted our quiet moment. "Leonardo!" "Coming Sis" I responded, distracted by Celine's alluring eyes. She stood gracefully, adjusting her bathing suit, before slipping back into the pool with such agility that no water spilled over onto dry land. "Brother, I've been dying to show you my treehouse! Come on!" Beatrice insisted, pulling me away from the water's edge. "You run ahead" I told Beatrice. "I'll be right behind you." Once she disappeared into the house, I stole one last look at Celine.