Forbidden Love with My Stepbrother

In the dining room of the luxurious mansion, at a long rectangular table, the family of four sat together at one corner, quietly having breakfast. Despite being a wealthy household, their meal was neither extravagant nor wasteful. It was simply a few ordinary breakfast dishes, much like those of any other family. Damuen Draven sat at the head of the table, his presence imposing and authoritative. Beside him was Emily Cole, dressed in an elegant long gown, her demeanor gentle yet composed. Opposite them sat their two sons. Lucian Draven, twenty-five years old, wore a perfectly tailored black suit, every line crisp and flawless, without a single wrinkle in sight. He stood at 6'2", with a tall, broad-shouldered build and a narrow waist. He carried the calm, steady aura of someone who had long taken on responsibility. His blond hair was neatly styled, accentuating the sharp contours of his face. His deep blue eyes, vast as the ocean, held an unfathomable depth. A high, straight nose and a well-defined jawline completed his features, exuding a powerful yet distant beauty, one that drew people in, yet kept them from daring to come close. The other was Adrian Cole, twenty years old. In stark contrast to his brother’s composed appearance, he showed up in a pair of heavily ripped jeans, a bold graphic T-shirt, and a loosely tied red scarf around his neck. The overall look was effortlessly casual and free-spirited, yet carried a distinctly youthful, stylish edge. He stood at 5'11", with a lean, well-toned build, every line of his body radiating youthful vitality. His chestnut-brown hair was slightly tousled, deliberately left in disarray, giving him a look that was both carefree and undeniably captivating. Adrian was also strikingly handsome, but unlike his brother, his beauty belonged to an entirely different kind. His features were softer, more delicate and vivid. Most captivating were his large amber eyes, clear and shimmering, whenever he looked at someone intently, they seemed to brim with unspoken affection. His sharply defined brows balanced out that softness, giving his face a more masculine edge, rather than an androgynous beauty. Their family was a blended one. Emily had once been a well-known actress, so even after marriage, she did not take her husband’s surname, choosing instead to keep the one tied to her name and reputation. Adrian was her son from a previous relationship, while Lucian was Damuen’s. The dining room was quiet, with only the occasional clink of cutlery against plates. Damuen suddenly cast a glance at his eldest son before speaking, “Lucian, you’re already twenty-five. Why haven’t you been seeing anyone? When are you going to bring a girlfriend home for the family to meet?” Hearing that, Emily smiled and chimed in: “That’s right, Lucian. If there’s someone you like, bring her home and let your father and me meet her. Don’t worry, we’re not overly concerned with family background. As long as the two of you truly care for each other and are on the same wavelength, that’s all that matters.” Lucian maintained his upright posture and replied calmly, “I’m too busy. I don’t have the time.” Damuen let out a soft scoff. “If you don’t have time, then your mother and I can introduce someone to you,” he continued. “The Carter family’s daughter is twenty-two this year - pretty, gentle, and well-matched with our family in terms of background. What do you think?” Adrian had been eating with his head lowered, but at that, he suddenly paused. He lifted his head abruptly to look at Damuen, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, before shifting his gaze to Lucian. A moment later, he lowered his head again and continued eating as if nothing had happened, not saying a single word from beginning to end. Lucian frowned slightly. “I’ve been a bit busy lately. The new project has just…” Before he could finish, Damuen cut him off. “Then hand the new project over to Blake, the head of the planning department. As a leader, you should know how to delegate. You can’t take everything on yourself. The group is this big; if you insist on doing everything personally, are you planning to never get married for the rest of your life?” Having said that, he turned to his wife. “Look into it and make the arrangements. Invite the girl over to our place this weekend.” Lucian’s lips moved slightly, as if he was about to say something. But the moment he opened his mouth, a sharp look from Damuen silenced him instantly. He continued slowly, “It’s just inviting her over to the house. The two of you can talk for a bit, if you get along, then we’ll consider something more serious; if not, we’ll leave it at that. Our family doesn’t believe in forcing a match.” He paused for a moment, then added in a tone that allowed no refusal, “Whatever you have this weekend, postpone it. Be home for lunch.” Lucian fell silent for a moment, then finally replied, “Yes.” From beginning to end, Adrian kept his head lowered over his dish. But the moment he heard Lucian’s response, the corner of his lips curled ever so slightly in a faint pout, so subtle that no one noticed. After finishing breakfast, everyone quickly went their separate ways, each occupied with their own matters. Emily had plans to meet a friend, Damuen grabbed his fishing rod and headed out, Lucian was getting ready to go to the company, and Adrian also had to head to school. Seeing Adrian sling his easel and drawing board over his shoulder, about to head out the door, Lucian spoke up, “Ari, get in the car. I’ll drop you off at school, it’s on my way.” Adrian shot him a glance. His eyes were indifferent, his youthful face carrying a hint of defiance. Then he turned away and tossed out a curt reply, “Don’t need it.” He brushed past Lucian and headed straight toward the garage. But suddenly, his arm was grabbed by Lucian and pulled back. “Baby, we need to talk.” Adrian yanked his hand free, his expression turning cold and sharp. “Don’t call me that anymore. It’s disgusting.” Lucian compromised. “Okay, Adrian. Can you stop ignoring me? Since I came back to the country, we haven’t had a single proper conversation.” “I’ve got nothing to say to you,” Adrian snapped. “But I do. Adrian, do you know it hurts me when you’re so distant like this? You weren’t like this before!” Old memories were dragged up, and an unnamed irritation suddenly surged in his chest. Adrian grabbed Lucian by the collar and shoved him hard. Lucian was clearly much taller and larger than Adrian, but he didn’t resist, letting himself be pulled in and pinned against the wall. Adrian stared at him with a fierce gaze, warning through clenched teeth: “Don’t you ever bring up the past again. Get lost. Don’t bother me!” After saying that, he headed straight toward the garage. Five minutes later, the roar of an engine rang out. A sleek red motorcycle shot past right in front of Lucian, then quickly disappeared beyond the mansion’s large iron gates. Lucian stood where he was, his gaze fixed on the direction the motorcycle had disappeared. His brows were drawn so tightly together they could almost crush a fly. Five years could it really change a person that much? Just five years ago, Adrian had still been a well-behaved kid, always trailing after him, endlessly asking, “Luc… are you really ignoring me?” In just the time he had spent abroad studying and working, Adrian had turned into a rebellious boy, too indifferent to even spare him a proper glance, unwilling to say a single decent word. Lucian stood there for a long while, a mix of loss and irritation stirring within him.