Forbidden Love with My Stepbrother

Chapter 5

After Luna got out of the car, Lucian immediately left the shopping mall and headed straight to the company.

The office building was much quieter on the weekend than on weekdays; the hallways were empty and silent.

In truth, his “working overtime” was just a lie, he simply wanted to avoid the blind date his parents had arranged for him.

He already had someone in his heart, so getting entangled or leading on any other girl would be irresponsible toward them.

But Lucian didn’t expect that after being away for just one morning, the scene waiting for him when he returned home would be utterly unbearable to behold.

In front of him, Adrian was curt and irritable, getting a complete sentence out of him was already pushing the limit. Yet when facing Luna, he became lively, chatting and laughing, attentive and caring. That stark contrast was something Lucian simply couldn’t accept.

He stared out through the glass window, his mind replaying over and over the scene he had witnessed at noon.

Adrian’s eyes curved as he smiled. Adrian lowered his head, speaking softly. Adrian gently stepped in to help someone out of an awkward situation. That vibrant, radiant Adrian, he used to have him.

He truly couldn’t understand how just five years could change a person so completely.

An intense discomfort churned inside him. Jealousy was like a wild beast, ready to tear open his chest, burst out, and devour him whole.

He truly couldn’t hold back any longer. Lucian shot to his feet, grabbed his car keys, and left the company.

At three in the afternoon, the Draven family’s villa was unusually quiet. Emily had gone out for a walk with friends, and Damuen was nowhere to be seen. In the vast mansion, only a few servants moved about softly, barely making a sound.

The moment Lucian stepped inside, he pulled aside a servant to ask. After learning that Adrian was in his studio, he said nothing more and immediately headed upstairs.

Adrian’s studio was on the third floor, a fairly spacious attic room.

In truth, the Draven residence wasn’t short on rooms. It was just that, for a time, Adrian had been especially fond of attic spaces, with their sloped ceilings and skylights. They carried a sense of freedom and artistry, making them perfect for creative work.

As it happened, their villa also had an attic like that, though it had long been used as a storage room, covered in dust.

When Damuen learned of his preference, he didn’t hesitate for a moment. He had everything cleared out, the space renovated, additional glass windows installed, and the walls repainted, ultimately turning it into a private studio just for him.

By now, the room had been in use for two years, and it was clear that Adrian liked it very much.

“Bang.”

The door was shoved open with force.

Adrian jerked his head up in surprise, the brush in his hand unconsciously dragging a streak across the canvas in front of him.

When he realized it was Lucian, his expression darkened. Suppressing his irritation, he lowered his head, dipped his brush into another color, and painted over the smeared streak, trying to salvage the canvas he had just ruined.

Only after fixing it did he set the brush down and turn to look toward the door.

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

Lucian didn’t answer. He walked straight into the room and casually shut the door behind him, completely cutting it off from the outside.

The room wasn’t small, but for some reason, Adrian suddenly felt as though it had become suffocatingly cramped.

Lucian stood facing Adrian, his gaze fixed on him. His voice dropped, carrying an unmistakable pressure.

“What do you mean by this?”

Adrian frowned. A flicker of unease crossed his heart, but he quickly covered it with an aggressive tone,

“You barged into my room without a word, shouldn’t I be the one asking that?”

Lucian wasn’t moved in the slightest. He pressed on,

“Don’t dodge the question. You know what I mean. Why are you so close to Luna?”

Adrian lowered his gaze, his jaw tightening as a suffocating irritation welled up inside him. As expected, Lucian cared a great deal about Luna.

A second later, he lifted his head again. His eyes locked onto Lucian’s, the provocation in them completely undisguised.

“What does it have to do with you?”

Lucian stared at him and asked again,

“Do you like her?”

Adrian replied, his tone still even, yet clearly meant to provoke,

“What does it have to do with you?”

Lucian frowned, his expression turning even darker.

“Ari, stop throwing a tantrum with me. You’re not allowed to like Luna.”

At that, Adrian’s gaze dimmed further. Did he really like Luna that much? It had only been one meeting, and he already couldn’t hold back, running here just to warn him.

At the thought, an indescribable irritation surged within him.

He replied coldly,

“Who I like isn’t for you to control. Besides, she might even like me too, can you stop that?”

Adrian didn’t care. He didn’t like Lucian. Anyone Lucian liked, he would make sure to take for himself.

Lucian’s expression darkened instantly.

Gritting his teeth, he said,

“Who she likes is none of my concern. But you’re not allowed to like her.”

That only added fuel to the fire. Adrian’s temper flared at once.

“Damn it, what gives you the right to control me? I call you ‘brother’ out of respect for our parents, that’s all. Do you really think that makes you my brother?”

Lucian slowly stepped toward Adrian, his eyes almost sparking with fire, yet he still tried to keep his voice as gentle as possible,

“Ari, you can’t like anyone else. Didn’t you promise before that you wouldn’t need a girlfriend in the future, that having your brother would be enough?”