Chapter 3 Hello, brother.

"Oh my bad! I forgot this was the guest room" Ethan said.

Ava's mouth widened in shock as Ethan entered the room.

"How could a man look this good; his well-defined jawline, prominent cheekbones, piercing eyes, his self-assured posture", she thought.

"You know how to ruin a moment brother", Mason said as he faced Ethan.

"Brother?"Her mouth still opened in shock.

"Step-brother", Ethan responded immediately to clear her.

"And you must be our newly wedded wife, how did you give in to his stupid bet with your father? Marrying someone whom you know nothing about?".

"I was forced into it" Ava responded, still in the same position he had interrupted them in.

"Well, carry on with your intimate moment," Ethan said as he left a little smirk on his face and walked out the door.

"When would you be leaving?" yelled Mason.

"I'm here to stay brother, I'm done with my project, so I'm back baby". Ethan responded.

"My sister would get you a change of clothes, get dressed, and come downstairs for a family dinner," Mason said as he walked away and closed the door.

"Sister? Are there any more relatives I don't know about, jeez" she yelled out loud.

Ava sat on the bed, wide-eyed as a girl carrying some clothes, She looked at Ava, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Yeah, you're not bad looking".

Wait what?

She came into the room, kicked the door closed behind her, and she was pretty, like incredibly pretty.

"Alright, I'm Kate Mason's sister".

Aren't you hungry? Kate asked, Well, hurry up, go take a shower and change into this, then we'll go eat.

"I just came out of the shower," Ava responded.

"Now hand me the robe and wear some clothes," Kate said, handing her some change of clothing and taking away her robe from her body.

"Oh my goodness!" she squealed, holding her robe tight against her body.

"Please, what are you hiding? I have seen more naked bodies than a bee has seen honey," she said.

Ava generously took the clothes from Kate's hand. It was a bodycon jumpsuit, and she also tossed her a pair of underwear.

Thank you Ava said, waiting for Kate to leave, but she didn't, or at least turn around. She just stood there examining her body. They both stood there for a few minutes.

"Wait, does she want me to change in her front"? Ava wondered.

Girl, just wear your clothes she said as she left the room.

"Oh, thank God," Ava said as she exhaled." If someone didn't know that was Kate's clothes, they would have thought it was Ava's because it fitted me properly."

Ava went down to have dinner with the whole family.

The dimly lit table was abuzz with the soft hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the occasional laughter. But amidst the warmth and camaraderie, an undercurrent of tension simmered. This was no ordinary family dinner.

As Ava walked in, the patriarch, Don Leonardo, stood up, his piercing gaze assessing me before nodding in approval. His sons, Mason and Ethan, flanked him, their eyes locked on me with differing intensities. Ethan's gaze was warm, inviting, while Mason was cold, calculating.

The dinner table was set with fine china, crystal glasses, and a spread of Italian delicacies. The aroma of freshly cooked pasta and sauce wafted through the air, making Ava's Stomach growl with anticipation.

Don Leonardo gestured for me to take a seat, and I chose the chair beside Ethan, trying to ignore Mason's glare. The conversation flowed easily, with Ethan engaging her in discussions about art, music, and literature. His mother, Signora Mira, smiled warmly, asking about my interests and hobbies.

But beneath the surface, she sensed the underlying dynamics. The family's business dealings, the power struggles, and the loyalty that bound them together. Mason's occasional snide remarks and Ethan's calm responses hinted at a deeper tension between the brothers.

As the night wore on, Don Leonardo raised his glass, and the room fell silent. "To family," he toasted, his eyes locked on me. The others echoed the sentiment, their glasses clinking together. She felt like an outsider, a guest in their world, yet Ethan's reassuring smile made me feel like I belonged.

Mason's gaze, however, told a different story. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, searching for weaknesses, vulnerabilities. She knew she had to tread carefully, for in this world, loyalty was paramount, and betrayal was not forgiven.

As the evening drew to a close, Don Leonardo pushed his chair back, signaling the end of the meal. Ethan walked Ava back to her room, his hand on the small of her back, sending shivers down her spine. Mason's parting glance was icy, a warning that this was far from over.

Ava's pov

Ethan was really sweet today in as much as I just met him, the way he held me, looked me deeply, this was what love feels like. But then, I'm married to his brother so nothing can happen, but Mason made it known that I was just a bet to him, I really need a friend to confide in now.

"Girl you're so lost in thoughts that you didn't even see me come in, I saw the way my brother couldn't keep his eyes off you", said Kate.

"Well he is my husband so it's not surprising", Ava said immediately to stop her from any further conversation.

"You know I don't mean Mason, I mean Ethan, my step bro, he really knows how to charm a woman don't he?".Kate said waiting for her response.

"Well I don't think so, I'll be right back I need to go see my supposed husband as he called for me privately," Ava said and rushed to his office.

"I'm so sorry I would have knocked my bad," Ava said as she stepped out of the office in shock. She couldn't comprehend what she had just seen, she tried not to believe it but couldn't doubt what she herself saw.