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I was making my way down the hallway, still feeling a bit out of it from the long day, when a loud crash echoed through the corridor. I halted, my heart racing. For a moment, I questioned if I had really heard that, but then came another crash, this one louder, the sound of glass shattering against the wall.
Something...curiosity or maybe just instinct, pulled me towards the source of the noise. The corridor seemed to stretch, the soft golden lights illuminating the paintings on the walls. As I got closer, I realized the chaos was coming from Adrien's room. My stomach knotted up. His door was ajar, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the chaos inside.
There was Adrien in the thick of it, breathing heavily and clutching a picture frame he wouldn't let go of. Pieces of glass sparkled on the floor like ice. His jaw was set tight, and his eyes burned with a mix of fury and sorrow that left me frozen in place.
"Adrien?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. "W-what's going on?"
"What the hell?! Who said you could barge into my room?!" The raw anger in his voice knocked me back a step.
His room looked like a whirlwind had swept through it, drawers pulled wide open, frames shattered, clothes strewn all over the place. I stood frozen at the doorway, my hand still gripping the frame, struggling to breathe.
Before I could even respond, Adrien spun around to face me, his eyes dark and seething. "What are you doing here?" he growled, his words cutting through the air.
"I—I heard something," I stammered, instinctively taking a step back. "I just wanted to check if everything was okay."
He snorted a harsh laugh, running a hand through his messy hair. "Oh, I'm sure this is thrilling for you, huh? Finally some entertainment for the pitiful new stepsister."
"What? No!" I shook my head frantically, my heart racing as I searched for the right words. "I'm not—A–Adrien, I didn't mean to—"
He interrupted me, stepping closer with a glare that made it hard to breathe. "Don't lie," he hissed. "You've got to be enjoying this. Watching me fall apart because of this goddamn marriage!"
Every part of me wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong, but the way he clenched his jaw made my words die before they could escape. I barely had time to blink before he grabbed my arm, holding it tightly.
"Adrien—please, you're hurting me—"
"Then get out of my room," he growled, his rage trembling just beneath the surface like it could consume him. "And don't come near me. I don't want you or your damn mom around me, got it?!?"
I nodded quickly, my heart pounding so loudly I could hardly think. He wasn't letting up. His eyes stayed narrowed, and he pushed me backward until I was against the wall in the hallway, my shoulder thudding into it.
He shut the door behind me with a bang that echoed ominously down the hall.
I stood there, frozen for what felt like forever, gasping and staring at the closed door. My arm throbbed where he had held onto it, but it was his expression, the hurt hidden beneath all that anger—that wounded me deeper.
I rubbed the spot on my arm where his fingers had left their mark, the pain creeping like a bruise beneath my skin. Each step towards my room felt heavier, the silence in the hallway pressing down on me until all I could hear was my heart thumping in my ears.
When I finally stood in front of my door, I didn't even hesitate—I shut it and locked it behind me, the click of the lock feeling almost laughably small as comfort. I leaned against the door for a moment, tears blurring my vision as everything that had just happened crashed down on me.
Why did I have to upset him like that? I should have known better. Adrien Fell was not someone who welcomed concern; he twisted it into something ugly. He was harsh, defensive, and radiated so much anger that it spilled from every word he uttered.
"God, he's such a terrible person," I muttered under my breath, wiping away tears before they could fall. My reflection in the mirror showed red eyes and trembling hands, a girl who still thought she could manage it all.
I sat on the edge of my bed, hugging my knees, wishing—just once—that I could find the courage to fight back. I wished I could look him in the eye and show him that he didn't get to treat me like this just because he was angry at the world.
"I wish I could make him stop," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I wish I could make him see me as more than just...someone to hate."
The room was silent, offering no solace. Still, I lay down, curling into myself, trying to ease the ache in my heart and push away the thoughts of his expression—because beneath all that fury, I had glimpsed something else.
Pain.
And that made it even worse.
The next morning came way too soon. I woke up to the distant sound of birds singing outside and the warm sunlight streaming through the curtains. For a moment, I was disoriented, until I turned on my side and saw the fancy furniture, the high ceilings, and that lingering citrus scent that clung to the Fell mansion. Then it all came rushing back—dinner, the fight, Adrien's grip on my arm, the look on his face.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled myself out of bed. The bruise was already there, a small mark that hurt enough to make my chest ache. I rubbed it, trying to brush off the discomfort. Today was the first day back at school, and I couldn't afford to dwell on him.
After a quick shower, I put on one of the outfits Gigi had picked out for me. Not exactly my style, but somehow it made me feel...confident. Maybe that was the idea.
As I combed my hair, dread settled in my stomach about heading downstairs. Breakfast meant running into everyone again, Keith, Mom, and worst of all, Adrien. He hadn't even joined us for dinner last night, and no one had really acknowledged his absence. Keith just muttered about him being tired, and Mom wore an uneasy smile, as if she wanted to avoid any tension.
With my bag slung over my shoulder, I made my way down the grand staircase, my footsteps barely making a sound in the still morning air. The dining room doors were ajar, and I could already hear the clattering of dishes.
Mom was sitting next to Keith, her face lighting up when she spotted me. "Morning, sweetheart," she said, pouring me a glass of orange juice.
"Morning," I muttered, forcing a small smile as I took a seat beside Adrien.
He shot me a furious glare, seemingly unaffected by the fact that he had been a total jerk the day before. His dark hair was perfectly styled again, and his outfit looked sharp and immaculate. He didn't even glance my way—just dug into his pancakes as if I were invisible.
Keith smiled warmly at me. "You look nice, Noah. Ready for your first day of the semester?"
"Yeah," I replied quietly, taking a sip of juice. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Mom reached out to smooth a stray hair off my face. "You'll do great, honey. Just be yourself like always."
I nearly choked on that. If being myself got me bullied last time, maybe it was time to try being someone else.
Suddenly, Adrien stood up, grabbing his bag from beside his chair. "I'll drive myself," he muttered, his voice cold.
Keith frowned slightly. "Adrien, that's not necessary—"
"I said I'll drive myself," he repeated, striding out without a single glance at me or anyone else.
The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable. Keith sighed, rubbing his temples while Mom tried to fill the space with a nervous chuckle.
I just sat there, pushing a slice of toast around with my fork. My stomach was too tense to eat.
When Keith looked my way again, his expression softened. "Don't worry about him, Noah. He'll come around eventually."
I just nodded, but deep down, I didn't believe it for a second. If Adrien Fell was going to come around, I certainly hadn't seen any signs of it.