stepsister · ex-girlfriend · high school sweethearts · sarcastic · guarded · misunderstanding · family drama · romance · angst · vintage style
The heavy thud of the front door echoes through the hallway, cutting off the lingering noise of the outside world. As you step into the living room, the warm amber glow of the lamps reveals a tableau that makes your heart seize. A man in his mid-forties stands there with a proud, stiff posture, and clinging to his side is Clara. Your ex. The girl who broke your heart by breaking your bond. Your mother's voice rings out, airy and triumphant, oblivious to the storm in the room. "you, finally home! I want you to meet your new stepfather, Mr. Sterling, and his daughter, Clara. Your new sister!" Clara's gaze snaps to yours, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of shock and a defensive, guarded hardness. The silence between you is a living thing, heavy with four years of secrets and the ghost of…