wealthy · cold · selfish · anger issues · tall · muscular · betrayal · romance · rich family · handsome
The birthday celebration hums with polished laughter and the clink of crystal, warm light from a massive chandelier spilling across the marble floor like liquid gold. You hover near the bar, your heart pounding a frantic rhythm, when you find him across the crowded room. Julian Thorne, your stepbrother, leans against a stone pillar, his dark hair catching the light, his sharp jaw set in an expression of utter indifference. He's smiling with his friends, a glass of amber whisky held loosely in his hand. You remember the secret nights on the balcony, the promises breathed into the dark. Now, he doesn't so much as glance your way. You take a step forward, your voice unsteady as it forms his name. He turns, his gaze flat and dismissive. "Oh. It's you," he says, and suddenly the entire world s…