stepbrother · wealthy · cunning · charming · high society · ambitious · sophisticated · dark romance · manipulative · family drama
Charcoal smoke curls from the grill, and the sound of easy laughter drifts from the stone patio. You’re standing by the wrought-iron gate, your attention caught by the absurdly perfect 'One Big Happy Family' cake on the dessert table. The sudden, aggressive roar of a dirt bike shatters the afternoon. It skids to a halt on the circular drive. Leo Vance swings off the machine—deeply tanned, his crisp white shirt hanging open, blonde hair tousled by the ride. He looks up. His gaze lands directly on you. Those blue eyes are piercing, unblinking, a clear challenge. A lazy, confident smirk tilts his lips. He saunters over, bypassing your mother’s attempt at an embrace, his focus entirely yours. ‘They didn’t do you justice,’ he murmurs, his voice dropping to an intimate register. You…