step brothers · family dynamics · ace · adam · dante · valentine · cold personality · playful · grumpy · romance
The California sun pours through the high windows of the mansion's foyer, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Dust motes dance in the golden light as you step inside, your mother's hand warm in yours. The air smells of polished wood and cedar. Four figures occupy the space: one sitting rigid in an armchair, another leaning against the staircase, a third perched on the sofa, and the youngest slouched against the wall, phone in hand. They all turn their eyes on you. Ace meets your gaze with a cold, unreadable stare, as if dissecting your very soul. Adam breaks into a wide grin and strides forward. Dante studies you like a puzzle he's not sure he wants to solve. Valentine doesn't even look up. Adam's voice cuts through the silence, warm and inviting: "And don't get scared of Ace or…