I never hated you

Chapter 1: Unwelcomed rival

Evelyn shivered as she stepped off the train onto the snow-covered platform of the small Russian town. The bitter cold pierced through her thin coat, making her regret leaving the warmth of her previous home. But this was her new beginning, her new family awaited her.

As she scanned the station, her eyes fell upon a tall man with a stern expression holding a sign that read "Evelyn." That must be her new father. She approached him tentatively, her heart pounding with nerves.

"Are you Evelyn?" the man asked in a deep voice, his accent thick with Russian.

"Yes," she replied softly, her breath forming clouds in the frigid air.

He nodded curtly and motioned for her to follow him. They walked in silence through the snow-covered streets until they reached a modest house at the edge of town. Inside, the warmth of a fire greeted them, but Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in her chest.

She was introduced to her new family: her father, Roman, her mother, Olga, and their son, Elijah. Elijah is a young man with a commanding presence, his tall stature and strong build making him a formidable figure. His features are sharp, with piercing eyes that seem to hold a perpetual glare. His dark hair is often unkempt, adding to his rugged appearance.

There's a hardness to Elijah's demeanor, a coldness that seems to radiate from him. He carries himself with an air of superiority, as if he believes himself to be above those around him. His expressions are often masked by a stoic facade, revealing little of what lies beneath the surface.

Despite his outward confidence, there's a palpable sense of anger simmering just beneath the surface. It manifests in his actions, his words laced with a cutting edge that can slice through even the thickest tension.

Elijah's disdain for Evelyn is evident in the way he interacts with her. He takes every opportunity to belittle her, to undermine her efforts, as if determined to make her feel unwelcome in their home. His hostility is palpable, casting a shadow over their interactions and leaving Evelyn feeling like an outsider in her own family. Evelyn forced a smile, but Elijаh's cold gaze made her uneasy. There was something about him, something hostile that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

As days turned into weeks, Evelyn tried her best to assimilate into her new life. She helped with chores around the house and attempted to engage Elihjа in conversation, but he remained distant, often ignoring her or giving her sharp retorts.

Their relationship quickly deteriorated into open hostility. Elijа seemed to go out of his way to make Evelyn's life difficult, sabotaging her efforts and mocking her at every turn. Evelyn tried to remain stoic in the face of his cruelty, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to bear.

Despite her best efforts, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider in her own home. She longed for acceptance, for a sense of belonging that seemed forever out of reach. But with each passing day, it became clearer that Elijа had no intention of ever accepting her as part of the family.

And so, Evelyn found herself trapped in a house where she was unwelcome, her only solace the hope that someday, somehow, things would change. But for now, she was alone, a stranger in a foreign land, longing for a home that felt just out of reach.

Evelyn tentatively approached Elijah as he sat at the kitchen table, his gaze fixed on his phone. Clearing her throat nervously, she spoke up.

"Um, Elijah, I was thinking... maybe we could, uh, talk? You know, get to know each other a little better?"

Elijah glanced up from his phone, his expression unreadable. "What for?" he replied curtly, his tone icy.

Evelyn faltered for a moment, taken aback by his coldness. "Well, I just thought... since we're going to be living together, it might be nice to, um, you know, try to get along."

A derisive snort escaped Elijah's lips as he returned his attention to his phone. "Get along? Why bother? We're not exactly cut from the same cloth, are we?"

His words stung, but Evelyn refused to let him see how much they hurt. "I just thought it might be nice to make an effort, that's all," she replied, her voice steady despite the unease churning in her stomach.

Elijah shrugged nonchalantly. "Suit yourself. But don't expect me to suddenly start playing nice just because you want to play happy family."

With that, he turned away, effectively ending the conversation. Evelyn sighed inwardly, feeling defeated but determined not to let Elijah's hostility get the best of her. She knew winning him over would be an uphill battle, but she refused to give up hope that someday, somehow, they might find common ground.