At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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I was halfway through folding a stack of clothes when Daphne's little voice filled the room, chatting excitedly with Dom, who was sprawled out on my bed, listening to her with a surprisingly gentle expression. It was surreal having him here, hearing Daphne talk to him like they'd known each other forever. The way she laughed when he tried to match her playful tone—it almost felt like family already.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. My parents stepped in, looking between us with curious but warm eyes. The second Dom saw them, he started to shift, almost like he was going to make an exit. But before he could even think about moving, my mom gave him a reassuring smile.
"Stay, please," she said, her voice gentle. "We were hoping to speak with you as well."
Dom looked at me, and I gave him a small nod. He settled back onto the bed, and Daphne scooted closer to him, giving his arm a little squeeze as if to say don't go. The four of us—Dom, Daphne, my parents, and I—all gathered around, a quiet sense of anticipation filling the room.
My dad cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So, Adri, Dom... Do you want to explain what's brought you together?" There was no judgment in his tone, just a calm curiosity. My mom gave me a small, encouraging smile, urging me to start.
I took a deep breath, glancing at Dom, and then began, "We found out... or, well, Dom found out that there's a chance we're... siblings." I said the last word quietly, still trying to wrap my own mind around it. I explained everything—how Dom had stumbled upon some old documents, how he had brought them to me, and how we were even going to get a DNA test to confirm it.
Dom jumped in at points, filling in the gaps, his voice surprisingly steady. I could see the weight lifting off his shoulders with every word, like he'd been waiting to get this out, to just know. My parents listened closely, no interruptions, just nods and small looks between each other.
When we finished, there was a pause, and my heart beat a little faster, wondering how they'd react.
But then my mom's face softened, and she reached out, putting a hand on Dom's shoulder. "You have no idea how happy we are that you found each other." Her voice was thick with emotion. "Whether it's confirmed or not, you are welcome here, Dom. If you're family to Adri, then you're family to us."
My dad nodded, his usual stoic expression breaking into a rare smile. "We're just glad to have another son... and one who can keep up with Adri's stubbornness, by the looks of it."
Dom's mouth twitched into a smirk, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. The tension in the room had completely shifted, replaced by something warm, grounding. Daphne gave a little squeal and hugged Dom tightly, making everyone laugh.
As we sat there, talking and getting used to this new idea of family, it felt right. Messy and unexpected, but right.
