I tighten my grip on my phone, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

“You know how Grandma feels about our weekly dinners. What do you mean you can’t make it?” I ask Hannah.

“I’m sorry, Ares. I’m stuck in a meeting.”

She sounds apologetic, but somehow, it doesn’t feel genuine anymore.

“You’re stuck in a meeting every single week, Han. I’m tired of constantly making excuses for you.”

It’s obvious Grandma hasn’t been happy with Hannah lately.

She made that painfully clear during our breakfast this week, and honestly?

I’m done defending Hannah.

She’s shown almost no interest in our wedding, and she keeps declining invitations to spend time with Grandma.

Family matters to me.

It’s one of the few things I absolutely need us to agree on.

But we don’t.

Nothing matters more to Hannah than her career, and I’m starting to fear that won’t change after we get married either.

“Ares, I’m already sacrificing so much by marrying you. Are you seriously doing this right now?” she snaps. “Do you know how many roles I’ve had to turn down because our schedules don’t align? Why can’t you be more supportive?”

I grit my teeth and drag a hand through my hair.

“How could I possibly be any more supportive, Han?” I ask quietly. “I agreed to keep our relationship hidden for years so nobody would accuse you of nepotism or start spreading gossip about me handing you every role you’ve gotten. I supported you quietly from the sidelines, and the only thing I’ve ever asked for in return is that same support back.”

I inhale sharply.

“I don’t need you to support my career, Hannah. But I do need you here with my family. I need you at our weekly dinners. I need you to attend charity events once in a while. I need you to start acting like we’re actually building a life together.”

“Ares,” she says sharply, “are you seriously trying to claim you built my career for me? You may have helped me get certain roles, but I wouldn’t have succeeded if I wasn’t talented. Don’t take that away from me.”

I stare up at the ceiling and exhale slowly.

“You aren’t listening to me,” I say softly. “I never said I built your career. I said I gave you opportunities. Talent means nothing without opportunities, Han. I’ve literally financed entire films because you wanted specific roles. I’ve never once held that over your head. I’ve never asked for anything in return until now.”

I close my eyes briefly.

“I just need you to start prioritizing us.”

“This is bullshit, Ares. Why do you keep bringing up our relationship being a secret every single time we argue? Why can’t you understand that I need privacy?”

Why does every conversation with her end like this?

Every single time I try to explain why I’m hurt, somehow I become the villain instead.

“Han,” I mutter tiredly, “I can’t do this again. Let’s just drop it, okay? I need to leave before I’m late for dinner.”

“Fine!”

I let my eyes fall shut the second the call ends, exhaustion washing over me.

How did we get here?

Things used to feel so easy between us.

I’d blame fame, but it didn’t change Raven.

If anything, Raven became even kinder after becoming famous.

I’m already in a terrible mood by the time I walk through my house toward the main residence where Grandma lives.

Family dinner has always been my favorite part of the week.

Hannah used to love it too.

So when exactly did that change?

When did she stop caring about being part of this family?

I stop walking the second I see Raven sitting at the long dining table beside Sierra, with Lex seated on her other side.

They’re laughing together, teasing each other casually, and something tightens painfully in my chest.

Raven has been avoiding me lately.

Whenever I text her, her replies are short and distant.

I still think she’s embarrassed about what happened the night she got drunk.

I wish I could convince her it changed nothing between us.

Sierra says something, and Raven bursts out laughing.

And for some reason, seeing her sitting there like that fills me with jealousy.

This.

This is what I wanted with Hannah.

I wanted her to fit naturally into this family.

To laugh with my siblings the way Raven does.

“Ares,” Zane calls. “Get over here and sit down.”

I force my attention away from Raven and head toward my usual seat between Zane and Luca.

“I’m fucking starving,” Zane complains. “What took you so long?”

“Probably arguing with Hannah again,” Luca mutters.

“Boys!” Grandma snaps immediately.

I glance toward her.

As always, Grandma sits at the head of the table.

She’s the glue holding all of us together, and lately I feel like I’m failing her more and more.

Ever since our parents died in that plane crash fifteen years ago, she’s carried this entire family on her shoulders.

She’s done everything she could for us.

And despite asking so little from me, I keep disappointing her.

Grandma smiles at me gently, but I still catch the disappointment hidden in her eyes.

I know she wanted to discuss wedding details with Hannah tonight, and honestly?

I’m running out of excuses for her absence.

“You’re late, sweetheart,” Grandma says.

I nod apologetically.

Nobody starts eating until everyone is seated, so I kept the entire family waiting.

“Let’s eat,” I say quietly, making it clear Hannah isn’t coming.

Grandma presses her lips together before nodding.

My brothers immediately begin filling their plates, but what surprises me is Lex.

Normally, he serves himself first.

Tonight?

He’s filling Raven’s plate while Sierra watches with open amusement.

I stare at the two of them, unease settling heavily in my stomach.

Something is definitely going on between them.

And I fucking hate it.

“Ares,” Grandma says.

I force myself to stop staring at Raven and Lex.

To my surprise, Grandma doesn’t look angry.

She just looks curious.

“I assume Hannah couldn’t make it?”

I nod, already bracing myself for another lecture about family values and obligations, but instead she simply says:

“No matter. Raven is here.”

My eyes drift back to Raven instinctively.

Yeah.

She is.

Over the last few years, Raven has attended more family dinners than Hannah ever has.

Is that how she and Lex got so close?

Is she really here for Sierra…

Or is she here for him?

“Why are you so quiet tonight?” Zane asks. “No celebrity gossip?”

“Seriously,” Luca adds. “Your work stories are the only thing keeping this family entertained. Give us something.”

I shake my head irritably.

My brothers are such fucking gossips.

Usually I’d humor them, but tonight I don’t have the energy.

I eat quietly, my gaze drifting back toward Raven and Lex every few minutes.

She barely acknowledged me tonight.

Meanwhile, she’s practically glowing whenever Lex talks to her.

It’s like the rest of us don’t even exist.

I finally breathe easier when dinner ends without any discussion about the wedding and without Grandma lecturing me about Hannah.

Raven rises from her chair with a soft smile and slips outside through the veranda doors.

She’s probably heading toward Grandma’s swing.

Lex glances around immediately afterward, clearly searching for her.

And before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m following her outside.

I don’t know why exactly.

I just know I don’t want her alone with Lex.

I find her sitting on the swing, staring at Grandma’s endless garden while the breeze lifts strands of her hair.

She looks up at the sound of my footsteps, surprise flashing across her face.

“Oh,” she says softly. “Ares.”

“You sound disappointed.”

I sit beside her and gently push the swing into motion.

She looks beautiful tonight.

That yellow sundress should honestly be illegal.

The straps are so thin they barely exist.

Did she wear that for Lexington?

“No,” she says quickly. “Not at all.”

I study her carefully.

“Were you waiting for Lex?”

Her eyes widen slightly.

“Hm?”

“I… no.”

I nod once.

“Good.”

I lean back slightly.

“I love my brother, but he’s not the man for you. He’s a fuckboy, Raven. He won’t take anyone seriously unless Grandma chooses them for him.”

Raven bursts out laughing.

“Wait,” she says. “Are you actually worried about me?”

I nod immediately.

“Don’t be,” she replies. “And besides, how much longer are you going to keep treating Sierra and me like children?”

I grit my teeth and turn fully toward her.

She smiles at me provocatively, and before I can stop myself, I hook a finger beneath her chin and tilt her face toward mine.

“Don’t you even fucking think about it, Raven.”

She only raises an eyebrow.

“I’m an adult, Ares. So is he.”

The image of her in Lex’s bed makes something ugly flare violently inside me.

I tighten my grip on her chin slightly.

“I don’t give a fuck if you’re adults. You are not sleeping with my brother. Do you understand me?”

She glares at me defiantly.

“You might be Sierra’s brother, but you aren’t mine. You don’t get to control my sex life.”

“And I’m not trying to,” I snap. “Unless the man you’re sleeping with is one of my brothers.”

Her eyes narrow.

“Why do you care so much?”

I immediately let go of her, caught off guard by the question.

Why do I care?

“Family matters to me,” I finally say. “Grandma loves you. Sierra loves you. Honestly, you’re more a part of this family than Hannah is sometimes. I don’t want you ruining our family dynamic over lust. If things go badly, it affects everyone.”

She studies me quietly, like she’s trying to see through every lie I’m telling.

“Oh,” she says softly after a moment. “Right.”

She sounds hurt.

Disappointed.

Fuck.

Why the hell couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut?

Why do I always lose control around Raven?

For years now, she’s brought out the absolute worst in me.

She makes me irrational.

Possessive.

Fucking insane.

And I still don’t understand why.