This story is a dark romance, so it will contain mature scenes. All my characters are 18 plus and fictional.

Lily's POV

I am walking with my friend Justin, we just came out of a class. He has been acting weird all day. Currently I'm being dragged to I don't know where.

Justin finally halts at our school's  back garden.

" Why are we here? " I ask confused.

" I've wanted to ask this from a few days. Lily you are a beautiful woman and beautiful friend. I love you even more with every passing day. Will you be my girl-- "

Justin doesn't even get to complete his sentence before he is smacked down to the ground. Brandon!

Brandon starts hitting him furiously, not even slowing down a little bit.

" Stay the f**k away from her. " Brandon says in between his punches.

" Stop it, I said stop Brandon please. " I scream but he doesn't listen.

A crowd gathers around us, cheering for Brandon like it is a normal school fight. This isn't a fight, this is abuse! Justin is being badly beaten.

Finally Brandon stops, giving Justin one last kick. He then advances towards me slowly, like a predator coming towards his prey.

" Did I not warn you to stay away from him? " He asks menacingly.

" And why would I listen to you? " I ask, trying to be brave. He looks really scary right now.

" Because I can make your life hell, oh wait it already is. " He taunts.

" Why do you hate me so much? I am a part of your family now and your adoptive sister. " I exclaim. Ever since I came, Bella and I bonded so good. But Brandon has always been cold towards me. He hates me for no reason.

" Don't you dare f**king say that. You're not my sister and will never be part of the family. Go back from the trash we picked you from. " He says, all pent up. His reactions are always vigorous, whenever I mention that I am his adoptive sister.

He never accepts me, and has warned me not to tell anyone here either. Tears pour out of my eyes like its a waterfall.

" F**king weak.  And I don't want to see you again with him. If I do, well then you know me Lily, don't you?" He mutters after seeing me cry and then goes away.

Soon, the crowd fades away. Someone drops Justin to the nurse but I stay at the same place.

It's been always this way. When mama tries to give me all the love she can, Brandon always tries to snatch it away.  He hates me so much, he tries to make my life miserable. I don't even know why? What is my fault. I've always been nice to him, but he doesn't do the same.

I just wish he could have been a little nicer to me.

Lily's POV

School has ended, it's time to go back home. I always go with Bella, but she is nowhere to be seen. I do have a car of my own but I failed my driving test. Don't tell anyone though, it's embarrasing.

Anyways since Bella isn't here, I'll ask Drew, his home is near by.

" Hey Drew, I was supposed to go with Bella but I can't see her anywhere can you drop me home please? " I ask.

" Sure. " He replies with his charming smile.

" Where is Bella though, don't tell me she is hooking up with someone else. She will never change, a new boy toy every day. " He utters.

Drew is Bella's ex. He broke up with Bella cause he caught her cheating. They dated for a very long time but then Bella cheated. I don't get it though. Half of the girls of this school are dying to date Drew, yet Bella cheated on Drew. Well the other half are dying to date Brandon. I don't think Brandon has ever dated someone. He is famous for his one night stands and f**k buddies.

Both of the siblings are same, but unlike Brandon, Bella is capable of change. She is a nice person and yes she made some mistakes but after Drew broke up, she stopped going out with guys. Because both of them were madly in love. She finally realised that what she was doing was wrong.

She often tells me how much she misses Drew, but Drew said he can not accept a cheater. Both of them haven't dated anyone since then. But I don't think they will ever get back together.

" She must be busy in some other thing. I told you she hasn't gone out with anyone since then. Why can't you forgive her? " I ask.

" Are you even my friend Lily, don't you see that I am hurt too? " He asks, sadly.

" It's been a year Drew. " I exclaim.

" Let's just not talk about it. Get in, I'll drop you home. " He says, trying to end the conversation.

" Who do you think you're going with? " Brandon comes in the picture.

" Drew. " I reply bored.

" I'll drop you, you're not going with him." He orders rudely.

" And why not? " Drew asks back.

" Because I said so, don't forget she lives in my house and not yours. She's mine. " He states.

" She isn't your property. " Drew excalims.

" She lives in my property though, so she is bound to listen to me if she wants to have a peaceful life at home. " Brandon says, I don't miss the threat in his sentence.

" It's okay. I just needed a ride home Drew. I'll go with him. Stay safe. " I say and walk towards Brandon's car.

We both get in, and Brandon starts driving. Drew and Brandon are both enemies, Brandon started hating Drew even more when Drew broke up with Bella. He blames Drew for breaking Bella's heart. He doesn't know that Bella cheated on Drew. No one does, except me. Drew didn't want to tell that to anyone. He was ready to take all the blame in order to protect Bella's image.

He really is a nice guy. Bella lost a gem.

" Do you go out with him on purpose? I told you not to talk to him? " He barks.

I stay silent, I don't have time for his drama.

" You do it on purpose for sure. You're having s*x with Drew aren't you. " He exclaims.

" How dare you? Stop the car right now." I exclaim. He stops the car.

I get out of the car and so does he.

" Well I'm sorry you're offended but the truth hurts. You are a wh*re Lily. " He states.

" And you are a piece of shit. You should know that. " I shout back at him.

" Do not disrespect me. You will not like the consequences.  " He warns.

" Oh I will say it again. You are a f**king piece of sh-" I don't get to complete my word before I'm on the ground. There is a stinging sensation on my face. He slapped me. Brandon slapped me!

" I..I am sorry. I didn't mean to hit you, it just happened. " Brandon says, shocked by his own actions.

He helps me get up and sits me in the car. He gets in the car too and then starts driving back home.

" Look Lily I didn't mean to hit you. It was an accident. Don't tell that to mom and we will be on good terms. " He says.

" You hit me. " I whisper.

" It was an accident. " He states.

I stay quiet.

" So we will not discuss about it in home and neither will you tell anyone anything. Not even Bella. You know the consequences if you do." He pronounces slowly for me.  Trying to put it in my head.

I just nod my head. Wiping away my tears.

" I won't tell anyone. " I whipser.

" Good girl. "

Lily' POV

We reach home and I go straight to my room. I change and then come down for lunch. Everyine is seated, including Bella.

" How was school? " Mama asks.

" It was boring as usual, professor stopped me for an extra lecture. I was dying but I somehow survived. " Bella says, seriously as if she came out of a war zone.

" Bella, it's just school not a battle ground. " Mama comments, just what I was thinking.

" Must be hard, for her love. " Papa supports Bella. She is a daddy's girl.

" Yess it was and do you know, I couldn't even get my starbucks today " She whines.

" First world problems be like. " Brandon comments and both mama and Brandon start laughing. And well Brandon is a mama's boy.

" How was your day? " Mama asks me.

" It was good. " I reply not looking in her eyes.

" Lily what's wrong with your face? " Bella exclaims.

Mama notices that too.

" I.." I am not able to form a sentence.

" Someone pushed her into the lockers, she hit her face. " Brandon lies, quickly and swiftly.

" Don't worry, I complained to the authorities, he has been taken care of. " He replies, like an angel. Brandon loves mama a lot, he has this good boy image infront of her.

" I'll talk to them myself about this. What was the boy's name? " Papa asks.

Brandon tenses at that.

" Dad don't worry about that, it's not a big deal. " He says.

" I expect you to be in my office after lunch. " Dad orders. It's scary how he goes from a loving father to a serious boss. It's scary.

" Jake is something wrong? " Mams asks, still not getting the whole situation. She has blind trust in her son. Whereas papa does too, but not to an extent that it becomes blinding. He knows Brandon did something, but Brandon is his son. He will scold him and then cover up for him. It has happened many times. He does try to punish Brandon, like limiting his credit card and parties but he doesn't tell mama what Brandon does to me because it will break her heart. And truth be told I don't tell her anything for the same reason.

" Everything is alright love. " He says, kissing her on the forhead. They are so in love! Will I ever find someone like that?

" By the way Alex and Sabrina are coming over for the party. " Mama informs. We are having a pool party, due to the arriving summer. Just family and friends.

" Yayyy!! " Bella exclaims. Sabrina aunt is really fun to hang out with. So I'm happy too.

Papa doesn't look happy though. He never looks happy whenever there is a mention of them. Mama told me he is jealous of uncle Alex. Sometimes she does it on purpose to make his jealous.

" So alex will be here too? " He asks.

" Yeah. Any problem? " Mama asks innocently.

" No, of course not. " He says, putting up a fake smile.

" Wait isn't uncle Alex out of town? " Brandon asks.

" Brandon you ruined the fun. " Mama whines.

A look of relief finally crosses papa's face.

Fianlly we all go to our rooms. I start studying. Maths has always been difficult for me so I call Drew for help. He is a brilliant student. After an hour, a maid comes in.

" Your father has called you in his study room. " She informs.

" Okay, I'm coming. "

I get up and go to papa's  study room.

Brandon is seated there too.

" Come in Lily have a seat. " He welcomes me, with a smile.

I take a seat besides Brandon.

" Kids I don't know why you hate each other but this needs to end. " He informs both of us.

" I don't hate him. " I tell papa.

" I know Brandon hit you, I don't think I can hide it anymore from Crystal. This is my last warning to you. Do not test me boy." He warns Brandon. Brandon looks scared.

" Apologize to Lily and leave. " He orders.

" I am so sorry Lily, it will never happen again. " He says and leaves. The way he said it, it seemed more like a threat rather than a apology.

" I've talked to him. He won't do it again. " Papa assures.

" But he always does. He even hit me today papa. " I complain.

" I know and I asked him to apologize for that. It would break Crystal's heart. You know that, don't you? " He asks.

I nod

" So keep this to yourself. I assure he will never hit you again. " He states.

" Okay, can I leave now? " I ask.

He nods his head and I go. Even though he tells Brandon to stop, but he never allows me to tell anything to mama. This is unfair!