Evan sat on the edge of the enormous bed, his thoughts circling endlessly as the night deepened. The room was quiet, save for the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. The events of the evening repyed in his mind: dinner with his parents, where Charles mostly hovered in the background, ensuring everything went smoothly like always. Ever since their remarriage, Charles had taken to his role as a househusband with quiet diligence—a far cry from the man Evan remembered from his earliest memories.

  He exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. “A fiancée,” he muttered under his breath, the word still strange and foreign to him. It wasn’t like he had much experience with retionships in his old life. Between juggling part-time jobs and studying, there hadn’t been time for anything else. And now, here he was, engaged to his step-sister, a woman he barely knew.

  Evan leaned back, letting himself sink into the plush mattress. As overwhelming as it all felt, he couldn’t deny that this life—this world—offered opportunities he’d only dreamed of before. Back in his old life, he had been alone, constantly struggling just to survive. His parents had died young, leaving him to fend for himself. College had been his goal, a distant light he had worked tirelessly toward, hoping to earn a schorship that might change his circumstances.

  But here? Here, he was part of a family so wealthy that the concept of “struggling” probably didn’t exist. He could go to college without worrying about tuition or part-time jobs. He ughed softly, shaking his head. The stark difference between his old life and this one was almost comical.

  “It’s like I traded one life for another,” he mused, staring at the ornate ceiling. “And I got the premium version.”

  The thought made him smile despite himself. Maybe this wasn’t all bad. Maybe he could embrace this second chance. Sure, it was overwhelming, and everything about this world felt upside-down compared to what he knew, but he had been given an opportunity most people never got. He couldn’t waste it.

  Then there was Sienna. His fiancée. Evan sat up, running a hand through his hair. By the looks of her—and the memories he’d pieced together—she was undeniably beautiful. The kind of woman he wouldn’t have dared dream about in his old life. Confident, striking, and incredibly capable. And though her personality might be a bit much for his taste, she wasn’t a bad person. Just… bold.

  “She’s a lot to handle,” he muttered, thinking about her competitive nature. From what he remembered, Sienna had a knack for teasing him relentlessly, though it was rarely mean-spirited. If anything, it seemed she enjoyed the challenge of pulling him out of his shell.

  Still, the idea of marrying her was daunting. She wasn’t even home yet—she was traveling for business, already deeply involved in their mother’s work. At just a year older than him, she was clearly a rising star in their family’s empire. That fact alone was enough to remind Evan just how different this world was. In his old life, men were the ones expected to climb the corporate dder and shoulder the weight of success. Here, women dominated every sphere of influence, leaving men to py supportive roles.

  Evan considered calling her. It seemed like the responsible thing to do—acknowledge the engagement, maybe try to smooth over the awkwardness before she got home. But the thought of dialing her number made his stomach twist. How was he even supposed to start that conversation?

  Hi, Sienna. So, about us being engaged… No. That wasn’t going to happen.

  He decided it would be better to talk to her in person. Tomorrow. First thing. Maybe then, he could figure out where they stood—and where they were supposed to go from here.

  ***

  The next day came quickly, and Evan spent the morning exploring the house. The sheer scale of it still felt unreal, like stepping onto the set of a luxury drama. He wandered through rooms that seemed bigger than anything he’d seen before, each filled with carefully curated furniture, artwork, and decorations. The house didn’t just scream wealth; it sang operatic balds about it.

  By mid-morning, he found himself in the sunlit sitting room. He settled on a plush armchair near the window, absently watching the garden outside. Everything here was immacute—the neatly trimmed hedges, the bursts of color from the flowers. It all looked… controlled, in a way that his life had never been before.

  He sighed, gripping the armrest. “Controlled,” he muttered to himself. Not a word he’d use for how he felt right now.

  The sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts, followed by a familiar, teasing voice.

  “Well, look at you, all contemptive,” Sienna said, breezing into the room.

  Evan turned, startled by her sudden arrival. For a moment, he just stared. The Sienna in his memories had been attractive, sure, but seeing her in person was something else entirely. Her auburn hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, her sharp cheekbones catching the sunlight that streamed through the windows. She wore a bzer and tailored trousers that exuded both ease and authority. There was something about her—an effortless confidence—that made his heart skip for a moment before he quickly looked away.

  “Sienna,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady and fighting the odd warmth creeping into his cheeks.

  She tilted her head, her smirk already forming. “What, no ‘welcome home’? You’re still as stiff as ever.” She walked closer, stopping just short of his personal space. Her gaze flicked over him, amused.

  Evan struggled to match the tone of familiarity she seemed to expect, but his words came out stilted. “Uh… welcome home.”

  Her smirk deepened, her tone half-ughing. “Wow. Heartfelt. I can really feel the love, Evan.” She plopped onto the couch across from him, crossing her legs with a rexed ease. “Miss me?”

  Evan blinked. His memories suggested she was prone to teasing, but being on the receiving end of it was another matter entirely. “I… guess?”

  She rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a grin. “God, you’re terrible at this. At least try to sound convincing, or people might think I dragged you into this engagement against your will.”

  Her teasing nded harder than she probably intended. Evan stiffened, his mind rushing to sort through the yers of memory and reality. “I’m still getting used to… everything,” he said finally, his voice quieter than he meant it to be.

  Sienna leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand as she studied him with a teasing smirk. “You’re awfully quiet today, Evan. What’s going on in that head of yours? Or are you just in shock that your big sis-fiancée is back?”

  Evan blinked, caught off guard. “Big sis-fiancée? You’re really leaning into this step-sibling thing, aren’t you?”

  She ughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, someone’s got to own it. You’re the one making it awkward.”

  He sighed, rolling his eyes but letting a hint of a smile slip through. “I’m not trying to. It’s just… a lot to figure out.”

  Sienna’s grin softened slightly, though the teasing glint remained. “I know. Lucky for you, I’ve got plenty of patience.” She leaned back, tilting her head with a pyful shrug. “But seriously, don’t overthink it. Not like you’re going to find a better match anyway.”

  Evan huffed a ugh, the awkwardness still there but starting to fade. “You’re not exactly making this easier, you know. Couldn’t we just start with something normal, like catching up?”

  Her smirk softened into something closer to a real smile. “Catching up, huh? Fine. Let’s see… the company’s running smoothly, Mom is as intense as ever, and I’ve only traumatized three interns this week. How’s that for a recap?”

  “Terrifying, but somehow not surprising,” Evan said, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

  “See? You’re getting it.” She stood, brushing her hands together like she’d just finished a job well done. “Okay, shy boy. I’ll leave you to your overthinking. But don’t get too comfortable—I’m not going anywhere.”

  As the door closed behind her, Evan let out a long breath. It felt like he’d just finished a test he hadn’t studied for. Sienna was… a lot to handle. But beneath the teasing and confidence, she wasn’t unkind. She felt solid, in a way.

  As Evan settled back into the quiet of the room, his thoughts a jumble of awkward exchanges and the lingering warmth of Sienna’s teasing, the soft creak of the doorway drew his attention. Charles stood there, leaning lightly against the frame. His expression wasn’t the usual stoic reserve Evan expected—it was soft, almost tentative.

  “Hey, son,” Charles began, his voice warm and measured. He stepped into the room, hands tucked loosely into his pockets. “Do you have a moment?”

  Evan nodded, sitting up straighter, though his pulse quickened. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but the knot in his chest tightened anyway.

  Charles moved closer, taking the seat across from him. For a moment, he just looked at Evan, his gaze thoughtful and searching. Then he let out a small, quiet sigh, as if choosing his words carefully.

  “I wanted to talk to you about… everything that’s been happening,” Charles said, his voice softer now. “I know this isn’t easy for you. The engagement, the changes—it’s a lot. More than anyone your age should have to deal with, I think.”

  Evan blinked, caught off guard by the tenderness in his tone. He wasn’t used to this—not in his past life, anyway. The few adults he’d ever confided in back then were either indifferent or too busy to care. But Charles… Charles was looking at him like he truly wanted to understand.

  “I thought you should know,” Charles continued gently. “The engagement… well, it wasn’t just about the two of you. Your mother and I arranged it to ensure the family’s future. It’s not fair, I know. But in this world… sometimes things aren’t.” He leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowing with concern. “I need you to know that this doesn’t mean you don’t have a choice in how you live your life. We just… thought this would be the best way to secure things. For everyone.”

  Evan stared at him, the words washing over him. He should’ve felt betrayed or angry, but instead, there was a strange warmth spreading through him. Charles’s tone wasn’t demanding or dismissive—it was caring, almost apologetic. And the way he said "we thought" struck a chord deep within Evan.

  In the memories of the Evan who’d lived this life before him, things hadn’t been so warm. Their retionship had strained after the remarriage, burdened by a quiet resentment. The old Evan had felt his father had given up too easily—too eager to find someone else to rely on, too quick to let go of his independence. But for this Evan, there was no such bitterness. If anything, he found the attention… nice. Being cherished, even for a moment, felt alien but comforting.

  “You’re not mad?” Charles asked after a pause, his head tilting as he studied Evan’s expression. “You can talk to me, you know. If this is too much, I want to help. I want to make this easier for you.”

  The unexpected kindness hit Evan harder than he expected. He lowered his gaze, trying to process it. His past life had been so devoid of this kind of attention, this parental concern, that he barely knew how to respond. His throat tightened, and he quickly blinked away the heat rising in his eyes.

  “I… I’m okay,” he managed, his voice quieter than he’d intended. “It’s just… a lot to take in.”

  Charles nodded, his lips curving into a faint, reassuring smile. “That’s more than fair. I can’t imagine how overwhelming this all must feel. But I want you to know, Evan… you’re not alone in this. We’re here for you—for whatever you need.”

  Evan looked up, meeting his father’s gaze. There was no judgment there, no impatience—just quiet understanding. It was so foreign, so utterly different from the life he’d lived before, that it almost hurt. But it also felt… safe.

  “Thanks,” Evan said, his voice barely above a whisper. It wasn’t much, but he hoped Charles could hear the sincerity in it.

  Charles reached over, giving Evan’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to carry all this on your own, son. I mean it. And if you ever want to talk about anything—you can rely on us.”

  Evan nodded slowly, the weight in his chest feeling just a little lighter. For the first time since waking in this new world, he felt like he might be able to navigate it. Maybe not alone—but with someone who cared enough to stand by him.

  Charles stood, his smile lingering. “Take it one step at a time, alright? I’ll let you think things over. Just remember—you’re not doing this for us. You’re doing it with us.”

  As his father left the room, Evan sat there, staring at the door. The warmth of that simple conversation stayed with him, a quiet reassurance that, maybe, this life wasn’t just about obligations and expectations. Maybe, for the first time in a long time, it could be about finding his own pce.

  LunarEcho