CHAPTER THREE: Forbidden Lines
The smell of sizzling onions and frying plantains filled the air, drifting up the stairs and into Winter's room. The warmth of her mother's cooking was a Sunday comfort she cherished. She stretched lazily under her sheets, eyes fluttering open, and rolled out of bed with a soft hum.
She padded downstairs in her fluffy socks, curls bouncing slightly with each step. In the living room, she spotted her father and Ace, both seated, deep in conversation.
"Good morning, Dad. Morning, Ace," she chirped.
"Morning, sis," Ace nodded.
"Morning, sweetheart," her dad replied warmly.
She gave them a quick smile before darting into the kitchen where her mother stood, stirring a pot and humming to herself.
"Good morning, Mommy."
"Morning, sweetie." Liliana smiled and leaned over to kiss her daughter's forehead.
Winter's nose twitched as she scanned the pots and trays. "Whoa… that's a lot of food. What's the special occasion?"
"The Luhans are coming over," her mother replied casually.
Winter's eyes lit up. "Jeremy?" she asked, a little too quickly.
"Yes, Jeremy," Liliana laughed, catching her daughter's reaction.
But then her expression dimmed just as quickly. "Oh. Jason too?"
Her mother raised a brow.
"Oh, really?" Winter added flatly, trying to sound indifferent. But the change in her voice was obvious.
"Hey…" Liliana nudged her gently. "Don't sulk. Help me with the dishes instead."
"Okay, Mom," Winter mumbled, forcing a smile. Think of Jeremy, not Jason. If I think of Jason too much, I might commit murder before lunch is served.
They began setting the table together, arranging the plates and cutlery as the smell of jollof rice, grilled chicken, and kelewele filled the house. The dining table had been laid for eight.
Winter blinked. "Eight? I thought Mr. and Mrs. Luhan were on a business trip."
"They're coming back today," Liliana said. "This lunch is also their welcome party."
"Oh…" she muttered, more to herself. She quietly adjusted her seat, smoothing the edge of the tablecloth.
---
The doorbell rang.
Winter barely had time to react before the front door burst open and Jeremy ran inside, arms outstretched.
"Jeremy!" Winter squealed, rushing toward him. He hugged her tightly before flopping into the chair beside hers.
Behind him, Jason strolled in — slow, confident, and annoyingly radiant. His golden-brown skin practically glowed under the morning light, and the crisp white shirt he wore looked tailored to sin.
"Bro!" Jason called out.
Ace stood to meet him, their handshake turning into a half-hug.
"You've been MIA," Jason said with a hint of concern.
"The company matters have gotten to me," Ace said with a sigh.
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You look like hell. Are you even eating?"
"Ha-ha," Ace deadpanned. "So funny. I'd love to see how you handle your dad's empire one day."
"Don't curse me, bro," Jason laughed. "Just go back to working out logistics and let me enjoy my freedom while it lasts."
Jason turned toward the dining area and found Winter seated, arms crossed.
"Hello, Snowflake."
"Please leave, Little Luhan," she fired back without missing a beat.
Jason grinned, eyes narrowing. "Oh, really?"
He turned to Jeremy. "Stand up."
"What? No—Jason!" Jeremy protested, but it was too late. Jason had already picked him up like a rag doll and dropped him into the next chair.
"Jason!" Winter stood up, voice sharp. "What is wrong with you?! Leave him alone."
"Are you that bothered?" he teased, enjoying the fluster on her face.
"Oh my God, you're so annoying."
"What if you're the annoying one?"
"Everyone knows you're the pain in the ass!" she shouted. "Stop trying to push the blame."
Jason scoffed. "You put orange dye in my shampoo last week and I'm the annoying one?"
"That's because you glued me to my dining chair!"
"That was funny," he smirked. "But only because you hung a bucket of water on my bedroom door!"
"You dropped a bag of flour on me while I was cooking for Jeremy!"
"Not my fault you were in the kitchen. We have staff for that."
"You knew I was in there!"
---
The doorbell rang again, cutting through the chaos.
Liliana wiped her hands and hurried to open it. Her face broke into joy.
"Maddison!" she cried, pulling the woman into a hug.
"Lily!" Maddison Luhan returned the embrace warmly.
Behind her stood Drake Luhan, tall and striking as ever. Felix joined his wife at the door and shook Drake's hand tightly.
"Drake!"
"My brother!" Drake grinned.
As they stepped inside, Drake sniffed the air. "Wait… are my kids not here yet?"
"They're here. Why?" Felix asked.
"Because it's too quiet—"
Before he could finish, Winter's voice erupted from down the hall, shouting at Jason.
"Give it back! That's my headband!"
Jason sprinted past, laughing with the headband in hand. "Come get it then!"
"Ah," Drake sighed with a smile. "There it is. I was starting to worry someone switched our kids with clones."
Everyone laughed. It was tradition by now: wherever Winter and Jason were, chaos followed.
Eventually, Liliana wrangled the two into their seats, and food was served.
Conversation flowed easily — from business, to travel, to parenting fails. Maddison recounted hilarious moments from her latest modeling campaign in Spain, while Drake casually dropped a bombshell.
"I won the French international real estate contract. Multi-million euros," he announced proudly.
"What?" Felix sat up. "That's incredible!"
Everyone cheered, clinking glasses and congratulating him.
"We'll host a party," Drake continued. "Big celebration. And all of you are invited."
The mood was warm and sincere — that was the rare magic between these families. No envy. No spite. Just… history, loyalty, and love.
---
"So," Liliana turned to her daughter. "How was your birthday hangout? You came back pretty late."
Winter paused. "Well…"
She side-eyed Jason, who smirked behind his glass.
"It was… okay... Jason," she said his name like it was a curse, "ruined our day by tagging along."
"I made it better," Jason interjected.
"But," she continued through gritted teeth, "he somewhat made up for it by gifting me… a red diamond jewelry set."
The table went still.
"What?" Maddison's jaw dropped.
"Wait. The red diamond?" Drake asked, brow furrowed.
"The one auctioned for over 200 billion?" Felix added.
"It's just jewelry," Jason said, voice low. "Might as well give it to the annoying snowflake instead of letting it gather dust."
But no one was buying the nonchalance. That diamond was history. And that gift? It said things Jason wasn't ready to say out loud.
Ace's chair scraped against the floor.
"Jason," he said, voice cool. "We need to talk."
He tossed his napkin onto the table and left without waiting for a response.
Jason followed.
---
Inside Ace's room, the door clicked shut.
Jason leaned against the wall. "What's wrong?"
"Tell me the truth." Ace's voice was cold. "Are you in love with my sister?"
Jason froze.
"What? Why would you think that? I... "
"I'm not hearing a no," Ace snapped.
Jason's throat went dry. "come on Ace, she's a kid... She's... Your sister and Jeremy's best friend... She's like a little sister to me. I would never."
Ace scoffed. "I hope so Jason... I hope that's all it is."
Jason's Adam's apple bobbed nervously, "trust me"
"Oh, I do. But don't break it. Because if you ever touch her... ever, in the wrong way...I'll forget we were ever friends. You understand?"
Jason swallowed hard, then nodded. "I understand."
Ace stared him down, then softened just slightly. "I'll meet you down stares". He tapped Jason's shoulder twice and walked out.
---
Jason sat alone in the room, silence thick around him. His heart pounded too loudly.
He didn't want to admit it — not to Ace, not to himself.
But Ace's words stirred something within him. But of course he would never. Just as that thought crossed his mind, his brain subconsciously doubted. And that was not good.
Ace walked towards the dining area, memories flooding his brain from when Jason bought that red stone despite his advice to not do it.
> "What are you going to do with that diamond?. You don't like jewelry, or are you making a collection of precious stones or something?"
> "I'm… making it into a jewelry. For someone." he said the last part under his breath, as if not wanting Ace to hear. But he did, unfortunately. His eyes deep looking at the stone
> "oh... Is it... Someone special?" ace laughed at him. "is it Jessica?"
> "What? No… just drop it."
Ace shook his head, trying to wash that memory out as he hoped... Hoped that he was wrong. Because if Jason tries to make a move on his sister... He might actually kill him
Jason sat in Ace's room. Trying to collect himself. Something he shouldn't even be trying to do. Even now, he could hear Winter's voice in his head. Her laughter. Her fire. Her softness when she was tired and gentle when she was scared.
He shouldn't care.
But…
He did.
And for the first time, Jason Luhan — golden boy, playboy, son of a billionaire — was afraid.
Because Winter Rodgers is the one girl he couldn't afford to want. And he doesn't... Hopefully.