Catherine's POV
It was time for dinner and everyone was there already except Julian when I got to the dining room.
The table stretched endlessly, lined with chairs that made it look more like a royal feast than a family dinner. I wondered if it would be just us eating there or if the staff would join us.
I was still trying to figure out where I would sit until Gabriel pulled out a seat for me, "Here, Catherine."
I nodded and sat in the chair immediately.
"Catherine, you don't seem comfortable," Richard said and I turned to him at once. "Try to loosen up, this place is your home now."
I opened my mouth to speak but Julian cut me off, stepping into the room.
"Ohh, wow, a proper family dinner tonight."
No one answered him. Instead of staying quiet, he continued but this time, he directed his words at me.
"So, Catherine," he called, swirling his refilled glass lazily. "What's it like moving into a house this big and expensive? Do you think you fit right in?"
"Julian, this is not the right time for this," Richard snapped.
I set down my fork. "It's fine. I do not mind giving him an answer." My smile was sugar-sweet. "It's beyond the life I'm used to. I just gave you what you wanted to hear. Happy now?"
The air between us was hot, it made my pulse kick but I held it in anyway. He wanted me to cower, I could see it in the way his smirk stretched slowly, and I sure as hell wasn't going to give him that.
Richard's hand slammed the table lightly. "Okay, enough of the tension." His tone was clipped and he smoothed his smile again.
He started talking about his campaign, probably because he needed to change the subject. "We have a press conference tomorrow morning. We all must look presentable if the media comes around."
Mom nodded quickly, with eagerness. "Of course. I'll make sure everything is ready."
"Good," he said, looking down at the table. "Julian, I expect you to be there and on time this time."
Julian didn't look up. He twirled his fork slowly, his mouth tilting in something like a smirk. "Wouldn't want to disappoint the voters."
Richard's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer. The silence that followed was thick and it made my stomach twist.
I picked at my food, trying to pretend I wasn't sitting in the middle of something I didn't understand.
After dinner, I went straight to my room.
My phone still had no signal. I pressed it against the glass, hoping for a bar, but nothing changed.
I sighed and leaned back against the wall, the silence pressing against my ears until I couldn't stand it anymore.
I grabbed my hoodie and opened the door quietly. The house was darker now.
I walked down the hall, drawn by a sound, low music, barely there. It came from the far end of the corridor, where the doors were darker and heavier.
Curiosity got the best of me, so I followed it. The sound grew clearer, not from a speaker, but a piano.
Someone was softly playing slow and clean notes. I peeked around the corner and found Gabriel, who sat at a grand piano, his back turned slightly, so he couldn't see me.
I hesitated before stepping closer, hoping that I wasn't crossing any boundaries. "Wow. You can play the piano?" This was a rhetorical question by the way.
My voice startled him but when he looked up and saw me, he smiled. "Oh, Catherine. Please forgive me if I woke you up."
"You didn't," I said, lowering my voice. "I just couldn't sleep."
He laughed softly. "Yeah. It's like that sometimes. I couldn't sleep either."
I walked closer. "It's calming," I said, watching his hands.
"Want to try?" he asked suddenly.
I shook my head. "No way. I'd ruin it."
He leaned closer, with a faint grin tugging at his mouth. "You won't. Sit."
I hesitated but he continued to push for it, so I sat beside him. He guided my hand to the keys, showing me a few notes. "Here. Like this."
I pressed a key, and the soft sound rang into the air.
"That's it," his lips spread into a full smile. "Not bad for your first try."
I smiled too, feeling lighter. "You're a good teacher."
"You've got a good touch too, most people just bang on it."
"Hahaha. Maybe I should take lessons."
"You could. Besides, the perfect person to give you the lessons is right in front of you."
I was about to answer but yet again, I was interrupted by Julian, who appeared from nowhere. "Well, isn't this sweet?"
My body stiffened and I turned to see him standing in the doorway, with one shoulder resting against the frame. There was no smile on his face.
His eyes flicked from me to Gabriel and back. Gabriel sighed. "Julian, you are still up."
"Yeah," Julian said slowly, stepping closer. "How can I sleep when both of you are disturbing the house, playing love songs in the middle of the night?"
"Don't act like I don't do this usually," Gabriel flatly defended. "You've never complained."
Julian's gaze slid to me, sharp and knowing. "Now, I am."
His tone made something crawl under my skin.
I stood up, trying to add a voice for Gabriel, even if it annoyed me because I knew Julian was trying to be a douchebag again. "Sorry if we bothered you, we didn't mean to."
He scoffed. "Not up to a day here and you are already being a nuisance. Not surprised though, what more is expected of a low-class girl like you?"
I clenched my jaw, furious at his remark. "Low class? Really? You enjoy being a jerk, don't you?"
He stepped closer and smiled, leaving just close enough to rattle my nerves. "Only when someone makes it easy."
"Julian," Gabriel called his name in a warning tone. "What's wrong with you?"
Julian ignored him, his eyes locked on me. "You should be careful, princess. You are just the stepdaughter, don't think you belong here."
I let out a laugh, only to piss him off, then I took a few steps and stopped right in front of him. "FYI, Julian, being a stepdaughter makes me part of the family and that means I belong."
His mouth twitched slightly. "Too much attitude, let's see how long you are going to keep up with it."
I decided to not reply this time and for a moment, no one moved. His eyes held mine long enough for my pulse to trip, then he turned around and walked away, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall.
The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
Gabriel turned to me, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry. He's…"
"An ass?" I offered.
He smiled weakly. "Pretty much."