Chapter 15

Leonardo entered his dorm room and found Luca standing by the kitchen counter. He paused for a moment, observing his brother's tense posture. Luca glanced up, his expression hardening as he noticed Leonardo.

Leonardo took a deep breath, deciding to address the situation head-on. "Luca, we need to talk," he said, his tone calm but firm.

"What is it?" Luca replied, his voice edged with irritation.

"I need you to keep your distance from Luna," Leonardo stated plainly. "She's my fiancée now, and it's important that boundaries are respected."

"You can't order me around," Luca responded

"It's not about giving orders," Leonardo countered, his voice steady. "It's about respecting the situation. This is difficult for all of us, but it's especially important for Luna. She doesn't need more complications."

Luca scoffed, crossing his arms. "You think you can just waltz in and dictate terms? You might be the golden boy, but that doesn't mean you understand everything."

Leonardo met his brother's glare with a steady gaze. "I'm not trying to dictate terms. I'm asking you to consider what's best for everyone involved. This arrangement is happening whether we like it or not. Let's not make it harder than it has to be."

"Whatever," Luca said whilst grabbing a drink.

Leonardo nodded, accepting Luca's response without further comment. "Thank you," he said simply, turning to leave the room.

As Leonardo walked away, Luca remained by the kitchen counter, seething with a mixture of resentment and frustration. The tension between the brothers, always simmering beneath the surface, felt more pronounced than ever.

He couldn't shake the feeling of being overshadowed by Leonardo, the "golden child" favored by their parents. It irked and annoyed him to see how effortlessly Leonardo could assert himself, how effortlessly he could navigate the expectations of their family.

"They always favored you," Luca muttered to himself, pouring a drink with a bit more force than necessary. The resentment simmered beneath the surface, a constant reminder of his place in the Laurier family shadow.

He took a sip, trying to quell the rising emotions. The tension between him and Leonardo was nothing new, but now, with Luna in the picture, it felt like an added layer of complexity.