I froze and slowly turned around. Standing in front was my eldest brother, Elijah.

"Iris who?" I decided to play dumb.

He shot me a look.

"Ah! Mr. West! It's nice to see you," Miss Adams came out. She was obviously trying to please Elijah, "goodbye Iris, you will be missed."

I rolled my eyes, "yeah, okay. Please thank your lovely students for using me as a punching bag the last few years."

Miss Adams eye twitched and Elijah looked shocked.

"Come on, brother dear," I said, sarcasm oozing from every syllable, "I can't wait to meet the others!"

X

To say the car ride was awkward would be an understatement.

"So," Elijah cleared his throat and tried to diffuse the tension, "how has your life been?"

I bit back a laugh. How has my life been? Well, let's see: my brothers and father left me in the care of my so-called mother, who's been abusing me for the past 8 years. My friends left me, claiming I was a freak. Then, my mother died and it may have something to do with a guy who also used to hit me. So, my life sucked. How was yours? Was what I do badly wanted to say.

Instead, I said, "fine. How about you?" No need to burden my family. I've troubled them enough; besides, why should they care?

Elijah sighed, "it was okay, I guess. I've joined the company, which has been doing well so far. But we all miss you, Riss."

I tensed at the nickname, "Don't call me that," I snarled.

Elijah looked baffled, "but you used to love it when I called you that when you were younger."

I clenched my jaw and my hands curled into fists. I looked at him with cold, dead eyes and said, "people change, Elijah."

The journey continued in silence.

X

We reached the house- sorry, mansion. It was freaking ginormous! There were about four floors and massive windows. A balcony adorned with flowers was situated in front of some of the windows. Huge gardens decorated the front of the house and there was a pool on the right hand side.

I maintained my calm composure and said, "nice house."

Elijah grinned, "Thanks." We walked up to the large ornate door and he opened them, "welcome home, Ri- Iris."

The house looked pretty much the same. The polished marble floor shone and the winding banister lead up to the rooms. I was never allowed in the basement- for some reason (😂). There were photos of me and my brothers lining the hallway and I swallowed the lump in my throat. I missed my old life.

"BOYS!" Elijah yelled and I flinched; thankfully, he didn't notice, "SHE'S HERE!"

I heard the stampede of boys thunder down the stairs.

"Rissseeyy!" Brandon shouted and ran at me for a hug.

Hurriedly, I stepped back. I had a fear of people touching me. A flash of hurt washed over Brandon's features, but I didn't care. Does he really expect me to act like everything is okay after they abandoned me for eight years?

"Brandon," I said cooly.

"Hey Riss," Brandon smiled weakly, "how have you been?"

"Fine and don't call me Riss," I said shortly and looked over his shoulder to see five other boys. I recognised Daimen and I presumed the other three were my step brothers.

"Hi," I smiled at my step brothers. They didn't abandon me so there was no reason for me to be unfriendly. Was I being mean and catty? Probably. Did I care right now? Nah, "I'm Iris."

"We know," Oscar smirked, "your brothers wouldn't shut up about you. They went on and on, telling us all about you."

"All good things I hope?" I joked and my step brothers laughed. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my brothers with an unreadable expression on their faces.

My phone rang and I saw it was Harry, "Um, I need to take this. I'll see you guys later." And I quickly left the room.

"Hey Boss," I greeted, answering the call.

"Hey Rose," Harry replied, "we have another deal day after. We need you there."

"Ah," I bit my lip, "sorry, Harry, I don't know if I can make it. My mother just died and my brothers and father took me in."

"Oh," Harry, the master of eloquence said, "Well, okay, then. Wait, didn't your father and brothers abandon you?" Harry knew some details about my past.

"Yes," I replied, "I have to go now. I'll text you about day after later today."

"Okay," Harry answered, "Sorry for you loss, Rose." Don't be.

"Thank you, see you later," I ended the call and made my way back to my 'family'.

"Right then!" I plastered a smirk on my face, "when do I get to meet dear ol' dad?"

Seeing Iris again was probably the best yet worst thing that had ever happened to me.

For the past eight years, I'd been planning the reunion. In my mind, Riss would be the same happy eight year old. What I wasn't expecting was a cold, moody teenager.

"She's changed," Eli murmured, walking next to me.

"I know," I said back, "she's more... cold and mean."

"Nothing wrong with my hearing, though," Iris snapped from her position a little way in front of me. Shoot, she heard us.

"This is David's office," Julian gestured to the study.

"Thanks," Iris smiled. I was a little jealous at how she was nice to our step brothers but not to her biological ones.

I knocked on the door and opened it, not bothering to wait for a reply.

"Hello, Riss," my father stated. He was as immaculate and distant as ever.

"My name is Iris," I replied, "you know, the daughter you haven't seen in eight years or bothered to check up on her."

"Hi, Iris," I looked up to see Lisa smiling nervously at me, "I'm Lisa, your stepmother."

"I know," I said and plonked myself in the chair in front of the desk, "nice to meet you."

Cue the awkward silence.

"So, David," I said, "looks like life's been treating you well," there was a bitter undertone to that statement.

"Jeez Iris," Daimen rolled his eyes, "no need to be so petty and bitter. You're acting like you've been living in Hell."

I actually smiled at that. You have no idea, I thought. But I didn't voice my thoughts.

"Daimen," Elijah said warningly.

"Whatever, I'm out of here," Daimen left the room.

I rolled my eyes; I didn't ask to be here. I would be quite content living in an Orphanage.

"So, Iris," David cleared his throat, "there are some rules we need to go over:

1) No disrespect towards any of your family members.

2) Tell one of us if you're going out somewhere- this rule is to keep you safe.

3) Don't go into the basement (😂)

4) I won't set a fixed bedtime; but you must be getting at least 8 hours of sleep- especially on weekdays when there's school. School starts at 9am so be up by 7am and ready by 8:20am.

5) No boyfriends. You can have boys as friends but nothing more," David looked at me sternly, "do I make myself clear?"

"Oh, does that mean I'll have to break up with Ben?" I asked with mock seriousness. I didn't have a boyfriend and I don't plan on having one.

I saw Lisa bite her lips to hide a smile and David glared, "who's Ben?"

"Chill, David," I rolled my eyes, "I don't have a boyfriend and I don't plan on having one."

I stood up, "if that's all, I'm going to my room." And walked out of the room, trying to hold back tears.

Seeing my father with his happy family brought back harsh and horrible memories- ones that I would rather forget.

No matter what, I vowed, they will never find out what happened to me.