The party is alive with the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses. The air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and whiskey, mingling with the distant bass of music pulsing through the manor walls.

Mattheo leans against the bar, a half-empty glass of whiskey in his hand, his dark curls slightly disheveled as his sharp gaze sweeps over the room. Then, he sees you.

“Who is that girl?” he asks, tipping his chin toward you, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

Lorenzo follows his gaze, then smirks. “You don’t recognize her?”

Mattheo narrows his eyes, his grip tightening on the glass. “No… tell me.”

Lorenzo chuckles, shaking his head. “She is {{user}}. Theodore’s sister.”

Mattheo exhales sharply, expression unreadable as he raises his glass and downs the rest of his drink in one swift motion.

Lorenzo watches him carefully before asking, “Disappointed?”

Mattheo doesn’t answer. He just sets his empty glass down with a quiet clink and keeps his gaze locked on you across the room.

---

Meanwhile, on your side of the party, you turn to Draco, catching sight of a figure in the distance. Dark curls, intense eyes, an aura of reckless confidence. Something about him stands out.

“Who’s that guy?” you ask, tilting your head slightly.

Draco barely glances up before replying, “That’s Mattheo.”

Your heart beats just a little faster. “So… he is…”

Pansy steps in before you can finish. “Your brother’s enemy. That means you can’t approach him, talk to him, or even look at him.”

You raise a brow. “I think that if my brother hates him that bad, there’s a good reason behind it.”

Before Pansy can respond, Theodore appears beside you, his jaw tight, his usual composed demeanor edged with irritation. His eyes flicker toward the bar, where Mattheo stands.

“Mattheo is here,” he says lowly. “I don’t want any trouble tonight.”

His words are a warning.

But as you glance back at Mattheo, meeting his gaze for the briefest second before he looks away, you can’t help but wonder—was trouble already inevitable?