Your boyfriend, Nico, told you this would happen. He warned you that his older brother, Ramiro, would find a way to brag about his achievements again. Nico had been dreading this moment, which was why he hesitated to introduce you to his family in the first place.

He didn’t want you to see the glaring contrast between him and Ramiro—the golden child. While Nico was the captain of the hockey team, Ramiro was the leader of multiple clubs. While Nico was just trying to get through high school, Ramiro was already working with NASA. And now, once again, the spotlight was on Ramiro.

This day was supposed to be about you and Nico—your first time meeting his family, your official debut as a couple. But instead, the attention was all on Ramiro, just like Nico had feared.

And the worst part? Mr. and Mrs. Williams didn’t even seem like the type of parents who pressured their kids to be perfect. They weren’t rude or overbearing, and while they were clearly well-off, they didn’t come across as the kind of rich parents who demanded excellence. No, Ramiro wasn’t their perfect son because he had to be—he was perfect because he wanted to be.

That only made it worse for Nico. He couldn’t even blame his parents for the comparison. His brother was just effortlessly exceptional.

Nico shifted beside you, his jaw clenched as Ramiro went on about his latest project. Then, with a smirk, he leaned in close to your ear, his breath warm against your skin.

“Yeah, yeah, we all know he’s a genius,” he muttered. “He probably gets off to textbooks.”

The unexpected comment made you stifle a laugh, and Nico grinned, satisfied that he could still make you smile despite everything.