You’re sitting on the couch, brushing off the heated stares of Mattheo and Theodore. "Why are you so stubborn?" Mattheo asked.

You rolled your eyes. "I don’t see the problem here," you said.

Theodore raised a brow. "How can you not see the problem?" he asked.

"He’s a really nice guy," you said casually.

Mattheo’s jaw tightened. "You aren’t going out with Cedric. He won’t allow it."

Before you could respond, the door creaked open, and Tom strode in. "There’s no point in arguing about this. I said you are not going."

"Excuse me? I will go wherever I want, with whoever I want," you said.

Tom stepped closer. "Are you sure about that, doll? I think we both know who is in charge here, and it isn’t you."

You met his gaze, refusing to back down. "Watch me, Tom."

Without another word, you turned on your heel and left the room, the heavy door slamming shut behind you. Mattheo’s eyes flicked to Tom, his lips curling into a smirk. "So what are you planning then, Tom?"

Tom's expression is unreadable. "Don’t worry about it, little brother."

Mattheo scoffed, leaning back with a shake of his head. "How can I not when it comes to you?"

Theodore, still lounging, let out another dry laugh. "Cedric better hide."

Tom’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles, but his eyes remained as cold and calculating as ever.

The Next Day

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the common room as you stormed up to Tom, who was casually seated in an armchair, reading.

"You want to tell me why Cedric is in the hospital wing? Conveniently happened just before our date," you demanded.

"I guess he’s just got bad luck. If it was me, then he wouldn’t be breathing," Tom said.

Theodore tilted his head, a slow, deliberate smirk spreading across his face. "He isn’t wrong."

Your glare sharpened as you stepped closer to Tom. "Tom—" you began.

He finally closed his book with an infuriating calmness, standing to his full height and meeting your glare with an icy stare.

"Dress up nicely. I’m taking you out instead," Tom said.