"Tell us a story," Chloe said softly, her voice losing its sharp edge. "Not a business report. Something… real."
It was a game they played—a choreographed performance of helplessness designed to keep him in orbit. But tonight was different. The storm had knocked out the main power grid, and the backup generator was struggling to keep the lights flickering.
For Julian, Christmas wasn't about carols or cocoa; it was about survival. Since his father had married into the Sterling estate, he had become the de facto assistant to his two step-sisters, Chloe and Mia. They were "spoiled" in the way only old money allows—viewing the world as a giant vending machine that occasionally stuttered. LifeSelector-XmasWithYourSpoiledStep-Sisters.rar
The heavy snow muffled the sound of the world outside, but inside the mansion, the air was thick with the scent of pine needles, expensive perfume, and the simmering tension that always defined the holidays.
As the wind howled against the stained-glass windows, Julian began to speak. He didn't talk about mansions or money. He told them about the Christmases he remembered before the rarified air of the Sterling estate—of burnt cookies, paper stars, and the quiet warmth of being enough. "Tell us a story," Chloe said softly, her
"Julian! The vintage Moët isn’t chilled to forty-four degrees!" Chloe’s voice drifted from the grand parlor. She was draped in silk, surrounded by a mountain of designer gift boxes she hadn’t even bothered to unwrap yet. To her, the thrill was in the acquisition, never the possession.
Mia, the younger and more mercurial of the two, leaned against the mahogany banister, tapping a manicured nail against her tablet. "And the caterer forgot the white truffles for the appetizer. I told you to double-check the manifest, Julian. Now Christmas is officially ruined." But tonight was different
Julian grabbed a heavy wool blanket from the ottoman—a gift he’d bought for himself—and draped it over their shoulders. He sat on the rug between them, the firelight casting long, flickering shadows against the walls. For the first time in years, they weren't barking orders. They were just three people huddled against the cold.