MATED TO MY STEP BROTHER

Sophie Hart lives a bustling life in her Los Angeles loft, balancing her career as a successful designer with the demands of raising her six-year-old son, Ethan. One night, exhausted from work, she drifts into a restless sleep at her desk. In her dream, Dominic, her step-brother, enters her studio, and her heart skips a beat. The fantasy is forbidden, a temptation she knows she should resist, yet the thrill of it makes her cheeks flush and her pulse race. Her private reverie is interrupted when Ethan wanders into the room, hungry, and notices a business magazine on her desk with Dominic on the cover. His innocent question, “Who is this?” catches her off guard, especially when he points out that Dominic’s grey eyes match his own. Sophie offers a vague answer, hiding her emotions, and quickly takes Ethan to dinner. Her life is independent and fulfilling, but this small intrusion from the past ignites memories she has long tried to suppress. Later that evening, Sophie receives a letter from a lawyer. Her stepfather, Richard, has passed away after a serious illness. A funeral is scheduled in New York in three days, and her presence is required. Her heart tightens at the thought. Richard, despite the complexity of their family, had always treated her kindly, offering support and praise for her artwork, never mistreating her. Out of respect and gratitude, Sophie knows she cannot refuse. As she watches Ethan sleep, she is filled with conflicting emotions, uncertain about what awaits her in New York after seven years away.