The thrill of the carnival faded quickly as Riele returned to her mother's estate later that night. The cheerful lights and the easy laughter seemed worlds away, replaced now by the heavy shadows of her double life. She slipped inside quietly, hoping to avoid her mother's goons, but as usual, Marcus waited, standing like a sentinel in the dimly lit hallway.
"Your mother's been expecting you," he said, his gaze as cold and impassive as always.
Riele nodded, a familiar knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. As she entered her mother's study, she braced herself, ready for another interrogation.
Her mother, as usual, sat behind her desk, scrutinizing a stack of documents. She didn't look up when Riele walked in but motioned her closer. "So," her mother finally spoke, her tone sharp, "I trust you made good use of the time with Jace?"
"Yes, I did," Riele replied, keeping her voice steady. She could still feel the warmth of Jace's touch, his hand in hers—a stark contrast to the chill of this room.
"Excellent." Her mother's lips curled into a faint, calculating smile. "He's taken to you well. Now, it's time for the next step."
Riele's heart skipped a beat. "Next step?"
Her mother set down her papers and looked at her directly, eyes as cold and piercing as a knife. "I need more than just friendship, Riele. I need loyalty. His loyalty to us. Find out if there's any weakness, any tension between him and his father. Something we can use."
Her mother's words hit like a punch to the gut. Loyalty—that was a twisted word in her world, one that demanded betrayal, deception, and secrets. She could hardly imagine Jace betraying his family, and even thinking about it filled her with guilt. But there was no room for hesitation here, not under her mother's relentless gaze.
"I'll do what's necessary," Riele replied, though her heart ached at the thought.
Her mother's smile widened, satisfied. "Good girl. Remember, weakness is for those who cannot survive. And we, Riele, are survivors."
The phrase lingered with her as she left the room. The weight of her mother's words settled heavily on her shoulders. Every step she took felt like another thread tying her deeper into this dangerous game—a game where love, friendship, and loyalty meant little against the demands of power and control.
---
The next day, Riele found herself seated beside Jace during lunch. The usual noise of students around them buzzed in the background, but today, the air between them felt charged. Jace had a way of looking at her, as though he could see past her carefully crafted exterior, and it unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
"I'm glad you came to the carnival," he said, his voice soft. "It was...different, having you there."
Riele's cheeks warmed slightly. "Different how?"
Jace shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I don't know. You're not like anyone else here, Felix. You're...unpredictable."
The word stung. Riele wondered what he would think if he knew just how unpredictable her life was—if he knew the truth about her. But she forced a smile, hiding the turmoil within. "Maybe I just like keeping things interesting."
Jace leaned in, his eyes searching her face. "There's something about you, Felix. Sometimes I feel like you're hiding something."
The statement hung in the air, and Riele's heart raced. She had to deflect, fast. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm just good at keeping secrets."
"Yeah?" Jace's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Then maybe I'll have to find out for myself."
A surge of panic mixed with excitement ran through her. This was dangerous, yet exhilarating. Every second spent with Jace brought her closer to something real, something forbidden. But she couldn't let her guard down. Not when her mother's watchful eyes lingered over every detail.
---
Days passed, and Riele's life felt like a balancing act. Every interaction with Jace deepened their bond, but it also tightened the web of lies she'd woven around herself. He introduced her to his friends, brought her along to lunch, and walked with her through the halls as if she was an integral part of his world. And with every passing moment, she felt herself drifting further from her mission—and closer to the person she wished she could be with him.
Then, one evening, she came home to find her mother in the middle of a heated discussion with one of her goons. She stayed hidden in the shadows, but the snatches of conversation she overheard made her blood run cold.
"The rival's going to slip," her mother hissed, venom in her tone. "We need leverage. Anything that could ruin them, Marcus."
"Understood," Marcus replied with his usual calm. "But the boy may be an obstacle."
Riele's heart pounded. They were talking about Jace, of course. Her mother's need for power was never satiated, and her eyes were fixed on Jace's family like a predator stalking its prey.
She slipped back up the stairs, retreating to the quiet sanctuary of her room. The walls felt like they were closing in on her, and the weight of her double life pressed harder than ever. How much longer could she keep up this facade?
---
At school, Riele couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her chest. She barely noticed the bell ringing for the end of the day, lost in her thoughts. When she finally looked up, Jace was there, waiting by the door, his usual carefree smile in place.
"Earth to Felix," he teased, waving a hand in front of her face. "You look like you're somewhere else."
She forced a laugh, her heart heavy with the burden of secrets. "Just...thinking."
"About what?"
Riele hesitated, glancing around the nearly empty hallway before lowering her voice. "Jace, have you ever...felt like you're trapped? Like you're expected to be someone you're not?"
Jace's smile faded, and he studied her intently. "All the time. My dad expects so much from me—stuff I don't even want. But he thinks it's my duty."
Riele's heart clenched. She hadn't expected Jace to understand so well. "And you...you still do what he wants?"
"I try," he admitted. "But it's hard. It's like...I'm constantly being pulled in different directions."
She nodded, feeling the depth of his words. They weren't so different, she realized. They both lived in shadows cast by powerful parents, navigating expectations they never asked for. For the first time, she felt truly seen by someone.
Without thinking, she reached out, her hand resting on his arm. "You don't have to be what he wants, Jace. You can be whoever you want."
His gaze softened, and he covered her hand with his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Same goes for you, Felix. You don't have to hide from me. I don't know what it is, but...I want to help you. I want to understand."
The sincerity in his voice was almost her undoing. She wanted to trust him, to let him in, to tell him everything about her real identity, her mother, the mission. But the walls of duty, loyalty, and fear kept her silent. Instead, she withdrew her hand, the brief connection slipping away like sand through her fingers.
"Maybe one day," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
As she walked away, she felt Jace's gaze on her, heavy with unspoken questions and an unbreakable bond growing stronger by the day. And with every step she took, she wondered how long it would be before everything came crashing down, taking both of them with it.