Alec stood frozen in the hallway, the silence stretching between them like an impenetrable wall. Maddy had left him in the living room, her footsteps barely audible as she retreated to the other side of the apartment. Alec's mind raced, his thoughts tangled in a whirlwind of confusion, guilt, and frustration. He had come here to find something real, something he could hold on to. But now, he wasn't so sure anymore.
He had lied. He had lied to her from the very beginning. And the weight of it felt heavier than ever. But the truth was more complicated than she could ever imagine.
Sighing, Alec sank down onto the small couch in the living room. His hand rubbed the back of his neck, trying to alleviate the tension that had built up there. He could hear Maddy moving around in the other room, and the soft clink of dishes being placed on the counter. Her presence seemed distant now, even though they were under the same roof. It was like she was slipping away from him, and he didn't know how to stop it.
Alec had spent his life hiding who he truly was, keeping a mask on for everyone around him. But now, in this moment, he was starting to wonder if all the money, the power, the wealth his family had given him was worth it. None of it mattered if it meant he couldn't have a real connection with someone. And Maddy? She was the one person who had made him believe that something genuine might still be possible.
But the lies had already taken root.
"Alec?" Maddy's voice cut through his thoughts, fragile and uncertain. He looked up to see her standing in the doorway of the kitchen, her hands wringing the hem of her shirt, her posture tense.
"Yeah?" Alec replied, trying to sound casual, but it came out strained.
"I... I need to understand," she said, her voice trembling. "Why couldn't you just tell me who you really are? What's so bad about being honest with me?"
Alec stood up, his eyes meeting hers. There was a flicker of something in her gaze, something vulnerable, and it made his chest tighten. He could see the hurt in her eyes, the confusion that had slowly taken root in her heart.
"I never meant to hurt you, Maddy," he said softly, taking a cautious step toward her. "I'm just trying to figure things out myself."
Maddy shook her head, stepping back slightly. "How can you expect me to believe anything you say after all the lies? I don't even know who you are anymore."
Her words stung, but Alec couldn't blame her. He was the one who had built this web of deception.
"I'm not a bad guy, Maddy," he said, his voice earnest. "I'm just... I'm just trying to survive. Trying to make something of myself without all the expectations that come with my last name."
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Alec watched her closely, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to reach out to her, to tell her everything, to make her understand that he wasn't the person she thought he was. But the words wouldn't come.
Maddy looked away, her expression shifting between frustration and disbelief. "You're not the only one with expectations, Alec. I have my own life to figure out too. I'm trying to make something of myself. I don't need someone to pretend they're something they're not just to get my attention."
Alec's heart sank. The distance between them felt insurmountable now. The more he tried to explain, the more she seemed to pull away. He couldn't blame her, though. If he were in her shoes, he would have been just as hurt. The lies were a betrayal in themselves, no matter how well-intentioned they were.
"I get it, okay?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I messed up. But please, just give me a chance to make it right. To show you who I really am, the real me."
Maddy's eyes softened for a brief moment, but then she looked away again, a sigh escaping her lips. "I don't know, Alec. I don't know if I can do this anymore."
Alec's stomach twisted. He had lost her once before—he couldn't lose her again. But he also knew that he couldn't force her to trust him. All he could do was give her the space she needed, and hope that in time, she would come to understand that he wasn't the man she thought he was.
"I'm not asking for everything, Maddy," he said, his voice almost pleading. "Just a little more time. Please."
For a moment, Maddy stood there, her gaze unreadable as she stared at him. Then, with a small shake of her head, she turned and walked to the kitchen, leaving him standing there alone in the silence.
Alec's mind raced as he stood in the living room, the weight of everything that had happened crashing down on him. Maddy wasn't the only one who was confused. He was too. The choices he had made—pretending to be someone else, hiding his identity—had put him in a corner. And now, he didn't know how to climb out.
But he couldn't give up. He couldn't lose her. Not like this.
Later that evening...
Alec sat on the couch, staring out the window as the city lights flickered in the distance. The soft hum of the apartment was the only sound that filled the space. The conversation with Maddy had left him shaken, but there was something else weighing on his mind. Something he couldn't shake.
He had been careful. Too careful, in fact. But now, his life—his very future—was slipping through his fingers. And he couldn't let that happen.
The knock on the door startled him, breaking his thoughts. Alec tensed, unsure of who it could be. Maddy was in the kitchen, and she didn't seem to be expecting anyone. He rose from the couch slowly, moving toward the door, his hand resting lightly on the handle.
He opened it to find a man standing in the hallway—tall, with broad shoulders, wearing a dark coat. Alec's heart skipped a beat as the man's sharp gaze fixed on him.
"Can I help you?" Alec asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping up his spine.
The man didn't smile. Instead, he stepped forward, his presence commanding and cold.
"I'm here to talk to you, Alec Westbrook," the man said, his voice low, almost ominous.
Alec's heart stuttered in his chest. How did he know?