Breakfast was finally over. Thank God.
I don't think I've ever been more relieved to walk out of a room in my life. Every bite I took felt like a silent performance—chew, smile, nod, pretend I wasn't internally screaming. Julie, on the other hand, was clearly having the time of her life. Practically fused to Victor's side, giggling at every little thing he said like a schoolgirl with a god complex.
And he? The guy who just executed someone like it was a minor inconvenience? Now he was being all charming and gentlemanly, brushing her hair behind her ear, calling her darling. They looked almost... perfect together. Almost.
Let's not ignore the fact that my aunt is clearly in her late twenties or early thirties, I don't know how old this woman is but she's somewhere in the middle. And this man has big "I survived the Cold War" energy. He looked late forties, sure—if we're being generous and the lighting's kind—but deep down I just knew. That man was somewhere around sixty. Sixty and still managing to sweep Julie off her feet.
God, help me, I'm going to lose my damn mind.
Lately, all I did was think. Too much. An endless stream of thoughts flooding in like a broken tap I couldn't shut off. And just when I thought I could get five minutes of peace to catch my breath, in comes Theo.
"So... still haven't called Aiden?" he asked casually, staring off like he wasn't setting off emotional landmines.
I stiffened. Great. Just great.
"Are you both waiting to see who calls first?"
My expression dropped before I could stop it. I looked like I'd just watched someone run over my childhood dog.
Theo glanced at me, then frowned. "No way. He stood you up once and now you're both calling it quits?"
I sighed through my nose and turned away. "Dude, it's none of your business."
Theo only laughed like my irritation was a joke.
Then suddenly he went quiet and said, "So... when are you going to tell me what really happened last night?"
I shoved his arm away. "I already told you. It's not my fault you don't believe me."
"Does it have something to do with Aiden?"
"No."
"You sure? 'Cause you haven't said his name once since you woke up. Weren't you all head-over-heels for him like moments ago?"
I snapped. "Not everything is about Hayden!"
Theo blinked. "Who's Hayden?"
Shit.
"I meant Aiden. Whatever! Just let it go, dude."
I dropped to the ground—not dramatically, just folded myself down into a squat, arms resting on my knees, like I was meditating or waiting for the universe to slap me with some kind of peace offering. My head hung low.
"I really... really don't want to talk about him. Or last night. Or anything right now."
Theo eased down beside me, knees drawn up just like mine. "Even our kiss?"
My heart did a somersault.
I looked over, eyes wide. Then quickly turned away like that would erase the moment. "Oh... that. Sorry about that."
He laughed softly, then said, "Why are you apologizing? I liked it."
I turned to look at him again, and he wasn't joking. He was just staring at his fingers, fiddling with them like they were suddenly interesting.
"Just wish it actually meant something to you."
"Theo..." I hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. For... you know. I know I'm hurting you. That's all I seem to do lately. And you keep putting on this brave face like it's nothing but..."
Theo cut me off. "Isaaq, I said it's fine. I'm fine. Like I said, I don't care who you screw around with. As long as you're happy."
I stared at him. "Where did that come from?"
"Shut up, Almasi." He punched my shoulder lightly.
I laughed. "Hey, Theo?"
He grunted. "Hmm?"
"I've been thinking... how do you feel about Julie and—"
"Isaaq freaking Almasi, don't you dare finish that sentence."
I burst out laughing. "I see. That bad, huh?"
"I don't wanna talk about it."
We sat there for a while, talking about nothing in particular. Dumb stuff. Random stories. Stupid jokes. The kind of conversation that makes you forget how heavy everything else feels.
Then Theo's phone buzzed, and he had to leave to attend to some "family thing" which honestly just sounded like code for "malrione nonsense".
I stayed behind, scrolling through my phone.
Eventually, the weight of the day caught up with me, and I dragged myself back to the bedroom.
_ _ _
The weekend had passed faster than I'd wanted, though not for the usual reasons. I didn't party, didn't relax, didn't even sleep that much. Mostly, I just existed—somewhere between spiraling and surviving.
Monday came like a slap to the face.
The idea of school made my skin crawl. I didn't want to go, didn't want to see anyone, and definitely didn't want to run into him. Whether he was Aiden or Hayden or some twisted combination of both, I didn't want to deal with it. With him.
But somewhere deep inside, a part of me still wondered what he was up to. If he'd show up. If he'd try to explain. Or worse—pretend nothing happened.
The morning dragged on.
First period. No sign of him.
Second. Still nothing.
By third, I was starting to feel a weird mix of relief and unease.
Maybe he wasn't coming. Maybe he got the hint and decided to disappear for good.
Or maybe... something happened.
My brain, like always, went to the worst-case scenario.
What if Victor Malrione found out who he was? and that he had something to do with the incident in Theo's party incident.
What if he'd been punished?
Or worse... killed?
My stomach twisted at the thought.
It's not like I cared, right?
Right?.
The days at the Malrione mansion were... fun, I guess. Luxurious. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the attention, the clothes, the ridiculous breakfast spreads. But beneath all that gold and glass and fake smiles, I saw it. I saw him—Victor Malrione for what he really was.
Powerful. Terrifying. Cold.
There was something about him that lingered even after he'd left a room. Like a shadow that stuck to your skin. And Theo? Yeah, he might have had a decent smile and charming eyes, but no one comes from that bloodline untouched. I saw it. The edge. The cold calculation.
It was funny, in a bitter way. I'd known Theo for years—laughed with him, cried in front of him. But only recently did I get to see the part of him that hid in plain sight. That quiet Malrione madness.
I was walking to my next class, trying not to think about it, when I noticed something. Just a blur at first. A shuffle of movement behind the glass window of a classroom door.
I slowed down.
I wouldn't have looked twice—school fights weren't exactly rare—but something about it... didn't feel right.
Then I saw him.
A group of guys, surrounding someone on the floor, fists flying. Kicks landing.
The person's head lifted just a little—and that's when I saw his face.
Aiden.
I froze.
My heart skipped like it couldn't decide whether to race or stop entirely.
It was him. Hair messed up. Lip busted. Blood trailing from the side of his face.
And no one was doing anything.
No teacher. No student. Just violence.
I stood there for a second, unsure what to feel. He lied to me. He used me. He.....hurt me and got me wrapped up in something so dark , honestly I'm not sure if I understand shit.
I don't.
But...
He was getting torn apart.
And I—
I was still standing there.
Watching.