CHRIS

The meeting dragged on far longer than it should have. Father, in his usual overbearing way, insisted we discuss security—more guns for tomorrow's ceremony. I gave him a silent nod, knowing any argument would be futile. Even if I dared to suggest that our current measures were enough, it would only invite another lecture. He’d go on about my inadequacies, comparing me to Alex as though she were the man he always wanted in my position.

If only he knew.

"Christopher."

The way he said my name never failed to grate on me. It always carried the weight of his disappointment, like I’d already failed before I even opened my mouth.

“Yes, Father,” I replied evenly, masking my irritation.

“Have you heard from Alexandria? She hasn’t been visiting as regularly as she should.” His tone was clipped, disapproving.

I wondered if he even knew how much Alex despised being called by her full name. Then again, he never cared about our preferences—only about control.

“She’s been busy traveling,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “But she’ll be at the ceremony tomorrow.”

“She’d better be.” His voice turned sharp, authoritative. “It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce her to one of the bachelors I’ve selected for her. She’s not getting any younger.”

I stared at him, the words hitting harder than I expected. “You’ve chosen someone for her… without her consent?” My voice was calm, but the tension in my jaw betrayed me. “She should have a say in this.”

“She doesn’t need a say,” he snapped, his tone dripping with scorn. “I’m her father, the king. If I decide she’s to marry a fucking peasant, then she will. Consent is irrelevant.”

His words were like a match to dry kindling. My restraint snapped.

“This is wrong!” I shouted, standing to meet his glare. “How could you force her into this? Don’t you see? This is the same thing you did to Elliot! It’s why he left!”

The mention of Elliot’s name was a calculated strike, and it landed exactly as I intended. Father’s face darkened, his teeth clenched, and his fists curled at his sides. He despised hearing his firstborn’s name—his perfect son who had walked away from it all.

“Don’t you dare speak that name in my presence,” he hissed, his voice low but deadly. “Or else…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, and part of me wanted to push, to force him to say whatever empty threat he had ready. But instead, I bit back the retort burning on my tongue. Respect, or what little of it remained, held me back.

“You’ll tell Alexandria that I want to see her the moment she arrives tomorrow,” he said coldly, rising from his chair. Without another word, he stormed out, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence.

I slumped back into my seat, letting out a heavy sigh. The tension of the encounter lingered, clawing at my chest. Everything felt like it was unraveling faster than I could hold it together. And Elliot… God, how I wished he were here.

But damn it, Elliot. Even after all these years, I couldn’t help but feel betrayed. He’d just disappeared, leaving us—leaving me—with nothing but questions. And yet, I couldn’t blame him. He’d chosen love, freedom. He’d chosen to escape.

He’d always been the perfect son, the golden child. Father molded him into the ideal heir—diligent, patient, a born leader. Meanwhile, I was the constant disappointment, the rebel who couldn’t live up to the crown’s expectations. And now, Elliot was gone, leaving me to bear the brunt of Father’s rage and control.

A vibration on the desk pulled me from my thoughts, and I realized a guard had been standing silently in the corner the entire time. How long had he been there, watching our argument? I ignored him and answered the call.

“What?” I answered, leaning back in my chair.

“Not even a ‘Hey, Todd, how have you been?’” His familiar teasing tone managed to pull a slight smirk from me.

He snorted. “I’ll pass.”

“Fair enough,” he chuckled. “How’s the chaos for tomorrow’s ceremony coming along?”

I stood and started toward my room, the guard trailing behind me like a shadow. “It’s going,” I said vaguely. Then, an idea struck. “Todd, are you in town?”

“Why do you think I’m calling? Of course, I am. Figured we could catch up, but I know you’ll just—”

“Good. I’ll meet you,” I interrupted, already heading toward my room. “Still at the Aqua Hotel?”

“Yeah,” he replied, sounding amused. “What’s the rush? Don’t tell me you’ve started missing me.”

“Not quite,” I replied, smirking. “It’s something better. Alex might have a lead on Elliot.”

Silence stretched on the other end before Todd finally spoke, his voice cautious but hopeful. “Are you sure? I’ve been looking for years, and it’s like he vanished.”

“She hired a private detective,” I explained, grabbing my jacket. “And they’ve found something. It’s thin, but it’s a start.”

“Damn." Todd muttered. "After all this time…” he  exhaled deeply. “I can’t believe it.”

“Neither can I.” As I left my room, my steps faltered outside Sarah’s door. For a brief moment, I considered going in, checking on her. But I stopped myself. Last night had been… intense. Even for me. She needed space, and maybe I did too.

“Let’s talk more when I get there,” I said, cutting the call.

Outside, one of Father’s guards trailed after me, muttering about how I needed extra protection. Another of Father’s overreaches, no doubt. He probably thought I’d run, just like Elliot did. The thought was tempting, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Fine,” I muttered, climbing into the car. “Let’s go.”

The car pulled up smoothly in front of the hotel, its sleek black exterior glinting under the warm glow of the entryway lights. As I reached for the door handle, I caught the guard unbuckling his seatbelt, preparing to follow me.

“No,” I said firmly, stopping him in his tracks. “Stay here.”

His lips parted, perhaps to protest, but my glare left no room for argument. With a reluctant nod, he settled back into his seat as I stepped out of the vehicle. The cool night air brushed against my skin as I adjusted the cuffs of my jacket, taking in the ornate façade of the Aqua Hotel.

The doorman froze the moment he saw me, his eyes widening in recognition. He quickly recovered, bowing deeply as if his life depended on it. I gave him a curt nod and moved past him, the sound of my polished shoes echoing against the marble floor of the grand lobby.

Inside, a young woman stood behind the reception desk. Her gaze snapped to me, and for a moment, she seemed too stunned to speak. When she finally opened her mouth, presumably to greet me, I raised a hand and pressed a finger to my lips, silencing her with a soft “shhh.”

Her cheeks flushed as she nodded, understanding immediately.

"I'm looking for Todd Pears," I said in a low voice, leaning slightly against the counter.

Her face lit up at the mention of his name, as though he were a familiar guest, perhaps even a favorite.

"He's at the swimming pool, sir," she replied eagerly. "Would you like me to take you?"

I shook my head, allowing a small smirk to tug at the corner of my lips. "No worries. Just send someone to escort me. I'd hate to get you in trouble for leaving your post."

Her blush deepened, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Of course, sir." She quickly called over one of the doormen, who arrived with practiced efficiency.

“This way, sir,” he said, leading me through the pristine corridors of the hotel. The scent of chlorine mixed with the faint aroma of expensive cologne grew stronger as we approached the pool area.

When the doorman opened the glass doors to the poolside, my eyes immediately scanned the space. The glow of underwater lights reflected off the surface of the water, casting rippling patterns on the walls. A few guests lounged on deck chairs, but my attention was drawn to the laughter ringing out from a corner.

There he was—Todd, in nothing but his boxers, leaning back on a cushioned chair. Beside him sat a woman in a daringly revealing bikini, her flawless skin glistening under the ambient lights. She was beautiful, undeniably so, but as my eyes lingered for a moment, I found myself thinking of Sarah. Her beauty wasn’t just skin-deep; it was magnetic, incomparable.

“What's all the laugh about?” I interrupted, my voice slicing through their private bubble.

Todd’s laughter halted abruptly as both he and the woman turned to face me. Her smile faltered slightly, and Todd’s hand froze on her exposed thigh.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," I added, a sharp grin playing on my lips. I knew full well that I was.

“Chris!” Todd’s voice carried a mix of surprise and guilt, but I didn’t miss the flicker of irritation in his eyes. He scrambled to his feet, the woman shifting uncomfortably beside him as she adjusted her bikini strap.

“Nice to see you too, Todd,” I said smoothly, taking a step closer. “You look... relaxed.”

The woman’s gaze darted between us, her discomfort growing palpable. Todd rubbed the back of his neck, offering me an awkward chuckle.

“Didn’t think you’d be here so soon,” he said, avoiding my gaze.

“Well,” I began, crossing my arms, “some of us have priorities.” My eyes flicked to the woman for just a second before returning to him. “Mind if we talk?”

Todd’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

He glanced at the woman apologetically. “Give us a moment, will you?”

She stood, gathering her things with a huff, though she kept her irritation contained behind a forced smile. Without another word, she strutted away, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.

Once she was out of earshot, I turned back to Todd, raising an eyebrow. “Enjoying yourself?”

He sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“Isn’t it?” I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like what it is.”

Todd groaned, throwing his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. Let's get this over with.”

“Of course.” I said, my tone hardening. “Like I said on the phone, Alex has a lead on Elliot so We need to move fast before we lose him.”

Todd’s expression shifted, the playful façade dropping entirely.

“It stills surprises me that we could get a lead.” he asked, his voice low. “You’re sure about this?”

I nodded. “Positive. But we’ll need to tread carefully. The last thing we want is to spook him.”

“Right.” Todd sighed, his gaze sharpening on me. “Why don’t you sit down before you cause a scene that’ll have your father hearing just how unguarded you are right now.”

I smirked, dragging the closest chair toward me with an audible scrape. “How did you figure I need to be guarded?”

“Uh, let me think.” He leaned back with mock contemplation. “Maybe because you’re being crowned prince tomorrow? And your family…” He paused, clearly trying to phrase his next words carefully. “Let’s just say your father isn’t exactly known for his warmth—especially not toward his own brother.”

The mention of my uncle twisted something in my gut. Knowing his son, that smug bastard, would be here tomorrow was enough to sour my mood entirely. I groaned, running a hand down my face. “No kidding. That’s why Father suggested extra security. If anything goes down, they’ll handle it.”

Todd nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “For once, the old man’s got a point.” He leaned forward slightly. “But let’s get down to business. You said Alex hired a detective?”

“Yeah,” I muttered, adjusting my chair closer to the table. I pulled out my phone, fingers flying across the screen as I texted Alex to send over whatever the detective had found. “Shouldn’t take long. She said she’d send everything in a second.”

Todd hummed in response, but of course, he couldn’t just sit quietly. “So…”

I rolled my eyes. “What now?”

“Relax,” he drawled with an infuriating grin. “I’ve been hearing things. Thought you might clear them up.”

“Just spill it.”

“Geez, take a breath, would you?” He smirked before continuing. “Rumor has it you’ve got yourself a fiancée.”

My fingers paused mid-scroll. “Oh.”

“Oh?” His brows shot up. “That’s it? I expected more of a reaction than that.”

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and crossing one leg over the other. “What reaction were you expecting?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Maybe a laugh? A denial? Something like, ‘Commitment? Me? Never.’ You know, the usual.”

“But it’s not a lie,” I interrupted. “I do have a fiancée.”

Todd stared at me for a beat before bursting into laughter, his hand covering his mouth as if to stifle it. His gaze returned to mine, and when he saw I wasn’t joking, the laughter died quickly. “You’re serious?”

“I believe so.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Not to be blunt, but are you serious about her? Marriage isn’t exactly a casual decision, Chris.”

I smirked, leaning forward with my elbows resting on my thighs. “I’m not a child. I’m well aware of what it entails.”

“Are you, though?” His tone grew more pointed. “What’s her name?”

“Sarah.”

“Sarah what?”

“Sarah Dwayne… I think.”

Todd let out a sharp laugh, his disbelief palpable. “You think? How do you not know your fiancée’s last name?”

“Calm down.” I straightened, bracing my forearms on my knees. “I’ll be fine.”

“It’s not about you being fine,” Todd snapped. “I’m worried about her. No offense, but you’re not exactly husband material.”

“I can be.”

“Says the guy who doesn’t even know her last name but probably knows every detail about what she likes in bed.”

I grinned despite myself. “Well, I do know a few things.”

“Exactly.” He huffed, crossing his arms. “You don’t really care about her, do you? Let me guess—your father forced this arrangement?”

“No.” My voice hardened as I sat up straighter, glaring at him. “She’s not some pawn in my father’s games. I met her first. Me. Not him.”

Todd raised his hands in mock surrender, though his grin lingered.“Alright, calm down. No need to get all defensive about it. At least that’s something. At least that proves you feel something for her."

I feel something.

He continued. "But seriously—do you even like her? I don’t mean sexually, Chris. I’m asking if you feel anything for her. Emotionally.”

Emotionally.

"Even if it's just small, do you feel at least something for her?"

That question shouldn’t be this hard, but it is. The words churn in my chest, thick and suffocating. I  stared at him, my mouth dry, my chest tightening as if it’s bracing for a blow I can’t see coming.

I diverted my gaze, letting it fall to my hands, feeling the weight of them, the sudden tightness in my chest, like something’s trying to claw its way out. I’m supposed to have an answer. But I don’t. And it’s killing me.

I should tell him the truth—that this whole thing is a game, a plan, a fucking charade to appease my father. That I’m barely keeping my head above the surface of a sea of lies. But something holds me back. Why?

Why does it matter so much? Why does it feel like if I said the words aloud, something would break—something real—and I wouldn’t be able to put the pieces back together?

I think about what he asked, and I realize something that terrifies me more than anything: I don’t know her. Not really. She’s just a name. A beautiful face. A perfect, green-eyed lie.

I think about her laugh, her sharp wit, the way she looks at me like she sees more than she should.

But the truth is, I barely know her. Not really. Not beyond the surface. She’s a mystery, a puzzle I haven’t taken the time to solve. All I know is her favorite color. Green.

Green, like the color of my eyes.

The thought is ridiculous. Stupid, even. But it’s there, and I can’t shake it. That one, simple detail feels heavier than it should, like it means more than it has any right to. And that terrifies me.

Because if that’s all I know, why does she feel so real to me?

And most importantly, what do I fucking crave it to be?

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed. Relief swept through me as I pulled it from my pocket. “It’s Alex,” I muttered. “She sent the pictures.”

About damn time. I opened the message, but the moment the images loaded, my chest tightened painfully. There he was. My brother. Elliot.

The same face appeared in every shot, undeniable proof that he was alive. My throat constricted as I handed the phone to Todd, unable to look any longer.

Todd whistled low. “Elliot’s alive.”

I nodded silently, staring blankly at the table’s umbrella. It felt like a miracle—or a curse.

“Chris?” Todd’s voice brought me back. “Does that background look familiar to you?”

Straightening, I took the phone from him and squinted at the third image. “What are you talking about?”

“Zoom in on the background,” he insisted.

I did, but nothing stood out. “I don’t see it.”

“Try the last one.”

Scrolling to the final picture, I zoomed in again—and froze. My hands trembled as the realization hit me.

“This isn’t possible,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

“You see it now, don’t you?” Todd asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

The truth stared back at me, undeniable and chilling. Elliot wasn’t just alive. He was here. In Gelin.

●●●

A/ N

DAMN. THE PLOT THICKENS!!

AND SO SORRY FOR THE LATENESS, I HAVEN'T BEEN HAVING ANY INSPIRATION BUT NOW I DO SO I'LL UPDATE MORE.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER.