CHAPTER 2: The Mask She Wears

Kiara stared at the screen of her laptop, the glow lightening up her anxious expression. The message from GoldenAlpha01 lingered in her mind.

“We need to talk, Cherry.”

She had no idea who they were or how they’d found her stream. The username felt ominously familiar, and a shiver ran down her spine at the thought of her secret identity being exposed.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed a response:

“I’m not available for private conversations, but you can leave a message with my manager.”

Her lips twisted in a wry smile. Manager? She didn’t even have one. But it was the perfect excuse to avoid whatever this person wanted.

She hit send, shut her laptop, and lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep eluded her as her mind raced with questions. Who was GoldenAlpha01? Why did they want to talk to her? And, most importantly, did they know who she really was?

Her thoughts drifted to her stepbrothers. The coincidence of the name “GoldenAlpha” gnawed at her. Could one of them be watching her streams? She shook her head, dismissing the idea. They hated her. Why would they be interested in her alter ego?

Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted into a restless sleep.

---

Meanwhile, in the boys’ room, the atmosphere was tense. Dylan leaned back in his chair, a scowl on his face.

“She’s not available,” he muttered, reading Cherry’s reply.

Alex crossed his arms, his frustration evident. “We can’t just let it go. We’ve been trying to get her attention for weeks.”

“She’s worth it,” Dylan added, his voice firm.

John, who had been quiet, finally spoke. “We’ll try again later. If she’s as exclusive as she seems, she might just need more convincing.”

Alex and Dylan exchanged a look before Alex grinned. “We’ll get her. Even if we have to hire her for our birthday party.”

Dylan smirked, nodding. “Now that’s a plan I can get behind.”

John’s lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile. “Let’s see if she can resist a lucrative offer.”

The next morning, the scent of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air as Sarah and Richard sat at the breakfast table. The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the dining room.

The triplets strolled in, their usual confidence radiating as they took their seats.

“Good morning, boys,” Sarah greeted warmly, pouring herself another cup of coffee.

“Morning,” Dylan replied, grabbing a slice of toast.

As they began to eat, Sarah’s gaze darted toward the empty chair at the table. Her brows knitted together in concern. “Where’s Kiara?”

Richard glanced up from his newspaper, frowning slightly. “She’s not down yet?”

“No,” Sarah said, rising from her seat. “I’ll go check on her.”

The boys exchanged knowing smirks but said nothing as Sarah made her way upstairs.

Kiara was deep in slumber when Sarah entered her room. The older woman sighed, taking in the mess of blankets and the way Kiara clung to her pillow like a lifeline.

“Kiara,” Sarah called, her voice firm but not unkind.

When Kiara didn’t respond, Sarah walked over to the bed and delivered a sharp smack to her daughter’s backside.

Kiara groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. “What was that for?” she mumbled, her voice muffled.

Sarah crossed her arms, her expression stern. “Get up. It’s breakfast time.”

“I’m tired,” Kiara grumbled, peeking out from under the blanket.

“You can be tired after breakfast,” Sarah replied, yanking the blanket off. “You know the rules, Kiara. This family eats together. You can’t just hide away in your room.”

Kiara groaned again, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “Fine, I’m coming.”

Sarah softened slightly, brushing a strand of hair out of Kiara’s face. “You need to remember where you are and behave accordingly. This isn’t just about rules. It’s about respect.”

Kiara nodded, though her heart wasn’t in it. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Good.” Sarah turned to leave but paused at the door. “And don’t take too long. Your stepfather doesn’t like tardiness.”

Kiara watched her leave, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face to wake herself up.

As she stared at her reflection, she felt the weight of her double life pressing down on her. By day, she was the outcast stepdaughter trying to fit into a world that didn’t want her. By night, she was Cherry, the mysterious and untouchable goddess adored by countless men.

But for how long could she keep the two worlds separate?

When Kiara finally joined the family at the breakfast table, the tension was palpable. The triplets watched her with varying degrees of amusement and curiosity, while Richard’s sharp gaze followed her every move.

“Good morning,” she muttered, taking a seat.

Richard folded his newspaper and set it aside. “You’re late.”

“Sorry,” Kiara said, avoiding his eyes.

Sarah reached over, placing a hand on her husband’s arm. “She’s here now. Let’s just enjoy breakfast.”

The conversation shifted to pack matters, with Richard discussing upcoming events and responsibilities. Kiara tuned most of it out, focusing on her plate.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Glancing up, she caught John’s piercing blue eyes fixed on her.

“What?” she snapped, her frustration bubbling over.

John smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Nothing. Just wondering what you were dreaming about. Must’ve been interesting if you overslept.”

Kiara flushed, her grip tightening on her fork. “Maybe I just wanted a few moments of peace before dealing with you.”

The other two boys chuckled, and Richard’s stern voice cut through the air. “Enough.”

The rest of the meal passed in strained silence, and Kiara couldn’t leave the table fast enough.

Back in her room, Kiara shut the door and leaned against it, letting out a heavy sigh. She felt like she was suffocating under the weight of expectations and secrets.

Her laptop sat on the desk, a silent reminder of the message from GoldenAlpha01. Against her better judgment, she opened it, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Curiosity warred with caution. Who was this person? And why did they want to talk to her?

Before she could overthink it, she typed another message:

“Why do you want to talk to me?”

She hit send and closed the laptop, deciding she’d deal with the consequences later.

Downstairs, the triplets were plotting.

“Her reply was disappointing,” Alex said, pacing the room.

“She’s playing hard to get,” Dylan replied, a grin spreading across his face. “But we’ll get her. She won’t be able to resist when we make her an offer she can’t refuse.”

John sat in the corner, his expression unreadable. “Just be careful. If she really is exclusive, she might not take kindly to being pressured.”

“Relax,” Alex said, clapping him on the shoulder. “We’ve got this.”

Dylan smirked. “And if she says no? Well, everyone has their price.”

John’s gaze flicked toward the ceiling, where he knew Kiara was. A strange sensation stirred within him, one he couldn’t quite name.

For now, he kept it to himself.

That night, Kiara received another message from GoldenAlpha01.

“You’ll find out soon enough, Cherry. Just wait.”