ADRIEN The only way out!I felt a knot in my stomach as the cops carefully searched through our things. I could practically feel the tension in the air, like this whole encounter was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.After what felt like hours—although it was likely just a few minutes—the officers stepped back into the living room, empty-handed but not defeated. “We know you two have your hands dirty,” the lead officer said, fixing us both with a steely gaze. “You’re not as smart as you think you are. We will be keeping our eyes on you.”Aries scoffed. “You can’t prove anything against us. You’ve got nothing. We’re innocent. You found nothing on us, remember.”“You can play that game all you want,” the officer replied coldly. “But mark my words, we won’t be far behind you.”“Hope you keep up with the pace of the game,” Aries smiled.“We shall see about that,” he replied.With that, they turned and left, the door clicking shut behind them. The moment we were al
ROCHELLE'S POVMy heart pounded with excitement as I walked up to my boyfriend Fred’s apartment.Nineteen. I couldn’t believe it—finally, my nineteenth birthday. Today was supposed to be perfect. I had spent hours getting ready, choosing my outfit carefully. Amber had said I looked amazing, but more than that, she had said I should finally take a leap with Fred.“You’ve been dating for months,” she had said. “It’s time, Rochelle. Stop pining after some guy you’ve never even spoken to for more than five minutes. Fred is your boyfriend. Why not make tonight the night?”I had smiled at her, feeling a bit nervous. She was right. I had this stupid crush on an older man I shouldn’t even be thinking about. I guess it was time for me to face reality. Nothing was going to happen between us. I decided to put all my focus on Fred.Was tonight the night? I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but Amber’s words had been swirling in my mind all day. Fred and I had been together for a while, and he had been
The neon lights flickered as we stepped into the club. The bass from the music pounded through the floor and vibrated in my chest. I should have been excited. It was the kind of night people said would help you forget—forget the hurt, the betrayal, the mess of a life that seemed to be falling apart. But as I followed Amber toward the bar, all I felt was the heaviness in my heart. Fred’s words still echoed in my mind. I couldn’t believe he had cheated on me. And with her—Gina, of all people.Amber leaned in close as we reached the counter, her arm looping through mine. She looked stunning that night. Her confidence radiated in every move she made, as usual.“Come on, Rochelle, stop looking like someone just ran over your puppy. We’re here to forget, remember?” she shouted over the music, giving me a playful nudge.I tried to smile, but it was weak. Amber had been trying to lift my spirits all night. She was right, of course. I should have forgotten about Fred. I shouldn’t have cared ab
Standing in the rain, the cold seeped into my bones. I could barely feel my fingers gripping the straps of my bags, but the numbness wasn’t just from the weather. It was the weight of everything crashing down at once. My father’s angry voice still echoed in my head, the image of my landlord’s irritated face was glued behind my eyes, and Amber’s betrayal… God, that stung the worst.I shivered, soaked to the core. The rain came down harder, as if the universe was hell-bent on making today even worse. I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I tried calling my dad again. It went straight to voicemail. My chest tightened with frustration. Of course, he’d ignore me. But I couldn’t give up—I couldn’t just let this go. Not like this.I managed to find shelter under a small tree, though it didn’t do much to protect me from the downpour. With a deep breath, I dialed his number one more time. The call rang and rang, and just when I thought it would go to voicemail again, he picked up.“Da
ROCHELLE That threw me off! I just stood there, looking at Aries and his duplicate. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat. My legs trembled, and my hands shook uncontrollably. I tightened my grip on my purse, hoping it would steady me, but it didn't. This was not happening. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. I blinked once, then twice. Yet, nothing changed. There they stood, two Aries. One of him was already overwhelming enough, with his sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes, and that ever-present air of cold authority. But two?No, I wasn't dreaming. This was real. Too real."Rochelle, are you okay?" Aries's deep, familiar voice sliced through my confusion. His tone was calm but laced with concern, and his cold demeanor softened just slightly, which was rare for him. He noticed my expression, the wide eyes, and the trembling lips. "Why are you looking at us like you've just seen a ghost?"I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, a scream
ROCHELLE They're messing with my mind!I could barely sleep that night.My mind kept replaying dinner, the laughter, the conversations, and more than anything, the way Aries and Adrien looked sitting there across from me. Identical yet different in their aura. Aries with his commanding presence, and Adrien with his quiet, soothing charm.I tossed and turned in bed, pulling the covers up, then kicking them off again. I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Both of them.I had hoped they would stay back after dinner, maybe linger for more conversation, but no. They had both excused themselves, retiring to their respective rooms, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I tried to shake the images out of my head, tried to focus on something else… anything else… but it was useless. The more I tried, the more vivid the images became.I swallowed hard, remembering how their voices blended during dinner, the way Adrien’s soft laughter balanced Aries’s deeper chuckles. And the way they moved—gracef
ADRIEN There's something about her!"Did you notice the way she was looking at us?" Aries asked me, his tone laced with curiosity.I barely glanced up from my phone, busy replying to a message from one of our top clients. “Who are you talking about?” I responded absentmindedly, my fingers flying over the screen.“Who else but Rochelle,” he said, sounding exasperated, like I was supposed to read his mind simply because we’re twins.I sighed, finally lifting my eyes to meet his. “I didn’t notice anything strange about how she looked at us. I was busy talking with the client we’re supposed to supply products to.” I went back to my phone, dismissing whatever Aries was going on about. “What did you notice anyway?”Aries leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “The way she looked at us wasn’t normal. It was... different. It felt like she was trying to get our attention.”I raised an eyebrow. “Maybe she wants something.”“Like what?” he asked, leaning forward with a curious smirk.
ROCHELLE My body's on fire… for them…Over the next few days, I decided I was going to steer clear of Aries and Adrien. I wanted to settle my mind. I didn’t like the fact that they were messing with my head. My emotions felt like a stormy sea, continuously tossing and turning, and every glance, every word from them seemed to add fuel to that raging fire. It was better to keep my distance, to refocus on myself and what I needed to do.That morning, the sunlight streamed through the curtains, lighting up my modest bedroom. I lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of my thoughts. I grabbed my phone and looked at my bank account, and it was like a punch in the gut. My father had withdrawn my credit cards, basically cutting off my financial lifeline. I was caught in this uncomfortable limbo; I had to find a job.After throwing some clothes on, I felt a semblance of determination building in me. I needed to show everyone, especially my father and the twins,
ADRIEN The only way out!I felt a knot in my stomach as the cops carefully searched through our things. I could practically feel the tension in the air, like this whole encounter was a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off.After what felt like hours—although it was likely just a few minutes—the officers stepped back into the living room, empty-handed but not defeated. “We know you two have your hands dirty,” the lead officer said, fixing us both with a steely gaze. “You’re not as smart as you think you are. We will be keeping our eyes on you.”Aries scoffed. “You can’t prove anything against us. You’ve got nothing. We’re innocent. You found nothing on us, remember.”“You can play that game all you want,” the officer replied coldly. “But mark my words, we won’t be far behind you.”“Hope you keep up with the pace of the game,” Aries smiled.“We shall see about that,” he replied.With that, they turned and left, the door clicking shut behind them. The moment we were al
ADRIEN A City on FireThe tension in the city was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel it in the air every time I stepped outside. The streets that had once buzzed with life were now filled with an ominous silence, interrupted only by the distant sounds of sirens and gunfire. Each day brought new reports of gang wars escalating, innocent lives caught in the crossfire. My heart sank further with each headline I read or news bulletin I heard. This was no longer a city; it had become a battleground.Sitting in our living room that afternoon, I glanced over at Aries, who was scrolling through a news article on his phone. His face was set in a frown, evidence of the weight pressing down on his shoulders. Both of us had seen what this life did to the people of this city, yet here we were, playing our part in it. “Look at this, Adrien,” Aries said, his voice gruff. “Another shooting last night. A seven year old girl. Just like that, her li
ROCHELLEI broke the ice!The rhythmic sound of my heart thumped loudly in my ears as I lay in bed. I couldn’t shake the burning memory of dinner with Prince Herold from last night. The disdain he had for women echoed in my mind like a haunting song. How could someone so powerful be so disgustingly ignorant?Just as I settled deeper into my thoughts, a heavy bang jolted me awake.“Open the fucki
ROCHELLE Racist!As Dos Santos led me back toward the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment. I had finally seen them again, and now I had to leave? Why was everything so complicated?The ride back to the mansion felt like a blur. I sat in silence, mulling over the events of the day. Deep down, I wished things were different, that I could just walk up to Aries and Adrien and tell them I was alive, that I was okay. Once we returned home, the maids were already waiting for me, dressed in their crisp uniforms, ready to prepare me for dinner. I had little choice in the matter; I could feel their urgency as they moved me to a lavish room filled with expensive beauty products.“Please, who is this boss?” I asked one of the maids while they applied makeup, but she remained silent as always, only smiling at me. It frustrated me to hell, honestly.“Is he important? What does he look like?” I couldn’t help but press. Again, I was met with silence and mo
ROCHELLEI saw them… Aries and Adrien!I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the large window of my room. The sun streamed in, painting the walls golden. For a moment, I forgot where I was. My memories raced back, grabbing hold of me like a vise. I was no longer in my own home, but rather a mansion I didn’t recognize, hidden away in Tijuana, Mexico.Every morning was the same. I would stretch, taking in the lavish surroundings that felt eerily like a dream. I looked around a
ADRIEN More questions than answers!We moved from clinic to clinic, asking questions, scanning records, but still no sign of Rochelle. Frustration began sinking in, gnawing at the edges of our hopes. At one hospital, we were met with the same disheartening response—they had no record of her. I could feel the spark of hope dimming, giving way to doubt. “What if the sheriff was right?” I asked Aries, dread pooling in my stomach. “What if she really is gone? What if it was another person's autopsy result that was mistaken for Rochelle's?”A lot of what ifs.“No!” he snapped, determination coursing through him. “I refuse to believe that. Rochelle is strong. She wouldn’t just disappear into thin air without leaving us a clue as to what happened. Come on, don't tell me you've given up”“I don't know what to say,” I admitted.“Then let's talk less and act more,” he said. “We have a long way to go before we can call it quits,” he added.There was nothing to admire about his faith… bli
ADRIEN Searching for the dead!I could barely contain my excitement as I sat in the car next to Aries. It felt surreal that we were driving to the sheriff's office, finally about to confront the circumstances surrounding Rochelle. The thought that she might still be alive was like a burning flame in my chest. We hadn’t spoken much since we got the news, but every glance I tossed at Aries echoed the same sentiment. Hope.“Can you believe it?” I said, breaking the silence that clung heavily between us. “Rochelle might actually be out there!”Aries turned to me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and excitement. “I can’t. I always thought... I thought we’d lost her for good. After everything.”I nodded, feeling my pulse quickening as we pulled into the small parking lot of the sheriff’s office. “Let’s find out how far they’ve gone in trying to find her. We need to know, dammit.”We entered the building, and instantly I felt the change in atmosphere. The walls carried a weight
DELIGHT Covering my tracks!The world stood still when I heard the news. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The autopsy showed that Rochelle was not the woman buried.What? How?My nails dug into the soft leather of the armchair as the information sank in. It couldn’t be. I had made sure of it. Rochelle was supposed to be dead, lying six feet under, with no way of ever coming back to haunt me. But now, the news confirmed what I feared the most. I clenched my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white.“Are you okay, Delight?” Adrien’s voice cut through my racing thoughts.I quickly schooled my expression, offering him a weak smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”But they weren’t looking at me. Aries and Adrien were completely engrossed in the news report on the TV. For the first time in several weeks, I saw the fire in their eyes, the spark that Rochelle’s supposed death had dimmed. And it made my blood boil.“Did you hear that?” Aries said,
ROCHELLE Another dead body!I could tell something was wrong the moment Dos Santos stepped into the room. His calm and confident demeanor was replaced by a stiffness in his posture and a tension in his eyes. Dr. Alvarez, who was checking my vitals, noticed too.“I'll be right back,” he said to me.I watched as he moved toward Dos Santos, and they began speaking in low tones near the door.They were speaking in Spanish, fast and hushed, and while I couldn’t catch much, I knew it had to be about me. Their occasional glances toward me as they spoke only confirmed it. I tried to focus, to make out a word or two, but my Spanish wasn’t good enough. All I could do was watch, anxiety knotting in my stomach.When Dr. Alvarez finally returned, his face carried a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll send Nurse Isabella to attend to you later,” he said, his tone overly cheerful. “I'll see you later,” he added.“Is something wrong?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.“No, not a