Lucien's POV I stood frozen, my eyes locked on Krisdana's retreating figure. Her smile still lingered in my mind, a haunting reminder of our secret.No one knew. Not Rosaline, not Camilla, no one.Krisdana and I had been seeing each other in secret, stolen moments whenever we could.But my family's hatred for her made our relationship impossible to reveal.I knew Rosaline would never approve. She'd always been protective, but also fiercely judgmental.And Camilla... she'd try to understand, but her loyalty to Rosaline would win out.I couldn't risk losing them. Not yet.Krisdana's presence stirred emotions I couldn't control. Desire, guilt, and fear swirled within me.Why did she come here? Did she want to expose our secret?My thoughts raced as I turned to leave, searching for a distraction from the turmoil within.That's when I saw Camilla, her expression worried, rushing upstairs.Something was wrong.I pushed aside my reservations and followed Krisdana, my heart racing with antic
Lucien's POV"Lucien?" Rosaline's voice cut through the air, laced with shock, disgust, and betrayal.I froze, my hands still under Krisdana's shirt, my fingers tracing the curves of her waist.No excuse.No explanation.Rosaline's eyes widened, taking in the scene before her.Me, shirtless, my chest heaving with exertion.Krisdana, her shirt partially unbuttoned, her skin flushed with desire.My hands on her skin, possessing her.The evidence was undeniable.Rosaline's face fell, her expression crumbling into devastation."Lucien?" she repeated, her voice trembling.I opened my mouth to explain, but words failed me.Rosaline's eyes filled with tears, and she turned, walking away without a word.I was torn, ripped between loyalty and desire.Part of me yearned to chase after Rosaline, explain, apologize.But another part refused to let go of Krisdana, refused to relinquish the connection we shared.Krisdana's hands wrapped around my wrist, holding me back."Let her go," she whispered,
Carly's POVAs I settled into the cozy nook beside Luca, our secret hideaway nestled deep within the estate's labyrinthine gardens, I felt the weight of the world slowly lifting off my shoulders. The soft moonlight filtering through the trellis cast an ethereal glow on Luca's chiseled features, illuminating the sharp lines of his jaw and the gentle curve of his smile."Hey," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin, sending shivers down my spine."Hey," I replied, my voice barely audible, lost in the serenity of the moment.Luca's fingers intertwined with mine, a gentle touch that sent waves of electricity coursing through my veins. His eyes locked onto mine, their depths burning with an intensity that left me breathless."What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice low and husky, drawing me in like a siren's call.I shrugged, letting the tranquility of the gardens wash over me, the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft rustle of leaves lulling me into a state of deep relaxa
April's POVI sank onto my bed, the bag hidden in my drawer, out of sight but not out of mind. Marcus's delivery was my escape.I couldn't resist. One sniff, then another. The rush coursed through me, numbing my thoughts.I knew I should stop, but I couldn't. This was my secret solace.As long as my family didn't find out, I was willing to spend whatever it took. My secret was safe.I lay back, expecting solitude. But Camilla stood there, her piercing gaze freezing me."April, what's going on?" Camilla's urgent voice cut through my haze.My mind went blank. I tried to hide the bag, but it was too late.Camilla's eyes locked onto it, shock and concern etched on her face."Where did you get this?" she pressed, her gaze unrelenting.Fear gripped me. My secret was exposed."Camilla, please... just leave me alone," I stammered, desperate to sound convincing.But she didn't budge."We need to talk about this, April. Now," Camilla's words were laced with worry and disappointment.My foggy mi
April's POVI stood in my kitchen, staring blankly at the morning sunlight streaming through the window. Yesterday's revelation at Emma's party still weighed heavily on my mind.Camilla's words echoed in my thoughts: 'I know what you're hiding, April. I caught you red handed' My secret was out, and I felt exposed.I mechanically prepared breakfast, my hands moving on autopilot. The silence at home was oppressive, a constant reminder of my failure.My mind wandered to Camilla's accusation. Why did she find out? And what would happen next?I couldn't shake off the feeling of shame and guilt. My addiction had finally caught up with me, and now I risked losing the people I loved.In the mirror, I saw a reflection of a person I no longer recognized. A person struggling to keep her head above water.I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. I had to face this head-on.But the question lingered: what would Camilla do with this knowledge?"Camilla's eyes narrowed. "Aunt April, I can't
Rosaline's POVI stomped through the school hallways, fury boiling within me. Lucien's betrayal cut deep. How could my own triplet, my partner in crime, keep such a monumental secret?Krisdana Elrod. The mere thought made my skin crawl. Her manipulative smile, her calculating eyes... and Lucien fell for it.Memories of that fateful day still seared my mind. Catching them together, hands entwined, lips locked... in an empty classroom, no less. My stomach churned anew.But it wasn't just Krisdana's notorious reputation that stung. It was the secrecy. Lucien's hidden lies. What else was he hiding?Camilla's voice broke my trance. "Rosaline, hey!"I forced a fragile smile, shielding my turmoil. "Hey, Cam. What's up?"Camilla's brow furrowed. "I'm worried about Aunt April. She's been acting strange."My concern spiked, momentarily distracting me from Lucien's treachery."What's going on?" I pressed.But before Camilla could answer, Krisdana sauntered over, her very presence an affront."Ro
Lucien's POV I slumped against the locker, my world crumbling around me.Rosaline's rejection cut deep. My sister, my triplet, my rock.Camilla approached, concern etched on her face. "Lucien, don't worry. Rosaline will come around."I shook my head, despair washing over me. "You didn't see her, Cam. She's done with me."Camilla's hands wrapped around mine. "Give her space. She'll forgive you."But I knew better. Rosaline's anger was a force to be reckoned with.And then there was Krisdana....My mind wandered to her sly smile, her captivating eyes.I still wanted her. Desired her.How could I beg Rosaline for forgiveness when my heart still yearned for Krisdana?Camilla's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Lucien, focus. We need to fix things with Rosaline."I nodded, pretending to agree.But my mind raced with ways to win Krisdana back.I trudged through the school hallways, desperate to make things right with Rosaline.But Krisdana's presence haunted me.Her scent lingered in every c
Camilla's POVI sat beside Lucien on the bench, his defeated expression mirroring my own turmoil.Inside, I was screaming.Everything was crashing down around me.My family.My friends.My sense of security.Dad's anger, Mom's constant worries, and my Augustine's and Carly's frequent fights had already frayed my nerves.Now, Lucien's meltdown threatened to unravel our tight-knit group.Rosaline's anger, Krisdana's manipulation, and Lucien's heartbreak—each a thread pulled loose, threatening to snap.I felt like I was drowning, unable to save anyone, including myself."Camilla, I'm sorry," Lucien whispered, his voice barely audible.My heart ached for him, for us, for everything."Lucien, stop," I said firmly. "This isn't your fault."But he shook his head, guilt etched on his face.I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close."We'll get through this," I whispered.Together.We had to.For each other.For our sanity.But as I glanced around, I wondered:Would it be enough?Or would