LOGINAfter we finished eating, I didn’t want the night to end in heavy silence.“Let’s get out of here,” I murmured, leaning closer. “Your place? Your mom’s out, right?”She nodded, cheeks flushing slightly. “Yeah. Come on.”***At her house, we ended up in her room.The soft lamp light cast a warm glow.I leaned back against the headboard while she sat facing me, legs tucked under her.Allison studied me for a moment, then spoke softly. “Aaron… about your mom and the contest. I’m scared. What if she doesn’t allow it? You know how she is about Paige and your family image. She might shut it down completely.”I reached out and took her hand, running my thumb over her knuckles. “She won’t.”“How can you be so sure?” she asked.I let out a slow breath. “Because I have the truth now. Ethan being my half-brother… Daniel Hale being his father. That changes everything. My mom has been hiding this for years. If she tries to force Paige on me or interfere with us, I can push back. Hard.”Allison’s e
*Aaron's POV*The final bell rang.For the first time in years, I didn't move immediately.I remained seated in my chair, staring at the window beside me.The classroom slowly emptied.Students laughed.Talked.Made plans.Normal things.Meanwhile, my thoughts were somewhere else entirely.The DNA results.My jaw tightened.The investigator had texted earlier.The report was ready.I finally grabbed my bag and stood.My black watch caught the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows.I let out a heavy sigh.Today I was finally getting answers.Twenty minutes later, my car rolled into the underground parking lot of a private office building downtown.The place was quiet.Professional.The kind of building where rich people settled problems without involving the public.Exactly the type of place my father preferred.I got out and adjusted the sleeves of my uniform shirt.The expensive cologne I'd sprayed that morning still lingered faintly around me.Normally I would've paid att
*Two Days Later* *Allison's POV* The alarm rang at exactly six in the morning.I was awake before it could ring a second time.My eyes opened immediately, staring at the ceiling above my bed.For a few seconds, I simply laid there.Then reality hit.The scholarship exam.Today.A nervous breath escaped my lips."Okay," I whispered to myself. "You can do this."I sat up slowly and pushed my golden-brown hair away from my face.The room was still quiet.Outside my window, the sun was only beginning to rise, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and gold.Today could change everything.I climbed out of bed and walked toward my desk.My notes were still scattered everywhere.Flashcards.Past questions.Highlighted textbooks.A battlefield.And somehow, looking at them made me even more nervous."Great," I muttered.I grabbed my phone.The screen lit up.A message.From Aaron.A smile instantly pulled at my lips."Hey babe. Good luck." He texted.I couldn't help but smile."Thanks.
Paige stood up with a frustrated huff, her hair falling over one shoulder.My patience was already gone.Completely gone.I answered the call."Talk to me."Across from me, Paige straightened slightly.I noticed.She was listening."Mr. Briggs," the investigator said. "The laboratory has received the samples."I walked toward the windows overlooking the estate grounds.The evening sun painted the gardens gold."When will the results be ready?" I asked."A few days."My jaw tightened."A few days?""Three to five, most likely." He said.I exhaled slowly.Waiting was never my strongest quality.Not when answers were this close.Not when years of lies might finally be exposed."The testing process has already started," the investigator continued."Keep me updated.""Of course."The call ended.For a moment, I simply stared outside.Three to five days.That was all.Then I'd finally know the truth.Behind me, I heard movement.Paige.Still there.Still refusing to leave."What laboratory?
I walked downstairs annoyed. My head was heavy, thinking about what Paige was up to now.As I approached the grand floor, the voices of women echoed everywhere.I narrowed my eyes trying to see who was sitted beside my mom.Then I saw them...Mrs. Smith and other women who always followed my mum around.I scoffed.Fake people everywhere.I began wondering why Mrs. Smith was here. I wasn't ready for their discussions that always bore me.It's either about why I'm not dating Paige,Or...Why I chose Allison.I ran my hand through my hair as I finally got downstairs."Good day Aaron." One of the women said pulling me in a tight hug that I could hardly breath."Good day Ma'am." I said nonchalantly with a smile which was obviously fake."Aaron, Mrs. Smith came along with her daughter to see you." My mom said.There it was.Mrs. Smith and her unbearable daughter, Paige.Paige came out of one of the corridor with a flower bouquet on her hand.She wore a smile on her face that was so annoying
*Aaron's POV* The city lights streaked past the window as I drove through the quiet streets.I wasn't thinking about Ethan.Or DNA results.Or family secrets.I was thinking about Allison.My fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel.A few months ago, I would have laughed if someone told me a girl would become this important to me.Yet here I was.Thinking about her smile.The way she laughed at my terrible jokes.The way she somehow managed to make even my worst days feel lighter.I exhaled slowly.At one point, I had considered creating some distance.Not because I wanted to.Because I thought it would protect her.My life wasn't simple.It never had been.Between family expectations, the investigation, and everything waiting to explode around me, part of me had wondered if Allison would be better off without being dragged into it.But tonight had made one thing painfully clear.I didn't want distance.I wanted her.Simple.Complicated at the same time.Annoying.Perfec







