SofiaThe cafeteria was a box of glass and noise. Sunlight poured through the high windows, bouncing off chrome fixtures and polished tables, but the air felt… charged. Conversations dipped when I walked in, then resumed in hushed, deliberate tones.It was the same look people gave me when I first took the crown of social queen here—part curiosity, admiration, part jealousy. Only now, it was wrapped in something sharper.I didn’t need to check my phone to know why. The photos from the Midnight Lounge had been everywhere since dawn.Theo and I, arm in arm, stepping into the room like we owned it. The champagne in my hand, the silk of my dress catching the light. His gaze tilted toward me, just enough to suggest intimacy.The captions ranged from flattering to brutal:“Laurent’s latest game piece.”“Sofia Montenegro returns—blood in the water.”“Is this the rise of a new Moonveil power couple?”Sliding into a corner table by the windows, I ignored the whispers. If you gave them a reac
SofiaThe Midnight Lounge was Moonveil’s crown jewel—a place whispered about in glossy magazines and exclusive circles, but never openly advertised. A single black door stood on an unmarked street, guarded by a man in a sharp suit whose gaze assessed everything in a second flat. Once inside, the world shifted.Amber light spilled across polished marble, the ceilings lost in a haze of gold and shadow. The air hummed with low jazz and quiet power. Conversations were soft but deliberate, a hundred little games being played under the cover of music and laughter.Theo’s arm was firm beneath my hand as we stepped past the entrance. The subtle scent of leather and some dark spice followed him, grounding me in the dizzying sea of silk dresses and tailored suits.The chatter didn’t stop when we arrived, but it changed. Eyes flicked toward us and away again, like they were afraid to be caught staring yet couldn’t resist. My dress—a fitted slip of deep red silk—caught the warm glow of the chande
SofiaThe gates of Crescent Dominion Academy gleamed under the morning sun—wrought iron woven into traditional symbols of excellence, legacy, and wealth. To the human world, it was one of the top elite private academies in Moonveil, known for its rigorous academics, old-money students, and ivy-covered prestige.I had walked through these gates a hundred times before, but this time was different. This time, I wasn't walking in alone.Theo held my hand, fingers laced tightly with mine, as if he were daring anyone to challenge us. Maybe he was. We'd barely made it two steps into the quad before heads turned and whispers rippled like wind through dry leaves."Is that… Sofia? With Theo Laurent?""No way. He never dates.""They were all over each other at the gala last night. Did you see the photo?""She looks like she's glowing. What's going on?"I straightened my shoulders and forced a smile, the one I'd practiced in the mirror this morning. Confident. Slightly smug. Like I had absolutely
SofiaTheo opened the passenger door of a sleek black car parked at the valet curb. I stared at it for a second, hesitating. It felt surreal that hours ago, I'd walked into the gala on Leo's arm—convinced my future was with him. Now, I was climbing into the car of a man I barely knew, bound to him by a lie we hadn't even begun to understand."Don't overthink it," Theo said, sliding behind the wheel.I fastened my seatbelt, trying not to shiver as the soft leather warmed beneath me."I'm not overthinking," I lied.He glanced at me. "You chew your bottom lip when you overthink."I stopped biting instantly. "You've known me for what—three hours?""Long enough," he said with a grin.We drove in silence for a while. The city lights stretched like golden veins against the night sky, glittering across the rivers that wound through Moonveil like liquid silver. The hum of the engine and the softness of the seat made the entire moment feel like something out of a dream.Or a trap.Theo finally
SofiaThe hallway outside the ballroom smelled of waxed floors and cold marble. The music and chatter dimmed as Theo and I stepped farther from the noise, our fingers still loosely entwined. We didn't speak at first, just strolled beneath the soft glow of antique sconces that lined the stone corridor.I didn't know why I was still holding his hand. I liked the way his presence steadied me. Or perhaps I wasn't ready to let go just yet."Did you see their faces?" I asked finally, breaking the silence.Theo smirked. "Althea looked like she bit into a lemon. Leo… well, he looked like he just realized the game wasn't his anymore."I smiled to myself. "Good."We stopped near a small alcove where an arched window framed the moon like a painting. The cool air outside slipped through the cracks, brushing against my skin."Are you sure about this?" I asked, finally facing him. "This pact. The show. All of it.""No," he replied without hesitation. "But that's what makes it fun."TheoShe didn't
The clinking of crystal glasses and soft chamber music faded as Theo and I stepped through the arched glass doors that led to the moonlit balcony. A breeze greeted us, cool and scented with garden roses and storm-soaked stone. I exhaled, tension melting from my shoulders for the first time all night.Theo handed me a fresh glass of champagne from the silver tray he'd snagged on our way out."To regrets," he said, raising his glass."To liars," I countered, tapping mine to his.We drank in sync, two strangers tied by the sting of betrayal."I've attended dozens of these galas," he said, setting his glass on the stone railing. "They all blur together—until now."I arched a brow. "Because of the proposal or because I nearly fled the scene like a reality show reject?""Both," he said, smirking. "But mostly because you didn't fake a smile. You stood there and let the whole room see the fire in your eyes.""And here I thought I looked pathetic.""You looked furious. That's better."I turned