Chapter 10 - The First Fracture

The morning light poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden streaks across the bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my trembling hands. The bruises on my wrists had faded, but the memory of Adrian’s tie binding me was still raw.

I needed to see Alyssa.

The guilt gnawed at me every waking hour. She was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life, while I lived hers—her fiancé, her home, her name. Every time Adrian touched me, I wanted to scream. Not only because of the shame but because my sister had trusted me to protect her secret.

I rose quietly, slipping into a simple blouse and jeans. I didn’t plan to stay long. Just an hour at the hospital. Just enough to sit by her bedside and remind her that I hadn’t forgotten.

But the moment I reached the foyer, Adrian’s voice cut through the silence.

“Where are you going?”

I froze, my heart pounding. He was descending the stairs, his dark suit impeccable, his tie perfectly knotted. His eyes, however, were sha