Secrets in the Shadows

“Just a moment,” I whispered, excusing myself with a shaky smile before slipping out of Jake’s reach. My hands were clammy as I found Zoe waiting at the back corridor, her lipstick slightly smudged, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of what we had just pulled off.

The moment I saw her, the mask cracked. Tears blurred my vision. I threw my arms around her.

She held me tight, her perfume strong and familiar, her voice low against my ear. “Chloe… you did it. You really did it.”

I pulled back, trembling. “I don’t know if I can keep doing this, Zoe. I feel like I’m drowning in a lie.”

She cupped my face, her smile soft for once. “Listen to me. You have to keep going. Do you hear me? There’s no turning back now. If anyone finds out, Dad will never forgive us. The company will sink. And you…” Her voice dropped, almost a whisper, “…you have a baby to protect.”

My stomach twisted. I pressed a hand over my belly, shame flooding me. “Zoe…”

She cut me off with a firm shake of her head. “Don’t waste time. Sleep with him. Do it before it’s too late. Make him think it’s his. Then you’ll be safe. The baby will be safe.”

My lips trembled. “You make it sound so simple.”

Her eyes hardened, fierce like steel. “It is simple. Lie, smile, seduce. You’re good at hiding your feelings, Chloe. Just do this one thing. Please. For me. For us.”

The sound of footsteps made us jump apart.

Alejandro Rodriguez appeared, his expression stern as stone. Beside him stood Jake, tall and sharp in his suit, his hand outstretched in a business-like shake. Father clasped it with a firm grip, their eyes locking in silent agreement.

It didn’t look like love. It looked like a deal being signed.

Jake’s gaze flicked to me. “We should go now,” he said smoothly, his voice low but commanding.

Zoe gave my hand one last squeeze. Her eyes begged me to stay strong, to carry the secret with me. Then she let me go.

The drive to Jake’s estate was silent. He sat beside me, his profile sharp against the night lights outside. I tried to breathe steady, but every second felt like I was suffocating. His fingers rested on his thigh, tapping lightly, but his eyes stayed forward. Watching. Waiting.

When we arrived, the gates swung open to reveal a mansion glowing like a palace. Chandeliers spilled golden light across marble floors, staff lined the entrance in neat rows, and a hush of reverence followed us as we stepped inside.

“Welcome home, Señora,” a maid murmured, bowing slightly.

I forced a smile, clutching my gown tighter. Señora. Wife. Zoe. Not Chloe.

Jake introduced me briefly, his voice calm but detached. “My wife, Zoe Rodriguez Martinez.”

The staff bowed again. Their faces blurred in my panic, until one pair of eyes stood out.

Ethan.

Tall, striking, with a mischievous spark in his gaze. His eyes lingered on me longer than the others, his lips quirking into something like admiration. It made my chest tighten uncomfortably.

Jake didn’t notice. Or maybe he didn’t care.

We moved deeper into the house, and I thought I could finally breathe when footsteps echoed from the grand staircase.

And then he appeared.

Tyler.

Fresh from the shower, a towel draped carelessly over his shoulders, his shirt unbuttoned halfway, water still dripping from his hair. His abs glistened under the lights, each line carved like marble, each step confident, effortless.

My breath caught in my throat.

How… how was my ex Jake’s brother?

This just got worse.

His eyes locked onto mine. For a heartbeat, the world froze.

Unlike everyone else, Tyler didn’t hesitate. His smirk faded, his gaze narrowing sharply as if slicing straight through the veil, the gown, the masquerade itself.

He knew.

He always knew how to tell us apart.

And in that instant, I saw it in his face, he recognized me. Not Zoe. Not the bride Jake thought he had married.

He knew this was Chloe.

And that secret could ruin everything.