**Elena**“I... I’m sorry,” I whispered again, my voice barely hanging onto itself.“For fuck’s sake, quit saying sorry!” he snapped.I froze.Xavier ran his fingers through his hair, pacing a few steps before turning sharply.“What’s the secret that’s eating you up so bad that you had to do this to me?” he asked, eyes burning into mine. “Tell me, Elena…” His tone dropped to a whisper. “Please.”I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.You can’t. You can’t tell him. If you do, it’s over… and if you don’t…it’s still over.“I can’t…” I mumbled to myself, eyes fixed on the floor. I don’t even know if he heard me.But then he sat down, just like that, on the edge of the cold marble stairs, looking completely defeated. His hands dangled between his knees. His eyes, god… they were red.“Did you even ever love me?” he asked, and that question sliced right through my ribs.I felt my knees give way a little. “Yes…” I whispered. “Yes.” Louder now. “I’ve loved you from the very first time I saw
**Elena**“I told you already, Your Highness… now you just confirmed it.” A familiar voice spoke.I turned slowly, like my body already knew who it was before my eyes did.She stepped into the light.No…“Helena?” I whispered, barely able to breathe.She stood tall, arms folded.. But I couldn’t focus on her.Because Xavier…He wasn’t saying a word.He just stood there.Looking right at me like he was seeing me for the first time…and maybe he hated what he saw.My heart cracked.I broke myself out of Nick’s arms. “No…, it’s not what you think, Xavier!...listen, I..I can explain…”“You have nothing to say, sis,” Helena cut in. “Its all evident.”“Shut up!” I snapped, spinning toward her.“You did this! You planned all of this!”But Xavier…He was already moving.Walking away.I chased after him. “ Xavier! Wait…don’t go, please…I’m begging you!”But he didn’t even look back.He just got into his car and drove off.I stood in the middle of the estate, chest heaving, vision blurry.It felt
**Elena**TWO WEEKS LATER “Wow… that’s great news. But are you sure you want to tell him now?” Ivana asked as she leaned against the hallway rail.I paced back and forth across the third floor, my heart pounding in my chest. Xavier’s room was just a few steps ahead, but he wasn’t there. He hadn’t been around much lately. Distant. Cold. Silent.“Yes, I’m sure,” I nodded. “I don’t care what punishment he gives me… I just..” I swallowed the lump in my throat, “..I have to tell him the truth today.”I mumbled the last part more to myself than to her.“He’s been distant for the past two weeks,” I continued, still pacing, fingers curled into my palms. “He says he’s just busy. That there’s too much going on. But it’s more than that, Ivana… I feel it. Something’s changed.”I stopped, letting my head fall back as I stared at the ceiling. “And I hate not knowing. I hate walking around, afraid he’ll find out from someone else.”Ivana let out a soft sigh. I glanced at my phone. 5:47 PM.He s
**Elena**I stepped into my room with a faint smile still on my lips. My fingers were still warm from Xavier’s touch.I didn’t even notice her at first.“Where have you been?” Mortina’s voice sliced through my thoughts.I froze, the door clicking shut behind me. My smile disappeared.She was standing near my dresser, arms crossed, face unreadable..but her eyes? Cold.“What are you doing here?” I asked. “In my room.”Xavier didn’t come back with me..Said he had to stop by somewhere.Mortina took a step toward me. “You’ve gotten too comfortable here,” she said slowly, her eyes narrowing. “You now answer my questions with a question?”I scoffed, throwing my mask onto the bed and folding my arms.“I learnt from the best… don’t you think?”“What do you want, Mortina? Or are you here just to see me falling apart?”I walked to the table, poured myself a glass of water, and took a sip without breaking eye contact.“Well, for your information, I'm way better than you last saw me,” I said, lift
**Elena**“Someone looks happy,” Nick said as we stood at the reception. I was signing the discharge form.“I should say that about you.” I gave him a slight grin. “Tell me... You even have your favorite perfume on. What’s up?”He cleared his throat. “I’ve been able to reach her. Got her contact details from the mall. Called her. Thankfully, she picked up and agreed to meet me.”I froze mid-signature. “And you’re just telling me now?” I whispered, stepping closer.“I didn’t want us to get too hopeful. And... you might scare her off if she knows you're on to her.”“Seriously, Nick?” My voice dropped but the anger didn’t. “Is this how you’re going to sly me? You know she’s the whole reason I’m behind this mask. And you just casually decide not to tell me you’ve reached her? Wow.”To be honest, I didn’t know if I should be upset that my best friend kept this from me… or be happy he found his girlfriend.“It’s not how you think,” he said quickly. “C’mon, you know I’d tell you eventually.
**Xavier**I stormed into her ward without bothering to knock. She had passed out right after the encounter with Trisha."How’s she?" I asked, eyes flicking to Nick before landing on her.She sat up slowly. "I already told you... I’m fine."That didn’t soothe me. Not even a little. I turned to Nick, refusing to take her word for it. "Let him speak for himself, my queen," I said as I moved closer.Nick let out a soft chuckle. "She’s perfectly fine, Your Highness. No internal injuries, just some exhaustion."But something felt off. I inhaled sharply…and froze.His scent. It was all over her.The faint trace of peppermint mixed with cinnamon, stronger than it should have been from just a routine checkup.Did he…hug her?Nick gave a knowing smile, like he could feel the shift in the air. "Hmm. I’ll leave you two now," he said and quickly slipped out of the room.Silence.I didn’t mean to say it, but it came out before I could stop myself. "Why do you always insist on being around that h