LOGINTheo's POV I didn’t sleep.How was I supposed to sleep when my life was about to spiral out of my control? Actually, it had spiralled but I thought I still had hope to get it together. But as things got more complicated, getting control over my life was impossible. By morning, I felt hollow.I needed someone to talk to. I needed someone to listen. I needed someone who shared the same burden as me… someone who would not judge me, but rather justify my reasons.Leonie was the only one who fell into all categories. So I called her before I changed my mind. I didn’t tell her much on the phone. I just told her I needed to see her and she agreed. ********I got to the cafe first, so I chose a corner table. Somewhere tucked away from people's eyes… somewhere people wouldn’t pay attention to us. Leonie wasn't in school because the judging eyes were too much on her. Since Rowan and I were sent out of Hillsborough, she said things had become unbearable for her. Just like me, she didn't te
Theo's POV I didn’t wait to be called this time. That was how eager I was to be done with Mr Livingston and his associate. His office was still the same. It still bore the same suffocating stillness that made it feel less like a place for conversation and more like a place where decisions were made about people… without them.I stepped in, my heart beating faster than I wanted to admit. He was seated behind the table with a tablet in hand. His posture relaxed like he had all the time in the world… Like my life wasn’t hanging in the balance of whatever he decided next.“You’re early,” he said without looking up.“I have something,” I replied immediately.That got his attention. Slowly, he lifted his eyes away from the device. “Something?”I didn’t sit. He never asked me to.I placed my phone in front of him. “See for yourself.”He didn’t touch it immediately. For a moment, he just looked at me… more like studying me. Then, finally, he picked it up.The first video of Rowan played. H
Rowan's POV I didn’t say a single word on the drive back. Not one word. I didn't even make an attempt to start a conversation. But he tried to start one. I could feel his eyes flicking toward me through the rearview mirror every few seconds. The silence between me and the driver was thick, heavy and suffocating, like the air itself was pressing down on my chest. “Are you alright, Master Rowan?” he asked at first, his voice careful and somehow hesitant.I didn’t answer.A few minutes later, he tried again. “Things could have gotten worse if I didn't find you on time.”I didn't reply. My gaze stayed fixed on the window, watching the blurred lights pass as my reflection stared back at me. My messy hair reminded me of the chaos I just survived. How did I end up there? I asked myself. The answer was clear and not clear at the same time. I wasn't the type to follow someone astray. But since Theo, he had been leading him to somewhere I didn't know. I wasn't following, I was being led a
Rowan's POV The moment we stepped out through the back door of the club, I expected another secret. Maybe a hidden car or a suspicious conversation or another version of him I didn't understand. But I didn't get any of those. Instead, he dragged me down the sidewalk like he had somewhere important to be.“Theo,” I called, nearly stumbling as he pulled me through a crowd of people.The last thing I wanted was to be seen by someone who knew me. I didn't want another drama for myself, especially not the one that might be aired on the internet. Theo looked back briefly, grinning from ear to ear. Someone might think he was having the best moment of his life. “For someone who sneaks out of a palace, you worry too much.”I narrowed my eyes as I shot back instantly. “For someone who refuses to explain anything, you talk too much.”He laughed. The sound was kind of free and genuine. And for a moment, I forgot how strange tonight had been.I forgot that my driver was waiting for me on the o
Rowan’s POV I didn’t like how easy it was becoming.That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I stood outside, waiting for the car to be brought around.The first time I had done this, it felt like rebellion. Now it felt like a routine. And routines built on lies are dangerous. The headlights cut through the night as the car rolled to a stop in front of me. The driver stepped out immediately, opening the back door like he always did, his expression carefully neutral.I slid in without a word. The door shut behind me with a soft click, sealing me inside with my thoughts.For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. Then the engine hummed quietly as he pulled away from the estate, the gates opening without question. Getting out was always the easiest. But staying hidden was the real challenge. I leaned back slightly, watching the familiar path blur past the window before finally breaking the silence.“Did you tell anyone?” My voice came out calmer than I felt.The driver didn’t
Rowan’s POV The piano keys felt colder than usual beneath my fingers, or maybe it was just me.As I pressed down on a note, the sound lingered in the air longer than it should have. It stretched across the room, delicate and fragile, like it could snap if I touched another key instantly. I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to focus because that was the reason I was there in the first place. The music room had become my escape room because there were no guards hovering closely, no whispers trailing behind me, no expectations pressing down on my shoulders. It was just sound, rhythm and keynotes I could control.But today, even the keys wouldn’t listen to me. I leaned back slightly on the bench, staring at the keys like they had betrayed me, when I knew I was the one betraying myself. I knew I was the reason behind the stiffness. Actually, my thoughts were. I didn't get the right rhythm because my mind wasn't there. It was with someone else. I pressed my lips together, flexing my finge
Theo's POV I shouldn’t have been smiling, but I was. Watching the video brought back everything I felt that night. I hate to admit it but if I was given the chance to go back to that night, I'd focus more on the kiss than making a video. But it's all good because I get to watch the video over and
Theo's POV I knew exactly what I had done. It wasn’t poisonous, nor was it anything dangerous. It was a little way of marking my territory, a way of showing him who was in control. Just a crushed candy dissolved into his drink, he was already shaking like a jelly fish. What if I had added more? I
Rowan's POV As he approached me, I knew my evening was about to get ruined. But before he could ruin it, I looked at him, not the gibberish side of him. I took note of his face, his hair, how it was still neatly done even after school hours. Theo is a charming boy but his attitude makes his charm
Rowan's POV Everyone had left. The crowd had been dismissed after the welcome speech and song. The performance was over and finally, I was alone in the room given to me. The room felt smaller than I expected. I wasn't expecting it to be like my bedroom in the palace but this was still small. It







