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Cracks in the Mask

Author: Cane
last update Last Updated: 2025-09-03 14:56:01

Chapter 14: Cracks in the Mask

Ollie's POV

The notification lit up my phone like a warning flare, my heart jumped straight into my throat, pulse pounding as I froze, staring at Ryder’s latest message, short, taunting, dangerously close to the truth, he hadn’t spelled it out, but the implication was sharp enough to cut straight through me, he knew. Or at least, he knew enough.

My stomach twisted, fingers trembling, I typed a reply, deleted it, tried again, deleted that too, every word looked like a confession, every attempt at casual humor dripped with guilt I couldn’t hide. Sarcasm, deflection, anger, none of it worked, my thumbs hovered over the screen, desperate to send something, anything, before panic shoved the phone out of my hand. It hit the desk face down with a clatter, and I sat there, chest tight, trying to breathe past the rising heat of dread. Silence was safer, silence was all I had left.

Except my body didn’t agree, heat curled low in my stomach, a pulse I couldn’t igno
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