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Chapter 23

Author: Catherine Silver
last update publish date: 2026-03-30 19:10:45

Aiden Wilder

POV

The night had stretched long past midnight. I knew I should be in bed by now, I needed to be up at four but I couldn’t go to bed. I was sitting in the dim lit study of my apartment, the entire apartment was quiet, too quiet for my liking. I has a half finished warm whiskey on the desk next to it, my phone glowed on the chat of Teigan and me, I liked the quiet most days, but since discovering my grief, I’ve been broken up inside. I didn’t like the way it made me feel. I didn’t w
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  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 26

    Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe Malibu air felt heavy this afternoon all the sunlight and salt air didn’t hide the tension I was feeling within. I sat crossed legged at the edge of the private pool at my hotel. Sunglasses on and a towel draped over my shoulders loosely. I was supposed to be relaxing, the cameras were finally off me for a day. I didn’t have a show tonight. Instead my phone hadn’t stopped buzzing since I landed this morning. Another text from my brother...Russ: He’s been calling again.I sighed tossing my phone on the lounge chair behind me. The sound of the other guests talking on the floor below mine. I was so stuck in my own troubled thoughts about Carson and his inability to let go. He wasn’t just contacting me now, he was going after my family.I let out a loud sigh. I didn’t know what to do. It was my rare one day off and I was worried about Carson. Gone was the excitement about meeting Craig in just a few months.“Let me guess,” I muttered loudly as my sister Riley s

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 25

    Raeleigh CampbellPOVI leaned back against the hotel chair, phone in hand, my foot on the end of the seat, staring at the text thread between Craig and I, we decided not to tell each other our names until we’re face to face, that lingering fear of him not wanting anything to do with anything to do with me after he learns about who I really am. It stuck to me like glue.Craig:The day after the Super Bowl. Just us. Away from all the chaos of the game. You’re in?My thumb hovered over the keyboard, my heart thundering in my chest. I’ve been waiting for this moment from the moment he brought it up. There was a time I dreamt of this moment quietly, when I dreamt of meeting him, Craig being my soulmate. Now I don’t even feel worthy of being his friend. I don’t feel worthy of meeting him, yet now I am excited to meet him. Now after seventeen years it was finally happening. I was finally going to meet him.Yes. I’ll be there. Can’t wait to meet you.I hit send and a rush of excitement sprea

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 24

    Raeleigh CampbellPOVMy fingers hovered over the keyboard, my heart hammering in my chest. I’ve been typing and deleting the same passage for the past ten minutes, unsure how to say it without sounding impulsive, without making it seem like a decision I’d regret later.Just ten minutes ago Craig asked me if we could meet. And I was trying to hype myself up. The thought of meeting him made me nervous and excited at the same time. Like I was excited but also scared he wasn’t who said he was.Finally, I exhaled and typed outOkay. I’ll meet you.I hit send before I could second-guess myself or worse talk myself out of it. We’ve been talking for so long I feel like I’ll know it’s Craig the second I see him.My phone buzzed almost immediately with a reply from him.Really? You mean it?It was heard for me to even admit it to myself. But yes, I meant it. I’ve been thinking about meeting for weeks, no months, but saying it out loud, or even admitting it over text, made it seem like a realit

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 23

    Aiden WilderPOVThe night had stretched long past midnight. I knew I should be in bed by now, I needed to be up at four but I couldn’t go to bed. I was sitting in the dim lit study of my apartment, the entire apartment was quiet, too quiet for my liking. I has a half finished warm whiskey on the desk next to it, my phone glowed on the chat of Teigan and me, I liked the quiet most days, but since discovering my grief, I’ve been broken up inside. I didn’t like the way it made me feel. I didn’t want to feel this way.I knew trying to sleep would be pointless, I watched the screensaver on my laptop. A picture Lydia and I took on our trip to Boston to see her parents. She was so excited we took the picture in the backyard of her childhood home. She had the brightest smile on her face. I was hugging her from behind with my arms around her kissing her cheek. We were so happy then.Sleep evaded me because I was consumed with thoughts of Lydia and our entire relationship keeps replaying in my

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 22

    Raeleigh CampbellPOVI tucked my legs under me on my hotel bed, the laptop open in front of me.“Hi, Rae,” Dr. Morgan says softly. Her voice was calm, like she’d done this her whole life. It was soothing. It was exactly what I needed. “How have you been holding up since the release?” she asks.I try to smile. But I knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “Busy,” I wasn’t lying, I wrap my fingers around the cup of my cold tea, so I had something to do with my hands. I had a tendency to tap my fingers nervously doing my sessions with Dr Morgan. I’ve been with her for only a few weeks. “I’ve done a lot of press for Your ghost, in between shows. I’ve been too busy for our sessions too...” I add. I didn’t know why but I felt like I should tell her that. Instead of the truth. I didn’t want to talk to her her. I wanted to pretend I was fine until I retire one day.“I’ve seen some of your interviews.” Dr Morgan pauses “You look... Like you were wearing a mask... ”The pause was deliberate. “But I wasn’

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 21

    Aiden WilderPOVThe drive back to Kansas was quiet, I had the radio on, I wanted to be alone, so I got permission from coach August to drive myself home. I borrowed one of Axel’s cars stored in my parents garage. Not my finest moments, but I told my mother I’d asked him when I haven’t spoken to Axel since his visit after Lydia died.The rain soothed me. I had the radio on but I wasn’t really paying attention to it. I wasn’t listening, not really, until the piano started playing, something about it drew me in.When the drums, and guitar came in I turned up the volume. It must be new I’ve never heard it before.It was a pop song. Not that I listened to them all the time, I’d like to think I keep up with the latest trends.When a soft voice starts, it’s trembling, fragile yet steady, a complete contrast to the pop song theme.“I sat alone in my shower, singing to your ghost…”My grip on the steering wheel tightened. Something about her words eat at me.“I danced with your ghost, so cold

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 9

    Raeleigh CampbellPOVThe restaurant was busy despite it being a Tuesday night. As I walk in, I could feel the air around the restaurant change. I knew why. Rae Hartley just walked in.I weave my way to where my friends were. I slid into the booth beside Mel and Haz. Opposite Jenna and Maya.The sm

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 6

    Raeleigh CampbellPOV“You know when I wrote this song, I actually wrote two versions. I had the one I released and the one I kept to myself. One was released as a pop song for the radio and the other felt like a diary.” I smile at the crowd as I set up my mic.I felt like I was sharing a side of m

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 15

    Aiden WilderPOVThe first thing I heard when I woke up wasn’t my alarm. It was the buzz of my phone on the nightstand. Hope filled my entire being.My eyes snapped open, hoping it was her…My screen blurry, I blinked the sleep away and looked again, it wasn’t her. Disappointment filled in deep wit

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17

  • The Fake Empire   Chapter 11

    Raeleigh CampbellPOVBeing onstage the day after my entire relationship blew up in my face. I couldn’t believe the pressure I felt to be perfect. I couldn’t let them see me break down. I couldn’t let my fans down. It was important. They paid money to see me be perfect.My microphone in hand the ch

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-17
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