All Chapters of MASKS AND ILLUSIONS : Chapter 31 - Chapter 36

OLIVIA’S POV I am walking into the unknown. I just kept moving. The air carries the sharp tang of disinfectant and something warmer, like linen that’s been ironed. The corridor stretches ahead in a straight, endless line. White walls. Square ceiling tiles. Every few feet, a framed print: muted landscapes, washed-out blues, and greens. Someone once decided these pictures would soothe people waiting for good news or bracing for bad. I glide past the first door. A low hum seeps through, the quiet murmur of nurses’ voices. The sound folds around me like a thin blanket. A cart squeaks somewhere far off, rubber wheels over linoleum, and the faint hiss of an oxygen line whispers from behind a closed curtain. All of it is so ordinary that it borders on comforting. I trail my fingertips along the wall. The paint is cool and faintly gritty. My nails make the lightest rasp, a sound swallowed by the overhead buzz of fluorescent bulbs. I pause beneath a vent, feeling a soft breath of ai

I apologise for the ridiculously long chapters earlier, I didn't want to drag on a few emotions into other chapters. Bear with me.

THEO’S POV. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen my guy Alex. Maybe he’s been avoiding me. Maybe not. Doesn’t really matter. The elevator hums low as it climbs, a single light flickering above me. I’ve been here more times than I can count, so the ride feels automatic. Ding. Doors slide open into Alex’s apartment. He’s sitting on the couch, one arm stretched over the backrest, phone in hand, half-watching something on the TV. He doesn’t even flinch when he sees me. he just lets that lazy grin slip across his face. “Well, look who decided to visit,” he says. “Didn’t know you remembered my address.” I smirk, step out fully. “I figured you were forgetting mine, so I had to make the effort.” “Fair point.” He stands, running a hand through his hair. “What’s up?” “Nothing much.” I nod toward the bar in the corner. “You got anything good?” "Always." I cross the room and grab the Hennessy from its usual spot, pull down two glasses, and pour both halfway. I hand him a