Chapter Seventeen – The Unraveling
Eliana had lived with secrets long enough to know they never stayed buried. They pulsed beneath the surface, waiting for one wrong move to bring them roaring to light.
And Maddie, with her perfect nails and watchful eyes, was the hand hovering over the detonator.
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It happened during a fundraiser gala on campus. The hall was awash with chandeliers, velvet gowns, and glasses of champagne that caught the light like liquid stars. William stood beside Eliana in a tailored navy suit, his hand resting gently on her lower back. He was the picture of quiet pride, introducing her to professors, alumni, and business partners as if she were already his wife.
But across the room, Stephen watched her like a flame he couldn't put out. His gaze was too intense, too lingering. Eliana felt it burning holes through the delicate fabric of her composure.
Maddie floated between them like a queen in her court, smiling, introducing people, pulling strings no one could see.
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The moment came during the silent auction. William had stepped aside to greet a family friend, leaving Eliana momentarily alone. That's when Stephen appeared, his voice low, his breath too close.
"You look breathtaking tonight," he murmured, his eyes tracing her face. "But then, you always do."
Her heart lurched. "Stephen, not here—"
He reached for her hand beneath the tablecloth, his touch bold. "Do you know how hard it is to watch him parade you around as if you belong to him? When I know, deep down, you're mine."
Her pulse thundered. She glanced around in panic. What if someone saw?
And then her stomach dropped.
Because someone had.
Maddie, across the room, her lips curling ever so slightly as her eyes flickered between them.
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Later, when William returned, his smile was as warm as ever. But Eliana felt the weight of Maddie's gaze pressing down like a storm cloud.
Maddie sidled up to William with practiced ease. "You know, you're lucky," she said sweetly. "Not every man finds a girl as loyal as Eliana."
Something in the way she said loyal made Eliana's stomach twist. William chuckled, not noticing, but his arm tightened around Eliana's waist as if to stake his claim.
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The night only worsened.
Stephen, reckless from wine and longing, cornered her again as guests began to leave. "You can't keep living like this, Ellie. It's tearing you apart. It's tearing me apart."
She pressed a trembling finger to his lips. "Please, don't—"
"Say the word," he whispered, "and I'll take you away from all this. From him. From her. Just you and me."
Her chest ached with the dangerous temptation of his words.
But when she turned, William was standing only a few steps away. His expression was unreadable, caught between curiosity and something sharper.
"Eliana," he said softly. "Are you ready to go?"
Her voice shook. "Y-yes."
---
The car ride back was silent. William drove smoothly, his profile calm, but Eliana could feel questions building behind his silence like thunderclouds.
At her dorm, he parked but didn't unlock the doors right away. His hand rested on the steering wheel, knuckles pale.
"Eliana," he said finally, his voice low. "Do you ever…feel like there are parts of you I don't know?"
Her breath caught.
"I want all of you," he continued, turning to look at her. His eyes shimmered in the dashboard light, full of sincerity. "Not just the pieces you show me. Don't hide from me. Please."
Her throat tightened, tears stinging her eyes. She nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "You know me, William. You do."
But as she slipped out of the car, she felt Maddie's invisible strings tightening around her, pulling her closer to ruin.
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In her room later, she collapsed against her bed, clutching her necklace—the star William had given her. She wanted to believe his words, his love.
But Stephen's voice echoed louder in her head: "Say the word, and I'll take you away."
And Maddie? Maddie was somewhere in the shadows, smiling, already plotting the next step.
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