Chapter Eighteen – The Trap Tightens
Maddie had always known that patience was a weapon. If she waited long enough, Eliana would destroy herself. But Maddie was no longer content with waiting. Now, she wanted to help.
And so she planned her next move with precision.
---
The invitation came as a surprise to Eliana. Maddie had organized a private weekend retreat for their small circle of friends at her family's country house just outside the city. "It'll be fun," Maddie said, her smile warm, her tone innocent. "A chance to relax, breathe, and escape from all the pressure."
William agreed almost immediately. "You need it, Eliana," he said, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You've been working so hard. Maybe this will help us… reconnect."
Stephen was also invited. Maddie insisted it would be rude not to include him since he'd recently become her business partner on a student-led project. The moment his name was mentioned, Eliana's stomach tightened.
It was a perfect storm, and Maddie was the one stirring the clouds.
---
The weekend retreat began innocently enough. Maddie's country house was sprawling, with long verandas, wide windows, and gardens that smelled of jasmine at dusk. Guests laughed, music drifted through the halls, and Eliana tried—truly tried—to relax at William's side.
But Stephen was there. Always there. Catching her gaze across the dinner table, brushing his hand against hers when no one was looking, whispering comments that sent shivers down her spine.
"You can't keep avoiding me," he murmured as they passed in the hallway. "We both know this won't end here."
"Stephen, please," she whispered desperately. "Someone will see."
"Let them," he said with a crooked grin. "Maybe it's time the truth comes out."
---
Maddie watched it all unfold with quiet satisfaction. Every stolen glance, every slip of control. She positioned herself like an observer, whispering harmless jokes to William, distracting him at just the right moments.
But she wasn't done. Not yet.
The second evening, Maddie proposed a game—innocent on the surface, cruel underneath. "Truth or Dare," she announced with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. Everyone groaned and laughed, but the circle formed anyway, drinks in hand.
When it came to Eliana's turn, Maddie leaned forward, her smile sharp. "Truth," she said sweetly, "or dare?"
Eliana hesitated. Her palms were slick with sweat. "Truth."
Maddie's eyes glimmered. "Do you have feelings for anyone here… other than William?"
The room went still. William's hand tightened on her knee. Stephen's breath caught audibly.
Eliana's heart pounded so loudly she thought everyone must hear it. Maddie tilted her head, looking at her like a cat playing with its prey.
"Well?"
Eliana forced a laugh, though her voice cracked. "Of course not. Don't be ridiculous."
William's grip loosened, relief softening his face. The others chuckled, and the tension dissolved back into nervous laughter. But Maddie's eyes never left Eliana's. She knew. She knew, and she wanted Eliana to sweat.
---
That night, when the others had gone to bed, Stephen cornered her again in the garden. The moonlight fell across his face, making him look dangerously beautiful.
"You almost told the truth," he whispered, stepping closer. "I could see it in your eyes."
"Stephen—" she breathed, but he silenced her by gently pressing a finger to her lips.
"You don't have to lie to me. You never do." His voice was low, intimate. "One day, you'll stop lying to yourself, too."
Her knees weakened. Against her better judgment, she leaned into him for the briefest moment before stumbling back, breathless.
But when she looked up, she froze.
Maddie stood at the veranda, half-hidden in shadow, watching them.
And she was smiling.
---
Back in her room, Eliana collapsed onto the bed, trembling. She could still feel Stephen's warmth on her lips. She could still see Maddie's knowing smile.
The walls were closing in. William's trust, Stephen's desire, Maddie's schemes—it was all tightening around her throat.
And she knew, with a sinking certainty, that the secret she fought so hard to protect was one step away from shattering.