Alia Writes

Chapter 20: You Should Have Asked Me
Roxanne didn’t rush out of the café.

She sat there for a while after Ethan stopped talking.

Not because she wanted to.

But because standing up felt… harder than it should.

“…So that’s it?” she asked quietly.

Ethan didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t try to fill the silence.

“That’s what you came to tell me?” she added.

He watched her carefully.

“Not just that.”

Roxanne finally looked at him again.

Her eyes weren’t as sharp now.

More… unsettled.

“Then what else?”

Ethan leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table.

“That he hasn’t changed.”

Her brows pulled together.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” he said calmly. “Because he still didn’t tell you himself.”

That hit.

Again.

Roxanne looked away.

Her fingers tightening slightly around her bag.

“…Maybe I didn’t give him the chance,” she said, but even she could hear how unsure it sounded.

Ethan shook his head.

“No. You did.”

Silence.

Then—

“He chose not to take it.”

Roxanne exhaled slowly.

Trying to steady herself.

Everything felt off-balance.

Like someone had taken a story she thought she understood… and flipped it.

“I need to go,” she said finally, standing up.

Ethan didn’t stop her.

Didn’t reach for her.

But he did say—

“Just don’t let him decide everything again.”

Roxanne paused for a second.

Then nodded once.

And walked away.

Outside
The air felt heavier now.

Not lighter.

Roxanne walked without thinking.

Her steps steady, but her mind… not even close.

He thought you chose someone else.

The words kept replaying.

Over and over again.

“That doesn’t even make sense,” she muttered under her breath.

But it did.

In a way she didn’t like.

Because Adrian—

Had always been like that.

Proud.

Quiet.

The type to assume before asking.

Her grip tightened on her bag.

“So you just left?” she whispered to herself. “Just like that?”

A car honked nearby, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She stopped walking.

Looked around.

Realized she had already reached the office building.

Without remembering how.

“…Great,” she sighed.

Now what?

Go upstairs like nothing happened?

Pretend she didn’t just find out something that could change everything?

Yeah.

Right.

She stepped inside anyway.

Back at the Office
The moment Roxanne walked in, Clara looked up.

“You’re back early—”

Roxanne walked past her.

“Is he inside?”

Clara blinked.

“…Uh—yes?”

“Good.”

That tone alone?

Dangerous.

Roxanne didn’t stop.

Didn’t slow down.

She pushed the office door open—

Without knocking.

Adrian looked up immediately.

Their eyes met.

And just like that—

Everything in the room shifted.

“You went,” he said.

Not a question.

Roxanne closed the door behind her.

“Yeah.”

Silence.

Adrian stood up slowly.

“What did he say?”

Straight to the point.

Roxanne let out a small breath.

“You really want to know?”

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then—

“He told me why you left.”

That did it.

Adrian froze.

Not completely.

But enough.

Roxanne saw it.

Good.

“Interesting,” she said quietly. “Because you never did.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“What exactly did he tell you?”

Roxanne stepped closer.

Slow.

Measured.

“That you thought I chose someone else.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Immediate.

Adrian didn’t speak.

Didn’t deny it.

Didn’t correct it.

And that—

That was the answer.

Roxanne laughed.

Soft.

But not amused.

“You’re serious.”

Still nothing.

“You actually believed that?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “You thought I would just—what? Replace you overnight?”

Adrian finally spoke.

“I saw you with him.”

Roxanne stared at him.

“And that was enough?” she asked. “That’s all it took?”

“It wasn’t just that.”

“Then what was it?” she demanded.

A pause.

Then Adrian exhaled slowly.

“You looked happy.”

That caught her off guard.

“…What?”

“You looked like you didn’t need me anymore,” he said.

Roxanne blinked.

“That’s your reason?” she asked, almost in disbelief. “You saw me smile and decided to walk away?”

“It wasn’t that simple.”

“It sounds exactly that simple!” she snapped.

Her voice echoed slightly in the room.

“Do you know what that did to me?” she continued. “You didn’t ask. You didn’t explain. You just left like I meant nothing.”

“I didn’t say you meant nothing.”

“You didn’t have to!” she shot back. “Your actions said it for you.”

Silence.

Adrian looked at her.

Really looked this time.

“You think it was easy for me?” he asked quietly.

Roxanne laughed again.

“Easy? You walked away. That’s the easiest thing you could have done.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Then why didn’t you come back?” she challenged.

That question hung in the air.

Because this time—

There was no quick answer.

Adrian hesitated.

And that hesitation?

It hurt more than anything else.

Roxanne’s expression shifted.

“Exactly,” she said softly. “You didn’t even try.”

“I did,” he said.

She froze.

“…When?”

Adrian looked away briefly.

Then back at her.

“I came back the next day.”

Roxanne’s heart skipped.

“What?”

“You were gone,” he said. “You didn’t answer my calls.”

Her brows furrowed.

“I never got any calls.”

Now it was his turn to pause.

Silence.

Slow.

Heavy.

“Check your old number,” he said.

Roxanne shook her head.

“That doesn’t make sense. I had the same—”

She stopped.

Because suddenly—

Something clicked.

That week.

The day after he left.

Her phone had been off.

Dead.

Broken.

She remembered rushing to fix it.

Her chest tightened.

“…No,” she whispered.

Adrian watched her carefully.

“I tried,” he said again.

And this time—

It didn’t sound like an excuse.

It sounded like truth.

Roxanne took a step back.

Her mind racing.

“So we both just… assumed?” she said slowly.

“Looks like it.”

Silence.

Then—

Roxanne let out a breath.

Half laugh.

Half disbelief.

“That’s so stupid.”

Adrian didn’t argue.

“It is.”

Another pause.

But this one felt different.

Less angry.

More… heavy.

Years of misunderstanding.

Just sitting there between them.

Roxanne looked at him again.

“…You should have asked me.”

“I know.”

“You should have trusted me.”

“I know.”

Her chest tightened again.

“And now?” she asked quietly.

Adrian stepped closer.

“Now I’m not making the same mistake.”

Her heart skipped.

“…And what does that mean?”

He held her gaze.

“It means I’m not letting you walk away over something that can be fixed.”

Roxanne’s breath caught.

“And who says I want to stay?” she asked.

A pause.

Then—

“I do.”

The words were simple.

But they landed hard.

Roxanne looked at him.

Really looked.

And for the first time—

She didn’t know what to say.

Because this—

This wasn’t the past anymore.

This was something new.

Something unfinished.

And maybe—

Something dangerous in a completely different way.

Chapter 19: The Truth You Never Got
Roxanne didn’t touch the drink in front of her.

She hadn’t since Ethan sat down.

Because the moment he said “everything is about to change,” something in her chest tightened—and it hadn’t eased since.

“You’re being dramatic,” she said finally.

But her voice wasn’t as firm as she wanted it to be.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching her like he was trying to read everything she wasn’t saying.

“Am I?” he asked.

Roxanne held his gaze.

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then he sighed softly, running a hand through his hair.

“Okay… maybe I started that wrong.”

“Then start again,” she said.

Ethan nodded once.

Fair.

“Let me ask you something,” he said.

Roxanne didn’t respond, but her eyes told him to go on.

“When was the last time you and Adrian actually talked about… what happened?”

That question landed harder than she expected.

Her fingers stilled on the table.

“…That’s not your business,” she said quietly.

Ethan tilted his head slightly.

“See, that’s the problem.”

Roxanne frowned.

“What is?”

“You keep saying that,” he replied. “But somehow, you’re still right in the middle of it.”

She didn’t like that.

Not one bit.

“I didn’t come here to talk about him,” she said.

Ethan let out a short laugh.

“Then why are you here?”

Silence.

Because she didn’t have a clean answer.

Ethan leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering just a bit.

“You want to know why he left, don’t you?”

Her breath caught.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

Ethan saw it.

Of course he did.

“…You don’t even have to answer that,” he said softly. “Your face already did.”

Roxanne looked away.

Her jaw tightening.

“Careful,” she muttered. “You’re starting to sound very confident.”

“I am,” he said. “Because I was there.”

That made her look back at him immediately.

“…What does that mean?”

Ethan didn’t rush.

Didn’t dodge.

“It means,” he said, “I saw what happened before he left.”

Roxanne’s heart skipped.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You expect me to believe that you just… happened to be there?”

Ethan shrugged slightly.

“Not ‘happened.’”

Silence.

Roxanne’s chest tightened.

“Then what?” she asked.

Ethan studied her for a moment.

Then—

“You remember that night, right?” he said.

Her stomach dropped.

Of course she remembered.

That night was the reason everything ended.

The misunderstanding.

The silence.

The way Adrian walked away without explaining anything.

“I remember,” she said slowly.

Ethan nodded.

“Good. Then tell me—what do you think happened?”

Roxanne frowned.

“What kind of question is that?”

“A simple one.”

“It’s not simple,” she snapped. “He left. That’s what happened.”

Ethan shook his head.

“No. That’s what you saw.”

The words hit differently.

Roxanne stared at him.

“…Explain.”

Ethan leaned back again.

Taking his time.

“You think he left because of that mistake,” he said.

Her chest tightened.

“That wasn’t just a mistake.”

“I know,” Ethan said quietly.

A pause.

Then—

“But you don’t know the full story.”

Roxanne’s fingers curled slightly against the table.

“Then tell me.”

Ethan didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he asked—

“Did he ever try to explain?”

Roxanne froze.

Because the answer was…

No.

He didn’t.

He just left.

“…No,” she said quietly.

Ethan nodded like he expected that.

“Exactly.”

Roxanne frowned.

“That doesn’t prove anything.”

“It proves everything,” he replied. “Because if he cared enough, he would’ve stayed and explained.”

Her chest tightened again.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” Ethan said. “Because I saw him before he left.”

Silence.

Roxanne’s heart started beating faster.

“What do you mean?”

Ethan looked at her.

More serious now.

Less playful.

“He wasn’t calm,” he said. “He wasn’t cold like he is now.”

Her breath hitched slightly.

“He looked… messed up,” Ethan continued. “Like something hit him harder than he expected.”

Roxanne’s brows furrowed.

“…Then why did he leave?”

That was the real question.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

“Because he thought you chose someone else.”

Everything stopped.

“What?”

“He saw something,” Ethan said. “Something he didn’t understand.”

Roxanne shook her head immediately.

“No. That’s not—”

“It is,” Ethan cut in. “And instead of asking you about it, he made his own conclusion.”

Her chest tightened painfully.

“That’s stupid,” she said.

“I agree.”

Silence.

Roxanne’s mind was spinning now.

“That doesn’t make sense,” she said. “If that was true, why didn’t he say anything after?”

Ethan looked at her.

Carefully.

“Because pride is a very dangerous thing,” he said.

That landed.

Hard.

Roxanne leaned back slightly.

Trying to process everything.

“So you’re telling me… he left because of a misunderstanding?”

“I’m telling you,” Ethan said, “he left because he thought he lost you first.”

Her heart clenched.

“That doesn’t justify anything.”

“I didn’t say it does.”

Silence filled the space between them again.

Then Roxanne looked up.

“…Why are you telling me this?”

Ethan held her gaze.

“Because you’re standing next to him again,” he said. “And you still don’t know the truth.”

A pause.

Then he added—

“And because if you don’t understand what happened back then… you’re going to repeat it.”

Roxanne swallowed.

Her emotions were all over the place now.

Confusion. Anger. Something else she didn’t want to name.

“…And where do you fit in all this?” she asked quietly.

Ethan smiled faintly.

But this time—

There was no humor in it.

“I was the one he misunderstood.”

That changed everything.

Roxanne’s eyes widened slightly.

“…You?”

Ethan nodded.

“That night?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

Silence.

Because suddenly—

Everything felt different.

Everything she thought she knew…

Didn’t feel so certain anymore.

And back at the office—

Adrian stood still.

Staring at nothing.

Thinking about something he had buried for a long time.

Because whether he liked it or not—

The past wasn’t done with them.

Chapter One – The Weakest Wolf
The air smelled of rain and resentment. It always did when Lyra Hale walked through the training grounds. The scent of fresh dirt mixed with sweat and dominance—everything that reminded her she didn’t belong here.
The other young wolves of Silverpine Pack sparred under the rising sun, their bodies rippling with power and speed. Every punch, every clawed strike, echoed with strength. Lyra stood at the edge of the circle, clutching her worn training gloves, pretending she didn’t hear the snickers.
“Careful, or the weakling might faint again,” Kira Moonfang called out, her voice sharp enough to slice through the cold morning air. The others laughed, some openly, some behind cupped hands.
Lyra ignored them. She’d learned that looking back only made it worse. She tightened the strap around her glove and stepped forward.
“Next!” called the instructor, a broad-shouldered Beta with a scar running down his cheek.
Lyra stepped into the center. Her heart pounded. Not from fear—at least, not anymore. From anger. From exhaustion.
Kira smirked as she stepped in front of her, her golden hair tied in a perfect braid that gleamed like a trophy. “Still trying, Hale?” she sneered. “Maybe today you’ll manage not to bleed before the first minute.”
“Maybe,” Lyra replied softly, meeting her eyes.
The whistle blew.
Kira lunged first, her movements fast, graceful, cruel. Lyra blocked the first strike—barely—but the second hit her square in the chest, knocking her backward. Pain spread through her ribs like fire. She coughed, tasting blood.
The crowd laughed again.
Lyra pushed herself up. Her knees trembled, but she didn’t fall. “Again,” she said, her voice shaking only slightly.
“Why bother?” Kira mocked, circling her. “You’ll never shift properly. You’re barely even one of us.”
Something in Lyra’s chest twisted. That same old ache—shame, anger, longing—rose inside her. But she swallowed it down.
She lunged.
It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t powerful. But it was hers. Her fist connected with Kira’s jaw, and for a heartbeat, the training ground went silent. Kira stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief.
Lyra froze.
Then the Beta barked, “Enough!”
The spell broke. Kira’s lips curled in fury as she wiped the blood from her mouth. “You’ll regret that, weakling.”
Lyra turned away before she could reply. Her hands shook as she untied her gloves. Her heart hammered with equal parts fear and pride.
At least once, she had made them look.

By the time she reached the woods behind her house, the sun was already climbing high. She followed the narrow path between the pine trees, her boots crunching over fallen needles. The scent of home—a mix of herbs, wet soil, and her mother’s garden—filled the air.
Her mother’s voice drifted from the small cabin ahead. “Lyra? You’re back early!”
“I had enough training for one day,” Lyra replied, forcing a small smile as she stepped inside.
Selene Hale looked up from the table, her hands stained with herbs. Her long black hair was streaked with silver, and her eyes—soft, tired, endlessly kind—studied Lyra’s face. “You’re bleeding again.”
“It’s nothing.” Lyra turned away quickly. “I just need a shower.”
Selene sighed. “They shouldn’t treat you like this. You’re stronger than they know.”
Lyra froze, her fingers tightening on the edge of the table. “Am I?” she whispered, not sure she wanted the answer.
Selene smiled sadly. “Someday, you’ll see. The moon reveals everything in time.”
Lyra nodded, pretending she believed it.

That night, the rain returned—soft and steady, like the sky was trying to wash away the day’s pain. Lyra sat by the window, watching the drops race down the glass. Tomorrow would be her eighteenth birthday.
In most packs, that meant celebration. It meant the first shift, the first connection with one’s wolf, and the chance to finally belong. But Lyra wasn’t sure she wanted to know what lived inside her.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She opened it to find her mother holding a tray. “Tea before bed,” Selene said warmly.
Lyra smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”
As she drank, a sudden drowsiness spread through her veins, thicker than usual. “You always make it too strong,” she murmured, half-laughing.
Selene’s smile faltered for the briefest second. “It’s for your nerves,” she said gently, brushing a strand of hair from Lyra’s forehead. “Sleep now, my heart.”
Lyra’s eyelids grew heavy. The world dimmed.

She didn’t know how long she slept before waking to the sound of whispers.
At first, she thought it was a dream—the soft murmur of her mother’s voice, hushed and trembling. But as her mind cleared, she realized the sound came from outside her room.
She rose quietly, padding to the doorway.
Her mother knelt before a small altar in the corner of the living room, candles flickering around her. The air smelled of herbs and iron.
“…please forgive me,” Selene whispered, voice breaking. “Forgive me for what I’ve done to her. I couldn’t let them find out. Not yet.”
Lyra’s blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about?” she whispered before she could stop herself.
Selene gasped, turning sharply. Her eyes widened in horror. “Lyra—”
“What do you mean ‘what you’ve done to me’?” Lyra’s voice trembled. “You’re hiding something.”
“Please, go back to bed.”
“No.” Lyra stepped closer, heart pounding. “All my life, I’ve been weak. All my life, I’ve been treated like I’m broken. Why?”
Tears welled in Selene’s eyes. “Because you’re not broken, Lyra. You’re dangerous.”
Lyra froze. “What?”
Selene’s hands shook as she reached for her. “There’s a power inside you. One that can’t be controlled. I—”
“You drugged me.” The words fell from Lyra’s lips before she fully understood them. “You’ve been giving me tea every night. That’s why I can’t shift. That’s why I—”
Selene’s silence was all the confirmation she needed.
Rage flooded her chest, hot and wild. “You lied to me! My whole life—”
“I did it to protect you!” Selene cried, stepping forward. “If they knew what you were—what you are—they’d kill you!”
Lyra stumbled back. Her vision blurred, the room spinning as a roar of pain filled her ears. “Stay away from me.”
“Lyra, please—”
But Lyra was already running.
Out the door. Into the rain.
The forest loomed ahead, dark and endless, branches clawing at her as she ran. The wind howled like a living thing. Her pulse beat like thunder.
She didn’t know where she was going—only that she couldn’t stay. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t bear the truth pressing against her chest.
The ground tilted beneath her feet. Pain shot up her spine. She fell to her knees, gasping as something inside her snapped.
The sound was not human.
Bones cracked. Skin burned. Her vision blurred into silver light.
Lyra screamed as her body twisted, bones reshaping, muscles tearing and rebuilding. The pain was unbearable—but beneath it, something ancient stirred.
Something alive.
And when her eyes opened again, she was no longer Lyra Hale, the weakest wolf of Silverpine.
She was something else entirely.
A creature of power. Of fury. Of blood and moonlight.
She smelled her mother before she saw her—Selene’s scent, sharp with fear and rain.
“Lyra!” her mother called, her voice echoing through the storm. “Please, my love, come back—”
Lyra turned, her new senses overwhelming her. The world glowed red. The scent of betrayal burned like fire.
And then—
The wolf took over.

By morning, the rain had stopped.
And in the clearing, where the moonlight faded, a girl lay naked and trembling beside her mother’s lifeless body.
Lyra’s hands were stained with blood.
Her scream tore through the dawn, raw and endless, as the truth hit her like lightning.
She had killed the only person who ever loved her.

And from the shadows of the trees, unseen eyes watched her—cold, golden, and waiting.

Title:
The Alpha’s Cursed Daughter

Blurb:
She was born the weakest wolf in her pack — mocked, bullied, and pitied. No one knew that her weakness wasn’t natural.
On her eighteenth birthday, Lyra discovers the truth: her mother has been drugging her since birth, suppressing the terrifying power inside her veins. That same night, her first transformation turns into a nightmare — a blood-soaked tragedy that ends with her mother’s death.
Banished by the Alpha, Lyra flees into the wild with only a strange necklace — her mother’s dying gift and the only clue to the father she has never met. But when the moon calls her name, a forgotten prophecy awakens.
Her bloodline hides an ancient secret. Her father is not a wolf at all. And the beast inside her is far more powerful than anyone can imagine.
Now, every pack wants her blood. Every Alpha wants her power. And one dangerous man — the son of her father’s greatest enemy — might be the only one who can help her survive her curse.

Hey my loves ❤️✨

I’ve been seeing your messages, and honestly… thank you so much for caring about my stories this much. It means more to me than I can ever put into words 🥺💕

I’m really sorry if it feels like I’ve not been posting daily or focusing on one story. The truth is, I’ve been super busy lately, writing for another platform (it’s actually in Spanish 😅), and it’s been taking a lot of my time and energy.

But please don’t think I’ve forgotten you or any of my stories here—never 🤍 You all are the reason I even started this journey. I’ll still be updating the English versions on my page, just not as often as before.

Please be patient with me, I’m trying my best to balance everything 🙏🏽💖
I love and appreciate you all so much for staying with me 🫶✨

Chapter 18: The Line You’re Not Supposed to Cross
Roxanne didn’t leave immediately.

The moment the message from Ethan appeared on her screen, everything inside her went quiet.

Not calm.

Not peaceful.

Just… still.

She stared at the location.

Then at Adrian.

Then back at the phone.

“…I’m going to meet him.”

The words came out before she could rethink them.

And once they did—

There was no taking them back.

Adrian didn’t react at first.

Not visibly.

But Roxanne saw it.

The subtle tightening of his jaw.

The slight shift in his posture.

The stillness that followed.

“You’re not,” he said finally.

Roxanne exhaled slowly.

“I didn’t ask for permission.”

Adrian’s eyes hardened.

“And I’m not giving it.”

She almost laughed again.

Almost.

But this time, it didn’t come out as humor.

It came out as disbelief.

“You hear yourself right now?” she asked. “You’re literally trying to stop me from seeing someone.”

“You know why.”

“No,” she shook her head. “I don’t. Because you haven’t actually told me anything real.”

Adrian stepped closer.

Not rushed.

Not aggressive.

Just… certain.

“What do you want me to say?” he asked.

“The truth,” Roxanne replied immediately.

Silence.

That word again.

Truth.

It seemed simple.

But between them—

It never was.

Adrian studied her face.

For a moment, something in his expression softened.

Just slightly.

“…If you go,” he said quietly, “you won’t like what you find.”

Roxanne didn’t look away.

“Then let me decide that.”

A pause.

“You’re stubborn.”

She gave a faint nod.

“Comes with being told what to do too many times.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly at that.

But he didn’t respond to the jab.

Instead—

He asked something unexpected.

“Why him?”

Roxanne blinked.

“…What?”

“Out of everyone,” he continued. “Why is he still in your life?”

The question caught her off guard.

Not because it was difficult.

But because it was personal.

Too personal.

She hesitated.

Just for a second.

“…History,” she said.

Adrian didn’t move.

“Explain.”

Roxanne crossed her arms, shifting her weight slightly.

“Ethan and I go way back,” she said. “Before all of this. Before your company. Before… everything.”

“And?”

“And people don’t just erase history because someone else doesn’t like it.”

Adrian’s gaze didn’t waver.

“I’m not someone else.”

That landed quietly.

Roxanne looked at him.

Really looked.

“No,” she said softly. “You’re not.”

Silence again.

For a brief moment, the argument paused.

Not resolved.

Just… suspended.

Then Roxanne reached for her bag.

Adrian’s voice stopped her.

“If you walk out that door,” he said, “don’t expect things to stay the same.”

She paused.

Hand still on the strap.

“That sounds like a threat.”

“It’s a reality.”

She turned to face him fully.

“What exactly does that mean?”

Adrian held her gaze.

“You’re working for me.”

Roxanne raised a brow.

“I am aware.”

“And this—” he gestured slightly between them, “—affects more than you think.”

She let out a small breath.

“You keep saying things like that, but you never explain them.”

“Because explanations change nothing.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is.”

Roxanne shook her head slowly.

“…You’re impossible.”

A faint pause.

Then—

“Only when necessary.”

Despite everything, that almost pulled a reaction from her.

Almost.

But she held it in.

Because this wasn’t the moment to soften.

Not when she still didn’t have answers.

“I’m going,” she said again.

Adrian didn’t stop her physically.

He didn’t reach out.

Didn’t block her path.

But his voice followed her.

Low.

Controlled.

“Be careful.”

Roxanne paused at the door.

Hand on the handle.

“…I always am,” she said quietly.

Then she left.

Outside the Office
The air felt different the moment she stepped out.

Lighter.

But also… uncertain.

Roxanne adjusted the strap of her bag as she walked down the hallway.

Her mind wasn’t settled.

It kept circling back.

Adrian’s words.

His tone.

The way he said Ethan’s name.

There was something there.

Something he wasn’t saying.

And that bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

She stepped into the elevator.

Pressed the ground floor.

As the doors closed, her reflection stared back at her.

Calm on the surface.

But underneath?

A storm.

Her phone buzzed again.

Another message from Ethan.

“Still coming?”

Roxanne stared at it.

Then typed:

“Yes.”

No hesitation this time.

Because whatever this was—

She needed answers too.

The Meeting Spot
The location Ethan sent wasn’t unfamiliar.

A quiet café.

Not too crowded.

Not too empty.

Just enough people to make it feel normal.

Roxanne arrived a few minutes early.

She chose a seat near the window.

Gave herself a clear view of the entrance.

Habit.

Instinct.

She sat down, placing her bag beside her.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the table.

Not nervous.

Not exactly.

Just… aware.

Ten minutes passed.

Then Ethan walked in.

He looked the same.

Casual.

Confident.

Familiar.

His eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on her.

A small smile formed.

“Roxanne.”

She didn’t smile back immediately.

“Ethan.”

He sat across from her without hesitation.

Leaning back slightly in his chair.

Relaxed.

“You actually came,” he said.

“I said I would.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d follow through.”

Roxanne tilted her head slightly.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Ethan’s smile widened just a bit.

“Because of him.”

There it was.

Roxanne folded her hands on the table.

“I’m here because you asked to talk. Not because of anyone else.”

“Interesting,” Ethan said.

“Is it?”

“It is,” he replied. “Because from where I’m standing… it looks like he’s been keeping you busy.”

Roxanne’s expression remained steady.

“What do you want, Ethan?”

He leaned forward slightly.

The tone of the conversation shifted.

Subtle.

But noticeable.

“I want to make sure you’re okay,” he said.

Roxanne’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you?” he asked.

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then Ethan’s voice lowered slightly.

“…And are you free?”

That question hung in the air.

Roxanne didn’t answer immediately.

Because that was the real question.

Not what she wanted.

Not what she said.

But what she actually was.

“Why are you really here?” she asked instead.

Ethan studied her.

Then smiled again.

But this time—

It wasn’t quite the same.

“Because things are about to change,” he said.

Roxanne’s pulse slowed.

Just slightly.

“…What things?”

Ethan leaned back.

His gaze steady.

“Everything.”

And somewhere, across the city—

Adrian was already making a call.

Chapter 17: You’re Not Telling Me Everything
Roxanne didn’t move.

“…From him?” she repeated.

Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly.

“Yes.”

She searched his face.

Really searched this time.

“Why?”

A pause.

Too long.

“Because I said so,” he replied.

Roxanne blinked.

Then let out a soft, disbelieving laugh.

“Wow.”

She shook her head slowly.

“No. We’re not doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“This,” she said, stepping closer. “You giving half-answers like I’m just supposed to accept it.”

Adrian’s gaze didn’t waver.

“You don’t need to know everything.”

Her chest tightened.

“And you don’t get to decide that.”

Silence.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The tension between them wasn’t loud anymore.

It was quiet.

Controlled.

But heavier.

“You really think I’d let something happen to you?” Adrian said finally.

Roxanne frowned.

“That’s not the point.”

“It is.”

“No, it’s not,” she shook her head. “The point is—you’re asking me to trust you… while you’re hiding things from me.”

That landed.

Adrian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.

For once, he didn’t look completely in control.

“He’s not who you think he is,” he said.

Roxanne’s brows furrowed.

“And who do you think I think he is?”

“A friend,” Adrian replied. “Someone harmless.”

“…He is.”

Adrian looked at her.

Long.

Careful.

“Was,” he corrected.

That word changed everything.

Roxanne felt it.

That small shift in her chest.

“…What does that mean?”

Adrian hesitated.

Again.

And that was enough to frustrate her.

“You see?” she said. “This is exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I’m trying to keep things simple.”

“Well, it’s not simple!” she snapped. “You don’t just say things like that and expect me not to ask questions.”

A pause.

Then—

“Stay away from him,” Adrian said again.

Roxanne stared at him.

“No.”

The answer came quicker this time.

Stronger.

Adrian’s eyes darkened slightly.

“You’re not even going to think about it?”

“I am thinking,” she replied. “And I’m choosing not to listen.”

Silence.

Then she added, quieter—

“If there’s something I need to know… then tell me.”

That was it.

The opening.

Adrian looked at her.

Like he was weighing something.

Like he was deciding how far to go.

“…He wasn’t good to you,” he said finally.

Roxanne blinked.

“What?”

“When you weren’t with me,” Adrian continued, his voice lower now, “he was around.”

Her heart skipped.

“And?” she asked.

“And I didn’t trust it.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s enough.”

“No, it’s not,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re saying things without actually saying anything.”

Adrian stepped closer.

Not aggressively.

But enough to hold her attention.

“He wants something,” he said.

Roxanne frowned.

“Everyone wants something.”

“Not like this.”

A pause.

Then—

“What if I want to hear it from him?” she asked.

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“You won’t.”

“And why not?”

“Because you’re not going.”

Roxanne held his gaze.

“…I might.”

That was it.

The air shifted again.

Adrian didn’t raise his voice.

Didn’t move suddenly.

But the tension?

Sharp.

Immediate.

“Don’t test me,” he said quietly.

Roxanne’s heart raced.

But she didn’t back down.

“Then don’t try to control me.”

Silence.

Long.

Heavy.

Then—

Her phone buzzed again.

A message this time.

She glanced down.

A location.

From Ethan.

Roxanne looked back up.

Straight at Adrian.

“…I’m going to meet him.”

The words hung in the air.

And just like that—

Everything changed.