THE LIE I CALLED LOVE

ICE, MEET FIRE

Cassian

Ariella’s getting too close.

Too curious. Too smart.

And the more she learns, the more dangerous this game becomes.

Vivienne showing up tonight? That wasn’t an accident.

That was a warning.

She knows about Merivale. About the money. About me.

And she wants Ariella to dig until she bleeds.

We arrive home in silence.

She heads to the guest room. Slams the door.

But I follow her.

Because this time, I’m done pretending.

“You want the truth?” I say, voice low. “Fine. I’ll give it to you. But once you hear it, you don’t get to look at me the same. You don’t get to pretend we’re just playing house.”

She turns. Eyes blazing. “Then stop pretending and tell me what you’re hiding.”

A beat.

Then I say it.

“Vivienne was my business partner. And the man who ran the Merivale foundation? He was her brother.”

Ariella’s breath catches.

“She used him to launder money through my company. I found out too late. And when I cut them off... he jumped.”

Silence.

“I didn’t kill him, Ariella. But I was his last call. And I didn’t pick up.”

Tears burn her eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“Because the truth doesn’t set you free,” I whisper. “It just puts a target on your back.”

She steps closer.

And for the first time, I see something in her eyes that isn’t anger.

It’s understanding.

And that scares me more than anything.

Because if she sees the real me—

She might never walk away.