TWO RINGS, ONE LIE

CHAPTER ONE THE IDEA Cassian vale's penthouse overlooked the entire city. Glass walls. Marble floors. Expensive silence. Everything about Cassian's life looked perfect. Which was exactly the problem. The sound of Camille’s heels echoed across the dining room as she adjusted the sleeves of her white blazer in the mirror near the hallway. “You’re late.” Cassian loosened his tie while walking in. “The meeting ran over.” “You said that yesterday too.” Her voice wasn’t angry. Camille never raised her voice. That somehow made everything worse. Cassian placed his keys on the counter and exhaled quietly. “I texted you.” “Yes,” she replied calmly. “At 9:47. Dinner reservations were for 8:30.” A pause. “I thought i would be able to make it but my meeting ran late” The city lights reflected behind her like diamonds, but Cassian barely looked at her anymore. Not because she wasn’t beautiful. Because looking at her felt exhausting now. Camille finally turned toward him fully. Elegant. Controlled. Untouchable. “You missed dinner with my father three times this month,” she said softly. “Camille—” “No, it’s alright.” She smiled politely. “I’m getting very good at explaining your absence.” Cassian rubbed his jaw in frustration. “That’s not fair.” Her expression barely changed. “What exactly isn’t fair, Cassian ?” The silence between them stretched. Once upon a time, they used to fill silence with laughter. Now it only exposed how empty things had become. Camille walked toward the dining table and picked up the untouched gift bag sitting on one of the chairs. “You forgot our anniversary.” Cassian froze. Damn. Not because he didn’t care. But because lately every day blurred into another exhausting performance. “I ordered something. wasn't it delivered?,” he said quickly. Her calmness cut deeper than yelling ever could. Camille looked down at the gift bag one she had gotten for him but what did he get for her? Nothing . speaking again. “You know what the embarrassing part is?” Cassian swallowed. “I sat in that restaurant alone for forty minutes pretending my husband still loved me.” That hit harder than he expected. Because part of him still did love her. He just didn’t know how to reach her anymore. Or maybe he stopped trying. Camille placed the gift bag back down carefully. “No matter how perfect we look in public,” she said quietly, “I can feel you disappearing from this marriage.” Cassian stared at her. For a second, she almost looked vulnerable. Then the moment vanished. She straightened her posture again. "Camille I...." “We should leave soon,” she said interrupting him. “Your mother will complain if we’re late to the reunion.” Just like that. Conversation over. Argument buried. Feelings hidden again. Camille walked past him toward the bedroom without another word. Cassian stood alone in the middle of the penthouse, staring at the untouched anniversary gift. A watch. Ironically engraved with: Forever. He laughed bitterly to himself. Then he grabbed his whiskey. --- Across the city, another marriage was falling apart much louder. “You’re unbelievable!” Olivia voice rang through the apartment while Killian searched for his car keys beneath a pile of unopened mail and files. “I said I’m sorry!” “You always say sorry!” “Well what else do you want me to say?” “The truth!” Killian finally found the keys and held them up triumphantly before Olivia snatched them from his hand immediately. “Seriously?” he groaned. She looked beautiful when angry. Unfortunately for him, Olivia was angry often. Her curls were messy from pacing around the kitchen, and one of Killian’s shirts hung oversized on her body. The sight used to make him smile. Used to. “You promised you'd buy the Birkin Bag" “I will.” “You said that last week!” Killian ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I had a bad month.” “You’ve had a bad year. you're just too broke to even afford anything!” The apartment fell silent. That one landed. Olivia instantly regretted it. “Wow,” he muttered quietly. “That’s not what I meant.” “No, it’s exactly what you meant.” He moved toward the door, but Olivia stepped in front of him. “killian —” “I’m going to the reunion.” “You can’t just leave in the middle of a conversation.” “Watch me.” “You never take anything seriously. You always run away when things get serious !” Killian laughed bitterly. “And you turn everything into a war!” Olivia crossed her arms tightly. “At least I still fight for this marriage what do you do apart from lying around all day and partying at night with your good for nothing friends.” That made him pause. Because underneath the anger… she was right. Olivia still fought for them. Killian was just tired. Tired of disappointing her. Tired of feeling like every version of himself was never enough. He looked at her for a long moment before speaking more softly. “You know what scares me?” he admitted. Olivia’s expression shifted slightly. “One day,” Killian said quietly, “you’re going to wake up and realize you're fighting for what's already gone"! The anger in her eyes faded for a second. But vulnerability terrified both of them. So Olivia looked away first. “You’re going to make us late,” she muttered. Killian nodded slowly. Another unresolved argument. Another wound covered instead of healed. As Olivia disappeared into the bedroom to finish packing, Killian leaned against the kitchen counter and closed his eyes. For the first time in months, he didn’t want to go home. Unfortunately, the reunion was exactly where home would be waiting for him. And neither brother knew that before the weekend ended…. They would both be tempted to steal each other’s lives. Rain crashed against the glass walls of the Vale family cabin while laughter echoed downstairs. The annual reunion was almost over, yet Cassian vale stood alone on the balcony, fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey he hadn’t touched in nearly twenty minutes. Below him, the lake was black and endless. “You disappear at every family event.” Cassian didn’t turn around. He already recognized the voice. His twin brother. Killian stepped beside him, loosening the collar of his expensive black shirt. Unlike Cassian, he looked alive in chaos — messy hair, crooked smile, restless eyes. “You look miserable,” Cassian said. “And you look drunk.” “I am drunk.” A brief silence stretched between them. Downstairs, their wives laughed at something their mother said. Cassian's jaw tightened instantly. Killian noticed. “That bad?” Cassian exhaled slowly. “Camille scheduled intimacy last week.” Killian blinked. “You’re joking.” “I wish I was.” A laugh escaped Killian before he shook his head bitterly. “At least your wife still touches you. Olivia doesn't even share a room with me anymore " “You probably deserve it.” “I absolutely deserve it.” That made cassian smirk for the first time all night. The brothers leaned against the railing, staring into the storm. For a moment, they looked exactly alike. But they weren’t. Cassian carried his pain quietly. Killian burned with his. “You ever think we ruined our lives?” Killian asked suddenly. Cassian stayed silent too long. Killian turned slowly toward him. “Oh, wow,” he muttered. “You actually do.” Another flash of lightning cut across the sky. Then Killian laughed softly to himself. “What?” "I remembered our childhood when we were carefree and without worries"! Cassian smirked then took another sip “ Remember when we were twelve and switched classes for an entire week?” Cassian groaned instantly. “You mean when you failed my math test on purpose?” “I improved your social life.” “You got me suspended.” Killian smirked. “Mom still couldn’t tell us apart.” Cassian shook his head, but a real smile almost appeared this time. Back then, switching places had been a game. One they were disturbingly good at. Then Killian looked at him again. “What if we did it again?” Cassian frowned slightly. “What?” “Trade lives for a week.” Cassian frowned. “If we traded lives for a week,” Killian said, “nobody would notice.” Cassian stared at him. “That’s not funny.” “I’m serious.” “Have you lost your mind?, what would that even change?.” "Think about it Camille wants you to create time for her, she wants you to be affectionate and sweet, I can do that. And Olivia wants a trophy husband someone she can brag to her friends about someone who can afford her luxurious lifestyle. someone who is serious about work you can do that" You think they won't notice? Cassian asked "you've definitely gone mad" “Have I?” Killian stepped closer. “Same face. Same voice. Same height. We know each other better than anyone.” Cassian looked away toward the rain again. Dangerous idea. Dangerous because some part of him wanted it. “You hate your marriage,” Killian continued quietly. “I hate mine.” “That doesn’t mean we destroy them.” Killian’s expression darkened. “Maybe they’re already destroyed.” Silence. Heavy. Suffocating silence. Then Cassian asked the question he shouldn’t have. “How long?” Killian smiled slowly. “One week.” Lightning flashed again. And somewhere downstairs, their wives were still laughing… completely unaware their husbands were already planning to become each other.