Chapter 23: Unmasked Secrets
741 Words
Allie crossed her arms, her voice icy. “I told you this was a bad idea. We can’t get in.”
Cher’s lips twisted in frustration. She wasn’t about to let things end here. Her forged invitation had been exposed too easily, and she wasn’t ready to walk away defeated.
“I’m not leaving,” Cher hissed. “I came to see Liam Hart, and I will see him.”
“If we can’t get in through the front door, we’ll find another way. Follow me,” she added through gritted teeth.
Allie didn’t budge. “This was your plan. You figure it out.”
Cher spun around, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t play games with me, Allie. You want that photo back, don’t you?”
Allie’s jaw tightened, but she relented, following reluctantly. For now, Cher held the upper hand—but not for long.
Raising a brow, Allie asked, “And how exactly do you plan to get past security now? Flash your fake invite again?”
Cher smirked and pointed to a massive oak tree near the wall. “We climb.”
Allie stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’re insane. There’s surveillance everywhere. We’ll get caught.”
Cher’s grin widened. “Not there. I checked—it’s a blind spot. Besides,” she added with a mischievous glint in her eye, “you’re the athletic one. You’ll go first.”
“You’re pregnant, Cher. Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?”
Cher’s expression hardened. “If anything happens to me or this baby, Nick will never forgive you. Do you really want that on your conscience?”
Allie groaned, muttering under her breath, “You’re unbelievable.”
Before she could argue further, Cher had already started climbing. Her determination left Allie with no choice. If Cher got hurt, it would somehow still be Allie’s fault.
With practiced ease, Allie scaled the tree and helped Cher up after her. They reached the top of the wall, and Allie dropped down first.
As her feet hit the ground, a low growl froze her in place.
“Cher, wait—” Allie started, but it was too late.
A golden retriever lunged at her. She stumbled back, bracing for teeth, but was met with a slobbering tongue instead.
“Oh, come on!” Allie grumbled, struggling under the weight of the overly enthusiastic dog.
Cher, still perched awkwardly on the wall, watched wide-eyed. The commotion quickly drew attention. Security guards
swarmed the area, shouting commands.
“Get down, Cher!” Allie yelled, but the guards had already closed in.
“You two!” one barked. “Stay where you are!”
Allie sighed, glaring at Cher as the guards surrounded them. “Great plan, Cher. Really brilliant.”
Moments later, the butler arrived, looking both bemused and annoyed. Before anyone could speak, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
“Allie?”
She turned to see Adam Sinclair stepping forward. He looked different—sleek suit, perfectly styled hair. His usual air of
aloofness was replaced with something commanding, almost regal.
“Adam?” Allie whispered, confused.
The butler bowed slightly. “Master Hart, we didn’t realize these two were with you.”
Master Hart?
Allie’s heart sank as realization hit her like a punch to the gut.
Liam wasn’t just some mysterious figure from campus. He was the Adam Hart—heir to the powerful Hart family and part of one of the city’s most influential dynasties. The alias “Adam Sinclair” was just a cover. His real name was Adam Hart, and he’d been hiding his identity. But why?
According to media reports, Robert Hart had one son and one daughter. His son, the older and highly successful Liam Hart, and his daughter, Elizabeth Hart, were public figures. Elizabeth, 17 years older than Liam, had only one son—but he’d never been exposed to the media. Rumors claimed he’d been studying abroad.
Allie glanced at Cher, whose usual bravado was nowhere to be found.
Adam’s gaze shifted to Allie, his expression unreadable. “What are you doing here?”
Before she could respond, the dog barked again, and Adam’s lips twitched with the faintest of smirks.
“We need to talk,” Adam said, his voice low but firm.
Allie swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure what scared her more—what he’d say next, or the secrets she now knew he’d been keeping.
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