Secrets of a Hidden Marriage

Chapter 13: The Price of Secrets

Allie had never been one for turtleneck shirts. It simply wasn’t her style. But as she turned to put away her clothes, her stepsister, Vivian, noticed a faint, telltale mark on Allie’s neck.

Without warning, Vivian reached out, yanking down the collar of Allie’s blouse. “Allie,” she sneered, her eyes lighting up with malice, “who would’ve thought you’d be messing around with someone else? First, you break up with Nick, and now you’ve got another guy’s mark on you?”

Allie’s jaw tightened, but she kept silent, knowing any reaction would fuel Vivian’s smugness.

Vivian folded her arms, voice dripping with contempt. “No wonder Nick dumped you. Did you cheat on him? Give him a reason to walk away?” Her voice dropped to a hiss. “If you don’t hand over that invitation and tell Dad you’re backing out of the Hart family party, I’ll make sure everyone finds out—Dad, Nick, even the Harts.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Allie handed over the invitation, more out of exhaustion than fear. The last thing she wanted was to hear Nick’s name again.

With the invitation in hand, Vivian sauntered away, clearly relishing her small victory.

The next morning, Allie woke early, packed her bags, and left for campus without bothering to stop for breakfast. She was determined to put the drama at home behind her, even if just for a while.

A junior studying journalism, Allie had her fair share of challenges. No sooner had she set foot on campus than a message from her roommate, Chloe, popped up on her phone. Chloe was stuck in the biology lab, cornered by a group of notorious campus bullies.

Allie’s heart dropped as she read the text. She threw her bag down by the side of the road and dashed toward the lab, urgency fueling her every step.

The reason for her rush was clear: Chloe was in serious trouble. Allie knew all too well how this group operated. She’d written an article about them before—five wealthy, influential girls notorious for their cruelty. They’d formed a group on campus called the “Ice Queens,” and they had one shared obsession: Adam Reynolds.

Adam, a third-year medical student with striking looks and top grades, was a campus heartthrob. But he was also aloof, earning him the nickname “Prince of Ice.” His standoffish personality only made him more popular, and his fans had even formed a fan club they called “The Frost Circle.” The five leaders of this club, daughters of prominent families, saw themselves as his personal gatekeepers and took it upon themselves to police who could approach him.

Over time, they developed a reputation for bullying any girl who dared show interest in Adam. Any girl who so much as handed him a love letter, gave him a gift, or even exchanged a few words with him became a target.

Allie remembered one girl in particular, a shy freshman who’d handed Adam a letter. The five “Ice Queens” had humiliated her by forcing her to undress and taking photos of her to post online, driving her to the edge of despair.

Allie’s article had exposed their actions, but the punishments they received were laughable—just a slap on the wrist.

The leader of the group, Felicity, was the mayor’s daughter, and the rest came from equally influential families. Under pressure from these families, the school administration chose to turn a blind eye to their actions, allowing their reign of terror to continue unchecked.

As Allie ran, she only hoped she could reach Chloe in time.