"You are not Aria."
The words landed softly, but they shattered everything.
Ava couldn't speak. Couldn't even pretend to deny it. Her mouth opened, then closed again, the lie dissolving before it could form.
Matthias watched her for a second longer than necessary.
Then he smirked.
And without another word, he turned and walked away.
The moment he was gone, the air rushed back into Ava's lungs.
Her hands shook as she reached for her phone.
Aria.
Now.
Her fingers flew across the screen, words blurring as her pulse thundered in her ears.
Ava:
He knows.
Matthias knows.
He just said I'm not you.
The reply came almost instantly.
Aria:
What did he do?
Ava swallowed, glancing down the hallway where Matthias had disappeared.
Ava:
He smirked.
Then walked away.
Three dots appeared. Vanished. Appeared again.
Aria:
Okay. Breathe.
Don't confront him.
Ava pressed her back against the cool wall, forcing her breaths to slow.
Ava:
What if he tells someone?
This time, Aria took longer.
Aria:
He won't. Not yet.
If he was going to expose you, he wouldn't have walked away.
Ava closed her eyes, heart pounding.
Aria:
Watch him. Closely.
Everything he says. Everything he does.
He just became the most dangerous person in that house.
Ava lifted her head slowly, fear settling into something sharper.
Focus.
If Matthias was watching her—
Then she had to start watching him back.
Ava pushed off the wall and moved.
Slowly. Carefully.
The hallway felt too long, too quiet, the soft glow of chandelier lights stretching shadows along the marble floor. She followed instinct more than logic, her pulse guiding her feet.
The glass doors at the back of the house were slightly open.
Cold air brushed her skin.
Outside, the estate grounds spread wide and immaculately kept—stone paths, trimmed hedges, fountains glowing under warm lights. And there he was.
Matthias leaned against the balcony railing, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other resting lazily on the stone. He looked completely at ease, like he belonged there more than anyone else.
Ava paused just inside the doorway, half-hidden by the curtain.
She should leave.
She didn't.
She shifted her weight, barely a sound—
"Keeping me in check, isn't it?"
Her breath hitched.
He hadn't turned around.
Slowly, Matthias glanced over his shoulder, eyes locking onto hers with unsettling precision.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
She had never been hiding at all.
Ava stepped out from behind the curtain.
The cool night air hit her fully now, sharp against her skin, but she forced her feet forward anyway. Each step felt like a mistake she was choosing to make.
She stopped a few feet from him.
"How sure were you?" she asked, the words leaving her mouth before she could rethink them. "That I wasn't Aria."
Matthias turned properly this time, pushing off the railing with unhurried ease. The lights from the house caught his face, sharp lines softened only by the faint curve of that same knowing smile.
"Very," he said simply.
Ava's fingers curled at her sides. "That's not an answer."
"It is," he replied. His gaze swept over her—slow, assessing, unsettling. "Just not one you're ready for."
Her stomach twisted. Aria's voice echoed in her head Don't confront him. Watch him.
Too late now.
"You barely know her," Ava pressed, a note of defiance slipping into her tone. "We're not exactly close."
Matthias hummed softly, almost amused. "Exactly."
She frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He stepped closer. Not enough to trap her—just enough to make the space between them feel intentional.
"Aria is careful," he said. "Measured. She thinks before she speaks." His eyes met hers again, sharp and unreadable. "You don't."
Ava's chest tightened.
"And before you deny it," he added calmly, "she would've walked away when I said what I did."
Silence fell between them, thick and heavy.
Ava swallowed. "So that's it? That's your proof?"
His lips curved slightly. "No. That's just the part I'm letting you hear."
Her heart started to pound.
She had broken the first rule.
And Matthias knew it.
Ava's thoughts were still spinning when footsteps sounded behind her.
"Dinner's in an hour," Mrs Harrison's voice called softly as she appeared at the doorway, eyes twinkling. "We'll be leaving for Crescent Hill soon."
Ava turned quickly, trying to smooth her expression. Matthias straightened, giving a small nod in greeting.
Mrs Harrison's gaze swept over them, catching the faint tension between them. A soft smile played on her lips. "You two look like you're getting along," she said lightly, stepping closer, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of defiance and secrets.
Ava forced a smile back, fingers tightening around her clutch. "Yes… of course," she replied, her voice calm but her heart racing.
Matthias said nothing, only watched her with that same unreadable expression, as if daring her to admit more than she should.
Mrs Harrison lingered for a moment, then gave a gentle nod. "Well, get ready. I'll give you both five minutes before we leave."
As she walked away, Ava's chest tightened. Five minutes. Five minutes to compose herself before stepping into a room full of expectations, families, and with the one person who now knew she wasn't Aria.
After Mrs. Harrison left, Ava followed suit, stepping out of the room with a careful, neutral expression. She refused to speak to Matthias, keeping her distance as they prepared to leave.
Outside, the families gathered, entering their respective cars. Ava slid into the car assigned to her and Matthias, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat. She kept her gaze fixed on the passing scenery, avoiding his eyes as the engine hummed to life. The ride that was supposed to be simple suddenly felt impossibly tense, every quiet second stretching longer than it should.
"So you aren't even going to look at me?" Matthias asked, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge.
Ava's stomach tightened. She kept her eyes on the window, forcing her gaze to the passing city streets. "I… I don't see why I should," she replied, trying to sound casual, though her voice betrayed a flicker of nervousness.
Matthias let out a small, amused chuckle. "Interesting approach," he said, leaning back slightly in his seat, his sharp eyes still subtly tracking her movements.
Ava swallowed, fighting the urge to glance at him. Her mind raced — every word, every gesture felt like walking a tightrope. She tried to think of Aria's instructions, of how not to give anything away… but it was harder than she imagined.
Ava finally let her fingers tap nervously against the edge of the seat, pretending to admire the city lights outside. "Well, you know… staring contests aren't really my thing," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, though her voice came out a little higher than intended.
Matthias raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Is that so?" His voice was even, controlled, but Ava could feel the weight of his gaze pressing into her like sunlight on a mirror — warm, sharp, impossible to ignore.
She rolled her eyes subtly, hoping he wouldn't notice. "Yeah. Way too competitive for me. I usually let people win." Her heart skipped a beat. Did that sound too flippant? Too bold? She couldn't tell.
He leaned closer, just slightly, enough that the scent of him — clean, faintly sharp — reached her. "And yet…" His smirk widened, teasing, "I have a feeling you're the type who doesn't let people win anything."
Ava laughed nervously, a sound that was half amusement, half panic. "Oh, you have no idea," she said, letting her words trail off as her eyes darted back to the window. She needed to act casual, like she wasn't completely melting under his stare, but every instinct screamed otherwise.
The car moved through the streets in a rhythm that made every moment feel elongated. Silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the hum of the tires on the asphalt. And yet, that silence was loaded — every unspoken thought, every glance, felt amplified.
Ava tried texting Aria discreetly under the seat. He's… weirdly intense. Don't know how long I can last like this.
Aria's reply was instant: Keep calm. Observe. Don't say anything that might slip. Just… survive this ride.
Ava exhaled slowly, letting her shoulders relax just a fraction. Survive. That was the perfect word. That was all this was — survival.
But as Matthias's eyes flicked toward her again, sharp and knowing, she felt the tiniest flicker of doubt: could she really survive this without him seeing something she shouldn't?
The car rolled to a stop at the grand entrance of Crescent Hill. Ava's heart hammered as she took a deep breath, the evening breeze carrying the subtle scent of roses and freshly cut grass from the manicured gardens. She straightened instinctively, tugging lightly at the soft fabric of her dress — a flowing, white chiffon gown that hugged her waist and flared delicately at her knees. Tiny pearl beads glimmered along the neckline, catching the light from the elegant lanterns that lined the driveway. Her hair was pinned loosely to frame her face, and a few curls danced with the wind, brushing her collarbone.
Matthias hadn't looked at her again after their last conversation. His sharp, angular features were set in his usual unreadable expression.
Ava on the other hand, forced a calm, polished smile, though inside, every nerve felt frayed. Act like Aria. Be poised. Keep it together.
The chauffeur opened the door, and they stepped onto the stone pathway. The soft click of her heels on the marble-like tiles echoed in the courtyard. Staff and family members were already gathered, all impeccably dressed, eyes flicking toward the couple as whispers rippled through the crowd. The flash of cameras stung her eyes, and she felt herself stiffen, adjusting her posture.
And then came the announcement:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome… the engaged couple!"
Ava froze mid-step, feeling the weight of every gaze on her. Her fingers clenched slightly at the folds of her dress, the pearl beads cool beneath her touch. She glanced at Matthias, who remained silent, his gaze sharp and calculating.
Finally, he leaned slightly closer, his voice low and private, just enough for her to hear over the applause and murmurs:
"You look pretty tonight" he said, the smirk tugging at the corner
Ava's stomach dropped. She opened her mouth, but no words came. Her free-spirited, American-style bravado faltered under the mockery in his voice.
Matthias's eyes lingered on her, sharp and unreadable, before he added, almost casually:
"Let's go, fake Aria."
Ava's chest tightened. Every carefully rehearsed step, every piece of advice Aria had texted her, seemed suddenly insufficient. Her mind raced. Fake Aria? Keep it together. Don't give yourself away. Don't panic.
The applause swelled around them as the crowd clapped, unaware of the tension crackling between the two. Ava forced herself to breathe, smoothing her dress, and straightening her spine. The white fabric felt impossibly light and heavy all at once — a symbol of elegance, expectation, and the precarious mask she had to wear.
With Matthias's hand hovering near hers — not touching, but close enough to remind her of the precarious game they were playing — Ava followed him forward, each step echoing like a countdown.
The night was beautiful, elegant, perfect — and yet every second felt like walking on a tightrope above a chasm.