The first rays of dawn seeped through the thick curtains of Ella's dorm room, but sleep had abandoned her hours ago. Her mind churned with the events of last night the stolen moments at the fountain, Liam's touch, and Nathaniel's smirk as he reached for something in his coat.
Every rational part of her screamed at her to ignore it, to pretend nothing happened. But she couldn't. The thrill of forbidden love had been replaced by the sharp edge of fear. Someone knew.
She sat on her bed, knees pulled up to her chest, staring at the old note Liam had left her the previous night. "Tomorrow, we'll have to act normal. But tonight… just tonight."
Her heart sank. Acting normal seemed impossible now.
Ashford Academy's halls were unusually quiet that morning. Students moved briskly between classes, whispering to one another in low voices, throwing fleeting glances at Liam and Ella. Rumors had already started to ripple through the school, subtle hints of attention between the two cousins that didn't go unnoticed.
Ella felt the weight of their eyes. Every step she took toward the cafeteria felt like walking a tightrope. And then she saw him. Nathaniel Drake leaning casually against a column, his gaze fixed on her. That predatory smirk made her stomach twist.
"Relax," Olivia whispered as she slid into the seat beside Ella. "It's not like you've done anything wrong. Yet."
Ella didn't answer. She couldn't. Nathaniel's presence made her pulse race, and the secret they were trying to protect suddenly felt as fragile as glass.
Classes passed in a blur, punctuated by stolen glances between Liam and Ella. Each glance carried a weight, a silent understanding of what had happened at the fountain and what was at stake now.
During study period, Ella found herself in the library, flipping through pages without reading a word. The sound of footsteps behind her made her flinch. She turned and there was Liam, silently placing a notebook beside her.
"Notes from last week," he murmured, eyes scanning the library to make sure no one was watching.
Ella's fingers brushed his as she reached for the notebook. A spark ignited, just like the night before, and she felt herself trembling.
"I can't believe you're doing this," she whispered.
"Doing what?" Liam asked, though his dark eyes betrayed the same fear and desire that consumed her.
"This… sneaking around," she said. "This forbidden… whatever this is. Someone could see us. Someone already knows, I think."
Liam's jaw tightened. "Nathaniel," he muttered. "He's dangerous. And curious. We need to be careful."
Ella shivered. She had been so consumed by the thrill of secrecy that she hadn't considered the consequences. Liam's protective presence was both comforting and terrifying.
After classes, Ella retreated to the courtyard, hoping for a moment alone to think. She found a quiet bench beneath a canopy of oaks, the autumn leaves falling like confetti around her. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Nathaniel approaching until he was standing over her.
"Enjoying your alone time?" he asked smoothly, hands in his pockets.
Ella stood abruptly. "What do you want?" she demanded, trying to mask the tremor in her voice.
Nathaniel's smirk widened. "Just making sure you're aware… secrets are hard to keep at Ashford. Especially the juicy ones."
Ella's heart raced. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, don't play innocent," he said, tilting his head. "I saw you at the fountain last night. Don't think I didn't notice."
Fear and adrenaline surged through her. "You can't…." she started, but Nathaniel held up a hand.
"Relax. I'm not telling anyone. Yet." His eyes glinted. "But I am watching. And I might have ways of making life… interesting for you two if you're not careful."
Ella felt her chest tighten. Liam's warning echoed in her mind. This wasn't just about secrecy anymore, it was about survival.
That evening, she met Liam at the fountain again. The air was crisp, and the night felt heavier with the weight of secrets and threats.
"You saw him today," she whispered, barely able to meet his gaze.
"I did," Liam admitted. "He's clever. He'll try to manipulate us, but we can't let him. Not now. Not ever."
Ella swallowed hard. "But what if he exposes us? What if everyone finds out?"
Liam's hand found hers again, their fingers intertwining like a lifeline. "Then we'll face it together," he said, his voice steady, resolute. "No one comes between us."
For a fleeting moment, the fear subsided, replaced by the forbidden intimacy of their closeness. Their hands lingered together, breaths mingling, hearts beating in sync. And then, impulsively, Liam leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Ella's pulse raced. Everything about this was dangerous. Everything about this was intoxicating.
And then…, just as their lips were about to meet a shadow passed across the fountain, and a sharp voice rang out:
"Nice of you to be so… friendly, Liam."
Both froze. Liam's protective stance became rigid, and Ella's stomach dropped. From the shadows, Nathaniel emerged, a small camera glinting in his hand.
"You really shouldn't play games in the dark," he said, smirking. "Some people… enjoy catching secrets."
Ella's blood ran cold. The forbidden thrill had transformed into a palpable danger. One misstep, one exposure, and everything, I mean everything could be destroyed.