THE BILLIONAIRE'S MASQUERADE

The silence cracked like glass.

Lucien stood frozen, eyes burning behind the shadows, his body positioned in front of Aria like a shield. Across the candlelit room, Cassian Blackwell leaned casually against a bookcase, like he belonged there. Like he'd always been watching.

He was the kind of beautiful that didn't try-tall, smooth, with midnight hair falling over his forehead and eyes that shimmered like wet steel.

And the smirk on his face?

It was trouble wrapped in charm.

"Well, well," Cassian said, his voice smooth as velvet. "Aria Winters. You do exist. I was starting to think you were just a rumor Lucien invented to make the Circle interesting again."

Aria stepped out from behind Lucien.

"I'm not a rumor," she said sharply.

Cassian tilted his head. "No, you're definitely real. And brave. Most girls run when Lucien drops the mask."

Lucien's jaw tightened. "What are you doing here, Cassian?" Cassian wandered closer, eyes flicking between them. "I came to see the girl who got under your skin."

"You're not welcome,"

Lucien growled. Aria watched them closely. There was heat in the air but not the romantic kind. It was history. Fury. Something broken that used to be whole.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Cassian said, grinning. "Were you about to kiss her? How unlike you, Lucien. The devil falling for the girl he owns.

How poetic."

Lucien took a step forward. "Say another word and I swear-"

Aria cut in, her voice steady. "Enough. If you have something to say to me, Cassian, say it."

He turned to her, surprised-and maybe impressed. "I do, actually," he said. "Walk with me."

Lucien's arm blocked her. "She's not going anywhere with you."

Cassian smirked. "Don't pretend she's yours, Lucien. A contract can't fake connection."

"I'm warning you-"

"Let me hear him," Aria interrupted.

Both boys went still.

"I'm not a doll you can pass between you," she said, staring at Lucien. "I decide who I talk to."

Lucien's eyes burned into hers-but he stepped back.

Reluctantly.

Aria followed Cassian out of the Glass Library, the candles flickering back to life behind them as the door swung shut.

They walked in silence down the stone path that led toward the edge of the Blackthorn forest. The night air was crisp, and the moonlight dripped through the trees like silver blood.

Finally, Aria asked, "What do you want from me?"

 Cassian chuckled. "Straight to the point. I like that." "Answer the question." He stopped walking and turned to face her. His smile faded. "I want to help you." She folded her arms.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because you're in over your head."

"I already know that." "No," he said, stepping closer. "You don't."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a photo. He handed it to her. Her breath caught.

It was the same picture Lucien had shown her-the Elite Circle, young and smiling.

But this version was marked. Red Xs slashed through five faces. Aria's mother was circled.

"There were only two survivors from this original group," Cassian said. "Your mother... and Lucien's father."

She looked up. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying Lucien's family had every reason to erase the others." Her stomach twisted. "You think Lucien's father killed my mom?" "I don't think," he said darkly. "I know." Aria took a step back. Cassian's voice softened.

"Lucien's not who you think he is, Aria. He grew up learning how to manipulate, how to charm, how to break people slowly."

"I can handle myself."

He laughed bitterly. "You're playing with fire and pretending it's a candle." She turned to leave. He grabbed her wrist gently, but firmly.

"Don't trust him," Cassian whispered. "No matter what he tells you. No matter how broken he looks without that mask."

Aria yanked her arm free.

"Funny," she said, glaring. "You pretend to be warning me, but you haven't said one thing about yourself."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"What's your role in this game?" she continued. "What do you want, really?"

He didn't answer.

But in that moment, Aria saw something flicker in his eyes.

A shadow.

A secret.

Something that mattered too much.

"I want justice," he finally said.

She didn't know if she believed him.

But she knew this; she was caught between two devils. And one of them was lying. Maybe both.

The next morning, Aria woke to find her dorm room silent. Evie was gone. Her bed made. No note. No sign she'd ever been there. A chill ran through Aria's spine.

She checked her messages.

Nothing.

She ran through the dorm halls.

The bathrooms.

The study rooms.

Still nothing.

She found a cleaning lady and asked, "Have you seen my roommate, Evie Moonhart?" The woman blinked. "There's no student by that name here." Aria's blood went cold.

She ran to the front desk. "Please," she said to the admin assistant. "Evie Moonhart. Blonde, glasses, pink hoodies. She's my roommate."

The woman typed into her computer. "No one by that name is listed. You're in a private room." "That's not possible. I've been living with her for days!" "I'm sorry," the woman said, frowning. "There's no record."

Aria stumbled out of the building, heart pounding.

Was Evie part of this?

Was she real?

Was anything at Blackthorn real?

She found Lucien in the East Garden, leaning over a marble fountain, flipping through the book he had given her.

"You knew," she said, marching toward him. "You knew she'd disappear." Lucien looked up slowly. "Evie," she said. "Where is she?" His eyes were unreadable.

"She was your watcher," he said softly. "Assigned to observe you during your transition. She's been recalled."

Aria stepped back, rage bubbling. "You let me trust her!"

"You trust too easily."

"You manipulate everything!" she shouted.

"I protect what's mine," Lucien snapped.

"I'm not yours!"

Silence. Heavy. Sharp.

Then Lucien's mask slipped for just a second-and the pain in his eyes was real.

"You were never supposed to matter," he said quietly. Aria stared at him. "And yet," she whispered, "I do."

They stood there, staring at each other.

No masks.

No lies.

But still... no peace.