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Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Truth wears the face of betrayal.

The words didn't just land, they erupted. Like a single spark tossed into a room full of gasoline.

Eden went still. Her lungs locked. She stared at Rowan like he'd grown claws, then turned sharply to Cassian. He still hadn't lowered the gun. His hand didn't shake, but his knuckles were bloodless where they held the grip.

"That's not possible," she whispered, her voice shattering like glass about to shatter. "She's alive… isn't she? You said you found her phone."

"I did," Cassian said, but his voice was rough now. Slower. "But that was months ago. Six, maybe more. It pinged once… then never again."

Eden's eyes darted between them. "So what does that mean? That she just vanished?"

Cassian didn't answer.

He didn't deny it, either.

That silence felt louder than any confession.

Eden's body moved before her mind did. She took one brave, trembling step toward Rowan. Her heart was a war drum in her chest, but her voice stayed calm."Say it, then. Say who killed her."

Rowan's eyes, always too calm, flicked to Cassian. Not subtle. Not even trying. "Ask him."

"I did," Eden said. "And he gave me pieces. A handful of half-truths wrapped in pain."

Rowan smiled without humor. "Exactly. He gave you the version that made him look noble."

Cassian's voice sliced through the silence, low and sharp. "Don't do this, Rowan."

But Rowan didn't stop. He reached into his jacket, slowly, deliberately and pulled out a flash drive. Another one. Sleek, black, small enough to change everything.

"I'm not doing anything," he said. "She did it herself." He held it out, arm extended.

Eden's feet felt rooted to the ground. She didn't reach for it. Not yet.

Cassian took a step forward, the gun rising with him. "Don't hand her that."

"You gonna shoot me right here?" Rowan asked, eyes gleaming with challenge. "In front of her?"

Cassian didn't blink. Didn't lower the gun.

But Rowan wasn't afraid. He stepped carefully around Eden, moving slow, like he knew every camera was watching. He gently placed the flash drive in her palm. His fingers brushed hers, ice-cold.

"Watch it alone," he murmured. "You deserve to know the rest."

Cassian's jaw was locked. "Eden, don't."

Rowan turned back, his voice sharper now. "You don't control this anymore, Cass."

Eden stared down at the flash drive. Her fingers closed around it, tense and wary, like it might draw some blood.

When she looked up, Cassian was staring at her like she'd just stabbed him in the chest.

"I told you not to open that door," he said, voice frayed and rough.

"And you told me not to trust anyone," she snapped. "That includes you."

He didn't speak.

So she did.

"Did you kill her?"

The silence that followed burned hotter than a scream.

"Cassian," she whispered, "did you?"

His closed his eyes, then he lowered the gun, turned his back on both of them, and walked past Rowan without a word.

He paused at her side. Just long enough to say, "Watch the drive."

She swallowed. "That's not a no."

"No," he said, voice breaking. "It's worse than that."

Then he walked away.

She locked herself in the study.

The same laptop. The same screen.

But her hands were shaking now as she plugged in the drive.

The screen flickered. Static at first. Then .. 

A clear image appeared on the screen.

It was Tereza.

No collar. No chains. Just a thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her face was pale and ghostly. Her eyes looked wrong, like she'd already died inside.

"If you're watching this," she said softly, "then I'm probably dead."

Eden froze. Her breath caught.

Tereza's voice was raw. Human. Cracked at the edges like old porcelain. "Cassian didn't kill me. And neither did Rowan."

She looked down.

"I… chose it."

Eden leaned in, heart pounding like it was ready to burst out of her chest.

"I made a deal," Tereza said, her voice shaking, tears welled in her eyes. "I thought I could keep the reins. I thought I knew what I was doing. But I didn't."

She let out a bitter laugh, one that cracked at the edges. "He was worse than I imagined. The man I gave myself to."

Eden's pulse skidded.

"And when Cassian found out," Tereza whispered, "he tried to save me. He really tried."

There was a long pause. Then:

"I told him I loved the man who was breaking me. I screamed it at him. I shoved him away."

Eden covered her mouth. Her whole body was shaking.

"If I die," Tereza said, "don't blame them. Blame me. I let it happen. I let him destroy me."

The screen went black.

Eden reached for the keyboard , but another clip auto-loaded.

It was a security footage.

Grainy. Black and white.

It showed Tereza's body. Limp. Bloody. Dragged down a hallway like trash.

By Rowan.

Eden gasped, her nails digging into her arms.

The footage kept rolling. He dumped her in the backseat of a car.

Then another clip played next showing Rowan burning her clothes. Scrubbing the hallway. Smashing her phone.

He hadn't killed her.

But he buried her.

He buried the truth.

She ran.

Outside, she found Rowan near the front gates, smoking like it was just another night.

"You lied," she said, her voice sharp.

He turned, slow. "I told you she was dead."

"You told me Cassian killed her."

"No," he said coolly. "I said I knew who did. You assumed it was him."

Eden's eyes burned. "Why cover it up?"

"Because she begged me to," he said, tapping ash onto the floor. "Because she couldn't stand the thought of her name being dragged through the mud."

"She trusted you," Eden hissed. "And you dumped her like garbage."

"She was already gone."

"You had no right!"

"I was trying to protect you!" he snapped. "You think I wanted you anywhere near Cassian after seeing that? I didn't want you in the same damn city."

She faltered.

"You loved her," she said softly.

His mask cracked. Just for a second. "She was everything."

The wind blew between them, sharp and cold.

"Then why lie to me?"

"Because I knew once you saw the truth, you'd stay with him."

Eden's voice was steel. "Then you don't know me at all."

She turned 

And walked right into Cassian.

His face was unreadable. Cold, calm and haunted.

"You tried to save her," she said.

"I failed."

"She said she pushed you away."

"She did."

"I won't."

He stepped closer, brushing her cheek.

"You say that now."

"I mean it."

His lips hovered close enough to touch hers. "Then run with me."

She blinked. "What?"

"I've kept you caged too long," he said. "If you stay here, this ends in blood. Mine. Rowan's. Maybe yours."

"You want me to leave all of this?"

"Not everything," he whispered. "Just them."

"Where would we go?"

"Someplace quiet. Where no one owns you."

Eden stared at him. "I thought you did own me."

Cassian's mouth twisted into a rare smile. Dark. Bitter. Beautiful. "I never wanted to own you, Eden. I wanted to choose you."

Her heart didn't beat, it ached.

He cupped her jaw gently.

"Midnight. The docks. I'll be waiting."

"And if I don't come?"

"Then I'll burn this city to the ground to find you."

He kissed her. Deep and Final.

And then he was gone.

Eden stood there, dazed.

Behind her, Rowan called out, voice low and knowing. "If you leave with him, Eden… you won't come back."

She didn't turn.

"I know."

She walked toward her room, body buzzing with something between dread and freedom.

But the moment she stepped inside, everything felt… wrong.

The sheets were rumpled.

The closet door was slightly open.

And on her pillow .. 

Was a phone.

One she didn't own.

It lit up.

An unknown Number sent her a message.

Don't run. He's lying.

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