The Cracks Begin to Show

Chapter 7

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The bass of the music throbbed through the luxurious estate, dim lights swirling in shades of violet and red as bodies moved and laughter echoed.

She stood by the staircase, her phone still in hand with a hidden smirk on her face.The last anonymous text she had sent to Samantha. A single sentence, chilling in its simplicity:

Ryn didn't need Samantha's reply. She had seen the ripple ,the moment Samantha read it, her perfectly lip-glossed mouth faltered, and her wine glass trembled ever so slightly in her hand. She had turned her back immediately, pretending to be engaged in conversation with Alina and her group. But the tension in her shoulders told Ryn everything.

She was cracking, and she loved every bit of it.

"Why do I get the feeling you enjoy watching chaos?"

Clara.

Omg she didn't expect her to be here.

Since her rebirth she really hasn't had the time to look for her or seen her around.

But she knew that was an excuse , cause she would have found her if she wanted to. But deep within her she knew it was shame and guilt .

Her voice was low, teasing, but something about it felt soothing, more intrigued than amused.

Ryn didn't look at her immediately. She stayed still, letting the moment stretch , gathering courage to keep up the font in front of her cause she knew people were watching ,before turning slightly over her shoulder. "Why do you assume I'm not part of the chaos?"

Her mouth tilted in that slow, interested smirk that she remembered very well in her past. The one that made everyone around her feel comforted. Gosh!,she missed her.

Clara shook her head ,still with a smile on her face and said " see you around Ryn , got to go" .Then took her leave.

Near the bar, Samantha whispered to Alina, her voice tight. "I need to go outside. Air. I just need air."

Alina, distracted, waved her off with a grin, too busy locking eyes with Jace , who hadn't noticed her at all. Not with Ryn still standing so calmly, so arrogantly beautiful, above it all.

"Come on," Jace said suddenly, his voice low but firm. "Dance with me."

Ryn blinked. "Since when do you ask?"

"I'm not asking," he replied.

Before she could answer, someone else appeared at the bottom of the stairs , tall, lean, with curly brown hair and a gold nose ring. Alex Cortez. A senior known for his effortless charm and quiet dominance on the debate team.

He looked up at Ryn and smiled. "I was hoping you'd save me a dance."

Jace stiffened beside her, hands in his pocket and stared hard.

Ryn stepped down slowly, her eyes flickering with mischief as she smiled directly at Alex. "You're just in time."

Jace said nothing, but his eyes darkened.

As she walked away with Alex, letting him guide her into the throng of dancers, Jace stood frozen at the top of the stairs. Below, Selene caught sight of him and immediately took her chance.

She slinked her way up toward him, her sleek black dress catching the light. "You look like you're about to set the place on fire," she teased, touching his arm lightly. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, Jace."

"I'm not jealous," he lied, his eyes locked on Ryn and Alex as they moved together on the dance floor ,close, but not too close. Just enough to make his blood boil.

Selene leaned in, brushing her hand over his chest. "Well, if you're feeling neglected…" she let the words hang, trailing her fingers downward.

He stepped away from her touch. "Not interested."

Selene's lips parted slightly in surprise,"why are you Jealous anyways "

He looked at her ,then excused himself.

"I need to smoke", he said.

Alina, meanwhile, made her move.

Spotting Jace alone by the hallway near the balcony, she approached with a drink in each hand, her smile sweet. "For you," she said, offering one.

Jace didn't take it. "I'm good."

Alina's smile faltered, just a little. But she recovered, flipping her hair and standing closer. "You looked good out there earlier. You're not dancing?"

"I was about to," he muttered, eyes still fixed on Ryn.

Alina followed his gaze. Her smile dropped.

Of course.

Before she could mask her expression, Kai, standing by the bar, noticed. His jaw clenched.

He had been watching Alina for months, orbiting her like a shadow. She knew it. She used it. She allowed his affection, his soft attention, because he came with benefits , money, connections, and loyalty. He wasn't Jace, but he could be something.

That is If she couldn't have Jace.

But now her plan was unraveling. She could feel it in the way Jace didn't even spare her a glance. And Kai… well, he was growing impatient. He turned to down his drink in one long swallow, barely masking the bitterness rising in his chest.

Alina tried again, leaning in toward Jace. "You know, my sister can be too much you know she's probably using Alex to make you jealous." She said coquettishly.

Jace's eyes narrowed. "And you would know because?"

Alina smiled tightly. "Because that's what girls like her do.I have tried advising her about it but to no avail."

Jace stared at her and replied, "Is that so".

And she gave a shy and sympathetic nod, being the good actress she is.

Ryn wasn't paying attention to them.

She let Alex twirl her gently under the dim lights, his hands respectful, his smile charming. But her eyes were still locked , subtly, on her.

The second message had been even more precise.

"Your mother's clinic in East River has falsified patient records. Need help covering that up too?"

This time, Samantha had nearly dropped her phone.

She was pacing outside now, behind the glass doors leading to the garden, gripping her phone like it could burn her hand.

Ryn had hacked the information herself ,well, not exactly. She had called in a favor from Reed, as you already know,who owed her after she covered up his illegal crypto mining in his grandfather's basement. He'd sent her everything she needed in exchange for silence.

Emails. Transfers. Scans.

It wasn't just dirt. It was destruction.

And it was all saved, ready to detonate. But not yet.

Tonight was just the beginning.

Back inside, the tension kept building.

Jace finally descended into the crowd, his presence like static in the air. He cut through the dancers and appeared beside Ryn and Alex, his hand sliding lightly to her lower back.

"Mind if I cut in?"

Alex paused. "Actually,...."

"She's not yours," Jace said flatly, eyes daring Alex to speak again.

Ryn raised a brow. "Possessive much?"

"And who said I wanted to dance with you Jace "

"I'm not letting you use other guys to get my attention," he said, loud enough for her ears only. "You already have it."

Ryn turned to him slowly. "Never asked for your attention, Jace."

He leaned down to her ear, his voice dark and quiet. "You haven't seen anything. Not yet."

Ryn shivered.

Not from fear.

From the sheer force of intensity radiating off him.

And she liked it , yes!! ... she'll make him loose his mind with jealousy.

Across the room, Samantha reentered the party with a shaky breath and a forced smile. But her lipstick was smudged, and her hands wouldn't stop trembling. She didn't notice Alina watching her closely, Kai watching Alina, teeth grinding, Ryn watching both,Jace watching Ryn.

Selene, sipping champagne like royalty, smiled to herself.

The game had begun. And every single player was already bleeding.

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