Chapter 20 Twenty

Chapter 20 Twenty

Waverly’s POV

To me, control was everything; it wasn’t just a principle I lived by, it was the only reason why I was still standing in this world, and right now, despite looking back at my perfect reflection, I could still feel it slipping away from my fingers. I refused to allow that to happen.

I tilted my chin slightly, studying my reflection, every strand of my platinum hair sleek, not a single flaw allowed to exist, my dress clinging to me like armor rather than fabric, sharp and elegant, and yet my hand tightened just a little against the edge of the vanity.

“She’s nothing,” I murmured under my breath, my lips barely moving as I said it.

But the words didn’t settle the way they were supposed to.

Suddenly, a soft knock came at the door, and I didn’t bother turning.

“Come in,” I said calmly.

The door opened, and one of the staff stepped inside, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor, her posture straight, her eyes lowered as they knew better than to meet mine directly.

“Miss Rhodes,” she began carefully, “the final fittings for the masquerade gowns have arrived.”

Of course, they had.

Everything was moving forward, every detail falling into place exactly as it should. The masquerade was no small event; it was a statement, a performance, and more importantly, a stage, and Asa had briefly told me what the plan was.

“Leave them,” I replied without hesitation, still standing before the mirror.

She hesitated for half a second. “Would you like assistance dressing later this evening?”

“No,” I said flatly.

She nodded quickly. “Of course.”

The door closed behind her, and silence filled the room again, thick and suffocating in a way I didn’t quite like.

I turned slowly, my gaze falling on the gowns laid across the bed, each one more extravagant than the next, deep crimson, obsidian black, ivory silk, masks placed beside them.

Beautiful lies…That’s all they were.

My fingers brushed against one of the fabrics, smooth and cold, reminding me of where I stood.

This was my world, not hers…She didn’t belong here.

“She doesn’t belong here,” I repeated more firmly.

But my thoughts betrayed me anyway, because no matter how many times I said it, Rebelle was already inside.Not just the estate or the walls I had built so carefully around myself.

No.

She had their attention.

My jaw tightened as I straightened, pushing the thought aside like it didn’t matter, like it wasn’t slowly digging under my skin.

“It changes nothing,” I said aloud, my voice steady.

But it couldn’t because everything was already in motion.The deal had been made, and the plan was already set. All I had to do was play my part.

As I walked through the estate, everything felt a bit different: the usual quiet was now on alert, staff were moving more quickly, and the guards were more attentive.

Three nights.

That was all that remained…Three nights before everything changes.

I walked with grace, my heels echoing softly against the marble floors, my expression stoic and unreadable, because that’s what I was supposed to be.

Until I saw them.

I slowed slightly, my gaze narrowing just enough to take in the scene without making it obvious.

Rebelle stood at the far end of the corridor, relaxed in a way that annoyed me more than it should have, as she had already grown used to this place, like she wasn’t still a prisoner playing at freedom.

And in front of her was Ezekiel; they were too close for my liking.

“You should stay out of this,” Ezekiel was saying, his voice low, the kind of tone that usually ended conversations before they even began.

Rebelle tilted her head slightly, that same defiance flashing in her eyes, the same stubborn spark I remembered from…

I cut the thought off instantly.

“Or what?” she challenged.

Of course she did.

Ezekiel stepped closer, not backing down or giving her space.

“Or you get hurt.” He says a bit calmer this time

She didn’t move or flinch.

“I’ve been hurt before,” she replied, her voice quieter now but no less firm.

Something flickered across his face; it was brief, but I saw it, and I didn’t like it at all

Not wasting another second to watch them, I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the space between them.

“Am I interrupting something?” I said calmly, even though there was nothing calm about me in this situation.

They both instantly turned.

Rebelle's expression suddenly changes as her gaze falls on me. But Ezekiel didn’t react much, but his attention was now shifted to me, and that alone was enough.

“Just a conversation,” he casually says.

I gave him a polite smile. “I’m sure it was,” I said softly.

Then my gaze slowly slid to Rebelle. “You seem to be settling in well,” I said, blankly and without emotion.

Her lips curved slightly. “Trying to.”

“Trying?” I echoed softly, taking a step closer. “Or succeeding?”

She didn’t answer immediately, her eyes holding mine sharply.

“Depends on who you ask,” she said finally with a slight frown.

I let out a soft hum, tilting my head slightly.

“Careful,” I murmured, my voice dropping just enough to make it personal. “Places like this don’t reward overconfidence.”

“And places like this don’t scare me,” she shot back.

Then there was a pause as I smiled a bit, because there it was, that fire, that same reckless defiance that used to…

I stopped that thought before it could finish.

In the moment Ezekiel stepped in, his voice cutting through the tension, “That’s enough!” He states firmly.

I glanced at him briefly before looking back at her.

“For now,” I said softly.

Then I turned my attention back to him. “The final security arrangements are ready.”

He nodded. “I’ll review them.” He responds with his usual frown.

“Good,” I replied, before stepping past them, my shoulder brushing lightly against Rebelle’s like a reminder.

As I walked away, I could feel her lingering gaze on me, and something about that made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t care to think about.

By nightfall, everything was almost ready.

I stood on the balcony overlooking the ballroom, my hands resting lightly against the railing as I watched the staff below move like a well-oiled robot, setting the stage for something far more dangerous than they realized.

“Enjoying the view?” a voice came from behind me.

I didn’t turn immediately. “Observing,” I said.

Julian stepped beside me, seeming irritatingly amused.

“You always did like control,” he said, lightly resting his back on the railing while he looked at me.

“And you always talk too much,” I replied blankly.

He chuckled. “Fair enough.”

He turned around and leaned on the railing, his gaze scanning the room below.

“She’s becoming a problem,” he suddenly says.

My expression didn’t change. “She won’t be,” I respond, not looking at him.

Then he glanced at me. “You sound certain.”

“I am,” I said firmly.

“And the brothers?” he pressed. “They don’t seem to agree.”

My fingers tightened slightly against the railing. He was already becoming annoying.

“They’ll do what they always do,” I said calmly.

“And what’s that?”

“Choose power,” I replied without hesitation.

Julian studied me for a moment before smirking slightly. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

“I’m always right,” I said coldly.

Then a pause.

“You hesitated,” he pointed out.

I turned to him sharply. “Be careful, Julian.” I grit out with a warning glare.

He raised his hands slightly in mock surrender. “Relax, I’m on your side.” He chuckles slightly.

“For now,” I said.

His smile widened. “For now.”

Silence settled between us for a moment before he straightened.

“Everything’s in place,” he said. “All we need is the right moment.”

“You’ll have it,” I replied.

He nodded once before stepping away, leaving me alone again. Alone with the view, with the weight of everything I had set into motion

Three nights.

That was all it would take.

I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting downward, and there she was.

Rebelle.

Standing in the center of the ballroom as staff moved around her, unaware, as if she already belonged in a place she had no right to claim.

My jaw tightened because she had taken something already, the one thing that rightfully belongs to me.

Attention.

And that attention was how everything started…as if sensing it, she looked up, and our eyes met for a moment, and everything suddenly faded.

And in that moment, something unsaid passed between us.

“You should have stayed gone,” I whispered.

Her gaze didn’t waver, and for a second I saw that same stubbornness and that same refusal to disappear…then she looked away

And I smiled.

Because she still didn’t understand or couldn’t see what was coming, but she would, and very soon, when she does, it’s going to be too late for her.