The hospital hallway was too quiet, unnaturally so. Like the silence had teeth.
Alex walked briskly, boots echoing sharply against the cold tiles. His bruised knuckles were stuffed deep into his coat pockets. His heart hammered against his ribs, but his face remained a blank mask, calm, unreadable.
He couldn't look weak. Not here.
He pushed open the door to his mother's room.
Gianna turned from the window, startled. For a moment, her breath caught.
"You came," she whispered.
Alex arched a brow, approaching slowly. "Were you expecting Adrien?"
Her lips twitched, not quite a smile. More like regret.
"I didn't think you'd actually show," she murmured. "Your brother said he'd try to convince you."
Alex frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Gianna blinked, her voice low. "Adrien said he was heading to your house. Said you weren't picking up."
A sharp jolt stabbed through Alex's chest.
Wait.
Adrien.
His house.
Where Ariel was.
Alone.
His stomach dropped. Horror flickered in his eyes. He shot up from the chair, running a hand over his face.
"No," he breathed. "No, no, no—"
"Alex?" Gianna asked, concerned.
But he wasn't listening.
His thoughts were spiraling. Dread flooding in like ice water.
Adrien had always been reckless. Manipulative. Charming when he wanted, but dangerous. Still, he had never crossed this line.
Not until now.
Ariel.
She wouldn't know the difference.
He clenched his fists, pain flaring in his knuckles.
"I have to go," he said hoarsely.
"Alex, wait!, what's going on?"
But he was already at the door, gone.
Didn't answer.
Didn't look back.
All he could see in his mind was Ariel's face..her fear...if she realized the man in front of her wasn't him.
If Adrien had touched her.
If it was already too late.
He raced through the hospital, ignoring the startled nurses shouting after him. Threw himself into the car. Started the engine with a roar.
Tires screeched.
His pulse pounded louder than the wind outside the speeding car.
He hadn't planned to tell Ariel about Adrien.
Not this way.
"Please," he whispered as the city streaked past, a blur of lights and panic. "Please let me get there in time."
---
He didn't wait for the gates.
He crashed straight through them.
The mansion loomed as the tires shrieked across the driveway. He didn't even shut the car door behind him.
Alex ran inside, taking the stairs two at a time, heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.
Let me be on time. Please.
He didn't knock.
He slammed open Ariel's bedroom door, and froze.
Adrien stood there.
One hand gripped Ariel's wrist.
The other braced the wall beside her head.
He leaned in..too close.
Ariel's eyes were wide, panic swimming in them. Her lips parted in a shaky gasp. She twisted against his grip but couldn't break free.
She was trapped.
"Get away from her!" Alex roared, his voice shaking the walls.
Adrien turned just in time to see Alex charge, bloodied, furious, and streaked in paint from the crash outside.
Alex grabbed him by the collar and threw him across the room.
Adrien hit the floor hard, skidding backward.
Ariel gasped and turned toward the door.
Then she saw it.
Two of them.
One, bruised, out of breath, trembling with rage. The Alex she knew. Hers.
The other, flawless. Unbothered. That signature smirk wiped clean, replaced by something colder.
Her knees buckled. She backed away slowly, breath catching in her throat.
"I… I don't understand," she whispered.
Alex didn't respond. His eyes were locked on Adrien, rage boiling.
Adrien stood, brushing invisible dust off his shirt like this was a joke.
"Dramatic," he muttered. "I wasn't going to hurt her. Just a little fun."
"Shut your damn mouth," Alex snarled, stepping forward.
Adrien tilted his head, smiling lazily. "Wow. Didn't think you'd be this soft. I thought she was just another toy, but… looks like little Alex caught real feelings. You look pathetic."
Alex lunged, but Ariel's voice cut through the air, shaking:
"Who… who are you?" she whispered, eyes glued to Adrien. "Why do you look like him?"
Adrien's smile sharpened. "Didn't he tell you?"
He glanced at Alex, then back at her.
"We're twins."
Silence.
Ariel's lips parted in disbelief. Her world cracked at the edges.
"Twins?" she echoed. "There's… two of you?"
Her gaze shifted to Alex. Her Alex. His shoulders sagged under the weight of the truth.
Guilt darkened his eyes.
"I was going to tell you," he said quietly. "I swear, Ariel. I just didn't know how."