When Secrets Start to Unravel

Lina’s POV

The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the mansion’s grand dining room, but the brightness did little to calm my growing anxiety. I sat at the table, absentmindedly stirring my coffee as the hum of conversation buzzed around me. My parents were talking about finalizing the gala arrangements, Zara’s parents chimed in about the guest list, and all I could think about was the weight of the secret I carried.

Across the table, Zara caught my eye. Her expression was calm, but the slight tilt of her head was enough to let me know she was worried too. Last night’s kiss had been incredible, but it also raised the stakes.

We were walking a tightrope, and any misstep could send us crashing down.

“Lina,” my mother called, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yes?” I said quickly, sitting up straighter.

“You’ll be helping Zara oversee the seating arrangements today,” she announced, her tone leaving no room for argument.

My eyes darted to Zara, whose lips quirked in the faintest of smiles.

“Of course,” I said, forcing a polite smile.

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Zara’s POV

The ballroom was a flurry of activity when Lina and I arrived. Staff members were rushing around, carrying linens and floral arrangements, while others meticulously polished the chandeliers.

“I don’t know how they expect us to focus on seating charts in this chaos,” Lina muttered, her arms crossed.

I chuckled. “You’re just looking for an excuse to sneak out of this.”

She glared at me, but there was no real heat behind it. “You don’t know me.”

“Oh, but I do,” I teased, nudging her shoulder.

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

We made our way to the table where a massive chart of the seating arrangement was spread out. Names were meticulously written on tiny cards, and just looking at it made my head spin.

“Where do we even start?” she asked, leaning over the chart.

“By pretending we know what we’re doing,” I replied with a grin.

She laughed, and for a moment, the tension between us eased.

---

Lina’s POV

Working with Zara was… surprisingly fun. She had a way of making even the most mundane tasks bearable, and I found myself stealing glances at her more than I cared to admit.

But just as we were starting to relax, my sister Amina appeared, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.

“What are you two up to?” she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

“Seating arrangements,” I said quickly, gesturing to the chart.

Amina didn’t look convinced. She crossed her arms and smirked. “You two seem awfully… close these days.”

My stomach dropped.

Zara, ever the composed one, simply raised an eyebrow. “We’re working together. That’s all.”

Amina’s gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before she shrugged. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

As she walked away, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“That was close,” I muttered.

Zara leaned in, her voice low. “We need to be more careful.”

I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen.

---

Zara’s POV

By the time evening rolled around, the tension between Lina and me was palpable. We had managed to get through the day without any major incidents, but the weight of keeping our feelings hidden was starting to take its toll.

I found her in the library, pacing back and forth.

“Lina,” I said gently, closing the door behind me.

She turned to face me, her expression torn. “This isn’t going to work, Zara. Someone’s going to figure it out.”

“Maybe,” I admitted, stepping closer. “But does that mean we stop trying?”

Her shoulders slumped, and she sank into one of the chairs. “I don’t know. I just… I don’t want to ruin everything.”

I knelt in front of her, taking her hands in mine. “You won’t. We won’t.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with doubt and something else—something softer.

Before I could say anything else, the door swung open, and her mother walked in.

“Lina, Zara,” she said, her tone brisk. “We need to go over the menu changes.”

We both jumped apart, but her mother’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the way our hands had just been joined.

Her gaze lingered for a moment too long before she nodded toward the door. “Now, please.”

---

Lina’s POV

Dinner that evening was unbearable. I could feel my mother’s eyes on me, sharp and questioning. Amara, sitting across from me, kept smirking like she knew something I didn’t.

And Zara… she was quiet, unusually so.

“Everything okay, dear?” my mother asked suddenly, her tone too casual.

“Yes,” I said quickly, my voice too high.

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further.

After dinner, Zara and I managed to sneak away to the garden. The cool night air was a welcome relief, but it didn’t do much to calm my nerves.

“They’re onto us,” I said, pacing again.

“Not necessarily,” Zara replied, leaning against a tree. “Your mom’s suspicious, but she doesn’t know anything for sure.”

I stopped, turning to face her. “And if she finds out?”

“Then we deal with it,” she said, her voice steady.

“How can you be so calm about this?” I asked, my frustration bubbling over.

She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto mine. “Because you’re worth it, Lina.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and before I could stop myself, I pulled her into a hug.

For a moment, we just stood there, holding onto each other like it was the only thing keeping us grounded.

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Zara’s POV

The night was still, and the stars above seemed to shine just for us. Holding Lina in my arms felt like the most natural thing in the world, even if everything else about our situation was anything but.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes.

“No matter what happens,” I said softly, “we’ll figure it out. Together.”

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Okay.”

As I leaned in, our foreheads touched, and for the first time all day, I felt a sense of peace.

We didn’t need words. In that moment, we were enough.

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