Poly( The family of Aliyah)

Chapter 1: The Mask of Innocence

Chapter 1: The Mask of Innocence

Aliyah sat at the dinner table, her delicate fingers curled around a glass of wine. The dim chandelier light cast a soft glow over the family, their laughter and conversation filling the room. To anyone watching, she was the picture of grace—a daughter wrapped in the aura of innocence. Her dark eyes shimmered with curiosity and an apparent sweetness as she engaged in small talk with Trix and Aspen.

But beneath that polished exterior, there was something far more complicated. Aliyah's mind was already far from the table, strategizing her next move in a game no one knew they were playing. Outside these walls, away from the family’s watchful eyes, she was someone else entirely. Wild, free, and unrestrained. She played with men the way she played with words, using them to her advantage. Every carefully crafted smile she gave to Trix or Shon concealed the untamed nature she kept hidden.

Tonight was no different. She listened, calculated, and watched for opportunities—subtle cracks in the perfect façade of her family. Shon, as usual, sat in the shadows, barely speaking, while Kirn lingered on the outskirts, uncomfortable and awkward. Trix played his part as the family’s golden son, making everyone laugh. Aspen, ever the observer, quietly studied her, but Aliyah was unbothered. She knew how to keep her secrets buried deep, masked by her innocent demeanor.

After excusing herself from the table, she slipped outside for a moment of solitude. The cool night air kissed her skin, and she took out her phone, already anticipating the thrill of her other life. A message popped up from one of her lovers, a man who knew nothing about her family obligations. Aliyah's heart raced, not from fear of being caught, but from the rush of juggling both worlds.

She was about to reply when she heard a voice behind her. “Aliyah.”

Her fingers froze over the phone, heart suddenly pounding for a different reason. She turned around slowly, a cool smile forming on her lips. Trix stood in the doorway, his eyes sharper than usual, watching her with a hint of suspicion.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice casual, but Aliyah could sense the underlying question. He never asked questions without a purpose.

For a split second, she thought he might have seen the message. Panic flickered in her chest, but she pushed it down, keeping her expression neutral.

“Just needed some fresh air,” she replied smoothly, slipping her phone back into her pocket. “The dinner was getting a bit stuffy.”

Trix’s eyes lingered on her hand as she did so, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Fresh air, huh?” He stepped closer, the weight of his presence making her skin prickle. “You’ve been acting a bit distant lately.”

Aliyah forced a laugh, stepping back with an easy shrug. “You’re imagining things.”

For a tense moment, they stood in silence, Trix's eyes boring into hers as if he were trying to peel back the layers of her secrets. But Aliyah held her ground, her heart racing as she maintained her mask of innocence.

Finally, Trix smirked, his suspicions retreating behind a smile. “Well, don’t stay out too long. Father’s going to make a speech soon.”

Aliyah nodded, watching him retreat back inside. Only when the door clicked shut did she let out the breath she had been holding, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled her phone back out. She glanced at the message again, her heart still pounding.

That had been close—too close.

For now, her secret was safe. But Trix wasn’t the type to let things go easily, and she knew it. One wrong move, and everything she’d worked to hide could come crashing down around her.