The silent circle

Unveiled Secrets

As Cleo leaves the room with Gabriel, her emotions are still swirling. She's grateful for his presence, but the weight of what just happened with Ashton lingers.

As they walk through the hallway, Gabriel glances at her, sensing her unease.

"So... Ashton's really your cousin?" Gabriel asks, his curiosity piqued.

"Yeah," Cleo sighs, brushing her hair back. "And he's also the director of the school, which makes things even more complicated."

Gabriel lets out a low whistle. "Wow. That's a tough situation."

"It is," she says, her voice heavy. "He's been in charge of me since my parents disappeared, and it's like he's always deciding what's best for me. But he doesn't understand what I want."

Gabriel pauses, thinking for a moment. "I don't know the whole story, but it sounds like Ashton is trying to protect you—maybe in his own, controlling way."

Cleo stops walking and looks at him. "Protect me from what? This is my dream. Why is he so afraid of me following in my parents' footsteps?"

Gabriel shrugs. "Sometimes people hide things. Maybe there's more to this than he's letting on."

Cleo frowns. "What do you mean?"

Gabriel lowers his voice. "I'm just saying... if he's this desperate to keep you out of the school, maybe it's not just about your career. Maybe there's something he's not telling you about your parents."

Her heart skips a beat. Cleo had always suspected there was more to her parents' disappearance, but Ashton refused to talk about it. Could Gabriel be right? Could Ashton be hiding something?

Before she can answer, they hear a commotion down the hall. Cleo turns to see Emily, her best friend, rushing toward her.

"Cleo! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Emily exclaims, breathless. "Did you already audition? How did it go?"

Cleo forces a smile. "Yeah, I did. It went... well, I think."

Emily grins. "That's amazing! I knew you'd kill it. But hey, you missed some drama. I overheard Ashton talking to someone on the phone. Something about you."

Cleo's stomach flips. "What do you mean?"

Emily glances around and lowers her voice. "I'm not sure exactly, but Ashton seemed really stressed. He kept saying things like 'If she finds out...' and 'I can't let her stay here.'"

Cleo's mind races. What could Ashton possibly be hiding from her? And why was he so desperate to keep her away from the school?

"Thanks, Emily," Cleo murmurs, her thoughts already spinning with possibilities.

Gabriel, who's been listening quietly, gives her a concerned look. "Cleo, maybe you should confront him. Whatever he's hiding, it's time you found out."

Cleo nods slowly, determination setting in. "You're right. I need answers."

But before she can take another step, a figure appears at the end of the hallway. Ashton.

His eyes lock on Cleo, and his face hardens. He strides toward her with purpose.

"Go," Gabriel whispers. "I'll distract him."

Cleo hesitates for a moment, then nods, slipping away down a side corridor as Gabriel intercepts Ashton, pretending to ask him about something random. She moves quickly, her heart pounding, determined to uncover the truth.

---

Cleo makes her way to Ashton's classroom. She knows she shouldn't be there, but she's desperate. If there's something he's hiding, she's going to find it.

As she enters the room, she heads straight for his desk. Rifling through papers and drawers, she finally comes across a locked drawer. Her pulse quickens.

There must be something important here.

She finds a small key hidden in a book on the shelf—something Ashton had shown her years ago when she was younger. It fits the drawer.

Inside, Cleo finds a file labeled **"Avery – Confidential"**.

Her hands shake as she flips it open. Inside are articles, photos, and documents—all related to the fire that took her parents. But something stands out: a letter from her father dated two weeks before the fire.

It's addressed to Ashton.

*"Ashton, we need to talk. The truth can't stay hidden forever. It's going to catch up to us, and when it does, Cleo deserves to know everything. I'm done running from it."*

Cleo's breath catches in her throat. What truth? What was her father talking about?

Before she can process it further, the classroom door swings open. Ashton stands there, his face pale as he sees her holding the file.

"Cleo," he says softly, his voice filled with both guilt and regret. "I can explain."

Cleo glares at him, the file clenched in her hands. "You'd better."