WHO AM I

THE CRACKS BENEATH

Lila didn't return home immediately. She wandered through the streets, her mind fogged by the weight of Eli's revelation. How could Noah, the boy who had been so open, so real, hide something like this? Billionaire or not, it didn't make sense. Why would he lie?

By the time she reached home, dusk had already settled, the sky painted in deep oranges and purples. The front door creaked as she pushed it open, and there was Noah, sitting on the couch, looking at his phone. His eyes shot up the moment she entered, a wave of relief washing over his face.

"You're back," he said, standing quickly. "I was starting to worry."

Lila bit her lip, trying to keep her expression neutral. She wasn't ready for this conversation. Not yet.

"I needed some air," she muttered, brushing past him and heading for the kitchen. She grabbed a glass of water, her back turned to him. Her hands shook slightly as she brought the glass to her lips. She could feel his eyes on her, burning with concern.

"Did something happen?" he asked gently, moving closer. "You've been acting strange all day."

Lila's heart pounded in her chest. She set the glass down, her mind racing. Should she confront him now? Or should she wait, gather more information?

"Noah..." she began, her voice trailing off. Her throat felt tight. She turned to face him, the weight of her thoughts pressing down. "Why didn't you ever tell me about your past?"

His face paled instantly. It was as though the very ground had shifted beneath him, and Lila could see the shock in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice cautious.

"You're not who I thought you were," she said, her words sharp. "You've been hiding something from me, something big."

Noah's gaze darkened, and for a moment, Lila saw a flicker of fear in his expression. He took a deep breath, stepping back, as if trying to brace himself for what was coming.

"Lila, I—"

Before he could finish, the doorbell rang, its shrill sound cutting through the tension. Noah's eyes flicked toward the door, relief flooding his face. "I'll get it."

Lila watched as he walked to the door, her mind still spinning. She had been so close to the truth, and now the moment was gone. The door opened, and to her surprise, standing there was Renzo, his usual smug grin plastered on his face.

"Ah, just in time," Renzo said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Lila crossed her arms, glaring at him. "What are you doing here?"

Renzo shrugged, flopping onto the couch. "I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd drop by."

Noah's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything. Lila could tell that something was off—more than usual. Renzo seemed unusually chipper, his eyes darting between the two of them like he was waiting for something to happen.

"You two look tense," Renzo remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," Noah replied quickly, his voice edged with irritation.

Lila wasn't in the mood for Renzo's games. "If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Noah alone."

Renzo's smirk widened. "Ooo, touchy subject. What, did Noah finally tell you about his little secret?"

Lila's heart stopped. She looked at Renzo, her mouth dry. "You... you know?"

Renzo leaned back, his arms spread wide across the couch. "Of course, I know. I know everything about our dear Noah here."

Noah shot Renzo a warning look, but it was too late. Renzo was already enjoying himself far too much. Lila felt a knot tighten in her chest. How many people knew about Noah's secret? How deep did this deception go?

"Well," Renzo continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "it's not like it's easy to hide being a billionaire's kid. Especially when you've got more money than some small countries. But, hey, Noah's always been good at pretending to be just like everyone else. Isn't that right, buddy?"

Lila's stomach churned. So it was true. Everything Eli had said. Noah wasn't the person she thought he was.

Noah's voice was tight with frustration. "Renzo, shut up."

But Renzo wasn't done. "Come on, Lila, didn't you ever wonder why Noah could afford that fancy car of his? Or why his parents are always conveniently 'away on business'? It's because they own half of New York."

Lila felt sick. She had trusted Noah, believed every word he said. And now, it felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her.

She turned to Noah, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Noah's shoulders sagged, and for the first time, he looked vulnerable. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could answer, Renzo chuckled, shaking his head.

"Don't be too hard on him, Lila. After all, he's just trying to keep you safe. From people like me."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, and Lila felt the weight of the truth pressing down on her, suffocating her.