The Hayes mansion is alive with the sound of laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the low buzz of whispered conversations. This isn’t just a party; it’s a statement. Valentina Hayes likes to remind everyone that she and her siblings are the ones pulling the strings in this city.
Hades Hayes leans against the marble kitchen counter, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, his eyes fixed on the doorway. He knows exactly who’s out there—his twin, Valentina, charming their guests with her smooth smiles and wicked words. And somewhere in the crowd is Alexander.
Valentina’s voice crackles over the intercom, laughter laced with a dark edge. “Welcome to our kingdom, bitches!” she announces, and there’s an uproar of cheers. Hades feels a mix of admiration and resentment; his sister knows how to command a room.
***Valentina’s Grand Entrance***
Valentina struts through the main hall like she owns the place. And in a way, she does. Draped in an elegant black dress, with Erika Jones—a striking brunette with an attitude to match—by her side, Val looks like royalty surveying her kingdom.
“You look hot, babe,” Erika murmurs, slipping a hand around Val’s waist. Val smirks, planting a quick kiss on Erika’s lips, uncaring of the stares from guests who are still trying to figure out if Valentina’s bisexuality is real or just another power move.
“Fuck ‘em,” Val whispers to Erika, who laughs.
Across the room, Kolby lounges on the couch, looking every bit the disinterested teenage prince. Emma and Nia, his best friends, are perched beside him, and the three of them are sharing a laugh that seems almost conspiratorial.
“You seeing this shit?” Emma snorts, gesturing towards Val and Erika.
Kolby rolls his eyes. “She always has to make everything about her. I swear, if Val could turn her fucking shadow into a personal spotlight, she would.”
“Maybe she’s jealous of yours,” Nia teases, throwing an arm over Kolby’s shoulders.
“Yeah, right,” Kolby mutters, though there’s a hint of a smirk on his face. He’s grown used to living in Val’s shadow, but that doesn’t mean he likes it.
***Hades and Alexander: A Moment***
Hades takes a deep breath, steeling himself. There’s no way to prepare for seeing Alexander again after all these years. But Hades isn’t looking for comfort—he’s looking for closure.
As he steps into the main hall, the noise of the party feels distant. His eyes lock onto Alexander, standing by the pool with Sarah and Jacob. Hades tries to ignore the twisting feeling in his gut, but it’s hard to forget the boy who used to be his friend, and maybe more.
Alexander looks different—taller, broader, more confident. His dark curls are a little longer, and there’s a small, teasing smirk on his face as he talks with Sarah. Hades almost turns around, but something pulls him forward.
“Alexander,” he says, his voice hoarse.
Alexander turns, eyes widening slightly in surprise. Then that smile returns, soft and familiar. “Hades. Long time, huh?”
Hades forces a smirk. “Yeah, you could say that.”
They stand there in awkward silence, as if ten years of memories are pressing down on them. It’s not just the summer they met—it’s everything that came after, everything that could have been.
“Still hanging around with Val?” Alexander asks, half-joking, but there’s an edge to his tone.
Hades chuckles darkly. “Still running the show, you mean?”
“You don’t have to let her, you know,” Alexander replies, voice low and almost gentle.
But before Hades can respond, Valentina’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife.
“Hades!” she calls, and it’s not a request. Hades clenches his jaw, trying not to let the anger show.
“I should…” he begins, but Alexander grabs his arm, stopping him.
“Wait. Don’t let her—”
“Alexander,” Hades interrupts, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t know what she’s like.”
Alexander’s grip tightens for a moment, and for the first time, Hades sees something in his eyes that looks almost like regret. “Maybe I do,” Alexander says quietly.
But then, Val is there, her smile all teeth and venom. “I thought I told you to come inside,” she says to Hades, not even looking at Alexander. “We’ve got guests to entertain.”
Hades opens his mouth to argue, but Val’s expression leaves no room for disobedience. He knows better than to test her in front of others.
“Yeah, whatever,” he mutters, turning away from Alexander. As he walks back into the mansion, he can feel Val’s eyes burning into his back.
***The Hayes Family Drama***
Across the room, Kolby watches the scene with a bitter grin. “Here we go again,” he mutters under his breath. Emma and Nia exchange knowing looks.
“Your sister is a control freak,” Emma says, not even trying to hide her disdain.
Kolby just shrugs. “You think I don’t know that?”
“You could stand up to her,” Nia suggests.
Kolby laughs humorlessly. “And what? Make my life even more of a living hell?”
Up on the staircase, Allison watches the Hayes siblings with a pained expression. She’s always been on the outside looking in, labeled as “the adopted one” ever since she was brought into the family. Val and Kolby never let her forget it.
“You’re only making things worse, you know,” she mutters under her breath, knowing no one’s listening. Hades has always been her only ally in this house, but even he’s slipping further and further away.
***End of the Night***
The party winds down, but the tension in the mansion is at an all-time high. Val retreats to her room with Erika, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. Kolby and his friends disappear somewhere upstairs, laughing and whispering like they’re planning their next act of rebellion.
Hades sits alone in his room, replaying his conversation with Alexander in his head. There’s a knock at his door, and when he opens it, Allison is standing there, looking worried.
“Hades,” she says softly, “are you okay?”
He doesn’t answer right away, but then he nods, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Bullshit,” Allison replies, crossing her arms. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”
For a moment, Hades feels like he’s about to break, but then he remembers Val’s voice, the warnings she’s drilled into him over the years. He can’t afford to let his guard down—not even with Allison.
“I’m fine,” he repeats, his voice colder this time. Allison looks at him for a long moment before nodding and leaving without another word.
Hades leans back against the door, closing his eyes. He knows he’s lying to himself, but he can’t seem to stop.
***The Morning After***
Hades wakes up to the sound of his phone buzzing. It’s a text from Alexander:
“We need to talk.”
Hades stares at the message for a long time, the words blurring together. He knows that everything has changed, but he’s not sure if he’s ready to face what comes next.
To be continued...
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Everything Has Changed
RomansaWhat happens when Hades Hayes, long controlled by his powerful twin sister Valentina, finally encounters his childhood crush, Alexander, ten years later? Will everything change between the wealthy Hayes twins as Hades breaks free and confronts burie...