Rhythm Of Deceit

Chapter 26: Cracks in the Foundation

The meeting with Detective James was brief but reassuring. He listened carefully as Adler and I recounted everything that had happened with Rio, including the stalking incidents and Sofia’s relentless digging. Detective James promised to look into it, offering me a sense of security I hadn’t felt in weeks. For the first time, I felt like maybe there was a light at the end of this confusing, exhausting ordeal.

But as much as I wanted to feel relieved, Rio’s words from our last conversation lingered in the back of my mind, casting shadows over every hopeful thought. His intense stare, the way he’d looked at me as if he couldn’t imagine letting go—those memories haunted me, and I wondered if I’d ever truly be free of him.

Later that day, I met up with Lily and Julian to fill them in. We sat on the grassy lawn outside the student center, the sun warm on our backs as I spoke. Adler was with us too, his presence a constant, steady comfort.

“Wow, Aniya,” Lily said, looking both concerned and relieved. “I can’t believe you finally told Rio to back off. I was starting to think you’d never get away from him.”

“Me too,” I admitted, letting out a shaky laugh. “But it wasn’t easy. And I’m not sure he’s actually going to respect my boundaries. He’s… persistent.”

Julian frowned, his usually relaxed expression darkening. “The guy doesn’t know how to take a hint, does he? Honestly, I don’t trust him one bit. If you ask me, Rio’s hiding something big.”

Lily nodded in agreement. “I’ve heard rumors about him too, but I never wanted to say anything until now. I just felt like it wasn’t my place to interfere.”

Adler put a hand on my shoulder, his gaze steady. “You did what you had to do, Aniya. Whatever happens now, at least you know you stood your ground.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the four of us, feeling a sense of unity and relief that we’d made it through this latest hurdle together. But as much as I wanted to believe that things were finally calming down, a nagging feeling of unease kept tugging at me.

Just as I was about to suggest we grab something to eat, Sofia’s voice cut through the air like a knife.

“Well, well,” she said, crossing her arms as she sauntered over to us with a smirk. “If it isn’t the stars of Southland’s latest scandal. Mind if I join?”

Julian rolled his eyes. “You really don’t know when to quit, do you, Sofia?”

Sofia ignored him, her gaze locked on me. “Actually, I was just curious if you wanted to share your side of the story, Aniya. You know, before the rumor mill runs wild. I’d hate for anyone to think you’re playing both Adler and Rio at the same time.”

My heart sank at her words, anger rising in my chest. “I’m not playing anyone, Sofia. This is my life—not a story for you to twist around and post on your blog.”

She gave a careless shrug. “Suit yourself. But you have to admit, you’re in a bit of a messy situation. People are bound to talk, especially with how close you’ve been to both of them.”

“Enough, Sofia,” Adler snapped, standing up and stepping protectively in front of me. “You’ve crossed the line.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his reaction. “Relax, Adler. I’m just doing my job. But if you want me to back off, then maybe you should give me something real to work with instead of these rumors.”

I could feel my fists clenching, the frustration building inside me. I had had enough of Sofia’s meddling, enough of her attempts to turn my life into some twisted soap opera for her readers.

But before I could respond, Julian stood up, his expression deadly serious. “You’re the one spreading rumors, Sofia. And if you keep this up, you’ll be the one people are talking about.”

Sofia’s smirk faltered, a flash of surprise crossing her face as Julian’s words hit home. She glanced around at each of us, perhaps realizing she’d pushed too far. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, though I could tell she wasn’t done with her “investigation” yet.

Lily let out a relieved sigh as Sofia disappeared into the distance. “That girl has some nerve.”

I nodded, feeling the tension start to fade. “I just want to live my life without everyone watching my every move. Is that too much to ask?”

Julian put a comforting arm around my shoulders. “We’ll figure this out, Aniya. No one’s going to believe Sofia if we stick together.”

But even as we walked away from the lawn, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get worse. The world around me felt like it was tilting, the lines between reality and rumor blurring in ways I could no longer control. And Rio… wherever he was, I had a feeling he wasn’t going to let me go as easily as he’d promised.

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That evening, Adler walked me back to my dorm, his presence comforting in the quiet stillness of campus at dusk. As we strolled along the winding path, he glanced over at me, his expression thoughtful.

“Aniya,” he began, his voice hesitant. “I just want you to know… whatever happens, I’ll always be here for you. Whether it’s Rio or Sofia or anyone else, you’re not alone in this.”

I looked up at him, touched by the sincerity in his words. “Thank you, Adler. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Sometimes I wish things could be simpler, that we could just… start over, without all this drama.”

I knew what he meant. The connection we shared had been overshadowed by all the chaos surrounding us, by Rio’s obsession and Sofia’s prying. And yet, despite everything, Adler had stayed by my side, a constant source of support.

As we reached my dorm building, he took a deep breath, as if gathering his courage. “Aniya, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

But before he could finish, my phone buzzed, interrupting the moment. I glanced down, my stomach tightening as I saw Rio’s name flashing on the screen.

Adler’s expression darkened. “You don’t have to answer that.”

But part of me felt compelled to, even if I knew it was a bad idea. I hesitated, then tapped to open the message. A single sentence filled the screen:

*“I’m not giving up on us, Aniya. Not now, not ever.”*

A chill ran down my spine, and Adler leaned closer to read the message over my shoulder. His jaw clenched, and he looked at me with a mixture of anger and concern.

“He’s not letting go, is he?”

I shook my head, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. “No… he’s not.”

Adler placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out, Aniya. Rio won’t control your life anymore. I’ll make sure of it.”

I met his gaze, grateful for his unwavering support. But even as I leaned into his comforting presence, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to spiral even further out of control.

And as I stood there in the fading light, a new question began to gnaw at me: *What lengths would Rio go to in order to keep his grip on me? And was I truly prepared to face the consequences of my choices?*

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End of Chapter 26

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