Rhythm Of Deceit

Chapter 27: Lines Crossed

The next few days passed in a blur. I threw myself into my studies, clinging to any semblance of normalcy I could find. But no matter how much I tried to focus, Rio’s message haunted me, lingering in the back of my mind like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart would leap, only to plummet when I saw it was just a notification or a message from Lily or Adler.

Despite his promise to back off, Rio’s presence lingered everywhere, an invisible tension threading through every corner of my life. And it wasn’t just the messages. Friends whispered in hushed tones as I passed, their gazes flickering with curiosity. Sofia’s blog hadn’t posted any updates, but rumors spread like wildfire. It was like everyone was waiting for the next chapter of a story that wasn’t even theirs.

One afternoon, I was sitting in the library with Lily, attempting to study for an upcoming exam, when Julian appeared, his expression tense.

“You two need to come with me. Now,” he said, his voice low but urgent.

Lily and I exchanged a worried glance before gathering our things and following him out of the library. Julian led us to a quiet spot by the campus gardens, where Adler was already waiting, pacing nervously.

“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling a prickle of anxiety.

Adler looked at me, his face a mixture of anger and concern. “Aniya… Sofia posted something new.”

I felt my stomach drop. “What did she say?”

Julian pulled out his phone, scrolling through the blog post before holding it out for me to see. My heart raced as I read the headline:

*"Exclusive: Aniya Valdez Caught in a Dangerous Love Triangle—Is Adler’s Life at Risk?"*

The blog went on to describe, in vivid and exaggerated detail, my “conflicted feelings” between Adler and Rio. Sofia had twisted everything, painting Rio as a tragic figure who’d been pushed to the edge, with Adler cast as the rival who might end up in harm’s way. She even hinted that the recent stalking incidents might be connected to this “love triangle,” fueling the idea that someone could be targeting Adler out of jealousy.

My hands shook as I finished reading, and I looked up at Adler, horrified. “This isn’t true! She’s making it sound like—like this is some kind of game, like Rio is some tragic hero.”

Adler clenched his fists, his voice tight. “This has gone too far. Sofia is spreading lies, and now she’s putting us all in danger.”

Lily put a comforting hand on my shoulder, her expression sympathetic. “Sofia has crossed a line. This isn’t just gossip anymore—it’s reckless.”

Julian nodded. “We need to shut her down. There has to be a way to make her stop.”

Adler took a deep breath, calming himself before looking at me. “I’ve already talked to Detective James. He’s aware of the situation, and he’s going to have a conversation with Sofia about the consequences of spreading harmful rumors. But Aniya… you need to be careful. If Rio sees this, it could make things worse.”

I nodded, my mind racing with worry. Rio wasn’t one to let things go, and if he saw this post… I couldn’t even imagine what he might do.

Later that night, after everyone had gone back to their dorms, I sat alone in my room, staring at my phone. A part of me wanted to reach out to Rio, to explain that Sofia’s post was just a rumor, that none of it was true. But I knew that contacting him would only give him more reason to hold on, to believe that there was still something left between us.

Instead, I decided to send a message to Sofia. I kept it short and straightforward, hoping that a direct approach might make her realize the damage she was causing.

*"Sofia, please take down the post. You’re hurting people with these lies. This isn’t a game."*

I waited anxiously for a response, but hours passed, and nothing came. The silence only heightened my sense of dread, making it hard to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Rio’s face, the intensity of his stare, the way he’d promised never to give up.

The next morning, I awoke to another notification on my phone. It was from Sofia, her response as cold and unyielding as ever:

*"If you don’t want people talking, maybe you should be more careful about who you get involved with."*

Frustration bubbled up inside me, but I knew arguing with Sofia would get me nowhere. I turned off my phone and threw myself into the day, hoping that somehow, the chaos would settle on its own.

But as I walked through campus, I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I was being watched. I turned around, my eyes scanning the crowd, but saw no one out of the ordinary. Still, the sensation persisted, a prickling on the back of my neck that wouldn’t go away.

That afternoon, I found a small note slipped into my locker. My heart pounded as I unfolded it, my hands trembling slightly.

*“I told you I wouldn’t let you go.”*

I stared at the note, bile rising in my throat. The message was unmistakably from Rio. Despite everything I’d said, despite the boundaries I’d tried to set, he was still clinging on, refusing to let go. And now, with Sofia’s blog fueling his delusions, there was no telling what he might do next.

I clutched the note tightly, the paper crumpling in my fist as a wave of fear washed over me. This wasn’t just about me and Adler anymore. Sofia’s rumors had sparked a dangerous fire, one that threatened to consume everyone involved.

That evening, I met with Adler, Julian, and Lily to show them the note. Adler’s face darkened as he read it, and he looked at me with a fierce determination.

“This has to stop,” he said, his voice low but filled with conviction. “Rio isn’t just crossing boundaries—he’s breaking them. And if Sofia doesn’t see the consequences of what she’s doing, she’ll keep pushing him over the edge.”

Julian nodded. “We need to be careful. Rio’s obsession with you, Aniya—it’s not normal. And with Sofia fueling his fantasies… I’m worried about what he might do.”

Lily put her arm around me, giving me a comforting squeeze. “We’re all here for you, Aniya. You’re not alone in this.”

I felt a swell of gratitude for my friends, their unwavering support giving me strength. But as we sat there, discussing what our next steps should be, a gnawing fear settled deep within me. Rio wasn’t going to let go easily, and Sofia had only made things worse.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the campus, I realized that I was in deeper than I’d ever imagined. And unless we found a way to stop Rio and silence Sofia, this twisted story would only spiral further out of control.

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End of Chapter 27

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