LIANAThe soft glow of the TV cast a gentle light across the cozy hotel room, which was perfect for a night of Netflix and solitude. Curled up under the warm duvet, I was halfway through an episode when a knock on the door interrupted the peaceful ambiance."Who is it?" I called out, not bothering to move from my comfortable nest on the bed."It's me, Zaylen," his voice came through the door.My heart sank a little at the sound of his name.What was he doing here now? What did he want? Was he here to lecture me again how dumb I sounded to him?My mood instantly soured. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. I wanted to yell at him, of course, but that wouldn't be an adult way to handle things, now would it?"Go away!" I retorted, my voice firm but laced with a touch of hurt."Liana, I am so sorry. Please, let me in," Zaylen pleaded.Okay, so he wasn't here to lecture me again. That was a relief. If he were, I swear…I sighed, torn between wanting to stay mad and wanting to hear what

LIANAI stirred in the warmth of Zaylen's embrace, feeling his strong arms around me. For a moment, I was content, safe in his protective hold. But something nagged at me, pulling me from the edges of sleep. With cautious movements, I slipped out of his arms, careful not to wake him. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the curtains as I made my way to the balcony.The night air was cool against my skin as I settled into a chair, gazing up at the thin sliver of the moon hanging in the sky. Its pale light cast a melancholic glow over everything, as if it too carried the weight of unanswered questions."Hi, Moon Goddess," I whispered, the words feeling strange and foreign on my tongue. "You know, it's a little strange for me to suddenly start believing in you. But Zaylen and the others do. They have faith in you. And I… I have faith in them. So I will trust them on this as well."Leaning back, I let out a sigh, my breath mingling with the crisp night air. "They

LIANAThe next day, I sat at my desk in the office, unable to shake the nagging feeling that Lara was behind all this. Every file I opened, every email I read, the thought kept creeping back into my mind. I wanted to ask Zaylen for help, but I knew he wouldn’t support this hunch without some legit evidence.I glanced around the office, my eyes scanning for someone who might be able to help. Just then, I spotted Sara entering the room, her presence sparking a sense of hope within me.I stood up and walked over to her. "Sara, can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked with an innocent smile.She looked up, a bit surprised but nodded. "Sure, Lia. What’s up?"“Actually, I need a tiny bit of help from you,” I uttered, grinning at her sheepishly.She arched an eyebrow, scanning my expression. “Are you sure it is a tiny help?” “Uh… well, first hear me out,” I urged.“Fine.” She pulled a chair and sat next to me. “Tell me. What do you have in your mind?” I sucked in a deep breath and starte

LIANAAs Sara kept driving, I stared out the window, lost in thought, until she broke the silence."You know," she began, her voice tentative, "if we show up looking like ourselves, Lara might take notice of us easily. We should probably get some disguises."I turned to her, considering the idea. "Disguises? Like wigs and stuff?"Sara nodded, her eyes bright with determination. "Exactly. We need to blend in, not stand out."I mulled it over for a moment before nodding. "You are right. Let's do it."Sara grinned and took a sharp turn, heading toward the nearest shopping mall. "This is going to be fun."We parked the car and made our way into the bustling mall, the cool air conditioning a welcome relief from the summer heat. The mall was alive with activity, people milling about, the sounds of chatter and laughter filling the air.Our first stop was a quirky little costume shop tucked away in a corner of the mall. As we stepped inside, the vibrant colors and eclectic array of costumes

LIANA"What are you two doing here?" I blurted out, my voice betraying a mixture of surprise and anxiety.Zaylen's expression was a mix of concern and disapproval as he glanced between Sara and me. "We can ask you both the same question," he replied evenly, his voice tinged with a hint of reproach. "Weren't you about to have a fun girls’ night with Sara? Is this your idea of fun?"Zaylen's protective instincts were as sharp as ever, and I knew we had some explaining to do.Before I could respond, Jordan stepped forward, his presence adding another layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere. "No, Zay, you are wrong," he interjected smoothly, his voice calm but laced with a hint of amusement. "They were just about to chill at home and binge-watch movies."Zaylen nodded with a mocking smile. “Oh, right. They both told us different things."I exchanged a panicked glance with Sara, our disguises suddenly feeling flimsy under the scrutiny of our significant others. James might not