Outside, the air was heavy with tension.
Adrien slipped into his sleek black car, already revving the engine like he had somewhere important to be or something dramatic to say. Alex turned to head toward his own garage, but Adrien called out lazily from the driver's seat.
"No need," he said. "Get in. I want to talk."
Alex narrowed his eyes but changed course, sliding into the passenger seat beside his twin. The door clicked shut, and the engine purred louder as Adrien pulled away from the mansion.
Alex leaned back, arms folded. "What do you want to say?"
Adrien didn't answer right away. He chuckled instead, a low, mocking sound that already grated on Alex's nerves.
"So..." Adrien began, trying and failing to suppress a grin. "Simon's the one who did this to you, huh? Turned you into a pathetic little mess."
He laughed out loud this time, eyes flicking between the road and his brother.
"You look like the worse version of me and we're twins, Alex. Twins." He barked out another laugh. "It's embarrassing."
Alex didn't respond. He rolled his eyes, jaw tightening. His silence only fueled Adrien's amusement.
"Alex vs. Simon," Adrien mused. "Simon with one hand, and you looking like you crawled out of a warzone with no dignity left. A crippled idiot versus a broken psycho, what a pair."
"Are you done?" Alex muttered.
Adrien shot him a look. "No, not even close."
Then his tone shifted, less playful now, more serious.
"So, you're really not going to tell her the truth, huh?" he asked. "That Simon didn't actually do what she thinks he did? That you let her believe a lie? That the real monster is still sitting next to her, pretending to be the hero?"
Alex's expression hardened.
"Watch your mouth," he growled.
But Adrien only smirked, unfazed.
"What? You gonna hit me now, too? Add me to the list of people you're trying to scare into silence?" He scoffed. "You're not scaring anyone, Alex. Least of all me."
Silence.
Then Adrien leaned closer, voice lower, cutting deeper.
"You want her to love you so badly, you'll burn every truth to ash and make Simon the villain. But the thing about lies, brother..." He tapped the steering wheel. "They don't stay buried forever."
Alex looked out the window, fists clenched, rage and guilt swirling like a storm behind his eyes.
He didn't respond.
Because he couldn't.
Because Adrien was right, and they both knew it.
----
Adrien glanced at Alex with a smirk playing on his lips, his tone mocking and carefree as he said, "Brother… if she eventually finds out that you're a psycho… can I have your blessing?", He chuckled softly, clearly enjoying himself. "I mean, someone's gotta comfort her when you go full maniac."
Alex's jaw clenched. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the side of the car door.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" he said quietly, venom lacing his voice.
Adrien didn't even pretend to deny it.
"Of course I am," he said, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Why wouldn't I be? My brother's new and soon-to-be ex girlfriend is hella cute and hot, and my twin is a lying, broken lunatic playing hero in a love story that's built on bullshit."
Alex turned sharply toward him, his stare cold, dangerous.
"Careful, Adrien," he warned. "You're pushing it."
But Adrien only leaned back against the driver's seat, grinning.
"No, you pushed it. The moment you decided to lie to her. The moment you decided Simon would take the fall for something he didn't do." He looked at Alex then, really looked at him.
"She loves you. And she's going to hate you for it."
Alex didn't respond. He couldn't. The silence inside the car suddenly felt louder than Adrien's taunts.
Adrien smiled wider, knowing he hit a nerve. "So just let me know, yeah? When she finds out… I'll be ready to swoop in."
Alex's voice was low, dangerous.
"If you go near her—"
Adrien cut him off with a soft laugh.
"Relax. I'm not stupid. But hey…" He turned his head, eyes narrowing slightly, "If I were her, I'd pick the brother who doesn't need therapy."
The engine purred beneath them as the car sped down the road.
But inside, everything between them was about to explode.
---
"I'm going to make things right... I'll make her love me and trust me completely, that when she finds out..."
Alex stared ahead, his voice barely a whisper, more like a promise to himself than to Adrien.
"She won't even be angry."
Adrien tilted his head slightly, his smirk fading just a little.
"Alright," he said, his tone now carrying a hint of seriousness,
"But let me give you a piece of advice." He paused. "Simon and Fiona… they're in the same hospital Mom is."
Alex's breath caught.
He turned sharply toward Adrien, eyes wide.
"Wait… WHAT?"
Adrien kept his eyes on the road, lips pressed together.
" They were brought in last night. Same floor, too. Apparently Fiona's still unconscious. Simon's being stitched up and pumped full of painkillers."
Alex looked like someone had punched him in the gut.
"Why the hell didn't anyone tell me this earlier?"
Adrien gave a dry laugh.
"Maybe because everyone's tired of your drama. Or maybe because you've got too many secrets flying around. Either way, keep Mom out of it. She doesn't know yet." He looked at Alex now, voice firm. "And she can't. You know what stress does to her."
Alex slumped slightly in his seat, rubbing his face with both hands. His voice came out low and cracked.
"I didn't mean for it to get this far."
Adrien scoffed. "No one ever does. But here we are. Simon's half broken, Fiona's unconscious, and you…"
He gestured at him with one hand.
"You're playing God with Ariel's heart."
Silence settled between them again. Heavy. Suffocating.
Then Adrien muttered,
"Fix it, Alex. Before someone else does it for you."