Chapter 16


    Matt lowered his head, and Miranda, feeling the hint in his touch, slowly closed her eyes and leaned in


    closer.


    Just as their lips were about to meet, Matt’s mind wandered unexpectedly. Xan had not contacted him


    all day, which was unusual, and she hadn’te home yet. Where could she be?


    The brief pause made the atmosphere awkward. Losing the mood, Matt let go of Miranda, who quickly


    straightened up. “Sorry, Matt, I got a little carried away there.”


    Her voice was soft, and her fingers nervously dug into her palm. He had seemed so lost in the moment-


    why did he pull away? She had worked so hard to seduce him, even made the first move, and still, she


    couldn’tpete with Xan’s ce in his heart?


    “It’s alright, it’s a bit chilly out here; maybe we should head inside to the living room?” Matt suggested.


    Just as Xanthea was about to capture the moment on her phone, she saw them part. How unfortunate.


    She frowned and moved closer, catching snippets of their conversation.


    “Maybe not,” Miranda said, looking down and biting her lip. “Once Xan gets back, you won’t have time


    for me.”


    “Why would you think that?”


    “I asked you out because I’ve been really stressed about the finals of The Masked Singer, and talking


    to you always helps. You saidst night you’de to the show to support me, was that true?”


    “Of course, I’ve never backed out of a promise to you.”


    Xanthea listened attentively, though feeling disgusted about it, and ended the essential details.


    The Masked Singer? That rang a bell.


    up picking c


    Miranda had dropped out of Kingswood Academy two years ago and, through family connections,


    entered the entertainment industry. Despite herck of formal training an surviving on the fringes of


    fame, a lucky break on The Masked Singer propelled her to stardom with her performance of “Whispers


    in the Dark”-a song Xanthea had helped he craft.


    photos captured at the tinum


    But her memory wasn’t from that. It was the scandalous Hotel after the finals, showing Matt and


    Miranda in apromising position. The details had been so clear, and even the room number was


    visible in the tabloids. Matt had


    brushed it off with a simple excuse-‘Miranda had twisted her ankle, and he was just helping her’-an


    exnation so flimsy that it wasughable.


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    Chapter 16


    Now, it was clear they had nned to meet up after the show, and their affair was hidden. under the


    guise offort and support.


    Xanthea’s thoughts turned dark with a vengeful idea.


    October 6th was the day she and Matt were supposed to have gotten engaged in another. life. What if


    on that day, she exposed Matt and Miranda’s scandalous affair on the big screen at their engagement


    party? For Matt, who prized his image above all else, it would be a humiliation worse than death.


    As for Miranda.


    Only in her final moments did Xanthea realize how venomous her stepsister had been; she was always


    lurking, pretending to be the innocent flower while plotting to take over her life.


    She decided then and there that she would never let Miranda rise above her. She would keep her firmly


    beneath her, always dependent on her, and always lesser.


    Returning to the living room, Xanthea found Matt and Miranda already seated, chatting with Ethan and


    Samuel, who looked puzzled at herte arrival. “Xan, where did your You disappeared the moment we


    got here.”


    “Just a little stomach trouble,” Xanthea replied smoothly.


    Miranda immediately showed concern. “Xan, are you okay? Did you eat something bad?”


    Xanthea smirked internally; it’s not because of bad food, but a distasteful revtion. I’m fine, really.”


    Susanna chimed in, “Xan,e over. Matt’s been waiting to talk to you.”


    “Xan,” Matt approached with concern, “Where did you go today? You didn’t text, and I w getting


    worried.”


    “Was I?” Xanthea could barely hide her disdain. “I was out helping Samuel pick a birthd gift for his new


    girlfriend.”


    Samuel was caught off guard, and Ethan, left out of the lie, exchanged confused looks.


    Susanna was perplexed; Xanthea had told her that she was attending the event earlier.


    gem betting


    Matt, trying to change the subject, mentioned, I’ve got our tickets to Willowdale. We can head out


    anytime in the next few days.”


    Willowdale? The trip they had nned seemed like a distant memory now: How could she possibly go,


    knowing what she knew?


    “No need, Matt. It was just a joke, don’t take it too seriously. I heard that the Martinez


    Group is busy with a big contract with Samuel’spany. You must be swamped.”


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    Chapter 16


    Her words hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the light-hearted ns they once. made, now


    overshadowed by betrayal and secrets.


    The unexpected refusal caused Matthew to freeze mid-motion as he was pulling out his wallet.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    14:56