Part 2: Chaos Triangle

This chapter was pure chaos and I loved every second of writing it. Julian kissing Alexander came out of nowhere but also felt completely inevitable—Julian’s the type to use physical intimacy as a weapon when words aren’t getting the reaction he wants. Alexander’s response tells us everything about the complexity of their relationship. And Isabella walking away from the whole mess? Perfect. She’s starting to realize that both boys come with way more drama than she bargained for. The revelation about the chandelier being sabotage raises the stakes significantly—someone at Ashwick is willing to commit murder, and Julian’s cavalier attitude about it suggests this isn’t the first threat he’s faced. The game is getting darker, and Isabella’s caught right in the middle of it.