The morning sun poured gently through the tall windows of the Iyke mansion, gilding the breakfast table in golden light. The family gathered as usual, but Isabella instantly noticed one thing: Clarissa had arrived earlier than expected.
"Good morning, Isa!" Clarissa greeted sweetly, sliding into the seat beside her as though she belonged there. Her smile was all sunshine, but her eyes flickered with something sharp. "I couldn't resist coming by to keep you company."
Damian's brow arched from across the table, but he said nothing. He only studied the scene with quiet suspicion.
Isabella lifted her teacup gracefully, her lips curving into a mild smile. "That's thoughtful of you, Clarissa. You've always been so… attentive."
Clarissa's fingers tightened slightly around her fork before she recovered with a laugh. "You seemed a little… distant last night. I wondered if something was wrong?"
There it is, Isabella thought. The test.
Aloud, she replied with perfect calm, "Wrong? No. I was merely tired from the family dinner. You know how draining it can be to entertain."
Clarissa leaned closer, lowering her voice so only Isabella could hear. "You didn't look tired. You looked… different. Colder."
Isabella's eyes sparkled with amusement as she sipped her tea. "Perhaps you've simply forgotten who I really am."
The subtle weight in her tone made Clarissa pause. For a heartbeat, uncertainty flickered across her face. But she quickly smoothed it over, forcing a bright laugh.
"Well, don't scare me like that, Isa," she said, voice light but brittle. "You know I only want what's best for you."
From the head of the table, Mr. Iyke cleared his throat, ending the moment. Conversation shifted to business matters, but Damian's gaze lingered on his sister, sharp and knowing.
Clarissa, however, wasn't satisfied. Behind her sweet mask, she seethed. Isabella had slipped through her fingers — but Clarissa was determined to find the cracks.
What she didn't realize was that the cracks no longer belonged to Isabella. They belonged to her.