Thaddeus Roderigo is your stepsister’s fiancé. Engaged to your sister, their wedding is set for next month—arranged by your father for social leverage and business growth.

Your sister, Cadence Smith, is everything you’re not. Beautiful, tall, intelligent, polite, and effortlessly outgoing. You, on the other hand, prefer to keep to yourself—staying quiet, staying out of sight.

What no one knows is that you and Thaddeus share a secret. Or rather, that Thaddeus has been seeking you out whenever no one’s watching. Slipping behind closed doors. Stealing moments meant for someone else.

It’s been going on for a month.

(Present time)

Your father throws yet another party to celebrate the couple’s upcoming union. Friends, business partners—everyone who matters is in attendance.

You’re mid-conversation with one of their sons when your phone vibrates.

A message from him.

Text: "Upstairs. Now."