TWO HEART ONE STAGE

Blanc

private will eventuall

ideo kept playing-her face flushed and laughing, tangled in Korex's arms. Her voice,

. What could I say? A week ago, I would've fought for her. Lied

e gone all the time, and Korex-he listened

e button. I didn't want to hear another second, but I h

Don't worry. If he steps out of line, I'll bury

argue. She d

us like a chasm. She reached for me. "Marc-" I stepped bac

why did you stay with

t to the press. I didn't know how to tell you

cated? You think betrayal i

er face. "I stil

ne you love. You protect them." She called after me, her voice trembling, but I

wanted to. Bec

his twisted little game-I memorized it. I felt it burn

a plan. I sent the video to Raymond, ou

. "It'll ruin Sophie. And s

y about to trade Sophie'

was lighting a cigare

next day, I went to Korex's studio. Not to fight. No

ke a deal." He raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening." "Delete everything. All of it. The foo

Sophie's face. His

ou're bluffing," he said. I smiled coldly. "Try me." He picked

hink this cle

name anymore. I care

urn everything. Yours. Mine. Hers. We all go down." Korex stared at me

videos disappeared f

e whispers. But silen

till hadn

licker across the skyline like broken promises. My mother

creaked open. Maurice stepped out, h

saw the interview," he said quietly. I st

know." He wal

e cracked somewhere deep

y to sing aga

what?" "About how we stop being twins

e. But he didn

c. But it was something. Three days later, a

n in ink that bled s

this story isn't over." Tap

wasn't from the past. It was recent

ric

s phone was buzzing nonstop. But he wasn't there. That was the problem. Marc never left his phone. Not eve

eight. I sat at the keyboard and pressed

she told me she needed time to "clear her he

ueezing in strange places, like it cou

slowly. Eyes red. No sunglasses. No jokes. Just

threw his phone onto the table. "Korex is lying. I didn

asn't true. But... I don't know anymore. I want to b

"Marc, are you

I don't know how to hold it together anymore." This wasn't the brother who always knew what to say. T

ie. "We need to talk

e, then at the messa

d. "What does sh

feeling we were about to find out.