The hallway felt colder than before.
Caspian stood frozen, her mind replaying her mother's words again and again.
"She isn't even my real daughter."
The sentence refused to leave her head.
Slowly, she turned toward Riven.
"You knew," she said quietly.
Riven didn't answer immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on her, calm but heavy.
"That's not important right now."
Caspian let out a bitter laugh.
"Not important?" she said. "My whole life just turned into a lie and you think that's not important?"
Riven stepped closer.
"I was trying to protect you."
"By lying?"
"By waiting."
Caspian shook her head, anger and confusion mixing together.
"Then stop waiting," she said. "Tell me the truth."
For a moment, the silence between them stretched painfully.
Then Riven spoke.
"Your mother didn't lie about everything."
Caspian frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"She did raise you," he said. "But she didn't choose you."
Caspian felt her chest tighten.
"Then who did?"
Riven's gaze darkened.
"People far more powerful than her."
The words sent a chill down her spine.
"Why?"
Riven hesitated.
And that hesitation made Caspian's heart race even faster.
"What are you not telling me?" she demanded.
Before Riven could answer, the door behind Caspian suddenly opened.
Her mother stepped into the hallway.
Her face was pale, but her voice was steady.
"So," she said quietly.
"You finally heard the truth."
Caspian turned slowly.
"No," she replied.
"I only heard the beginning."
Her mother's eyes moved from Caspian… to Riven.
For a brief moment, something like fear crossed her expression.
"You," she whispered.
Riven didn't react.
But the air around them felt heavier.
"Looks like your secret didn't stay buried," Riven said calmly.
Caspian looked between them, confusion growing.
"You two know each other?"
Neither of them answered.
And that silence said everything.
Caspian felt the ground shift beneath her again.
"Someone better start explaining," she said.
Because now it was clear.
The lies weren't just about her past.
They were about everyone standing in this hallway.