The lights in the Solara Suite dimmed in response to her steps—subtle, seamless, almost ceremonial.
Aria crossed into the bedroom barefoot, her graphite loungewear draped like liquid shadow, spun from some impossibly soft Avalon blend that whispered royalty in every fold.
Her hair remained untouched by time or tension, cascading like she hadn't just dismantled the system's expectations a few hours earlier.
She moved toward the curved window alcove, one hand brushing the wall's edge.
The shades melted open to reveal Avalon's nightscape—silver-lit towers and bioluminescent gardens breathing in sync below.
A perfect view, untouched by consequence.
Behind her, Aiden stood before the Styleforge panel.
He didn't need to ask; the system already recognized his arrival.
Styleforge synced silently, pulling his profile and—
perhaps sensing the sentiment in the air—rendered a matching set.
Same color palette. Same design memory.
A quiet echo of the sleepwear they used to wear as children—only now, elevated.
A soft nod to the past—refined, reframed, and quietly perfect.
It reminded Aria—just for a breath—of when they were small.
Before sleepovers had names or needed planning.
Back when sleeping together meant safety, not separation.
Aiden would wander in with a half-wired gadget or some absurd prototype, trailing sparks and certainty.
She'd sigh theatrically, roll her eyes with perfect disdain—then quietly cancel everything else just to be near it. Near him.
They were never alike.
Not even close.
But being twins didn't require sameness.
What they shared ran quieter, deeper—like an echo beneath thought.
Sometimes, it felt like Aiden could catch her unfinished thoughts mid-flight.
Like her memories played in sync with his.
Like he could hear the words she hadn't said yet... and answer them anyway.
And she—she could read the silence between his words like subtitles only she was fluent in.
The tilt of his shoulders. The pause before a breath.
She knew when his mind spiraled, even when his face stayed still.
It wasn't magic. It was memory.
Layered, lifelong, and unmistakably theirs.
A connection that didn't need explaining—only space to resurface.
Of course, growing up meant growing apart.
Avalon had only accelerated the drift—separate Suites, clashing schedules, and days where even a shared meal required confirmation and intent. What used to happen effortlessly now felt like logistics.
But this—this moment, unplanned yet perfectly timed—felt like slipping back into an earlier version of them.
Not better.
Just... real.
They lived in a kind of luxury that bordered on science fiction—AI-rendered designer robes tailored to mood and biometrics, atmospheres that shifted with a glance, and luxurious meals curated by the world's top chefs delivered in minutes, at any hour, without hesitation.
YOU ARE READING
Valmont Series - Inheritance Code
Teen FictionWhat if your perfect life was just a rehearsal? On their twelfth birthday, Aria and Aiden Lancaster wake expecting luxury, freedom, and the future they were promised. Instead, they're given an ultimatum: Leave everything behind - their friends, thei...
