He saw him, standing confidently in front of Petal, his presence commanding the space around them. Chase's chest tightened as he watched his brother  moving  closer to her, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made Chase’s blood boil.

He extended extended his arms toward Petal, and to Chase’s horror, she mirrored the gesture. Her arms wrapped around his neck with an ease that felt too natural. The sight made Chase’s stomach churn.

.......

“No,” Chase whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

.......

He smirked, a smug, knowing expression that only deepened Chase's helplessness. Without hesitation, he lowered his head, burying his face into the curve of Petal’s neck, his lips grazing her skin as though staking his claim.

......

“No!” Chase’s voice broke through the stillness, raw and anguished.

He jolted awake,  his heart pounding violently in his chest. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he scrambled to sit up, realization crashing over him like a tidal wave.

“It was a dream,” he muttered, but the relief was fleeting. The image of Petal in the arms of his brother lingered in his mind, vivid and haunting.

“No. I can’t let it happen,” Chase said aloud, his voice firmer now. He pushed himself up from the cold floor, his body aching from the hours he’d spent lying there, trapped in his restless thoughts.

“I have to get out of here,” he said, his voice steadying with determination. “I have to stop him before he does anything to Petal. Before it’s too late.”

His eyes darted around the dimly lit room, scanning for anything that could help him escape.  his desperation fueling his strength.

“I have to find a way out,” Chase repeated, his voice a low growl. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of hope and strategy. “Petal needs me. I won’t let him take her ”

.......

He stood near the window, the sunlight streaming through the glass and casting a soft glow across his face. His gaze lowered to his arm, where her name was inked delicately into his skin—Petal. His fingers traced the letters slowly, his touch almost reverent, as if the tattoo itself was sacred.

"Petal," he whispered, letting the name roll off his tongue like a soft melody. A smile tugged at his lips, but there was a hint of something darker in his gaze. "What a beautiful name… it suits you perfectly."

His fingertips lingered over the ink, the bold yet elegant letters stark against his skin. It felt warm under his touch, as though the name held a life of its own. "You’re just like a rose petal," he murmured, his voice laced with a strange mix of admiration and obsession. "So delicate, so soft... so untouchable."

He pressed his hand against the tattoo, almost as if trying to connect to her through it.

His eyes drifted to the other tattoo on his arm, and just like that, his smile faded. Disappointment flickered across his face, his jaw tightening as he stared at it. "I wish I didn’t have to get her name tattooed too," he muttered, irritation clear in his tone.

With a frustrated sigh, he ran his fingers over the ink, tracing the letters with disdain. "But to copy him perfectly, I had no choice," he admitted, his voice dripping with annoyance. Yet, a sly smirk slowly curled his lips. "Still, it’s not all bad. Thank God I noticed it on you, Chase," he muttered, his tone mocking as if addressing his absent twin. "If I hadn’t seen it, your wife would’ve caught me the moment I pretended to be you. The missing tattoo would’ve given it all away."

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Attention to detail, Chase. That’s what separates me from you," he said smugly, his fingers brushing the tattoo one last time before pulling his sleeve down.

---

Flashback

It was moments before he planned to take Petal and leave, leaving Chase locked in the cage. She was unconscious in his arms, her fragile body limp as he cradled her.

Just as he was about to step away, something caught his eye—Chase’s arm. His gaze locked onto the tattoo etched into his brother's skin. He paused.

"Wait, Petal," he murmured softly, setting her gently against the cold wall. He crouched beside Chase, his lips curling into a sly smile. "What are you doing?" Chase asked.

He ignored the question, pulling out his phone instead. "Getting the details to become the perfect copy of you," he replied nonchalantly, snapping pictures of the tattoo. He moved closer, ensuring every angle and line was captured.

He laughed, shoving the phone back into his pocket. "Thank you, brother. I’ll be sure to put this to good use." He leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a cruel whisper. "See you soon."

Scooping Petal into his arms once more, he turned and walked out, leaving Chase caged and powerless.

End of Flashback

........

He glanced at the tattoo again, his smirk returning. "To copy you, I got the same tattoo," he said, a note of pride in his voice. Then, he chuckled darkly. "But there’s a twist. Maya’s tattoo isn’t real."

He reached for the edge of the tattoo and began peeling it away, revealing it was nothing more than a fake, expertly crafted and removable. Now only Petal’s name etched onto his skin. His smirk deepened as he admired the perfection of it.

"Isn’t it beautiful now?" he murmured, his eyes softening as he stared at Petal’s name alone on his arm. "Just as it should be."

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and his body tensed. His head snapped toward the sound.

"Chase?" Maya’s voice called  as she stepped into the room.

Panic surged through him, but he quickly pressed the fake tattoo back onto his arm, smoothing it down . He turned toward her, forcing a calm smile.

"Breakfast is ready. Come downstairs," she said, her tone light and casual.

"I’ll be there in a minute," he replied smoothly, his voice steady.

She smiled back and closed the door behind her, leaving him alone once more.

As soon as she was gone, he exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "That was close," he muttered, shaking his head. "Too close."

His lips curved into a faint smirk, his confidence quickly returning. "I need to be more careful," he said, brushing his sleeve down to cover the tattoo.

Maya’s voice echoed from downstairs. "Come on already, Chase!"

Rolling his eyes, he muttered under his breath, "This woman is so annoying." But his irritation melted away as thoughts of Petal filled his mind. His smirk returned, his steps lighter as he made his way toward the door.

"Forget her. Let’s go spend some time with my beautiful Petal," he said to himself, the joy in his voice unmistakable. With one last glance at his arm, he stepped out, the tattoo of her name his silent motivation.

........

They were having dinner. He entered the room with a spring in his step, but the joy on his face was quickly overshadowed by a flicker of disappointment. His gaze instinctively drifted to Petal, who was sitting quietly at the table, avoiding his eyes. She was distant, and he could feel it.

She’s doubting me. I need to do something, something to win her trust, to make her believe I’m Chase, he thought, his mind racing as he watched her.

“Petal, why aren’t you eating?” Maya asked, her voice cutting through the tension. She had noticed Petal just sitting there, holding her spoon but barely touching her food.

“I’m eating, Mom,” Petal replied with a forced smile, picking up a small bite and swallowing it, more to prove a point than to satisfy hunger.

An idea sparked in his mind. His lips curved into a calculated smile. "Shall we go out today?" he suggested, his voice light and casual.

“That would be good!” Maya said with a nod, but her brows furrowed. “But what about work?”

He leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. "Work isn’t more important than family," he said smoothly.

Maya’s face lit up at his words, pride clear in her eyes. “You’re right, Chase. Family always comes first. So, where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said, his eyes flickering toward Petal. “What do you say, Petal?”

“I’m not in the mood,” she replied curtly, barely glancing at him.

His heart sank, but Maya was quick to jump in. “Why, sweetheart? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Petal said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. “Just missing Dad.”

As if summoned by her words, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll check,” Maya said, getting up from the table.

Moments later, her delighted voice echoed from the entryway. "William!"

At the name, Petal spun around in her chair, her eyes lighting up. "Dad!" she called, abandoning her seat and running toward him.

“Petal,” William said warmly as he stepped inside and caught her in his arms. He held her tightly, his voice softening. “How’s my little girl?”

“I missed you so much,” Petal said, her voice muffled against his chest.

“I missed you too,” he replied, pulling back just enough to look at her face. “That’s why I came to take you back.”

........

He tensed immediately, his hands clenching. No. No, this can’t happen. If she leaves, my dream of being with her will shatter.

.......

“Let’s go home, sweetheart,” William said, his arm still around her shoulder.

Maya intervened before Petal could respond. “But William, you’re so busy with work. How will Petal manage alone at home?”

“I won’t be out that much anymore,” William replied, his tone firm. “It’s already been too long. I think it’s time I take her back now.”

But then Petal shook her head gently. “I don’t want to go, Dad,” she said softly.

.......

Her words were like a lifeline. His heart swelled with relief and joy, but he carefully masked it, keeping his expression neutral as he watched the interaction.

.......

William looked taken aback. “You don’t want to come with me?”

“I do, Dad,” she said quickly. “But not yet. I want to stay here a little longer—with Mom.”

William studied her for a moment, then sighed, relenting. “If that’s what you want.”

“Please,” she added, her eyes pleading.

“You don’t have to beg, sweetheart,” he said with a small smile. “You can stay.”

“Thank you, Dad,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around him again.

.........

A satisfied smile spread across his face as he observed the scene. Just minutes ago, he had been disappointed, thinking Petal was refusing to go out because she doubted him. But now, her decision to stay gave him a glimmer of hope.

“She doubts me, but not enough to leave,” he muttered under his breath. “This doubt can be replaced. It’s a good thing she stayed. If she left, what would I even do here? I came for her. Without her, this place is meaningless.”

---

“Come on, William,” Maya said, gesturing toward the table.

They offered him dinner, and he accepted, sitting down with the rest of them. The conversation flowed easily between William and Maya, but Petal remained unusually quiet.

She glanced at him, her gaze sharp and questioning. He caught her stare and offered a warm smile, one he hoped would disarm her.

But inside, Petal’s thoughts were racing. Don’t think I decided to stay because I trust you. I can’t leave Mom alone here, not until I’m absolutely sure you’re really Chase. Something about you feels off. Even with the same looks and mannerisms, I can sense it. If you’re not Chase, then I have to find out where the real Chase is.

Her gaze lingered on him, calculating, searching for cracks in his act. He held her stare, his smile unwavering.

She forced a smile in return, one that didn’t reach her eyes.

.......

As they finished dinner, Petal and Maya moved to the living room, chatting with William. Meanwhile, he stayed behind, picking up some food and carefully arranging it on a plate. His steps were quiet but deliberate as he made his way toward Chase's room, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“It’s time to meet you, bro,” he muttered under his breath, pushing the door open.

---

Inside the dimly lit cage , Chase sat on the floor, his back against the cold wall, his hands gripping his ears as frustration consumed him. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan to get out , his thoughts spiraling into desperation.

“Here, brother,” a voice broke through his thoughts.

Chase looked up sharply, his eyes narrowing as he saw him standing there.

“Eat. You must be hungry,” he said, sliding the plate of food under the bottom of the cage.

Chase shot to his feet, gripping the metal bars of the cage so tightly his knuckles turned white.

“Let me out. Now!” Chase shouted, his voice booming with anger.

“Relax, brother,” he said nonchalantly, as if Chase’s fury was amusing.

“I’m warning you, Damon,” Chase growled. “If you don’t let me out, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. I swear, you’ll pay for this.”

Damon smirked, leaning casually against the wall. “Blah, blah, blah. Threaten me all you want, Chase. But sorry to disappoint you—you’re not getting out of here. Ever.”

Chase’s eyes burned with rage. “You’ll regret this,” he hissed.

Damon chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery. “Regret? Oh no, brother. You’ll stay here, locked up, while I live the perfect life you built—with Petal.”

Chase’s jaw clenched as his grip on the bars tightened. “Petal will never believe you’re me,” he snapped.

Damon’s smirk faltered for a moment before returning, this time with a twisted edge. “You’re not wrong, Chase. She still doubts me. Today, I asked her to go out with me, and she refused. The way she denied me... I could feel it. She’s still not sure if I’m you.”

He paused, his voice taking on a bitter tone. “It disappointed me. I thought my act was flawless, but her refusal proved that she’s suspicious. But then...” Damon’s voice brightened, his expression shifting to one of excitement. “Then her dad came.”

Chase’s eyes narrowed, his brows knitting together. “What about him?”

“Oh, he wanted to take her back with him,” Damon said, his voice practically buzzing with energy. “And for a moment, I thought my plans were about to fall apart. If he took her away, how would I win her trust? How would I spend time with her? My mind was already racing with backup plans—ways to get her back if she left. I even thought about dropping the act and taking her by force if I had to. But then something surprising happened.”

Chase stared at him “What?”

“She refused to go.” Damon’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “Can you believe that? She said she wanted to stay here—with her mom. Isn’t that just perfect?”

Chase’s stomach churned, but he refused to show his unease. “She’s staying because she doubts you, Damon. She’s trying to figure out the truth.”

Damon waved a hand dismissively. “She doubts me, yes. But not enough to leave. And that’s all I need. Doubt can be replaced, brother. I just need time.”

He stepped closer to the cage, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “It’s a good thing she stayed. If she left, I’d have nothing. This whole plan, my entire reason for being here, would fall apart without her. But now... now I have my chance. Just a little more time, and she’ll believe I’m you. Then, she’ll be mine completely.”

Damon’s smirk was as cold as steel, while Chase’s hands trembled with barely restrained fury as they tightened around the bars.

“You’ll never win her over,” Chase spat. “She’ll see through you.”

Damon chuckled, turning to leave. “We’ll see about that, brother.”

Author’s Note:

Hey everyone! Before writing this part, I just checked the date of the last update for this story—it was 11 days ago! 🙊😅 Lol. First, I got busy, and then I made a schedule and actually stuck to it all week. Can you believe it? A proud moment for me! 🎉 Today was this story’s turn, so here’s the chapter. I hope it was worth the wait!

Now that this week’s schedule has come to an end, I’ll be free tomorrow and the day after. So, I’ve decided on something exciting—there will now be two updates per week for this story! One on Friday and the other on Sunday. Isn’t that a great idea? 🎉✨

Thank you so much for being here and reading! And hey, remember to vote if you liked it and comment if you can. Honestly, votes are great, but what really motivates me are your comments! 💌 They give me assurance about what I’m doing right (or wrong) and help me improve.

I’ve noticed some of you read the whole story, like every single chapter in one sitting (which makes my day, by the way 😍), but then I don’t see any comments! 😅 Sometimes, I even head to your message boards to ask for reviews, and you guys praise the story so much it brightens my entire day! 🌟 But, why not leave those praises in the comment section too? It would mean the world to me. 💕

Other authors’ comment sections are filled with lovely comments, and I’d love to see that for my story too. 🥹 It also helps me promote the story on social media! Imagine me posting a Reel featuring your comments to convince new readers to check it out. 😅😂 I did it with another story, and it actually worked!

Whether you’re here to praise the story or share constructive criticism, it’s all welcome! So, drop a comment if you have a second. Your words really keep me going. ❤️

Also, I’ve given a name to Chase’s brother to avoid confusion while writing his POV. The name I chose is Deman. What do you think of it?

Thanks for sticking with me and for reading my blah blah. Love you all! 💕 Bye-bye!