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Chapter 26
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2024-11-02 23:08:01Related chapters
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 27
(Dorian's POV)From the vantage point in my office, I observed Marcus and Anna through the tinted glass talking below. I’d set the meeting up knowing it would force her to face Marcus, curious to see how she would handle the whole thing.I couldn't hear what they were saying but as the conversation unfolded, it became clear she was handling herself far better than even I’d anticipated.There was a calmness about her as she didn’t let Marcus’s usual arrogance get to her. She barely flinched at his condescending tone or his smug expressions, and something about her composure made me smirk in approval. I leaned a bit closer, watching as Marcus’s expression shifted from confident to rattled. The subtle changes in his demeanor were easy to spot: the slight stiffening of his posture, the narrowing of his eyes, the irritated twitch of his jaw. He wasn’t used to this side of her, and it was throwing him off-balance.There was a satisfaction in watching him squirm under her steady gaze, and
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 28
Anna's POVI was dead tired by the time I was done with work and I wanted nothing more than my comfy bed at home so I could sleep.Coupled with the stress of handling Marcus, it was more than deserved. He had left in a not so gentle way after the meeting.His frustration was clearly based on the fact that he could no longer get to me as I addressed his bullshit directly and stayed on the business at hand.As I was the more experienced person between us, he couldn't stand me on that and was thrown off by the complex business titbits. My initial anger and confusion at Dorian for throwing us together had lessened as I now understood the reasons for his actions.First, he wanted me to face my fears so I could be over it quickly. Second, he was offering me the choice to take revenge for what he did. It was up to me to choose what I wanted to do.I was sure Dorian would deny it if asked but it wasn't as if I expected him to admit it. People aren't always forthcoming about their intentions
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 29
Anna's POV “What was that about?” Dorian asked as soon as we got out of earshot.“You wouldn't believe what just happened now,” I said, my face still flushed from what had happened.I was struggling to keep up with him as he had long strides. I was about to complain but stopped myself from doing so.Whatever happened, he was still my boss so I had no right to complain. If he noticed my discomfort, he did nothing about it and I was relieved when we reached his office. As we got inside, I saw Brenda already there. It seemed she was reporting to him and they had been working together before Dorian had stepped out to check what had happened.She acknowledged me with a small nod as our eyes met. I didn't know why I always felt slightly sorry for her whenever I came across her. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she worked long hours at work and appeared to have no life outside the company.“You can tell me what happened now,” Dorian said, reclining in his chair as he folded his hands
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 30
Anna's POV For a long time, I sat cross-legged on my bed, hugging my knees as I replayed the previous day’s events in my head. I was so focused on it like a detective watching a grainy video on CCTV searching for clues.Dorian’s composure, his complete lack of surprise, Brenda’s darting glances—every tiny detail replayed in my head, stirring up doubt and confusion that tangled together, tighter and tighter. I could feel something festering beneath the surface, something that I couldn’t quite name, but the suspicion had taken root in my mind and since I was alone, it flourished and took shape.Try as I might, I couldn’t make sense of it. I wanted to believe there was a logical explanation, but every angle I considered only left me feeling more lost. I didn't know what to believe.Sighing, I glanced at my phone lying silent on the nightstand, as if it, too, was holding its breath. Finally, I picked it up. There was only one person who would listen to me without judging, who’d talk me
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 31
Anna's POV Seeing Dorian standing on the other side of my door sent a chill through me. For a moment, I didn’t move as I just watched him through the peephole.I was curious as to how he knew my place but I was sure that it hadn't been hard for someone of his caliber.I wanted to pretend that I wasn’t home but I was sure that he saw my car outside and wasn't going to leave till I let him in. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.“Hey,” he said looking up as our eyes met. The first thing that hit me was his expensive scent and how dapper he was looking.“Hey,” I replied, leaning back against the doorframe. “It’s late.”“I know,” he said, his gaze steady. “But I couldn’t leave things the way they were. You were missed at the office today. Can we talk?”I hesitated. For a second, I thought about telling him to leave but there was no reason for me to be rude just yet. I owed a great deal to him and he was my boss after all.With that thought, I found myself stepping back, gesturing fo
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 32
Dorian's POV Anna was so stunned at the kiss that she remained still and didn't pull away as I went on. Though I couldn't hear it, I could tell that her heart was beating fast. As I pulled back, I could see the hungry look in her eyes and she bit her lips which only made me want her more.I knew I had awakened feelings buried within her as it had undoubtedly been a while since she had been kissed. Though I couldn't be so sure, she didn't appear to be seeing anyone after the split with Marcus.As she caught my lingering gaze, she became self conscious and looked away. I knew she didn't want me to see how much she wanted me but she didn't know I was feeling the same way too.It was all I could do to rein in my desires and not take advantage of the situation. I didn't want to do anything she didn't want and I wanted to be sure she was comfortable with it. I cupped her cheek, redirecting her gaze back to me. Her face reddened with my touch and she inched closer to me as her lips quive
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 33
Dorian's POVIt was a good thing that it was late and the street was deserted. Either way, I wasn't taking chances. I had to get him off the road before someone saw us and misconstrued the situation. I did a quick search on him for a weapon and found a gun in his jacket. I looked down to see that it was a suppressed .22. Just the right kind of weapon an assassin would use.“So you were planning to kill me with this, good thing I got to you first. You must be an amateur to fuck up this badly.” He didn't say anything in reply but instead spat in my face giving me a fierce look. I wiped the spittle from my face and punched him for that.Without easing my grip, I guided him towards my car. I opened the door and gave him a hard shove inside, sliding in after him and closing the door behind us. Ben didn’t need further instruction from me; he just started the car without a word and moved into a secluded spot in the alley The guy was trembling slightly, glancing between me and the window
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 34
Dorian's POV As we pulled up near the docks, the smell of the night air changed. The atmosphere was damp with salt and so foggy that it was hard to see anything. Naturally, we reduced our speed because of the poor visibility.Besides me, the amateur was shaking like a leaf, I could feel his hands trembling and I knew it wasn't as a result of the cold. He was no doubt scared of whoever sent him.I kept a firm grip on his shoulder to remind him of what would happen if he tried anything funny.Just as we neared Pier 16, beams of headlights cut through the darkness. Three cars pulled in around us, boxing us in. Ben tried to drive back quickly but it was no use. We were already surrounded on every side with no way to escape.The back door of the lead car, and a figure stepped out, backlit by the glaring lights. Several other men followed, each holding their stance with the type of composure that only comes with confidence—or worse, experience.“Step out of the car,” a voice called, echoin
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Beyond the betrayal Chapter 42
Anna's POV Immediately, I headed straight to the bathroom, removing my clothes. I turned on the hot water and stepped under the shower, letting it wash over me. I closed my eyes, letting myself relax, just for a second. But that feeling of unease didn’t go away, even with the water pouring over me.When I finally got out, I wrapped myself in a towel, staring at myself in the mirror. My face looked pale, eyes tired, but I couldn’t stay here staring. I had to get ready. This wasn’t some big date where I’d be dressing up to impress someone; it was just a conversation with Dorian. Casual. Simple. But I was very nervous.I slipped into a fresh pair of jeans and a plain blouse, pulling my hair back in a simple ponytail. Not too fancy, nothing that would draw attention. But still, I wanted to look put together. Just enough to feel like myself again, or at least pretend to. One last look in the mirror, and I was out the door, heading back to my car.I drove to the restaurants, and as soon
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 41
Sarah's POV Lily rushed quickly to his side and held him while he coughed out blood.It was clear that she was distressed over his condition as she threw caution to the wind not caring that she was in the midst of a battle.“Are you okay? How's your breathing? How many fingers am I holding up,” She inquired as she looked him over.Neron didn't know which of the questions to reply to as he found her reaction to be over the top.Even though he was hurt, he wasn't at the point of death or anything to warrant the care she was showing.He appreciated her concern but he wanted to tell her to concentrate on fighting but he couldn't bring himself to form the words.As she busied herself with inspecting him, the scarf on her head came undone and her red hair flowed freely.Below her, Neron gasped in surprise as he saw her face clearly for the first time.She quickly grabbed the scarf back and put it on but the secret was already out.It was really Serah just as he had suspected.He couldn't d
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 40
Anna's POV “Neron!”Lily shouted out as he got to his feet and fell down again.She rushed quickly to his side and held him while he coughed out blood.It was clear that she was distressed over his condition as she threw caution to the wind not caring that she was in the midst of a battle.“Are you okay? How's your breathing? How many fingers am I holding up,” She inquired as she looked him over.Neron didn't know which of the questions to reply to as he found her reaction to be over the top.Even though he was hurt, he wasn't at the point of death or anything to warrant the care she was showing.He appreciated her concern but he wanted to tell her to concentrate on fighting but he couldn't bring himself to form the words.As she busied herself with inspecting him, the scarf on her head came undone and her red hair flowed freely.Below her, Neron gasped in surprise as he saw her face clearly for the first time.She quickly grabbed the scarf back and put it on but the secret was alrea
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 39
Anna's POV Neron gasped in pain as he clawed at the ground in an attempt to stand up.His strength was fading as the miasma's poison coursed through him. The more he tried to stand up, the more his legs gave way and after a few futile attempts, he gave up entirely.Each breath was a battle and each slight movement he took tormented him. The Beast circled him drawing closer as though it was playing with a meal.Its eyes were glowing with malice and it was buoyed by its victory over the numerous slain Adventurers.Neron knew that he couldn’t fight anymore in his present condition—for one his body refused to obey him, and his vision swam in and out of focus.“Nero!” A feminine voice cut through the haze, panicked but resolute. His ears quickly picked up the voice and his heart grew warm as he recognised Serah.He had been worried about her as he feared that she was one of the many Adventurers that littered the ground.She stumbled toward him, coughing violently, her hands glowing fa
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 38
Anna's POV The sun beat down on a lone figure as he trekked through the vast expanse of a desert. The plentiful mana within him had dulled down to the point where he could no longer feel it as he appeared to have used up a great part of his reserve. The intoxicating surge he’d felt while fighting during the dungeon battle now seemed like a distant memory.He had been traveling for weeks, though he had long since lost track of time. His mind was focused on survival now—something as mundane and exhausting as putting one foot in front of the other.The sand stretched endlessly in every direction he could see and sometimes it shimmered in the midday heat. His throat was dry and parched beyond what healing magic could fix.He hadn’t eaten in days, and though he’d managed to conjure small amounts of water using his abilities, it wasn’t enough to keep his strength up. His legs felt like they were made of lead and it was with an effort that he dragged it through the dunes.With each step,
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 37
Dorian's POV Staring at the time, I realized it was quite late already. I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. This was one of the days I got to the office late and the feeling wasn't nice at all. "Do you want to rest for today?" My driver asked. I opened my eyes and shook my head. "There's no need to stay at home. I need to work," I replied and picked up my phone. There were several missed calls on it, but none of it belonged to Anna, and that made my heart sink. I stared at my phone for a while, remembering what she said to me last night. The sadness that crept into my heart was indescribable, making me feel the need to leave the office for the day. I swallowed and kept my phone, "Let's go," As much as I didn't feel like going to the office, I knew staying at home wouldn't help either. Anna was someone who had taken root in my heart, and a day off from everything wouldn't uproot her from there. I needed to live my life like I had always done without having to think of h
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 36
Anna's POV Styling my hair, I felt slightly nervous. My mind wouldn't stop replaying last night's scene, and I sweated. Seeing Dorian again was something I hadn't truly prepared for, and it made me feel anxious. I let out a deep breath and picked up my phone. It was time to leave home, time to see... Dorian again~ I pressed a finger on my lips and rubbed it gently. Heck, this is hard! I shook my head and dropped my bag on my shoulder. The time wouldn't have waited for me, and as a worker, I needed to get to the office as fast as I could. Leaving the house, my mind wouldn't stop replaying last night's incident, and the more that happened, the more I felt conflicted and wondered if I should just return home. I stared at the company, hiding the thoughts in my mind, but my legs refused to move. A part of me wanted to go in, but a bigger part wanted to run away. It wasn't as if I didn't want to see Dorian... but, Shit! Too nervous~ Way too nervous ~ I hit my forehead and decid
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 35
Dorian's POV I held my ground as the mob boss pointed the gun at me. The silly smirk was still plastered on his face and I wanted nothing more than to wipe the smile off his face.“What is this, really? If this is about showing off, you’ve done enough already. So why don’t you tell me what you actually want. What problem do you have with me when I don't even know you.”He chuckled, clearly enjoying my irritation. “You think I’m in charge here? No, I’m just following orders,” he replied with a shrug. “We see everything you do as we have been watching you for a long time. For now, the boss is just toying with you. He wants to see what you’re made of.”I narrowed my eyes, searching his face for any hint of what he was playing at but he appeared sincere which made me all the more confused and annoyed. “And who is this mysterious ‘boss?”He chuckled again, clearly amused by my questions. “Let’s just say he knows you a little better than you’d like. And he doesn’t need you pretending to be
Beyond the betrayal Chapter 34
Dorian's POV As we pulled up near the docks, the smell of the night air changed. The atmosphere was damp with salt and so foggy that it was hard to see anything. Naturally, we reduced our speed because of the poor visibility.Besides me, the amateur was shaking like a leaf, I could feel his hands trembling and I knew it wasn't as a result of the cold. He was no doubt scared of whoever sent him.I kept a firm grip on his shoulder to remind him of what would happen if he tried anything funny.Just as we neared Pier 16, beams of headlights cut through the darkness. Three cars pulled in around us, boxing us in. Ben tried to drive back quickly but it was no use. We were already surrounded on every side with no way to escape.The back door of the lead car, and a figure stepped out, backlit by the glaring lights. Several other men followed, each holding their stance with the type of composure that only comes with confidence—or worse, experience.“Step out of the car,” a voice called, echoin
