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Bouquet Of Deception 26
26EthanLiam’s eyes widened in shock as he looked between Owen and the guards, confusion spreading across his face. “What’s going on, Owen? Why are you—”But Owen didn’t give him the chance to finish. “They’re liars. They’re undesired. They’re frauds. Get them out of here.” His voice cracked with finality.The guards didn’t hesitate. They moved swiftly toward us, their hands ready to escort us out. Liam, looking as though he’d just won some twisted victory, stood up, his fake tears now gone, replaced with a smug grin.Riley stepped in front of me, his face hard as stone, but I could tell he was as caught off guard as I was. “Owen, don’t—” he began, but the guards weren’t listening.One of the guards grabbed Riley’s arm. “Let’s go,” he barked, pulling him toward the door.I was too stunned to speak as I was escorted out alongside Riley. My mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. This wasn’t how I had expected it to go. Everything was falling apart in front of my eye
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Bouquet Of Deception 27
27Ethan“I can’t slow down! This is GOLD!” she interrupted, her laughter bubbling through the phone. “Hold on, I’m sending you a link. No, actually, put me on speaker. Riley has to hear this!”I glanced at Riley, who was already looking at me with raised eyebrows. With a sigh, I hit the speaker button. “You’re on,” I said.“RILEY!” Ava shouted, her excitement palpable. “Check your phone right now! It’s all over Twitter, TikTok, everything! Liam’s wedding is the *scandal* of the year!”Riley’s eyes widened, and he immediately pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen. “Wait, no way,” he muttered, his expression shifting as he scrolled. Then, suddenly, he let out a bark of laughter. “Oh my God. She’s right. Ethan, you have to see this.”“What are you looking at?” I asked, still trying to process everything.“The hashtags are insane,” Riley said, turning his phone to show me the screen. “‘#LiamLiar,’ ‘#OwenDeservesBetter,’ ‘#WeddingGoneWrong’—dude, you’re *everywhere*.”A
Last Updated : 2025-01-14Bouquet Of Deception 28
28 RileyEthan was heavier than I expected, or maybe I was just exhausted. Either way, carrying his unconscious, drunken body up the stairs to my apartment wasn’t exactly how I thought the night would end. He had made a complete fool of himself in the bar, singing like a dying cat, twirling around like he was the lead in some Broadway disaster. And now, here he was—completely out cold in my arms.I shifted his weight, fumbling with my keys as I finally reached my door. “Damn it, Ethan,” I muttered under my breath. “You really know how to make my life difficult.”Kicking the door open, I stepped inside——and froze.The air was wrong. The scent in my apartment was wrong.My breath hitched as my instincts flared, every muscle in my body tightening. My place was a mess. The couch was overturned, my bookshelves emptied, and the papers from my desk were scattered across the floor like a hurricane had ripped through them. My lamp lay shattered near the doorway, tiny shards of glass glinting
Last Updated : 2025-01-15Bouquet Of Deception 29
29RileyEthan groaned before he even opened his eyes. His face scrunched up, and his hand blindly reached for something, probably a pillow to bury his head under. Instead, he smacked the air uselessly before giving up with another groan.I smirked from my chair, arms crossed as I watched him slowly regain consciousness.“Morning, Sleeping Beauty.”He made a noise somewhere between a whimper and a groan. “Ugh. No. Too loud.” His voice was rough, raspy from the alcohol, and his words slurred with exhaustion.I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “You feeling like absolute garbage yet?”Ethan pried one eye open, glaring at me as if I were the cause of his misery. “Why does my skull feel like it got hit by a truck?”“Because you drank enough whiskey to kill a small horse,” I said dryly. “Then proceeded to make a complete fool of yourself at the bar before passing out in my arms. You are welcome, by the way.”He groaned, rubbing his face before abruptly freezing. His fingers clu
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 30
30EthanRiley was being stubborn. Again.“You’re staying here,” I said, crossing my arms as he stood in my doorway, shaking his head.“No, I’m not.” His jaw was set, his eyes sharp. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll figure something out.”“Figure what out?” I scoffed. “Your place is a crime scene. What, you planning to sleep in the wreckage?”Riley sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t want to impose.”I gave him a flat look. “You literally carried my drunk ass home last night. I think I owe you.”“That’s different.”“It’s really not.”He huffed, clearly losing patience. “Ethan, I don’t—”“You don’t what?” I interrupted. “Trust me? Think I can handle a roommate? Because I hate to break it to you, but you are not as low-maintenance as you think.”His lips twitched, but he quickly smothered the amusement. “I just don’t want to be in your way.”“You won’t be,” I said, softer this time. “Look, just stay until your apartment gets sorted. It makes sense. You’re safer here.”He hesi
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 31
31 Riley I didn’t sleep after that incident. Neither did Ethan, but he at least pretended to. I could hear him shifting under the blankets, the tension in his breathing giving him away. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, every muscle in my body tight. That sound in the hallway—it hadn’t been nothing. Someone had been there. Watching. Waiting. And I had a damn good idea who. By the time evening rolled around, I was done waiting for answers to come to us. If someone wanted to play games, I was going to beat them at it. Ethan was still half-asleep when I slipped out of the apartment, pulling on my jacket. I didn’t tell him where I was going—he’d only try to stop me. I needed to check my apartment again. Alone. The place was just as trashed as I’d left it. Papers still littered the floor, furniture overturned, the scent of dust and old whiskey lingering in the air. But as I stepped inside, something else hit me. A scent that didn’t belong. It was faint. Almost buried under every
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 32
32 Ethan I didn’t move at first. Didn’t breathe. Didn’t think. Because Riley was kissing me. Again. And just like the first time—just like at the wedding—I didn’t stop him. My brain barely had time to catch up before my body betrayed me, melting into the kiss like I’d been waiting for it. Maybe I had. His lips were firm, sure, like he already knew I wouldn’t pull away. Like he was daring me to push him off but knowing I wouldn’t. Because I never did. I wasn’t bold like him. I hesitated, second-guessed, let my thoughts get in the way of everything. But Riley? He just did what he wanted. Took what he wanted. And right now… He wanted me. The realization sent a shock through me, made my fingers curl into his hoodie, holding onto him as his hand slid to the back of my neck. He wasn’t letting me go. And hell, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to. But then— The microwave beeped. Loud. Obnoxious. Ruining everything. Riley pulled back first, but he didn’t go far. Just en
Last Updated : 2025-01-16Bouquet Of Deception 33
33 Ethan I stared at the door like it might explode. The knocking came again—louder this time, more insistent. Whoever it was, they weren’t leaving anytime soon. Riley let out a slow breath, tilting his head toward me. “You look nervous.” I scoffed, sitting up. “You’re the one who just got caught making out on my couch.” “Caught?” He smirked. “We don’t even know who it is yet. For all we know, it could be a salesman. Maybe I’ll get lucky and it’s a free vacation scam.” I rolled my eyes and pushed off the couch, straightening my hoodie. “Yeah, I doubt that.” Riley stretched, completely unbothered, then leaned against the wall with his arms crossed like he was about to watch a show. “Well? Aren’t you gonna answer it?” I shot him a look but didn’t argue. The knocking had turned into full-on pounding, and at this rate, the door might just come off its hinges. “Alright, alright, I’m coming!” I grumbled, making my way over. My fingers hesitated on the lock for a split second befo
Last Updated : 2025-01-16
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Bouquet Of Deception 89
Chapter 76 Riley Speedy had never been quiet before. My wolf had always been restless—always pushing, always growling, always demanding to be heard. But ever since Ethan’s accident, he’d been worse. A constant storm in my chest, pacing, snarling, berating me for what I’d done. You hurt him, Speedy spat, every second of every day. You pushed him away. You let him get hurt. This is your fault. It was never-ending. No matter how much I tried to bury myself in work, no matter how hard I trained or how many distractions I shoved in my face, he was always there. Pounding against my skull. Reminding me. And the worst part? He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and I hadn’t even gone to see him. Because I was a coward. Because I couldn’t face the reality of what I’d done. Because I knew the second I saw him lying there—pale, motionless, barely breathing—I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together. But ignoring it didn’t change the truth. It only made it
Bouquet Of Deception 88
Chapter One: The InvitationEthan's POVI didn’t expect much when I opened the mail that morning. Bills, maybe a flyer for a local pizza joint, or yet another notice from my landlord about “building improvements” that never actually happened. But when I saw HIS name on the envelope, my breath caught. Liam Carter. My ex-boyfriend. With shaky hands, I ripped it open, and there it was—a wedding invitation, embossed in gold foil and scented with some absurdly expensive cologne he used to wear. My eyes skimmed the elegant calligraphy, but the words blurred as my mind raced. Liam Carter and Owen Taylor request the pleasure of your company at their wedding.Three months. Three measly months since we broke up after a three-year relationship, and he was already tying the knot? My stomach churned, bile rising at the thought. My first reaction was disbelief. Then rage. How long had he been planning this? How long had Owen been in the picture? Was it even possible to fall in love and plan
Bouquet Of Deception 87
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
Bouquet Of Deception 86
Chapter 84 – Fangs and Fire Riley Speedy was unusually quiet on the ride. Not his usual growling, pacing self. Not even a sarcastic grumble. Just… silent. You’re really not going back to him? he finally whispered, his voice low and mournful. “I can’t, Speedy,” I murmured, eyes fixed on the road. “You know I can’t.” But he loved us, Speedy said, almost like a whimper. He smelled like home. He held us like we mattered. I closed my eyes for a second, swallowing hard. “I’ll miss him,” I confessed, voice barely above a breath. “So damn much.” The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Grief. Loss. Regret. Then my phone buzzed. Zane’s text. A pin drop and two words: Don’t be late. I parked near the abandoned warehouse, the one he’d chosen like the coward he was—far from the city, far from Ethan. The metal door loomed in front of me, rusted and crooked, like it had seen too many secrets. I hate this guy, Speedy growled suddenly, voice hard now. I hate what he did to us.
Bouquet Of Deception 85
Chapter 84 – Fangs and FireRileySpeedy was unusually quiet on the ride.Not his usual growling, pacing self. Not even a sarcastic grumble. Just… silent.You’re really not going back to him? he finally whispered, his voice low and mournful.“I can’t, Speedy,” I murmured, eyes fixed on the road. “You know I can’t.”But he loved us, Speedy said, almost like a whimper. He smelled like home. He held us like we mattered.I closed my eyes for a second, swallowing hard. “I’ll miss him,” I confessed, voice barely above a breath. “So damn much.”The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Grief. Loss. Regret.Then my phone buzzed. Zane’s text. A pin drop and two words: Don’t be late.I parked near the abandoned warehouse, the one he’d chosen like the coward he was—far from the city, far from Ethan.The metal door loomed in front of me, rusted and crooked, like it had seen too many secrets.I hate this guy, Speedy growled suddenly, voice hard now. I hate what he did to us. What he too
Bouquet Of Deception 84
Chapter 84 – Fangs and FireRileySpeedy was unusually quiet on the ride.Not his usual growling, pacing self. Not even a sarcastic grumble. Just… silent.You’re really not going back to him? he finally whispered, his voice low and mournful.“I can’t, Speedy,” I murmured, eyes fixed on the road. “You know I can’t.”But he loved us, Speedy said, almost like a whimper. He smelled like home. He held us like we mattered.I closed my eyes for a second, swallowing hard. “I’ll miss him,” I confessed, voice barely above a breath. “So damn much.”The silence that followed wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Grief. Loss. Regret.Then my phone buzzed. Zane’s text. A pin drop and two words: Don’t be late.I parked near the abandoned warehouse, the one he’d chosen like the coward he was—far from the city, far from Ethan.The metal door loomed in front of me, rusted and crooked, like it had seen too many secrets.I hate this guy, Speedy growled suddenly, voice hard now. I hate what he did to us. What he too
Bouquet Of Deception 83
Chapter 83 – A Door Without a KeyI went home. Or what used to be home.The apartment was cold, quiet. The kind of quiet that settles in after something dies. I moved through the rooms like a ghost, brushing my fingers over memories tucked into the corners—frayed books, forgotten mugs, a photograph half-tucked under the fridge magnet.Packing didn’t take long. I didn’t have much left to hold onto. Just a few clothes, the old paperback I couldn’t bring myself to leave with Ethan, and the jacket that still smelled like him—faintly, barely, like smoke after a fire.I zipped the duffel shut. That was it.It was really happening.The hallway outside was just as dim as I remembered. Paint peeling at the corners, lights flickering overhead like the universe couldn’t decide if it wanted me to see clearly or not. I descended the stairs slowly, each step heavier than the last, until I reached the landlord’s door.Old Mr. Harvey opened it after a couple knocks, his face as grizzled and skeptical
Bouquet Of Deception 82
82 EthanDarkness enveloped me, a heavy, impenetrable shroud that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Gradually, the blackness began to thin, peeling away in delicate layers. Sensations seeped in, subtle at first. A weight pressed down on me, as if invisible bricks had been stacked upon my chest, arms, and legs. An ache throbbed deep within my skull, a relentless pulsing against bone. I attempted to move, to lift my limbs, but they remained unresponsive, leaden and foreign. My mouth was parched, and each swallow felt like dragging sandpaper down my throat.Then came the sounds. A rhythmic beeping echoed nearby, accompanied by the soft whir of machines. Beyond these mechanical murmurs, faint voices ebbed and flowed, their words indistinct, as though carried from a great distance.Light followed. Blinding and harsh. I squinted against its intensity, a groan escaping my lips as a sharp sting ignited behind my eyes. Slowly, the sterile white ceiling above me came into focus, lined with recta
Bouquet Of Deception 81
EthanI didn’t mean for tonight to go this way. In fact, I’d hoped it would be a quiet, straightforward evening. Just me, Riley, and some practice. But things with Ava never go the way I plan.“Riley’s looking at you again,” Ava remarked, tossing a chip into her mouth as she lounged across the couch, staring at the TV with an intensity that couldn’t possibly be genuine.I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze flicking to Riley, who was sitting across from me in my living room, half watching me and half trying to focus on the game we’d been supposed to practice. His eyes were on me, sure, but it didn’t feel like the casual look of someone who had no other interest. My heart thudded in my chest, and I hated myself for reacting this way. It was just practice. Just a favor.“You know, you should probably stop looking at him like that,” I muttered, hoping Ava wouldn’t catch the undertone in my voice. The last thing I needed was her drawing attention to the tension I was feeling.“What’s wrong?” s
