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The Price of Deception

Author: Starlit Ink
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-20 21:12:40

25

Liam

The moment the door creaked open, I immediately noticed Charlotte standing there, her eyes wide with panic as she took in the scene before her. She froze, her gaze flicking between Alex, Sophia, and me. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers trembled as she clasped her hands together. There was something off about her, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Alex, ever the composed one despite his exhaustion, was the first to speak. “Charlotte? What are you doing here?”

Her voice faltered as she tried to come up with an explanation. “I... I was just checking the breakroom,” she said quickly, though I could hear the cracks in her voice. “I—just needed to make sure everything was... okay.”

Her excuse was weak, too rehearsed, and her face betrayed her, the flicker of guilt barely hidden behind her feigned innocence.

I watched as Alex took a step forward, his expression softening despite his confusion. “Is everything all right?” he asked, his voice sur
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