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Chapter 11: The Spirit in the Reflection
Last Updated:
2025-01-10 12:59:36Related chapters
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 12: Embers and Deceptions
The blast thundered through the room like a wild creature set free, tearing apart metal and rock. Alexander scarcely had a moment to respond before the shockwave slammed him into the wall. The force took his breath away, and for a frightening instant, everything around was still.Dust and grime choked the atmosphere, and soft moans pierced the heavy silence. Alexander's lungs ached as he pushed himself to keep going, every breath shaking in his chest. His sight became unclear, but his father's journal shone brightly among the debris. It lay partially buried beneath fragments of glass and metal, itsleather cover burnt but undamaged.Coughing, he moved toward it, disregarding the intense ache in his side. His fingers closed around the journal just as Mason’s voice cut through the haze.“Alexander! Are you alive?”Alexander clenched his jaw and rose, swaying as the room whirled. "I'm present," he said roughly. “Isabella?”A quiet cry answered him. He turned, straining to see through th
Last Updated : 2025-01-10ECHOES OF DECEPTION CHAPTER1: Isabella's Encounter
Isabella Moore held onto the worn leather strap of her purse firmly while she stood in front of the large steel gates of the Peterson estate. The grand mansion loomed in front of her, resembling a sentinel, with its tall, polished ivory columns reflecting the fading sunlight. Her assumption of the luxury mansions in the estate cannot be overemphasized. Though she had been there before, that night felt unique. She found herself in a dire situation, forcing her to set aside her ego and confront the challenges directly, which made her show up that night as Clara Peterson's neglected poor relative.She had no choices left due to her mother's worsening condition. The accumulating hospital bills were crushing her with their heaviness. The insufficient earnings from her part-time job as a seamstress were not enough. Isabella was in desperate need of money. The Clara Peterson invitation was her final hope.Holding the card given to her by Clara with an innocent gesture, Isabella entered. Unc
Last Updated : 2025-01-02ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 2: Contract
In the lavish library of the Peterson mansion, Alexander Steele was sitting down, skillfully swirling the amber-coloured liquid in his glass. The gathering continued in the large ballroom, while Alexander found solace in the calm library, away from the excessive presence of guess. His image as the merciless head of Steele Enterprises came before him, and tonight was no exception. Everywhere he looked, he sensed insincere smiles, the tactful strategies of people trying to win his approval or form alliances. His needs were far greater and far more desperate.The terms of his late father’s will were clear: to secure control of Steele Enterprises, Alexander had to be married within three months. Failure to comply meant the company would fall to his cunning and manipulative uncle, Richard Steele, a man Alexander despised. Richard had spent years scheming to undermine Alexander’s authority, waiting for this moment to seize power.Alexander refused to let that happen. The company was his lif
Last Updated : 2025-01-02ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 3: The Trap Marriage
Alexander Steele stood by his desk, gazing intensely at the folder before him as if his gaze could cut through steel. His appearance was highlighted by the tension as the morning sun filled his penthouse office through the large windows. Contained within the folder was his crucial agreement or more accurately, flash marriage contract that would tie him to Isabella. His hand held the pen, suspended over the line where he needed to sign. Throughout the entire night, he didn't rest, his thoughts consumed by uncertainties regarding the decision he had taken. Entering into a marriage with someone unfamiliar was not only dangerous but also reckless but had no option then. The upcoming board meeting was rapidly forthcoming, and his uncle, Richard, was hovering like a scavenging bird, prepared to dismantle him of his inheritance, position and Steele Enterprises.His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden loud knock on the door."Come in," he shouted. Unexpectedly, there stood Clara.Clara
Last Updated : 2025-01-02ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 4: Beneath the Spotlight
Alexander Steele stared down the reporters, his mind racing as the unexpected question hung in the air: “Is your marriage a pretence?” He felt a sudden surge of anger, but his face stayed emotionless. He was skilled at concealing his feelings, but this was a unique situation where one mistake could undo all his efforts.The cameras snapped continuously, with the lights flashing as fast as lightning bolts. Isabella stood next to him, her hand shaking slightly as he held it. Alexander glanced at her, searching for a clue to her thoughts, but her face was a mask of defiance.“The only thing shameless here,” Alexander said finally, his voice steady and cold, “is Richard Steele’s desperation. My wife and I have nothing to prove.”Before the reporters could throw another question, Alexander’s security team moved in, creating a path through the chaos. He tugged Isabella’s hand, leading her toward the waiting car. She followed, her chin held high, but Alexander could feel the tension burning
Last Updated : 2025-01-02ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 5: The Storm Within
The atmosphere at night was tense, with the glowing city lights faintly visible in the distance while Alexander Steele walked back and forth on the penthouse balcony. The occurrences from that night were constantly on his mind, each moment fueling his anger. He had fiercely battled to defend his reputation and empire but watched as his carefully crafted image hovered on the brink of being damaged.Isabella was seated on the edge of the leather sofa indoors, with a pale and strained expression on her face. She held a wine glass in her shaking hands, but she hadn't drunk from it yet. The penthouse, typically a place of lavishness, now seemed like an imprisonment.Alexander rushed back indoors, his intense stare fixing on Isabella. "Will you be honest with me now?”.She responded her voice steady yet lacking confidence, "I've shared all my knowledge with you."Alexander snapped and slammed his fist against the wall, warning him not to lie. The sound echoed, making her flinch. “That man,
Last Updated : 2025-01-02ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 6: The Turning Point
Alexander Steele stared out of his penthouse window, at the wonderful city below with its radiant early morning sun. His reflection glared back at him, a stark reminder of how unsafely close he stood to losing everything. The image, the message, and the recollection of Isabella's shaky refusals echoed in his thoughts like a skipping record.He couldn't rid himself of the feeling that his life was falling apart uncontrollably. Alexander Steele was completely reliant on control.Meanwhile, Isabella sat in the guest room, staring at the ceiling. She hadn’t slept all night. The memories of her past with Greg haunted her like unwelcome ghosts. The café meeting captured in the photograph which she was innocent, but the timing of its resurfacing was deliberate. Someone wanted to destroy her marriage.The question remains who really could be responsible for this?Her thoughts shifted to Clara, Alexander’s vulture-like business rival. Clara had always been ruthless, but Isabella doubted she wa
Last Updated : 2025-01-02ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 7: Unraveling the Truth
The atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense. Alexander kept his eyes fixed on Victor, his competitor from the past, who stood arrogantly at the opposite side of the room. The note in his hand burned with unanswered questions, the words etched into his mind. Who is the true mastermind?Victor was only a pawn, but the one orchestrating this game had remained hidden in the shadows, pulling the strings with chilling precision. Alexander could sense the ticking of the clock. As he breathed, he sensed the walls were closing in on him, the urgency growing with each breath he took.Isabella stood next to him, yet Alexander could feel her discomfort. She was not merely a bystander in this chaos, there was a side to her that she was not ready to disclose, and this he was aware of. Despite his patience, he could no longer afford to be patient.Isabella looked up at him, and their eyes met for a brief moment. The unspoken words lingered in the air between them, yet she immediately averted her
Last Updated : 2025-01-09
Latest chapter
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 12: Embers and Deceptions
The blast thundered through the room like a wild creature set free, tearing apart metal and rock. Alexander scarcely had a moment to respond before the shockwave slammed him into the wall. The force took his breath away, and for a frightening instant, everything around was still.Dust and grime choked the atmosphere, and soft moans pierced the heavy silence. Alexander's lungs ached as he pushed himself to keep going, every breath shaking in his chest. His sight became unclear, but his father's journal shone brightly among the debris. It lay partially buried beneath fragments of glass and metal, itsleather cover burnt but undamaged.Coughing, he moved toward it, disregarding the intense ache in his side. His fingers closed around the journal just as Mason’s voice cut through the haze.“Alexander! Are you alive?”Alexander clenched his jaw and rose, swaying as the room whirled. "I'm present," he said roughly. “Isabella?”A quiet cry answered him. He turned, straining to see through th
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 11: The Spirit in the Reflection
The shadows of the vault appeared to draw nearer, encircling Alexander like a suffocating shroud. The ominous silence following the video feed was deafening. His mind raced as the face on the screen burned into his memory, a face he had trusted, a voice he once relied on.Mason was the first to speak, breaking the heavy stillness. “Alexander, we need to get out of here. If they know we’re in the vault”“They already knew,” Isabella interrupted, her voice trembling but steady. “That was a warning. Whoever’s behind this wanted you to see them.”Alexander’s eyes stood fixed on the empty screen. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched firmly at his sides. “This was not merely a caution,” he stated icily. “This was a declaration of war.”Mason moved closer, his hand still resting on his weapon. “Then we’re sitting ducks. Let’s move before”Footsteps reverberated from the hallway beyond the vault. Loud, intentional footsteps that intensified with every second.“They’ve arrived,” Isabella
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 10: Shadows in the Light
The walls of Steele Enterprises felt colder than ever as Alexander paced the executive suite, the headline still seared into his mind. His enemies weren’t just attacking his reputation. They were dismantling his empire from the inside out. And the most damning part, they were using are his most trusted people to achieve their goals.Mason stood silently in the corner, his jaw clenched, watching Alexander like a coiled spring ready to strike. Isabella sat across from them, her face pale, and her hands trembling in her lap. She tried to explain, to absolve herself, but her words felt like smoke.“You’re telling me someone is framing you, Isabella,” Alexander said, his voice low and dangerous. “But everything I’ve seen says otherwise.”“I’m telling you the truth,” she whispered, her eyes darting to the folder on the desk, the folder she’d taken from Victor. “it isn’t what you think. It’s not about betraying you. I'm only trying to play along to gather more information. It’s about protect
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 9: The Betrayer's Game
Alexander couldn’t sleep. Each frame of the video replayed in his mind felt like a punch to his stomach. Isabella, the woman he had promised to defend at any expense, was concealing more than just a scandalous story. The folder and that exchange with Victor were proof of something deeper, something darker.Slamming his fists onto the desk, he heard the sharp crack of wood echoing in the room. The ache in his knuckles tethered him to reality, though just a little.“Isabella,” he murmured, her name poisonous on his tongue. “What the hell are you hiding from me?” Unexpectedly, his phone rang. The shrill ring of his phone interrupted his thoughts. He snatched it up, his tone clipped.“Mason, tell me you’ve got something.”“I’ve got something,” Mason replied, but his tone carried a strange tone. “You’re not going to like it.”“Spit it out,” Alexander said.“We traced Greg’s final movements. Before he turned up dead, he made a call to one of Steele Enterprises’ secure lines.”Ale
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 8: The Shadows of Deceit
The envelope fell from Alexander's grasp, its contents falling to the ground like pieces of a broken truth. His thoughts moved quickly, each part of the mystery swirling in chaos while Isabella's trembling figure faced him.He repeated, his voice low and tense, asking for something darker. "What the heck is Isabella even trying to say?"She mouthed words but remained silent. Her silence was heavy and overwhelming, bearing down on him like a strong grip. Alexander's patience, already worn thin, gave way."Speak!" he snarled, holding her shoulders tightly.” No more playing around, no more withholding information. I require full knowledge.”However, just as Isabella was about to respond, the ballroom lights flickered, casting the room into temporary darkness. The crowd let out a series of gasps, causing the tension in the air to intensify. After the lights settled, Victor Kane had disappeared."Where has he disappeared to?" Alexander whispered while he looked around the room."I don’t kn
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 7: Unraveling the Truth
The atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense. Alexander kept his eyes fixed on Victor, his competitor from the past, who stood arrogantly at the opposite side of the room. The note in his hand burned with unanswered questions, the words etched into his mind. Who is the true mastermind?Victor was only a pawn, but the one orchestrating this game had remained hidden in the shadows, pulling the strings with chilling precision. Alexander could sense the ticking of the clock. As he breathed, he sensed the walls were closing in on him, the urgency growing with each breath he took.Isabella stood next to him, yet Alexander could feel her discomfort. She was not merely a bystander in this chaos, there was a side to her that she was not ready to disclose, and this he was aware of. Despite his patience, he could no longer afford to be patient.Isabella looked up at him, and their eyes met for a brief moment. The unspoken words lingered in the air between them, yet she immediately averted her
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 6: The Turning Point
Alexander Steele stared out of his penthouse window, at the wonderful city below with its radiant early morning sun. His reflection glared back at him, a stark reminder of how unsafely close he stood to losing everything. The image, the message, and the recollection of Isabella's shaky refusals echoed in his thoughts like a skipping record.He couldn't rid himself of the feeling that his life was falling apart uncontrollably. Alexander Steele was completely reliant on control.Meanwhile, Isabella sat in the guest room, staring at the ceiling. She hadn’t slept all night. The memories of her past with Greg haunted her like unwelcome ghosts. The café meeting captured in the photograph which she was innocent, but the timing of its resurfacing was deliberate. Someone wanted to destroy her marriage.The question remains who really could be responsible for this?Her thoughts shifted to Clara, Alexander’s vulture-like business rival. Clara had always been ruthless, but Isabella doubted she wa
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 5: The Storm Within
The atmosphere at night was tense, with the glowing city lights faintly visible in the distance while Alexander Steele walked back and forth on the penthouse balcony. The occurrences from that night were constantly on his mind, each moment fueling his anger. He had fiercely battled to defend his reputation and empire but watched as his carefully crafted image hovered on the brink of being damaged.Isabella was seated on the edge of the leather sofa indoors, with a pale and strained expression on her face. She held a wine glass in her shaking hands, but she hadn't drunk from it yet. The penthouse, typically a place of lavishness, now seemed like an imprisonment.Alexander rushed back indoors, his intense stare fixing on Isabella. "Will you be honest with me now?”.She responded her voice steady yet lacking confidence, "I've shared all my knowledge with you."Alexander snapped and slammed his fist against the wall, warning him not to lie. The sound echoed, making her flinch. “That man,
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 4: Beneath the Spotlight
Alexander Steele stared down the reporters, his mind racing as the unexpected question hung in the air: “Is your marriage a pretence?” He felt a sudden surge of anger, but his face stayed emotionless. He was skilled at concealing his feelings, but this was a unique situation where one mistake could undo all his efforts.The cameras snapped continuously, with the lights flashing as fast as lightning bolts. Isabella stood next to him, her hand shaking slightly as he held it. Alexander glanced at her, searching for a clue to her thoughts, but her face was a mask of defiance.“The only thing shameless here,” Alexander said finally, his voice steady and cold, “is Richard Steele’s desperation. My wife and I have nothing to prove.”Before the reporters could throw another question, Alexander’s security team moved in, creating a path through the chaos. He tugged Isabella’s hand, leading her toward the waiting car. She followed, her chin held high, but Alexander could feel the tension burning
