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Chapter 12: the bargain of love
Last Updated:
2025-01-10 13:13:21
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ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 13: Torn Between Two World
"This isn’t over, you know."My mother’s words cut through the air, her keen stare resting on me and Alexander. A cold ran across my chest, my fingers squeezing over Alexander’s. He didn’t move. He stood steady, his presence strong alongside me.My heart thudded in my ribs. My mother’s anger was nothing new, but this time, it seemed different—like an unsaid battle had been declared.Alexander didn’t move, didn’t talk. He merely held my hand, his hold strong, like an unbreakable vow.But could we fight this together? Could I?---The instant I walked inside, the weight of my childhood house fell on me. The familiar scent of new bread and old wood filled my breath, but there was no comfort in it. My mother had always kept our home clean, although I never felt at ease there.She marched forward, her back stiff, her quiet heavier than any words she could have said. I knew what was coming.I looked at Alexander. His jaw was tight, his countenance unreadable. I could feel the stress in his s
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"This isn’t over," my mother said, her voice colder than before.I felt Alexander’s hand around mine. His warmth was the only thing keeping me from shaking. I stood my ground, even as my mother’s eyes burned into me, filled with quiet anger.I knew what she was thinking. She thought I was making a mistake, that I was toiling with my future, or maybe I was taking the wrong step.But I could not feel anything of this; I wasn’t afraid.She inhaled deeply and breathed out before looking away. "We’ll talk later." Her comments weren’t a refusal but a warning.I didn’t answer. My heart was beating too quickly. Alexander and I shared a look at each other, but before either of us could say anything, his phone rang.He quickly went for it as he took it out of his pocket. Immediately, he glanced at the screen, and I saw something change in his countenance.He let go of my hand to reply. "Yes?"His tone of voice was mixed with something I couldn’t quite place. What I could only hear was…."Underst
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"This could change everything."His words felt like a stone thrown into my stomach.I looked at him, seeking any sign of comfort, but his expression remained emotionless. My heart beat as he answered the call after taking a few steps away. His voice was cool and controlled—so unlike the guy who had just hugged me seconds earlier, pledging to stand by my side.My head spun. Could it be the merging of Steele Enterprises? It was always about business. No matter how much I wanted, Alexander’s world wasn’t just about us—it was about the power, riches, and responsibilities he placed above us.And now, I was afraid it would break us apart.His talk was short, but when he turned back to me, his expression was tight. "I have to leave for a time. There’s a meeting tomorrow morning. They expect my conclusion." "And what are you going to say?"He paused. "I don’t know yet."That was all it took for fear to set in. He was not sure, which meant there was a risk he would choose the merging, the empi
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"You did something wrong. And you have the boldness to change your mind."Alexander held on tight to his phone and clenched his teeth as he looked at the message then followed by a call. It felt like his dad's words were crushing him. The atmosphere between us became tense with worry, and for a minute, none of us spoke. "Alexander..." I called him, though it was hard for me to speak.He looked away from me. His fingers paused over the screen as if wondering whether to answer. He then let out a big sigh, locked the phone, and threw it away."Let him be angry," he mumbled. "I do not care anymore about anything he may want to think of."But I knew that wasn’t true. No matter how hard he tried to hide it. His father wasn’t just a man he could toil with because the man was highly influential and ruthless above all, he knew so much about his son's strengths and weaknesses.I held his hand, pleading with him to at least answer the call.He finally met my look, his blue eyes dark with purpose
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But before he could lift it, a harsh crack resonated across the air, and Lucian staggered, grasping his arm. Jane came from the shadows, a burning revolver in her hand. “Not yet,” she answered, her voice frigid. Alexander glanced at her, surprised and distrustful. Was she an ally or simply another participant in Lucian’s deadly game?----The chilly air sliced into Alexander’s skin as he lurched onward, the adrenaline from their escape, beginning to run off. Mason maintained pace with him, gripping his side where a stray bullet had wounded him during the chaos. Behind them, Jane’s footfalls were steady, her presence, a mix of relief and worry. They took temporary refuge in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The warehouse inside was dark but the were lengthy shadows of brightness over the area. “Let me see,” Alexander responded, referring to Mason’s wound. “It’s nothing,” Mason groaned, but he didn’t object as Alexander tore a piece off his shirt to fashion a ma
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The sound of Jane’s muffled scream resonated in Alexander’s ears as he spun swiftly, his heart pounding. The low light pouring through the damaged warehouse windows highlighted her form, held by one of Lucian’s men. Her eyes were wide with dread, her struggles fruitless against the tall man holding her. Alexander froze. Jane wasn’t meant to be here. He had been so careful, making sure she and Mason were far away from this turmoil. Yet here she was, trapped in the crossfire, a struggle she didn’t comprehend. “Alex!” she shouted out, her voice cracking. “They found me!” Lucian’s laughter resonated across the area, a chilly, mocking sound that sent chills down Alexander’s spine. “I warned you, Alex. Your weakness for others would endanger you.” “Let her go,” Alexander shouted his voice firm despite the panic tearing at his chest. Lucian inclined his head, faking attention. “I could, but where’s the fun in that? Besides, you haven’t given me what I want yet.” The flash drive. The so
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Alexander’s hold on the decoy tightened as he peered into Clara’s uncompromising gaze. Trusting her felt like stepping off a cliff, but with Lucian closing in, he had no option.“Fine,” he responded, giving the gadget to her.Clara grabbed it smoothly, a tiny grin flashing on her lips. “Smart choice.”Before Alexander could react, Clara asked them to get inside the SUV. “Let’s go. We don’t have much time.”The SUV's engine hum broke the tight hush. Alexander sat sturdily, his eyes flitting between Clara, driving with an awkwardly easygoing look, and Jane, who clutched his elbow as if letting go would shatter the little safety they had left."Where are you driving us to?" said Alexander, demanding, his voice quiet but powerful.Clara ignored him, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "To a location, Lucian cannot reach you for now.""For now?" said Jane's voice shook, breaking the silence. "You barged in, saved us, and what? You expect us to trust you?”Clara’s lips twisted into a tiny smi
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“I’ve been ready,” Alexander said, determination sharpening his voice. Jane stared between them, her anxiety giving way to decision. "I'll support you, regardless of the circumstance." The trio felt an instant friendship, knowing that the path ahead would be laden with risk. Nonetheless, there was no prospect of going back at this point. While they began preparing for their next move, Alexander couldn’t escape the feeling that the worst was yet to come. Hidden facts and hidden deceit boil under the surface, waiting to erupt.And when they did, nothing would ever be the same. The unimaginable abyss throbbed with pressure. Alexander paced the room, his thoughts racing with half-formed schemes and lingering concerns. Clara stood at the corner, her arms folded, studying a weathered map on the table with a single flickering light bulb overhead casting lengthy shadows. Jane sat on a box nearby, her face pale. And drawn, her hands nervously holding the ends of her coat. “This won’t work
Last Updated : 2025-01-14
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ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 48: Emotional Struggle
"Lucian, I need answers." Isabella’s voice quivered as she stood before him in the dimly lit study. Her pulse raced, and she tightened her hands to firm her determination. “No more games, no more cryptic warnings. Tell me the truth about your past with Alexander and why you're doing this”Lucian sat back in his chair, a dark smirk pulling at the edges of his lips. “Ah, Isabella. You finally come seeking the truth. But are you sure you can take it?”“Don’t say that I asked of it,” she hissed, edging closer. “If you want me on your side, then stop hiding behind riddles. What is the feud all about?”Lucian laughed, twisting the tumbler of whiskey in his palm. “The feud, as you call it, isn’t just about Alexander. It’s about justice. Your dear Alexander didn’t simply harm my family—he destroyed it and you’ve been playing into his hands all along.”Her stomach twisted at his words, but she refused to back down. “If that’s true, why haven’t you shown me some proof? You keep da
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 47: The Breaking Confession
“You’ve been meeting and seeing Lucian behind my back?” Alexander’s voice pierced through the room. He stood at the window. His hands were fixed in his trousers pocket, and his stare drilled into Isabella, who had just entered the room. Isabella paused mid-step, the allegation striking her like a slap. “Alexander… I can explain.” Her voice trembled, exposing her anxieties. “Explain?” He smiled, his tone filled with anger. “What could you possibly explain? That you’ve been conspiring with the same guy trying to ruin me? That you’ve been lying to my face this entire time?” “I wasn’t plotting anything with him!” Isabella yelled. “Lucian approached me, and I was trying to figure out what he wanted. I did it for you!” “For me?” Alexander's laughter is devoid of humour. “That’s a good one, betrayal in the name of protection? How noble of you, Isabella.” “Betrayal?” She took a step forward, her voice increasing. “You’re the one I should tag a betrayal. How many secrets
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 46: Betrayal Unmasked
" what more are you hiding from me, Clara?" Isabella’s voice quivered with anxiety. Her arms were crossed firmly as if she might hide herself from yet another discovery. "First, you confess to knowing secrets about Lucian, and now this? I feel like I’m drowning in falsehoods." Clara scratched her forehead, breathing forcefully. "Look, Isabella, I realize this is overwhelming but if you keep questioning me, we might lose time to attach up with him. Lucian isn’t waiting around for us to sort things out. He’s already ahead of the game." "Is that supposed to be comfort words to me?" Isabella shot back, her tone dripping with disdain. "Because it doesn’t. For all I know, you may still be working with him of which I can’t even tell. Maybe this is all part of his plan." Clara slapped her hands on the table. "I told you; I am not loyal to that serpent! He wrecked my life like he is doing yours. Fine. If you don’t want my assistance no problem, but stop behaving as if you could
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 45: My Enemy
“Clara,” Isabella’s voice was low. “Why are you helping me?”Clara stood by the wall, folded her arms, and smiled broadly. "Do you believe I’m doing this just because I’m kind-hearted?" she asked, her voice soaked with mockery. "No, Isabella, I'm assisting us because I also have an issue with Lucian. At this moment, we both have a shared enemy.”Isabella glanced at Clara, confusion twisting in her thoughts. "Lucian? What do you know about him?"Clara’s grin faded, her eyes hardening. “More than you think. But right now, you need to listen closely, because this goes deeper than you could ever think. Lucian has been tugging the strings behind all of this—between you, myself, and Alexander. He’s been manipulating us, setting us against one other.”Isabella took a step forward, her pulse hammering. “No... you’re lying. Why would he do that?”“Because he knows that the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Clara remarked with a gloomy chuckle. “He’s been manipulating us both to weaken
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 44: Threads of Deception
"Isabella," Alexander's voice broke through silence, as he came into the room. His look fixed upon hers. "What's going on with you today? You’ve been avoiding me since in the morning."Isabella glanced up from the papers in front of her, her heart beating. She had spent hours pondering Lucian's offer, caught between the weight of his words and her strong love for Alexander. Now, the time had come. "I want us to talk," Isabella began, her voice firm but frigid. "It’s about your past. About what you've been hiding."Alexander’s countenance tensed, his eyes blazing with something unreadable. “What are you talking about? You’re being theatrical, Isabella.”"No," she answered, her voice barely above a whisper as she took out the folder she had been holding all morning. The file seemed like it weighed a ton in her hands, each paper within it a piece of the truth she had unearthed. “I’m not being dramatic. You lied to me, Alexander. All these years, you’ve been hiding things fr
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 43: A Dangerous Proposition
"Lucian," Isabella's voice quivered as she stood frozen awaiting Lucian's arrival at the office corridor after closed work, her facial expression was more of confusion. "What do you mean by that earlier?"Lucian’s face remained unreadable, his eyes focused upon hers. The quietness between them stretched like something heavy in the air. Finally, he began, his voice calm yet tinged with something deadly."I meant exactly what I said, Isabella." Lucian's tone changed a sparkle of something more personal flashing under his ordinary ace. "Your loyalty will be tested, and when the time comes, you’ll have to decide who you stand with."Isabella could feel her pulse rate go up, the weight of his words sinking deeper. "Stand with who? You or Alexander?"Lucian moved a step closer as if every action was planned. "What if I told you Alexander isn't who you think he is? What if I told you he’s been playing both sides all along? The reality you’ve been so anxious to ignore… it’s there in
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 42: Secret of Merger Plan
"Isabella," Clara's voice was filled with a lovely tone as she approached the office door, her shoes tapping on the polished floor. "Alexander's been seeking for you. He needs to discuss the new merger plan with you."Isabella barely noticed her, still engrossed in the documents she was digging through on Alexander's desk. Her eyes wandered across the room. The item on his desk was a reminder of everything that had gone before his ambition to accomplish great things, his choices, and their future together. But it was the envelope, tucked under a stack of documents, that attracted her eye.She paused for a second before she carefully took it up. The envelope was sealed but contained no return address, simply her name written, tidy with familiar handwriting. Clara tried to distract her by bringing up a discussion."Clara, I'm not in the mood for gist," Isabella remarked, her voice stern. She had seen enough of Alexander's past with Clara, the tension, every time she was around, b
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 41: A Risky Disclosure
"You've been observing him the entire evening," Isabella said, glancing at Alexander. Alexander didn’t take his eyes off Lucian, who sat by the fire. “I don’t trust him, Isabella. He’s up to something.” “He’s just confused,” Isabella said, even if she distrust t her own words. Alexander’s gaze went to her. Isabella opened her lips to speak, but a startling snap of a stick from the outside of the camp caught their attention. Both turned immediately, their senses heightened. “Who’s there?” Alexander cried out, his voice loud. The atmosphere got heavier, weighted with an unsaid tension that sent chills down Isabella’s spine. “I’m not fond of this,” she mumbled, unconsciously edging close to Alexander. “Remain here,” he instructed his tone providing no space for debate. He rose, his hand reaching to the knife at his belt as he headed towards the direction that the sound was coming from. “Alexander, wait!” Isabella shouted, but he didn’t stop. The firelight flickered
ECHOES OF DECEPTION Chapter 40: The Brewing Storm
“I can’t sleep?” Alexander's voice broke the silence of the night, capturing Isabella's attention.She looked up from her chair near the fire, her face glowing with the fire flames. "Not with all that’s on my mind," she confessed quietly.Alexander moved closer, taking a seat next to her. The warmth of his presence was comforting and disturbing, awakening feelings she wasn’t certain she desired to face.“maybe discussing might be of help,” he suggested, his tone calming.She paused briefly, then moved her head. “Talking won't make a difference, Alexander.”“It might not change the situation,” he said, his gaze steady on her. “But it might change how you feel about it.”She sighed the weight of their mission and their complicated relationship pressing down on her. "I have no idea where to begin."He extended his hand, gently moving a lock of hair from her face. The gesture was so loving that it caused her heart to race. "Start with what’s inside," he said, his hand lightly resting on h
