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Chapter Seventeen: Who's The Boss II
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2024-04-19 03:29:11Related chapters
LOVE and RUSE Chapter One
FIVE YEARS AGO...In the sprawling estate of the Montague mansion, where ivy climbed the walls like whispers of forgotten secrets and the scent of roses lingered in the air like the promise of eternal love, Isabella Montague stood at the grand window of her boudoir with a porcelain cup cradled in her slender fingers. Bathed in the soft morning light, she exuded an air of serene elegance, her delicate features illuminated by the golden rays that filtered through the sheer curtains. Slowly, she sipped her morning coffee savoring it's taste while the rich aroma mingle with the sweet scent of freshly-cut flowers that adorned the room. Her gaze drifted wistfully over the manicured gardens below, where dew-kissed petals danced in the gentle breeze, a picturesque tableau of tranquility.To the outside world, she was the epitome of grace and sophistication, the beloved wife of the esteemed CEO, Alexander Montague, who has continuously earned the yearly award for best Entrepreneur five time in
Last Updated : 2024-03-07LOVE and RUSE Chapter Two: Echoes of Deception
The continuous chime of the doorbell echoed through the Montague mansion, rousing Isabella from her quiet reverie. With a furrowed brow, she made her way to the grand entrance of the mansion, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. Who could be calling at this late hour, and why under the cloak of anonymity? There was no one at the door when she checked the doorbell camera whilst tension slowly build up in her chest. Slowly, she reached for the ornate brass handle, her hand hesitated for a moment while a flicker of uncertainty flashed across her features. With a deep breath, she pushed aside her apprehension and swung the door open. The cold night breeze slithers into the room like a stealthy intruder, its icy tendrils reaching out to caress her skin with a chilling touch, the sudden contrast in temperature sends shivers down her spine while her heart continue to pound wildly. A small package nestled on the doorstep, wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a
Last Updated : 2024-03-07LOVE and RUSE Chapter Three: Lost in Deceit
Isabella continued to sift through the contents of the envelope, her heart sank with each new discovery. Photographs, scattered like broken fragments of a shattered mirror, she picked up the one that stood out the most, lo and behold, her loving husband in the company of a mysterious woman, she couldn't make out her face because of the nose mask she had on, their faces alight with laughter and affection, with a smiling child sitting in-between them, great example of a happy family. For a year, she hasn't seen her husband smile so heartily. He spends extra time in the office and more time in his study than the bedroom, unscheduled meeting with staffs and consequent meetings with stakeholders that requires him to travel for weeks. At first it didn't strike her as something to bother about, he is the CEO of a big company and probably just trying to sign new deals and broaden his horizon, she would tell herself, making up excuses for him in her mind. Six month passed and he just seems to
Last Updated : 2024-03-07LOVE and RUSE Chapter Four: Lost in Silence
The hours stretched further into the night, Isabella found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the damning evidence spread out before her on the coffee table. Each photograph, each letter, served as a painful reminder of her husband's betrayal, fueling the turmoil of emotions swirling within her. With every passing minute, Isabella's anxiety grew, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for Alexander's return. She paced the length of the dimly lit foyer, her footsteps echoing hollowly against the marble floors, her mind consumed by thoughts of what she would say to him when he walked through the door, the hands of the clock crept closer to midnight and there was still no sign of Alexander. The mansion lay shrouded in silence, the only sound was the soft ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the corner. Several hours passed in agonizing silence, each minute feeling like an eternity as she wrestled with her conflicting emotions. Part of her longed to confront Alexande
Last Updated : 2024-03-09LOVE and RUSE Chapter Five: Shattered Illusion
After long hours if contemplating, she made her way downstairs, her footsteps faltered as she approached the closed door of Alexander's study, her hand hesitated on the polished brass handle. Summoning her courage, Isabella pushed open the door to the study, her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped inside. Alexander sat behind his desk, his back turned to her as he spoke quietly into the phone, he turned to face her with a unreadable expression. For a moment, Isabella hesitated, her eyes searching his face for any sign of guilt or remorse. But all she saw was the familiar facade of the man she had once loved, his features schooled into a mask of indifference as he hung up the phone and turned to face her, a fake smile plastered across his lips. Isabella stood before her husband, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, in that moment, as their eyes met across the expanse of the study, her eyes burned with a mixture of anger and betrayal. The air crackled with tension, thick
Last Updated : 2024-03-10LOVE and RUSE Chapter Six: Deceitful Vows
For a long moment, there was only silence, broken only by the pounding of Isabella's heart in her chest. And then, finally, Alexander spoke, "She's... she's no one," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the photograph before him, but Isabella knew better than to believe his lies, knew that the truth was far more damning than he dared to admit. With a cry of anguish, she swept the photograph from the desk and hurled it across the room, the glass shattering with a deafening crash as it struck the far wall, Startled by her sudden outburst, he rose angrily from his seat and slammed his palm against the desk in anger, "I will not have you talk to me that way." he yelled, his masculine voice reverberated through the whole room. "I've acted with you for too long and now you don't know the difference between dream and reality. You are so confused and probably the reason why you think you have a say in the decisions I make with my life. I didn't marry you for love so get that into your thick skul
Last Updated : 2024-03-10LOVE and RUSE Chapter Seven: A Symphony of Sorrow
The slam of the door reverberated through the mansion like a gunshot, snapping Isabella out of her dazed state. With trembling hands and tears in her eyes, she stumbled through the long hallway, her footsteps echoing on the polished marble floors as she sought solace in the solitude of their bedroom - a place which now serve as a reminder of the lie she has lived for seven year. In the oppressive silence of the mansion, Isabella was tormented by storms of emotions, regret gnawed at her as she sank onto the edge of the bed slowly, a bitter reminder of the choices that had led her to this moment of despair flashed across her mind. Her thoughts inevitably returned to the family she had left behind, the warmth of her grandfather's love, the power and privilege she lost while going after impossibilities. By rejecting her birthright and breaking off the arranged marriage that is meant to strengthen the bond between families, she had neglected her duty for a delusional fairytale world buil
Last Updated : 2024-03-14LOVE and RUSE Chapter Eight: The Other Woman
Alexander drove through the busy highway with a firm grip on the wheel while his foot pressed down hard on the accelerator pedal. He sigh in frustration when his thought drifted to Isabella. "Feels good to be free without having to fake anything anymore, " he smirked, "At least now she knows her place and I won't have to act like i care no more." A satisfied smile spread across his face as he swerved to the left, driving through the lonely estate road that leads to the temporary house he bought for Olivia few months back, pending her arrival from Australia. Few minutes later, he pull up in front of a single storey house, nestled among a row of similarly designed homes in a quiet suburban neighborhood and parked his car in the small parking space that could only admit a single vehicle. He pushed the thought of isabella to the far back of his mind as he alight from the car, and walked elegantly to the door with a big sincere smile plastered on his face. He rang the door bell and wait
Last Updated : 2024-03-18
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LOVE and RUSE Chapter Seventeen: Who's The Boss II
All the twelve board members shifted uncomfortably in their seats, a collective rustling of expensive fabric and suppressed tension filling the room. Evelyn's expression remained cold and unreadable, a stark contrast to the anxious glances exchanged around the roomVice-chairman Kim, a man of sparse words and considered actions, initiated the proceedings with a voice that despite its softness, carried the weight of authority, "Everyone is gathered here today because of a proposed bill which will decide who sits as the head of Miller consortium, but before we start voting, if anyone has anything to say to Miss Miller here, do not hesitate, please."Evelyn's gaze swept across the room, her face a mask of icy composure. She caught the subtle tells of those who would vote her out - the averted eyes, the nervous shuffles, the whispered asides. 'If y'all want to be a pussy, at least have some dignity and do it with pride,' she mused, her internal laughter almost spilling over."I do not su
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Sixteen: Who's The Boss I
Three black cars, sleek and gleaming like panthers under the midday sun, pulled up in front of the Miller Consortium Group office building. The Rolls-Royce Phantoms, each worth over half a million dollars lined up in ceremonious precision. The building itself pierced the sky, a monolithic glass spire that stood as the tallest edifice in France after the Eiffel Tower, its mirrored surfaces reflecting the ambition and might of the empire it housed.Evelyn Miller was seated in the middle car, her presence even more commanding than the luxurious vehicle that enclosed her. As her bodyguards, clad in tailored suits that did little to conceal their readiness to protect, stepped out of the vehicles in front and behind her, the air seemed to hum with anticipation. One of them, his movements both swift and respectful, rushed to open the car door for her.She stepped out slowly, as though allowing the world a moment to prepare itself for her. The bodycon Stony black Louis Vuitton dress clung to
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Fifteen: A Leap Of Faith
The insistent sound of a phone vibrating sliced through the silence of the early morning, tugging Alexander out of his deep slumber. Half-asleep, his hand fumbled on the nightstand in an attempt to find the phone. Claire's name flashed on the screen, an unusual occurrence for such an early hour. Without a second thought, he swiped to answer."Good morning, Alex," came Claire's voice, crisp and far more awake than he felt."Hmm..." was all he could mutter in response, his brain still thick with sleep."Alex, I think we should meet at the office in 30 minutes. There is something you need to see, and it's about the email we sent to the Miller consortium last night."The word 'Miller Consortium' was like a shot of adrenaline to his system. His eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright in bed. "What about it?" he asked. The fog of sleep rapidly cleared from his eyes."I can't discuss the details over the phone. Just get here as quickly as you can," she urged, leaving no room for argument.A
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Fourteen: Ghost of The Past
Evelyn's fingers hovered momentarily over the laptop's power button, a sharp breath escaping her as she contemplated the stillness of the night. The digital glow of the clock read just past midnight, adding a haunting luminescence to the room that should have been dark, conducive to sleep. Reluctantly, she pressed the button, the screen flickering to life and casting a pale light across her face. Work was the only antidote for her restlessness—a potion she'd brew for herself on nights like this, when the ghosts of her past refused to stay buried. As she logged into her office email, the mundane list of senders and subjects scrolled past until one name arrested her scrolling finger—a name tied to a history she had meticulously archived in the recesses of her mind. The technology and construction firm, ‘SynTech Construction Innovations,' belong to her ex-husband, Alexander, and it seemed to taunt her from the inbox. A ghost from her past that refused to be exorcised. A wave of emotions,
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Thirteen: The Bold Gamble
Alexander stood by the vast glass window of his office, gazing at the lively streets below, his mind was a whirlpool of strategies and what-ifs, each thought colliding with the urgency of his company's situation. Earlier he got news from the government regarding the proposal submitted for the proposed urban housing project which has been approved and a congratulatory message was sent to his email. But this was a bittersweet victory—an approval without funding was like a blueprint without bricks. He turned away from the window, his shadow stretching across the room as the sun begin to dip behind the city's silhouette. Taking another loan was out of the question, it's like a ship taking more water when it was already sinking, The weight of his existing debts was a heavy anchor, threatening to pull him and his company under. He paced the length of his office, the sound of his footsteps was a metronome to his racing thoughts. He paused, reaching for the office phone with a decisive mot
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Twelve: Silent Farewell
PRESENT DAY...The Miller's family cemetery is nestled amongst towering oak trees and fragrant blooms. Groups of mourners in black gathered around the freshly dug grave that is meant to be the final resting place for Maurice Miller, Evelyn's grandfather. Mournful clouds hung low in the sky, casting a dark veil over the cemetery.As the priest delivered the final prayer, a big knot of emotion formed in her throat with a suffocating intensity. Tears welled in her eyes, clouding her vision as she stood solemnly beside the freshly dug grave. She clenched her jaw tightly, fighting the tears that threatened to fall while she struggle to maintain her composure.'Its okay to be sad and emotional, but it becomes a sin and weakness when you let it show.' Growing up, those were the words her grandfather would say to her whenever something made her cry.People started coming forward to say something about the deceased. Everyone has something to say as they placed colourful flowers on the casket an
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Eleven: The Awakening
Isabella succumbed to a fitful sleep, curled up in a ball while her cheeks bore the tracks of tears, only to be abruptly awakened by the insistent ringing of her phone. With a grumpy sigh, she reached out for it. Her heart dropped as she noticed an unknown caller ID on the screen - for a brief moment she had hoped the caller was Alexander, with reluctance, she picked it, "Hello?" she murmured, more to herself than the caller. A deep, rough male voice answered from the other end, "do you like the gift I sent you, Isabella?" The man's tone was teasing and filled with a mock amusement. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized the gift he was referring to - it was the parcel left on her doorstep that was filled with pictures if Alex with his mistress and daughter, the reason she was in this pitiful state. It's shocking that her unknown caller is the anonymous sender, "Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear and sadness. The man laughed, a sinister sound that mad
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Ten: Blissful Sin
"Do you know what I need now?" he asked, staring into her eyes. "What?" she asked with a knowing smile. "You." He stood up from Sophia's bed, careful not to wake her and swept Olivia off her feet in a single move while going in for another passionate kiss. Their lips remained locked as he carried her down the hallway towards the bedroom. Olivia let out a playful giggle. He lowered her onto the bed gently with desire evident in his fiery eyes while his lips reclaimed hers in fierce urgency. He trailed hot kisses down her neck and towards her shoulder blade, sending electric shocks through her whole body. Olivia kissed his neck and trailed her tongue down his chest, running her hands all over his body to feel the strong muscles of his chest and the toned abs of his stomach. His body tensed under her touch. He held her tightly and flipped her over, getting on top of her. Gently, he lowered the straps of her nightwear, drawing the gown below her perfect waistline, revealing her per
LOVE and RUSE Chapter Nine: A Monster by Choice
Alexander walked over to Sophia's side and settled onto the edge of the bed, his fingertips gently tracing the delicate strands of her golden blonde hair, a tender smile spread across his lips while he tucked a stray lock of hair from her face. She stirred slightly at his touch, her lashes lazily fluttered open to reveal the dazzling sapphire eyes that mirrored his own. "Daddy?" Olivia murmured sleepily, her voice a soft melodic whisper that tugged at his heartstrings. "Yes, sweetheart, it's me," Alexander replied, his voice filled with warmth and affection as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. Slowly, she drifted back to sleep, leaving Alexander to marvel at the delicate curve of her cheek and the way her lips curved into a contented smile while she doze off. A surge of love and protectiveness washed over him as he reassures himself he's doing what's best for his family by letting Isabella go. It's a decision he should have taken right after the only one, his fathe
