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Chapter twenty six
Last Updated:
2025-02-18 00:16:00
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Love and deceit    Chapter twenty seven
ðđDamienðđI sat in my study, fingers drumming against the polished oak desk, my mind clouded with thoughts I had no business entertaining.Aurora.She had a way of getting under my skin, and I hated it. I hated the way she made me feel like I wasnât in control, the way her presence lingered long after she left the room. No woman had ever made me second-guess myself, let alone question my decisions. But she did.I took a slow breath, rolling my shoulders as I reached for the whiskey glass Ronan had set in front of me earlier. The rich amber liquid burned down my throat, but it did nothing to chase away the unease gnawing at me.I had lost control.It wasnât just todayâit had been happening since the moment she entered my life. At first, I thought she was just another pawn, a woman I would marry for the sake of my plans. But she had proven to be much more than that. A complication. A distraction.A weakness.The thought alone made my grip tighten around the glass. I couldnât afford wea
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    chapter twenty eight
ðđDamien ðđThe early morning light seeped through the towering windows of the estate, casting elongated shadows across the polished floors. I barely got any sleep, my mind refusing to settle even after downing two glasses of whiskey the night before.Aurora was everywhere in my thoughts, and it infuriated me. I wasnât the kind of man to lose control over a woman. I had vowed to keep her at a distance, to remind myself that she was nothing more than a tool in my plans. But no matter how much I tried, she found ways to slip past my defenses.I needed to shut this down.Pushing aside my frustration, I walked down the hall, my steps measured and purposeful. I had business to attend to todayâreal business, not the constant distractions Aurora kept throwing my way.But as I turned the corner, Ronan was already waiting for me, arms crossed over his chest. His expression was unreadable, but I could tell he had something to say."You have a visitor," he said simply.I stopped walking. "Who?"
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    Chapter twenty nine
ðđAuroraðđThe city streets stretched before me, illuminated by the golden glow of streetlights. The cold bit at my skin as I pulled my coat tighter around my body, my breath forming small clouds in the air. Each step I took toward the cafÃĐ felt heavier, as though my conscience itself was weighing me down.I shouldnât be here.But I needed answers.The past few weeks had felt like a blurâDamienâs presence in my life had been suffocating, controlling, unpredictable. And yet, there was a dangerous pull between us, something I couldn't quite define but refused to acknowledge. That was why I had to do this.I had to see Ethan.One last time.My fingers curled into fists as I reached the cafÃĐ entrance. Through the glass window, I spotted him immediatelyâhis dark hair slightly messier than I remembered, his navy-blue jacket zipped up against the cold. He sat at a corner booth, his fingers curled around a ceramic cup, his gaze lost in thought.Ethan.Memories of him came rushing backâhis lau
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    Chapter thirty
ðđEthan ðđI sat frozen in the booth, my fingers curled around the warmth of my coffee cup, though I barely felt it anymore. My entire body was numb, my mind struggling to process what had just happened.Aurora had walked away.Again.Just like that night.The memory clawed at me, refusing to stay buried. I had stood there, waiting in the cold, heart pounding, gripping my old leather bag with white-knuckled hands. I had rehearsed everything I would say to herâhow we would run away, how we would start over, how love would be enough.But she never came.I had been a fool back then, naive enough to believe that love alone could fight against the weight of expectation, duty, and wealth. I had convinced myself that she would choose me. That she would fight.But she hadnât.And now, she had done it again.The soft chime of the cafÃĐ door closing behind her felt like a gunshot, shattering the last illusion I had clung to.She still loved me.I saw it in her eyes, in the way her breath caught
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    Chapter thirty-one
ðđAuroraðđThe cabâs interior was dimly lit by the streetlights that streamed through the window as we slowly made our way through the cityâs quieter streets. I sat in the back, hugging my knees close, my thoughts swirling in a tumult I could neither calm nor control. Every bump on the road echoed in my mind like the pounding of my heart, reminding me of how fragile everything felt lately. I couldnât shake the memories of the last few daysâthe relentless pressure of my engagement to Damien Sterling, his chilling, possessive words, and the disquieting remnants of his touch that still made my skin prickle. And then there was Ethan, whose voice had lingered in my ears long after our brief encounter, stirring up memories of a past Iâd once believed was buried forever.I tried to focus on the rhythmic hum of the taxiâs engine and the passing blur of city lights, but my mind kept drifting back to the overwhelming feeling of being trapped. With every street I passed, I felt more distant from
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    Chapter thirty-two
ðđDamienðđI woke before dawn, the cold, sterile light of early morning creeping through the heavy curtains of my study. The room was silent except for the steady hum of the air conditioner and the faint tick of the clock on the wallâeach second a reminder that my wedding was only days away. My mind churned with thoughts I had meticulously tried to suppress the night before, when I swore to myself that I would never allow vulnerability to breach the fortress I had built around me. And yet, Aurora had managed to do just that.I dressed in my customary dark suit, each piece of clothing a uniform of control and precision. Every time I buttoned my shirt or adjusted my tie, I felt as if I were reinforcing the walls that separated me from the world. I could not afford even a hint of softness, not now. The engagement, forced upon me by circumstances I had no choice but to accept, demanded that I remain unyielding. I caught my reflection in the mirrorâa pair of steely eyes, a firm set jaw, an
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    Chapter thirty-three
ðđAuroraðđI woke in the soft darkness of my own apartment, not in the cold, impersonal halls of the Sterling estate. The gentle hum of the city outside mixed with the quiet murmur of my old heater, a comforting contrast to the chaos of the past few days. Last night, for one fleeting, forbidden moment, I had reclaimed a piece of the life I once thought was lostâa night with Ethan, a night when I allowed myself to believe in the possibility of a different future.The morning light crept through the thin curtains, painting my modest living room in soft hues of gold and amber. I lay still for a long while, my thoughts drifting between the lingering warmth of Ethanâs embrace and the bitter reality of my impending fate. The sheets, cool and rumpled from the nightâs sleep, seemed to hold the memory of our shared moments, a quiet testament to the intimacy weâd once known.Ethan had come to my apartment under cover of darkness. I remember how my heart had pounded when I heard his knock at my
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Love and deceit    Chapter thirty-four
ðđDamienðđI remember the first time I realized that love was a rare commodity in our home. I was barely six years old, sitting at the long mahogany table in our grand dining room, the clatter of fine china echoing in a silence that spoke louder than any conversation. My father, Bryan Reynolds, sat at the head of the tableâalways impeccably dressed, his face set in a mask of stern authorityâand my mother, whose laughter I once hoped would fill our home, was absent that day. I later learned that her presence was like a gentle warmth, something that made even the coldest mornings bearable. But in those early years, all I felt was the chill of my fatherâs disapproval, the heavy expectation that nothing less than perfection was acceptable.I would watch him for hours, the way his eyes would narrow ever so slightly when he reviewed the dayâs work or when I made a mistake that, to him, was unforgivable. His presence was like a looming storm cloud that never dissipatedâa constant reminder th
Last Updated : 2025-02-18
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Love and deceit    EPILOGUE
Years passed, and the quiet peace that settled over the land after the fall of Victoria Fontaine became a beacon of hope for all who had once lived in fear. The world, once fractured by power struggles and bloodshed, was now slowly but surely beginning to heal. The wounds were deep, but the promise of a brighter future kept them moving forward.Aurora and Damien had moved far away from the ruins of the past, creating a home that was filled with laughter and love. Their bond, once forged in the fire of their shared struggles, had only grown stronger with time. It was a new chapter for both of themâa chapter that held more than just the promise of survival. It was a promise of happiness, of a life free from the shadows of those who had tried to control them.Auroraâs pregnancy had come as a surprise to both of them, but it was a welcome one. For years, she had fought to survive, to escape the grasp of those who had wanted to use her. Now, she was carrying a future of her ownâa future fi
Love and deceit    Chapter 130
The sound of the distant waves crashing against the cliffs echoed through the halls of the abandoned mansion, where Damien, Aurora, and Bruce stood in the quiet aftermath of their battle. The once grand estate was now a shattered monument to a dark reign that had finally crumbled.The air felt heavy, thick with the weight of what they had just endured. But it was a strange kind of silenceâone that was filled with the promise of peace, of a life beyond the chaos. Yet, it was hard to forget what had been left behind.Aurora stood by the large, broken window, looking out at the ocean. The sun had begun its descent, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape, a stark contrast to the coldness that had hung in the air moments ago. She still wore the chains that had once confined her, though now they were nothing more than a symbol of her past suffering. Her fingers brushed over them absently, but the gesture wasnât filled with the weight of despair anymore. There was no more bitterness
Love and deceit    Chapter 129
Damienâs chest heaved with each breath, the taste of blood in his mouth. He wiped his lip, his eyes narrowed, focusing on the hulking figure of Victoriaâs bodyguard. The man loomed before him, an unyielding wall of muscle and fury. Every movement the bodyguard made was powerful, deadlyâeach strike threatening to end Damienâs life.But Damien wasnât going down. Not now, not when Aurora was so close to freedom. He would kill this bastard if it was the last thing he did.The bodyguard lunged again, his massive fists swinging in a blur of rage. Damien had learned quicklyâthis guyâs power came from brute strength and size, but it was also his Achilles' heel. He was slow. Slow enough for Damien to slip past him, using his agility to stay one step ahead.Damien ducked under a swing, then twisted to the side, landing a solid punch to the bodyguard's ribs. The man grunted but didnât falter. He was like a beast, enraged and relentless. Damien knew he had to end this quickly.Lena, Rafe, and the
Love and deceit    Chapter 128
The air was thick with smoke and the pungent scent of blood as Damien and his team pushed forward, their weapons trained on the array of machinery scattered throughout the inner courtyard. The enemy's forces had been decimated, but the last line of defense was something far worse: Auroraâs machines, the heart of the operation that had kept her imprisoned, manipulating her and controlling everything from behind the scenes.Damien stood at the edge of the courtyard, his eyes scanning the massive steel behemoths that hummed menacingly in the distance. These were no ordinary machines. They were advanced, high-tech devices, designed not only to monitor but to incapacitate anyone who tried to break into the facility. But that was not what made them dangerous. What truly made them a threat was that they could control Auroraâs very mindâlock her in a mental prison that she could not escape."We need to destroy everything," Damien muttered to Rafe, his voice low and full of intent. "Burn it al
Love and deceit    Chapter 127
The night exploded into chaos as the first gunshot rang out. Damienâs heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The quiet that had settled in the estateâs outer yard moments before was shattered, replaced by the shrill sound of gunfire and the cacophony of combat. His mind sharpened, focusing entirely on the mission at handâget Aurora out and make sure they didnât leave anyone behind.His grip tightened around Auroraâs hand as he pulled her behind a concrete pillar, using it as cover. She was weak from her time in captivity, but she moved with him instinctively, her body pressed close to his. "Stay down," he urged, his voice tight, low.Rafe was already in action, moving swiftly along the perimeter, his gun raised, eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. The guards were everywhere now, pouring out of the estateâs back doors like a flood, weapons raised, ready for anything. They had been expecting an assault. They had been ready for them to come.Damien could
Love and deceit    Chapter 126
Damien stood in front of the large map spread across the table, his finger tracing the intricate lines of the Blackwood estate. The tension in the air was palpable, the quiet before the storm. This wasnât a simple rescue mission; it was the culmination of every choice heâd made in the last few months, every piece of the puzzle falling into place.His father, Brian, had given him the tools. His men had prepared the strategy. Now it was up to him to execute it. Damien glanced at the faces of the team gathered around him. Lena, Rafe, and the others were set, their expressions hard as stone. They were ready for this. They had to be."Everythingâs in place," Lena said, breaking the silence. "The information leak has put Victoria on edge. She wonât know what hit her when we move."Damien nodded. "We have one shot at this. Once weâre in, thereâs no turning back. Aurora and Bruce are our priority. Everything else comes second."Brian stepped forward, his cold gaze scanning the group. "The gua
Love and deceit    Chapter 125
ðđ Aurora ðđ Aurora sat in the damp, cold dungeon, her chains rattling as she shifted uncomfortably on the stone floor. The shadows in the corners seemed to press in on her, but she didnât mind. The darkness no longer felt like a threatâit felt like a promise.Victoriaâs words had stung, but they hadnât shaken her. The older womanâs attempts to break her had failed, and Aurora knew that nothing Victoria could say or do would ever make her doubt her own strength.She wasnât afraid of death. No, it was something else that made her pulse quicken, something that had nothing to do with fear. It was the anticipation. The knowledge that Damien was coming.She could feel it in her bones.Damien had always been her anchor. Heâd always been the one to fight for her, even when things seemed impossible. And now, even though she was locked in the dungeon of the woman who had caused so much pain and suffering, she couldnât help but smile. She knew Damien would come.The flicker of light that had i
Love and deceit    Chapter 124
Victoria Fontaine stood at the penthouse window, staring out at the sprawling city below, the night sky clouded over with dark storm clouds. She had built this empire brick by brick, each step deliberate, each move calculated. She had made her name synonymous with power, control, and fear. And now, in the span of a few short hours, her world was beginning to unravel before her eyes.Damien. That damn, insolent son of hers. How could he have done this to her?Victoria seethed, her grip tightening on the glass. The leak, the carefully orchestrated campaign to expose her to the worldâevery secret sheâd spent years burying, every crime she had committed, now laid bare. And worse yet, the ones she thought would be loyal to her, the very people who feared her, were now turning against her. Her allies were scattered, and the walls sheâd so carefully constructed were crumbling.This wasnât just a betrayal. It was an assault on everything sheâd worked for.She turned from the window, her heels
Love and deceit    Chapter 123
The first wave of leaks was subtle. News outlets ran short pieces, headlines that hinted at corruption, whispers of an influential figure, but they never directly named Victoria Fontaine. The key was to keep it vague but compelling, drawing enough attention without exposing the full scope of the operation. But even in its mildest form, it was enough to cause a ripple across the city.Damien sat in the war room of the safehouse, his eyes fixed on the large screen mounted on the wall. It displayed a live feed from a local news station, the anchorâs face tight with uncertainty as she reported the breaking story.âThis morning, an anonymous whistleblower sent us a series of documents revealing what seems to be an intricate web of corruption involving high-profile business leaders. The documents allege several under-the-table dealings, financial manipulations, and other illegal activities that stretch across the business world and into the highest levels of government.âDamienâs lips curle
