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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Dernière mise à jour:
2025-02-20 22:08:43
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SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Jessica's POV I keep dialing, tapping my fingers against the counter as I wait for them to pick up. The bar is loud, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and music that vibrates through my chest.Finally, the call connects.There’s a shuffle, and then the voice I’ve been waiting for the boss.“What?” His tone is sharp, impatient.I straighten in my seat. “I’ve set the plan in motion.”Silence. Then, his voice drops into something colder. “And you did that without informing me first?”I swallow. “Look, I need you to calm down and listen to what I did.”He doesn’t say anything, which means he’s listening. So, I continue.“I called Stanley. Told him I was drunk and feeling down. He took the bait. He’s on his way here now.” I lower my voice. “And I think he’s already got a thing for me.”There’s a pause before the boss responds. “Make sure everything goes public.” His voice is like ice. “That way, Flora can move on in peace.”I roll my eyes. “Do you like Flora or something?”A lo
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-21SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Flora's POV I tuck Aurora into her crib, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. She stirs slightly but doesn’t wake, her tiny breaths steady and soft. I linger for a moment, watching her sleep, feeling the weight of everything pressing against my chest.Just as I step away, my mother walks into the room, a gentle yet concerned expression on her face.“How’s my granddaughter?” she asks softly, sitting on the edge of my bed.“She’s fine,” I say, forcing a small smile. “Just put her to sleep again after her bath.”She nods before her eyes settle on me. “I wanted to talk to you about the divorce… The lawyer called. The court date is set.”I take a slow breath, bracing myself. “I’ve already signed the papers. Now, I just have to wait.”My mother reaches for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s almost over, Flora. Soon, you can finally move on.”I nod, but before I can respond, she grabs the remote and turns on the television.And just like that—my heart stops.HEADLINE: STANLE
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-22SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Stanley's POV I stare at Jessica, my mind racing with everything that just happened. My jaw tightens, and I take a deep breath before speaking.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” My voice is low, and controlled, but laced with anger. “You just exposed everything to Flora. You ruined everything.”Jessica crosses her arms, completely unfazed. “Relax, Stanley,” she says with a smirk. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. Flora was going to find out. At least now, she heard it from me.”I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “That’s not your call to make!”She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. Be thankful I did it. We both know you wouldn’t have told her the truth yourself. If I hadn’t said anything, you would’ve kept leading her on, pretending there was still a chance.” She steps closer, tilting her head. “I just made it easier for you.”I shake my head. “Easier? You made everything worse! And for what? There’s nothing going on between us, Jessica. So why the hell did you li
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-23SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Jessica’s POV I step out of the car with a smirk, my eyes scanning the grand mansion before me. Finally. This life this wealth, this luxury—is mine now. No longer Flora’s. She had her turn, and now it’s my time to shine. I adjust my sunglasses, flipping my hair over my shoulder as I make my way to the front door. Just as I’m about to step inside, a security guard blocks my path, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. "Ma’am, I didn’t receive any information regarding your visit. You’ll need to wait here while I confirm with Mr. Davis." I roll my eyes. Of course, Flora’s little lapdogs would still be here, acting all high and mighty. But I’m not just a visitor—I belong here now. Before I can respond, another set of guards begin unloading my boxes and bags from the trunk, placing them near the entrance. I smile to myself. The sight of my belongings being moved into Stanley’s home is proof that I’ve won. Just then, Stanley’s car pulls into the driveway. The moment he steps
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-23SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Anonymous POV The moment Jessica’s message pops up on the screen, I reach for my second phone and dial her number. She picks up on the first ring, her tone laced with amusement, as if she already knows why I’m calling.“What do you mean by ‘the process has started’?” I ask, my voice low and sharp.She lets out a soft chuckle. “Relax. I just succeeded in making Flora hate Stanley even more. She caught us together, and now she thinks I’ve been sleeping with him for a long time.”I smirk. “That’s my girl. And?”“And,” she drawls, “I moved into Stanley’s house. Can you believe it? That fool actually let me in. Now I just have to push him a little more, and soon, he’ll be exactly where we need him.”I lean back in my chair, satisfied. “You’re a bad bitch, Jessica. You’re really doing your job well.”She hums in agreement. “I’m only in this for the money, you know. Nothing more.”“Of course,” I reply smoothly. “And don’t worry, you’ll get every penny you were promised.”Jessica clicks
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-24SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Jessica’s POVI just got off the phone with Stanley.I had called him to ask what he’d like for dinner, expecting him to have some kind of preference, but instead, he hesitated like he didn’t even want to answer. Eventually, he mumbled something about me making whatever I liked before abruptly ending the call.I smile to myself, shaking my head. Men. Always so indecisive.Stretching, I step out of the bedroom and make my way to the kitchen, already imagining the meal I’ll prepare. Something extravagant, something that will remind Stanley why I belong here.But the moment I step into the kitchen, I come to a halt.Stanley’s mother stands there, her sharp eyes landing on me instantly.For a moment, neither of us says anything. She’s clearly trying to process what she’s seeing, and I wait, arms crossed, watching her reaction with amusement.Then, finally, she speaks.“What are you doing here?” Her voice is clipped, controlled but I can sense the underlying anger.I offer her my swee
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-25SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Flora's POV I wake up to the soft light streaming through the window and the faint sounds of Aurora giggling downstairs. For a moment, I just lie there, staring at the ceiling, gathering my thoughts. Today is the day.Pushing the blankets off, I get up and freshen up quickly before heading downstairs. My mother is in the kitchen, feeding Aurora, who claps her tiny hands excitedly when she sees me.“Good morning, sweetheart,” I coo, pressing a kiss to her forehead before turning to my mother. “Thank you for taking care of her.”My mom waves it off. “You don’t have to thank me, she's my granddaughter and I love her. Focus on your interview.”I take a cup,pour in some coffee and turn to look at my mom.“I feel so giddy,I just hope everything turns out well and that I get the job so I can finally be useful.” I say with a dry laugh.“Don't worry I'm sure everything will be fine so just take a deep breath and feel relaxed, everything will turn out just fine.” I nod, inhaling deep
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-26SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Jessica's POV I smirk as I finish typing the message, my fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard."Start sending the threats today. Make them brutal. Make her scared. Make it look like the whole world is against her for cheating on a man like Stanley. I don’t care how you do it, just get it done."I press send and toss my phone onto the bed, stretching lazily. It won’t take long before Flora starts feeling the heat. A woman like her, used to being adored, won’t handle hate well. She’ll break slowly, piece by piece.Just as I turn around, I nearly jump. Chloe is standing at the door, watching me closely. My pulse quickens for a split second before I school my expression back to calm indifference.She folds her arms. "Why do you look so startled, Jessica?"I recover quickly, flashing her a smile. "Because you’ve been standing there like a creep, watching me. That’s what’s startling."She rolls her eyes. "You know, I don’t trust you one bit. And I’m wondering how long it’ll take
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-27
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SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
Jessica’s POVVictory is intoxicating. It tastes like the finest champagne, like a sweet melody only I can hear. I have Stanley and his entire pathetic family right where I want them. Their resistance is nothing more than an irritation,a buzzing fly I will swat away when the time comes.I lean back in my chair, swirling the glass of wine in my hand, savoring the moment. Chloe sits across from me, pretending to ignore my presence, but I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her nails dig into her palm. Good. She should be nervous.“We’ll be visiting the event planner’s office soon,” I announce casually, lifting my gaze to meet hers.Chloe barely reacts, only flicking her eyes toward me before looking away. Stubborn little brat. She thinks ignoring me will make me disappear.I pick up my phone and dial one of the guards. “Bring the documents I had delivered earlier.”Stanley’s mother stiffens at my words, her lips thinning into a hard line. “What documents?” she demands.I
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FIFTY
Flora’s POV I’m almost done packing up for the day when I hear footsteps approaching my office. The air shifts slightly, alerting me to an unwelcome presence before I even look up.The agent stands at the door, arms folded, eyes sharp and observant. She tilts her head, studying me with a smirk that makes my skin crawl.“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice deceptively casual, but I can hear the undertone of something else. Something unreadable.I force a smile, straightening my posture. “I’m perfectly fine.” My voice is even, controlled. But my hands clench slightly around the papers on my desk, betraying the nerves I refuse to show.The agent steps further inside, her smirk widening. “Good,” she says, pausing for effect. “Because you never know what might happen next if you fail in this job.”I stiffen, my patience thinning. I’ve had enough of cryptic warnings and veiled threats.I meet her gaze directly, my tone unwavering. “Don’t threaten me. I’ll do what I want, and no one will
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY NINE
Jessica’s POV Chloe glares at me, her hands clenching into fists, but she doesn’t move. She knows better. I watch as she slowly lowers herself back onto the chair, her shoulders stiff with barely restrained fury. Across from her, Stanley’s mother sits frozen, her lips pressed together in a thin, disapproving line. And then there’s Stanley—silent, unmoving. Exactly how I want him.I let my gaze drift over them before I lean back, crossing my legs as I smirk. "That’s better," I say, my voice smooth, controlled. "Since we’re all here, let’s talk about some changes. If you want to continue enjoying the benefits of this family, you’ll have to start pulling your weight."Chloe scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. You know nothing about family, so don’t start acting like you’re in charge here."Her mother nods in agreement. "Exactly. You have no right to speak on family matters, Jessica."I tilt my head, feigning amusement. "Oh, but I do. I know what family means. I know what loyalty
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY EIGHT
Stanley’s POV The cold space beside me is the first thing I notice when I wake up. Jessica is gone. A deep breath leaves my chest, and for a brief moment, I savor the peace that her absence brings. But that relief is short-lived. If Jessica isn’t in bed, then she’s somewhere else in this house, plotting something.I run a hand down my face, pushing off the last remnants of sleep before heading to the bathroom. A splash of cold water does nothing to shake the unease settling in my stomach. I brush my teeth quickly and throw on a shirt before making my way downstairs, bracing myself for whatever chaos awaits.As I step into the dining room, I find Chloe and my mother already seated. They’re not eating. Instead, they’re both looking at me with smug, almost expectant expressions. It’s unsettling.“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.“Everything,” my mother replies without missing a beat. “Everything is wrong.”I exhale slowly, already tired of this conversation before it even begins. “A
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY SEVEN
Flora's POV I push open the door to our house, the familiar scent doing nothing to calm my racing heart. My mother steps inside first, still holding Aurora close to her chest as if afraid someone might snatch her away again.The second she sets foot inside, she whirls around to face me.“Flora,” she says, her voice sharp with worry. “Why were we taken? Who did this?”I open my mouth but close it again. How do I even begin to explain?She places Aurora gently on the couch before taking a step toward me. “Flora, answer me.”I shake my head, forcing myself to look away. “It’s over now, Mom. Just… let it go.”Her frown deepens. “Let it go?” she repeats, disbelief lacing her voice. “Flora, I know something is wrong. I saw the fear in your eyes when you found us. I heard the desperation in your voice when you held Aurora. Don’t lie to me.”I swallow the lump forming in my throat. My mother has always been able to read me too well.“I can’t talk about this,” I whisper, my hands clench
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY SIX
Flora’s POVMy phone vibrates in my hand, and for a moment, I hesitate. I’m afraid of what I might see. With shaky fingers, I unlock the screen and open the message.A cold wave of fear crashes over me.It’s a picture.My mother and Aurora. Tied up. Their eyes wide with terror. A dark room surrounds them, shadows creeping along the walls.I gasp, a strangled sound escaping my throat. My heart pounds so loudly I can barely hear myself think. My breathing becomes shallow as I stare at the image, my mind scrambling for a way out of this nightmare.Then another message appears."Your move. No police. No games. You should’ve come to the party. Actions have consequences."My fingers tighten around the phone. I have to do something. I can’t lose them. I can’t let them suffer because of me.There’s only one person I know who has the power to help me.Senator Jones.I rush out of the offic
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY FIVE
Flora’s POV The morning air is crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth from last night’s rain. I’m feeding Aurora in the kitchen, watching her chubby fingers clutch at her bottle, when my mother’s voice calls out from outside. “Flora!” There’s an edge to her tone, something unsettled. I glance toward the door, then back at Aurora, who’s peacefully drinking. “What is it, Mom?” She steps inside, wiping her hands on her apron. “The guards… they’re gone.” I blink, confusion settling in. “Gone?” She nods, glancing around as if expecting someone to appear. “Not a single one in sight. They were there last night, but now… nothing.” I let out a slow breath, forcing a reassuring smile. “Maybe they were reassigned. I’ll handle it, Mom. Don’t worry.” Her face is tight with concern, but she doesn’t push further. I hand her Aurora and head upstairs to get dressed, determin
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY FOUR
Jessica’s POVThe night feels suffocating. The chandeliers cast their golden glow over the grand hall, laughter and chatter filling the air, but I hear none of it. I see none of it. The people around me are dressed in opulence, their masked faces barely hiding the judgment in their eyes.I force a smile as I sip my champagne, but I can still feel their whispers slicing through me like knives. She’s not Flora. She doesn’t belong here. Stanley made a mistake.No matter how much I tell myself it doesn’t matter, that they’ll all come around eventually, it still stings. They don’t know me. They don’t know what I’m capable of.I glance around the room, searching for Stanley. I need him by my side. If they see us together, maybe they’ll take me seriously. But he’s nowhere in sight.A flicker of movement by the balcony catches my attention. My heart skips a beat. Stanley is standing outside, leaning against the railing, his back turned to the party, his entire posture tense. Something
SHADOWED DECEPTION: Unraveling The Truth CHAPTER FOURTY THREE
Jessica’s POVThe night I have been waiting for is finally here, and I couldn't be more excited. I stand in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection as I slip into a deep red gown that hugs my curves perfectly. The silky fabric cascades down to the floor, pooling slightly at my feet. Power. Elegance. Class. That’s exactly what I want to exude tonight.I apply my makeup carefully, making sure every stroke is flawless. My lips are painted a bold crimson, and my hair is styled in sleek waves that fall over my shoulders. Once I’m satisfied, I pick up a delicate diamond necklace, turning to where Stanley is sitting, his eyes distant as usual.“Put this on me,” I say, holding the necklace out to him.He glances up at me, hesitation flickering in his eyes. I don’t give him a choice—I step closer, draping the necklace over my neck. “Come on, Stanley,” I murmur sweetly. “It’ll make me feel special.”With a resigned sigh, he takes the clasp and fastens it around my neck. His fingers graze
