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Chapter 26
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Shadows Of Deception Chapter 27
IVY’S POV)The room was still. Ethan's question about Caleb lingered in the air like smoke. I opened my mouth to answer, but the words didn’t come. My mind raced, searching for a plausible response something that would make sense, something that wouldn't raise more questions.“Caleb…” I began, my voice catching. “He's just a… a name from a dream, I think.” I forced a light laugh, hoping it sounded convincing, but I could feel their eyes on me, Ethan's eye especially. The twins exchanged yet another puzzled look.Ethan was perceptive. Too perceptive.“A dream?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. His bright blues eyes were steady, curious.“Yes,” I said a bit too quickly. “Or maybe… a memory. But nothing important.” My voice wavered, and I could tell I’d only deepened their suspicions.Ethan didn't press further, but I could see the quiet resolve in his eyes. He nodded slowly, as if accepting my explanation for now, but I knew he was already making plans for something…that
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 28
(THIRD POV) Ethan and Lily sat on the edge of their beds, the silence between them thick and heavy, like a fog that refused to lift. The emotion on their mother’s face few minutes ago, still hovered in their minds. And the name “Caleb” hung in the air like a ghost neither of them could chase away.Ethan’s eyes darted around their shared room, taking in the familiar sight of their light weight furniture. The wooden dresser with a chipped corner, the faded pink wallpaper, a collage of childhood drawings pinned messily beside their small window. A small bookshelf sat in the corner, overflowing with books they had read and reread, stories of pirates, wizards, and distant lands. But today, none of these familiar things brought comfort. Lily was the first to break the silence. She swung her small legs back and forth, her tender hands gripping the edge of the mattress, her curly brow furrowed. “Did you see her face when you asked about Caleb?” she whispered, her voice low, almost a
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 29
(THIRD POV)“Who is he, Mummy?” Ethan’s face was earnest, his brows knitted with curiosity.Their mother’s breath almost stopped. Her eyes darted around the yard, scanning the faces of the other parents, the teachers, anyone who might be listening.She squatted quickly, her voice a trembling whisper. “Hey Hush, both of you. We need to get home. I’ll explain everything there, okay?” “But Is he still alive?” Lily added, her voice softer, her wide eyes staring up at her mother with a mix of confusion and concern.Ivy gasped, her heart now thumping so loudly she could hear it in her ears. She looked around again, as if searching for an escape, then she leaned closer to them. “Please, not here,” she pleaded. “We’ll talk when we get home. I promise.”“Are you sure, Mummy?” Ethan’s voice was small but insistent, his bright blue eyes never leaving hers.“Yes, I said I will tell you,” she replied, her voice firmer, her jaw clenched as she took Lily into her arms and gripped Ethan's ha
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 30
(IVY POV)I sat in the back seat, gripping my handbag like it was some sort of lifeline, my fingers digging into the soft leather. I kept checking my watch, feeling every second stretch out like hours. I tried to steady my breathing, but it came out in shallow, bursts.I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself, but my mind kept drifting back to my twins. “God, I hoped they were safe.” I had locked the doors, checked the windows twice, but was that enough? Maybe I should have just brought them with me, but then again, where I was going… I shook my head, no way, that wasn’t an option. Not with their constant questions, their bright eyes full of curiosity. Especially not now. I glanced at my watch again. Time seemed to crawl.I tried to push the memory away, but it crept back in. Just a few minutes ago, they had been so insistent, asking about their father, out of the blue, right after coming back from school. For a stupid second, I thought about changing their school altogether,
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 31
(IVY POV) I found myself facing a man in uniform. He was tall, with a neatly trimmed beard and sharp, observant eyes that seemed to pierce right through me. His stance was rigid, a picture of authority, as he scrutinized me with a gaze that felt almost too intense.“Who are you?” he asked, his voice deep, edged with suspicion.For a moment, alarm gripped me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel a bead of sweat forming at my temple. I swallowed hard, trying to place his face. But no, I didn’t recognize him, neither was I sure he also knew me.My initial panic slowly dissolved into curiosity as I took in his uniform and the badge on his chest. I squared my shoulders, trying to project confidence. "I’m sorry, who did you say you were?"He didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, taking a step closer. "I'm the head of the security team for this estate," he replied, his tone calm but firm. "But I should be the one asking questions here."H
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 32
(IVY POV)My hands trembled as I gripped the cold iron bars of the gate.I fumbled with the latch. My breath came in short, gasps, every exhale a silent prayer"Ethan! Lily!" I called out, my voice thin and reedyThere was no answer. I tried again, louder this time, but only the echoes of my own desperation answered back. There was no response.The latch jammed under my jittery touch. "Please... please..." I muttered, my heart racing, fumbling with it again.Finally, the rusty latch gave way with a metallic screech, and I shoved the gate open with a grunt my pulse thundering in my ears.“Oh my God” I whispered.I pushed through, calling their names again. "Ethan! Lily!" My feet stumbled on the uneven path toward the main door that led to the sitting room. I reached for the handle, my tightly turning and flinging the door open. The silence inside was deafening, it pressed against my chest like a weight. I paused, straining to hear any sound, any sign of my little babies.My hear
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 33
(THIRD POV)(One hour thity minutes ago) Ethan and Lily exchanged uneasy glances. The persistent sound seemed louder in the small space, it amplified their anxiety.Lily fiddled with the edge of her shirt.and turned to Ethan to whisper again. "Do you think we should answer it?" Ethan, ever the braver of the two, crept closer to their mother’s bed. His fingers hovered over the phone, hesitating. The screen blinked with the caller ID: Dr. Collins. "Maybe we should pick it up, just to see who it is,just to hear the voice" he suggested, his voice firmer than he felt. Lily’s eyes widened. "No.way, we can't do that. What if it’s something bad? Mom would be furious if she found out we touched her phone," she countered, clutching her arms to her chest as if to protect herself from the thought. They debated in hushed tones, their voices layered with a mix of curiosity and fear. Ethan’s brow furrowed. "But do you think this person knows something?" he mused aloud. "No one ever ca
Shadows Of Deception Chapter 34
ADRIAN POV I sat in my study, feeling the tension settle into my shoulders. The steam from the coffee mug on my desk curled lazily in the air. I leaned back in my chair, eyes fixed on the stack of documents in front of mecontracts, estate paperwork, and recent business dealings that Gabriel had insisted I review. Gabriel… The guy had stepped in at the right moment, swooping in to bail me out of the station last week when Austin called him in. Even in our few exchanges, I could tell he knew what he was doing. His reputation spoke of a man seasoned in handling intricate legal disputest. I couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved; at least I had someone competent on my side.I flipped through another set of documents, but my frustration grew with each page. The words began to blur togethernothing concrete, nothing that could give me a clear sense of what Maxwell was plotting. I threw the paper down, the pages scattering across the desk. With a growl, I pushed my chair back and sto
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