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Chapter 22
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-12 17:43:37
Bab terkait
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 23
Emma's POVThe drive back to the estate was quiet, the kind of silence that carried the weight of everything left unsaid. I glanced at Ethan from the corner of my eye. He was focused on the road, his jaw set and his knuckles white as they gripped the steering wheel. He hadn’t spoken a word since we left the warehouse, and I couldn’t tell if it was anger, relief, or something else entirely.As we pulled into the long driveway, I saw the faint glow of lights in the house. Something about it felt off. It wasn’t just the tension from the events of the night; it was a new energy, something unfamiliar.Ethan parked the car and stepped out, his movements precise and controlled. I followed, my nerves on edge as we approached the front door.“I’ll check inside first,” Ethan said, his voice low. He unlocked the door and stepped in, his body language alert.I stayed close behind him, my eyes scanning the dimly lit foyer. The house felt different—quieter, but not in a comforting way. It was as th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12The unfaithful encounter Chapter 24
Emma's POVI stood in the kitchen the morning after the attack, staring at the steaming mug of coffee in my hands. The house was quieter than usual, but not in a peaceful way. It was the kind of silence that followed chaos, filled with tension and the weight of unspoken words.Ethan and Kiera were in the study, hashing out plans to deal with the Syndicate. I wanted to help, but part of me felt out of place, like I didn’t belong in their world of strategy and violence.I took a sip of coffee, trying to focus on anything but the swirling thoughts in my mind, when a knock at the door pulled me from my trance."Emma," Kiera’s voice called out. "Someone’s here for you."I frowned, setting the mug down and walking toward the foyer. My footsteps slowed as I saw who it was.Standing in the doorway, dressed in a sleek black coat and holding a designer handbag, was a woman I hadn’t seen in years. Her sharp green eyes—so much like my own—studied me with a mix of curiosity and coldness."Caroline
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-12The unfaithful encounter Chapter 25
Emma’s POVThe limousine glided through the city streets, the soft hum of the engine the only sound breaking the soft silence between Ethan and me. I kept my gaze fixed on the window, watching the blurred lights of New York City. My thoughts were a jumble of frustration, confusion, and fear. “Why are we going to the Ethan estate?” I asked, breaking the heavy silence.Ethan didn’t look at me. His sharp jaw tightened as he adjusted his cufflinks. “Because it’s time you understood the full extent of our arrangement.”My stomach churned. His cryptic answer only deepened my unease. But pressing him further would yield no results. Ethan revealed information on his terms, and I hated that about him.When the car finally pulled into the sprawling estate, I felt a lump in my throat. The Ethan mansion was as imposing as its owner—grand, cold, and intimidating. Two security guards opened the massive doors, revealing the expansive marble-floored foyer.As we stepped inside, a tall, slender woman
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17The unfaithful encounter Chapter 26
Emma’s POVNathan’s smile faded as he stepped closer, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. “Why are you so quiet? than I expected,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with mockery. “Tell me, Emma, how much do you actually know about the man you married?” “I know enough,” I replied, refusing to let him intimidate me. Nathan chuckled, a low sound that made me uneasy. “Do you? Or has my dear brother kept you in the dark like he does everyone else?” “Stop,” Ethan barked, his voice sharp. “This isn’t your business, Nathan.” Nathan turned to him, unfazed. “Isn’t it? You’ve dragged the Ethan name through enough scandals already. Now you’ve married a woman who’s caught Damian’s attention. Do you even understand the mess you’ve created?” “This has nothing to do with the family,” Ethan said through clenched teeth. “Leave her out of it.” Nathan ignored him, his focus returning to me. “Emma, has he told you why Damian hates him so much?” I hesitated, glancing at Ethan, who was now
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17The unfaithful encounter Chapter 27
Emma’s POVThe mention of Delilah’s name had set off a storm neither of them seemed prepared for. I sat quietly, trying to make sense of the bombshell Nathan had just dropped. “Delilah?” Ethan finally said, his voice low but sharp. “You’re sure about this?” Nathan scoffed, crossing his arms. “Of course I’m sure. Do you think I’d come here without solid evidence?” “What evidence?” Ethan demanded, stepping closer to his brother. Nathan reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder, slamming it onto the table. “This. Emails, bank transfers, conversations she had with Damian. She’s been feeding him information for months.” Ethan grabbed the folder and flipped through its contents, his expression growing darker with each page. I watched as his jaw tightened, his knuckles white as he gripped the papers. “This doesn’t make sense,” Ethan muttered. “Why would she do this? What’s in it for her?” “Revenge,” Nathan said simply. Ethan looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Revenge fo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17The unfaithful encounter Chapter 28
Emma's POV“Ethan doesn’t deserve your loyalty, but I do.”* I hadn’t told Ethan about the call yet. I wasn’t sure if I should. Damian’s offer was vague but chilling, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The door creaked open behind me. I turned to see Ethan enter, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been quiet all evening,” he said, closing the door behind him. I hesitated. “I’ve been thinking.” “About?” I walked to the desk, running my fingers along its edge. “About everything. Damian, Delilah… us.” Ethan’s gaze hardened. “What about Damian?” I swallowed, unsure how to approach this. “He called me.” Ethan froze, his jaw tightening. “When?” “Earlier tonight,” I admitted. “He said he wanted to make me an offer.” “What kind of offer?” Ethan asked, his voice sharp. “He didn’t say,” I replied. “He just said you don’t deserve my loyalty, but he does.” Ethan slammed his hand on the desk, making me jump. “That bastard.” “I didn’t know if
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17The unfaithful encounter Chapter 29
Emma’s POVEthan estate was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that only seemed to precede chaos. Ethan’s mood had grown colder, more complicated, as the days passed. The leaked documents, the growing pressure from the media, and Damian’s relentless attacks had worn him down. I could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the way he paced endlessly in his study, and the sharpness in his words. “Do you think Damian is done?” I asked Ethan as we sat in the study. He barely looked up from the papers spread across his desk. “Damian’s never done. As long as he thinks there’s a chance to win, he’ll keep coming.” “Then why don’t we end this?” I asked, leaning forward. “Go directly to him and confront him.” Ethan glanced at me, his eyes narrowing. “Because Damian doesn’t play fair. Confronting him on his turf would only make things worse.” “So, what’s the plan?” Ethan leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “I’m working on it.” “Working on it?” I repeated, frus
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17The unfaithful encounter Chapter 30
Emma’s POV Ethan was in the waiting room, speaking with the doctor about my condition, but I couldn’t bring myself to sit still. The memories of the accident replayed in my mind—Damian’s smirk, the screeching tires, and Ethan’s hand pulling me to safety. I shouldn’t have survived that crash. Yet here I was, bruised but alive, standing on the edge of a battle I never wanted to be part of. Cassie appeared at the end of the hallway, her face a mixture of relief and worry. She hurried toward me, her heels clicking against the polished floor. “Emma!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. “I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” I replied, though the ache in my ribs told a different story. Cassie stepped back, studying me closely. “Damian’s gone too far this time. Ethan won’t let this slide.” “He shouldn’t,” I said, my voice firm. “But I need to be part of this. I’m tired of being the pawn everyone’s fighting over.” Cassie frowned. “You can’t seriously be think
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-17
Bab terbaru
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 57
Emma’s POVI stared at the flash drive in my hand like it was a live wire.Lucas had said it contained everything—Damian’s investors, test subjects, financial trails, even blueprints. If it was real, this was the key to ending him.But I didn’t trust it. Not yet.I turned to Lucas, who leaned against the windowsill, eyes on the skyline. “How do I know this isn’t another trick?”He didn’t flinch. “You don’t. But I gave you the truth. What you do with it is up to you.”Ethan walked in from the hall, freshly showered, shirt hanging open. “Then we verify it.”Chloe followed close behind, still drying her hair with a towel. “I know someone who can check this without triggering alerts. She’s off-grid. Lives in a converted print shop two blocks from the train station.”Lucas nodded once. “Let’s go.”I slid the flash drive into a bag and zipped it shut. “No more delays.”Chloe’s POVThe streets were loud with early city buzz. Delivery trucks. Coffee lines. A couple arguing on the corner.We m
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 56
Chloe’s POVThe sun barely broke the skyline when I woke up.The city below us was just starting to stir. Horns echoed faintly in the distance, and light from streetlamps still flickered like they hadn’t gotten the memo that it was morning.The safehouse Lucas brought us to was tucked between two old warehouses in the industrial part of the city. It looked abandoned from the outside, but inside—it was wired. Cameras, sensors, reinforced walls. Someone had spent time turning it into a fortress.Emma leaned over the kitchen counter, coffee mug in hand. Her black tank top was wrinkled, her jeans from yesterday. But there was a new look in her eyes.Focused. Cold.Lucas sat across from her, tapping something into a tablet. “I pulled the data from the servers before the vault blew. Damian’s been experimenting on more people than we thought. Across three cities.”Emma didn’t flinch. “Can we trace the labs?”“Two are underground. The third?” Lucas looked up. “Right under a nightclub.”Of cou
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 55
Emma’s POVThe detonator at Chloe’s feet looked like it had been ripped from a war movie. Wires coiled beneath a thumb-sized button. I didn’t know whether to pick it up or kick it off the cliff.“What the hell is that supposed to do?” Chloe snapped, inching backward.Lucas didn’t blink. “It’s connected to charges I placed under the ridge days ago. If Damian’s men follow the path down, they’ll walk into a grave.”Ethan laughed coldly. “You expect us to believe you prepped this whole place… just in case?”Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Damian’s plans run deep. I’ve been one step behind him for years. I stopped trying to keep up. I started laying traps.”“You’re still on his leash,” I muttered. “You brought us here.”“I brought you here to end it.”The wind howled through the trees like it was warning us to leave. Below, the valley looked peaceful. But I could sense it—danger was close. Too close.Ethan kept the gun trained on Lucas. “You don’t get to make that call. We decide what happens next
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 54
Emma’s POVThe silence between us stretched long and tense. Lucas stood in the middle of the road, his expression unreadable. His dark clothes blended with the night, but his eyes—sharp and calculating—never wavered from mine. I hadn’t seen him in years. And now, here he was, standing in our way like a ghost from the past. Chloe kept her grip on the wheel, her fingers twitching. “Who is he?” I swallowed. “My brother.” Ethan’s grip on the gun tightened. “You never mentioned a brother.” Because I never thought I’d see him again. Lucas tilted his head. “Are you going to introduce me properly, Emma?” I opened my mouth, but no words came. Chloe exhaled sharply. “We don’t have time for reunions. Move.” Lucas didn’t flinch. “I can’t let you pass.” Ethan lifted his gun. “Then you’re a problem.” Lucas remained still, his gaze locked onto mine. “Emma, tell them to lower their weapons.” I hesitated. Lucas had been gone for so long. Why was he here now? And more import
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 53
Emma’s POVThe cold night air hit me like a slap as we burst out of Damian’s estate. Shadows stretched across the vast grounds, and the moon barely offered enough light to guide our way. Our breaths came in sharp gasps, but stopping wasn’t an option. “We need a car,” Ethan said, his voice raw from exhaustion. Chloe scanned the area. “There.” She pointed toward a sleek black SUV parked near the garage. Footsteps thundered behind us. More guards. Emma grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Run.” We sprinted. Chloe reached the SUV first, yanking the driver’s side door open. She slid in, fingers flying over the dashboard in a desperate attempt to hotwire it. “Come on, come on,” she muttered. The guards were closing in. “Chloe!” I urged. A spark. The engine roared to life. “Get in!” she shouted. Ethan and I barely had time to throw ourselves into the car before she slammed her foot on the gas. The tires screeched against the pavement as we sped toward the gates. Gunfire erupted behi
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 52
Emma’s POVDamian’s smirk lingered as if he had already won. He expected me to obey without question, to betray Chloe without hesitation. He didn’t know me at all. “I need you to prove your loyalty,” Damian continued, pacing leisurely in front of me. “Bring me Chloe.” I forced myself to hold his gaze. “Why her?” “She has something I want.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And if I refuse?” Damian’s eyes darkened, amusement vanishing. “Then Ethan suffers.” He gestured toward Ethan, still shackled, his lip split from the last hit. “You see, Emma, I’m a reasonable man. Do as I ask, and he lives.” Ethan groaned, shifting against his restraints. “Don’t listen to him. You know this is a trap.” I did. Damian was testing me. But I couldn’t let Ethan pay the price for my defiance. I needed a way out—fast. “I’ll do it,” I said, my voice steady. “But I need time.” Damian arched a brow. “Time?” “She won’t come willingly. I have to convince her.” He studied me for a moment
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 51
Emma’s POVThe forest was eerily silent, save for the heavy breathing of those around me. Marcus, Damian’s enforcer, stood tense and poised for violence, while Alexander’s unexpected arrival threw everything into uncertainty. Chloe shifted beside me, her hands subtly moving toward the small blade she carried at her waist. I could feel Ethan’s protective stance near me, his body coiled like a spring, ready to react. Alexander’s cold gaze flicked between Marcus and us. “Damian doesn’t want them dead,” he said sharply. “Not yet.” Marcus let out a low chuckle, his amusement sending chills through me. “That’s funny, because he didn’t give me any orders to keep them alive.” He rolled his shoulders, as if he was itching for a fight. “Besides, they’re already too much trouble. It’d be easier to end it now.” Ethan stepped forward slightly, positioning himself in front of me. “You should listen to Alexander, Marcus. If Damian wants us alive, you don’t want to be the one who disobeys.”
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 50
Emma’s POVThe crisp morning air stung my cheeks as I stood at the cabin’s doorstep, my thoughts drifting between Ethan’s warmth and the danger lurking beyond the trees. The snow was fresh, untouched, save for our own footprints from the night before. I couldn’t help but feel a shiver crawl down my spine despite the sunlight cutting through the forest canopy.Ethan stepped up behind me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “We’ll have to move soon,” he said, his voice steady.I nodded, forcing myself to focus. After everything Chloe revealed, it felt like the entire world was shifting under my feet. A powerful member of the council was helping Damian. The implications were terrifying. If the council itself was compromised, then nowhere was safe.Ethan pulled me close, his lips brushing against my temple. “We’ll figure it out.”Chloe joined us on the porch, her expression as tense as mine. “I’ve been thinking,” she began, crossing her arms. “We need more than just a plan to confron
The unfaithful encounter Chapter 49
Emma’s POVThe morning was calm, but my mind wasn’t. Bright sunlight streamed through the window, highlighting every corner of the room. I sat at the edge of the bed, staring out into the woods beyond the cabin. Snow glistened under the sun, making the entire landscape look peaceful. It was the kind of scene you’d expect in a painting, but peace was the last thing I felt. Behind me, Ethan stirred. The bed creaked as he shifted, his warm hand brushing my back. “Why are you up so early?” he asked, his voice low and husky from sleep. “I couldn’t sleep,” I admitted, my voice soft. He sat up, leaning against the headboard. “What’s on your mind?” “Damian,” I said honestly. “And whoever’s helping him.” Ethan sighed heavily. “We’ll handle it.” “How can you be so sure?” I turned to face him, needing answers. “He’s out there, plotting, and we don’t even know who else is involved. Chloe said someone in the council might be behind this. That’s big, Ethan.” “I know,” he said calmly,
