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Fractured Trust
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2025-01-05 20:54:51Related chapters
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Silent Answer
Chapter 34: "A Silent Answer"(Thorne's POV)The villa's walls seemed closer than ever, suffocating me with their quiet elegance. Over time, Garrett's control had grown more suffocating with every glance, every unspoken rule tightening the invisible leash he kept around me. Yet, I couldn't blame him altogether. Garrett had his reasons, which came in layers of pain and fear buried beneath his overbearing need to keep me safe. But understanding didn't make it any easier to breathe.It was Oliver who saved me from utter isolation, his silent companionship soothing to my wandering spirit. It was through him that I still held any link to the world beyond, a link delicately guarded, yet rare and one that ultimately managed to help keep my sanity. Of all people, Gavin had evolved into an unexpected ally. Resources, connections, quick thinking-he had everything and was an asset to me, though his motivations could be trusted only half of the time.My heart had skipped a beat, in a way it hadn'
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Fragment Of The Past
Chapter 35: "A Fragment of the Past"Thorne's POVThe following morning, very little hope was left when I came to the hotel restaurant, but the stubborn part of me was ready to wait until literally the last moment. Gavin had already gone off for the day, so I was left to my thoughts once more. I sat by the window again, this time watching the city awake with its morning rush. Every clink of dishes, every murmur of conversation, felt so distant, like background noise in some dream.I told myself, with great respect and truth, that I'd done everything in my power. Now it was a decision, which, if she decided not to come-well, so be it. But a part of me just clung onto the very tiny glimmer of hope that Garrett's mother would somehow magically materialize through that doorway.It was well into noon when a movement at the doorway drew my attention. I turned, expecting yet another stranger, but froze as a woman stepped inside. She was older than what I had placed her for, her hair streaked
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Under The Mask Of My Enemy Confusion
Chapter 36: Garrett’s POVI paced the marble floor of my suite in the villa, my fists clenched and jaw tight. My phone buzzed again, another update from the men I’d sent to follow Thorne.He was in Italy.He had left New York without even a word, disappeared from the villa as stealthily as a shadow. It was worse than that. Oliver had aided him in his disappearance. I wanted to break something; anything to clear the pent-up frustration churning in my gut. But I could not. Not yet. Clarity was something I needed."Oliver," I grunted into the phone, speaking in a very low voice that bordered on menacing.There was a silence before Oliver's response came over. "Yes, sir."Care to explain why Thorne left New York under your watch? And why you disobeyed my orders?"Oliver sighed. I could hear the weariness in his tone, but it did nothing to soothe my anger. "I didn't disobey you, Garrett. I trusted Thorne's intentions.""That wasn't your decision to make!" My voice rose, sharp and cutting.
Last Updated : 2025-01-08Under The Mask Of My Enemy In The Line Of Fire
Chapter 1: Thorne's POVThe dock reeked of sea salt and decay, a smell that clung in the air like a warning. I hunched behind a rusted container, the earpiece clutched in my hand. "Everybody in place?" My voice was calm, but inside my heart went the rhythm of war drums."Ready, Lisa whispered, our sniper tucked away, somewhere high up above the chaos that would soon erupt."Locked in," Marcos repeated. His deep voice, composed and controlled.Eric followed. "All clear."We were ghosts in the night, invisible, unstoppable - or so I had told myself.I spotted him through my binoculars-Garrett Cullen. He stood below, under the flickering lights, as if he was the king of the world. That arrogant smirk on his face was a brand that had been burned in my memory, mocking me each time I closed my eyes. He was the reason we were here tonight. Months of investigation, sleepless nights, and uncounted sacrifices had brought us to this moment.This was our chance to bring him down, to damage the Cu
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy In The Hands Of The Enemy
Chapter 2: Garrett’s POVSmoke curled around me, the acrid scent of burning wood and chemicals clinging to the night air. The distant roar of flames filled the silence, punctuated only by the crunch of boots over debris and barked orders as my men worked to cover our tracks. The warehouse was all but reduced to ashes, taking with it any evidence of tonight's deal.But I wasn't looking at the fire anymore. My focus was on the figure sprawled in the dirt a few feet away."Boss," one of my men said, stepping cautiously toward me. "That's him. Thorne Langley. FBI. He's the one who's been after us. The guy building a case against the family."Thorne Langley.The name was familiar, whispered in meetings, muttered in warnings over the past few months. The relentless agent who had crippled two of our major operations. The one they said was smart, unshakable, and impossible to bribe.I took a step closer.The man lying before me didn’t look like the invincible force I’d heard about. He was bro
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy Fragments Of A Lost Memory
Chapter 3: Thorne's POVI woke to a dull throb in my head, the kind that made every small movement feel like a thousand needles piercing my skull. My eyelids fluttered open, and the world around me seemed blurry, like I was seeing through fogged glass. The smell of antiseptic hung in the air, and there was an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity.Where was I?I attempted to sit up, and that felt like weightlifting. Stiff, uncooperative muscles-the mere thought of movement registered protests in my body. Panic gripped me, but I forced it down, trying to focus. The bright lights overhead hurt my eyes. I squinted, trying to make out the sterile room.The pain in my head was razor-sharp-unbearable. Each time I tried to remember anything-my name, where I was, how I'd ended up here-my mind would shatter like glass, the pieces scattering beyond my grasp. It was as if there was just nothing there. No memory. No past. Just. emptiness.A voice pierced the fog, soft and calming. "Easy, take it ea
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Life I Can’t Recall
Chapter 4: Thorne's POVThe room felt smaller somehow after Garrett's words. The weight of them settled in my chest like an anchor, pulling me down. Mafia. Lovers. My mind struggled to make sense of it. How could I have been involved in something so dangerous and foreign? And yet, the more Garrett spoke, the more the strange sense of familiarity crept into my bones.I know this is a lot to take in," Garrett said, his voice low, even, as though attempting to break through the fog in my mind. "But let me explain everything."I looked at him, still reeling from a whirlwind of emotions with none making sense. A piece of me felt betrayed, as if everything I thought I knew had been ripped away. But then there was this other part, smaller, wanting to believe him. The way he spoke with me, the way he took care of me, it felt… real. My head spun, though. The truth just didn't fit into the small pieces of my memory I could cling to.Garrett seemed to sense my struggle. He leaned forward, his ga
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy Through The Lies
Chapter 5: Garrett's POVWork had always been a means to an end for me, a necessity, never something I was passionate about. But these days, it was barely even that. My focus had completely shifted to Thorne. His recovery was all I thought about, but not entirely for noble reasons.Each day, I brought him food, not only for health reasons but as a test, too. If Thorne really had no memory at all, it would have shown in the way he reacted to the things I did, the things I said. A slip of the tongue, a flicker of recognition, anything could give him away. Yet, day in and day out, he kept his story straight. No familiarity, no suspicion. Just politeness and gratitude, silence and distance.Yet, there was something in the way he carried himself that piqued my interest. He was trusting in a way I wasn't used to anymore, not after all that had happened. Despite the confusion, despite the inability to recall who I was or what kind of life he'd led, Thorne didn't question my presence. There w
Last Updated : 2024-12-18
Latest chapter
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Confusion
Chapter 36: Garrett’s POVI paced the marble floor of my suite in the villa, my fists clenched and jaw tight. My phone buzzed again, another update from the men I’d sent to follow Thorne.He was in Italy.He had left New York without even a word, disappeared from the villa as stealthily as a shadow. It was worse than that. Oliver had aided him in his disappearance. I wanted to break something; anything to clear the pent-up frustration churning in my gut. But I could not. Not yet. Clarity was something I needed."Oliver," I grunted into the phone, speaking in a very low voice that bordered on menacing.There was a silence before Oliver's response came over. "Yes, sir."Care to explain why Thorne left New York under your watch? And why you disobeyed my orders?"Oliver sighed. I could hear the weariness in his tone, but it did nothing to soothe my anger. "I didn't disobey you, Garrett. I trusted Thorne's intentions.""That wasn't your decision to make!" My voice rose, sharp and cutting.
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Fragment Of The Past
Chapter 35: "A Fragment of the Past"Thorne's POVThe following morning, very little hope was left when I came to the hotel restaurant, but the stubborn part of me was ready to wait until literally the last moment. Gavin had already gone off for the day, so I was left to my thoughts once more. I sat by the window again, this time watching the city awake with its morning rush. Every clink of dishes, every murmur of conversation, felt so distant, like background noise in some dream.I told myself, with great respect and truth, that I'd done everything in my power. Now it was a decision, which, if she decided not to come-well, so be it. But a part of me just clung onto the very tiny glimmer of hope that Garrett's mother would somehow magically materialize through that doorway.It was well into noon when a movement at the doorway drew my attention. I turned, expecting yet another stranger, but froze as a woman stepped inside. She was older than what I had placed her for, her hair streaked
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Silent Answer
Chapter 34: "A Silent Answer"(Thorne's POV)The villa's walls seemed closer than ever, suffocating me with their quiet elegance. Over time, Garrett's control had grown more suffocating with every glance, every unspoken rule tightening the invisible leash he kept around me. Yet, I couldn't blame him altogether. Garrett had his reasons, which came in layers of pain and fear buried beneath his overbearing need to keep me safe. But understanding didn't make it any easier to breathe.It was Oliver who saved me from utter isolation, his silent companionship soothing to my wandering spirit. It was through him that I still held any link to the world beyond, a link delicately guarded, yet rare and one that ultimately managed to help keep my sanity. Of all people, Gavin had evolved into an unexpected ally. Resources, connections, quick thinking-he had everything and was an asset to me, though his motivations could be trusted only half of the time.My heart had skipped a beat, in a way it hadn'
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Fractured Trust
Chapter 33: Garrett's POVThe moment that tracker lit up with Thorne's whereabouts, a churn of unease stirred in my gut. He was out—again. I leaned back in my chair, my fingers tapping on the desk as I weighed my options. Confrontation could wait until I had all the details. For now, I'd start with the obvious.I called for Oliver. He entered the room with his usual stoicism, but his neutral expression didn't reassure me in the least."Where's Thorne?" I asked without preamble.Oliver didn't bat an eyelid under my scrutiny. "He's back at the villa," he replied evenly. "I took him out for a short time. He wanted to see the outskirts. I didn't see any harm in it.I stared at him for a moment, weighing the veracity of his words. Oliver had been loyal for years—one of the few people I trusted with Thorne. But something about the situation felt off."Did he meet anyone?" I asked sharply.Oliver hesitated for the briefest of moments, a crack in his otherwise perfect composure. "No one suspi
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Mission
Chapter 32: Thorne's POVWith Oliver's help, I slipped away from the villa without being noticed. Each step felt as though I was treading on thin ice, but it was something that had to be done. Garrett mustn't find out about this meeting. If he did, then it would all be over. My chest was heavy with tension, but I moved ahead, following Oliver's lead as we went along the hidden paths leading to the meeting point.After a number of turns and bends, we reached a nondescript building at the outskirts of the city, standing almost concealed by the growth of a copse of trees. It looked so nondescript, but I know by now not to look at appearances. Oliver stood at the door, impassive, as he waited for me to precede him into the room. "Remember, Thorne, you have only half an hour. Don't push your luck.".I nodded in acknowledgment, offering a tight smile before pushing open the door and stepping inside. The room was dimly lit, the air heavy with scents of wood and leather. It was a place of pri
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Gift From The Heart
Chapter 31: A Gift from the HeartThorne's POVRecovery of my memories had been bittersweet all these days. These flashes of the past were small victories, which keep hinting that I am not so lost after all. Of course, each memory brought a wee bit of pain with it and more importantly, brought me a little closer to myself. No longer was this about reclaiming my past but all about building a future that I could be proud of. And the future, at the moment, included Garrett.One evening, when it was quiet, I was standing in the kitchen. Oliver was laying the silverware for dinner, very precise, as always, his movements slow and smooth. I leaned against the counter, lost in thought."Oliver," I said hesitantly into the silence."Yes, Master Thorne?" he replied, not looking up from his task."When is Garrett's birthday?The only sound that followed was the clatter of a spoon against a tray. Oliver straightened and turned to me, an inquisitive look upon his face."It's next month," he stated
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Day For Us
Chapter 30: A Day for UsGarrett's POVWhat had shaken me more than it should have was Thorne's confession of his childhood-a story not so much about what happened, but how it was told in a quavering voice, the weight of years of pain apparent in every word. The memory had branded him; the scars ran so deeply that I doubted he even knew how much it still hurt.Days went by, and I just couldn't seem to get it out of my head. This little boy, Thorne, hopeful and excited as he waits for his parents and then will never see them again-that haunted me. That wasn't fair. He was too young to be forced to carry the weight of that horror with him throughout his life. Yet, he had borne it silently, without complaint, letting it color his life in ways he never should have had to endure.I couldn't change the past, but maybe-just maybe-I could give him something new to remember.It struck in the dark of night as I sat and stared out the window: an amusement park-a simple thing of innocence-but to
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Burdened Memories
Chapter 29: Garrett's PovIt was a long and exhausting morning; my head was still blurry from last night, for which it wasn't the least prepared to hear from Thorne what he actually had to say.The soft shuffle of footsteps hit behind my back, and without even looking further, I already knew him since his presence in my life-an anchor, welcome or not-loomed well amidst the world around me. But there was a difference in the air, surrounding him today. The feeling inside him was monumental, weighty, something that spoke of a titanic shift. I instinctively could feel the rising tension inside my body as I knew he needed to say.When he finally spoke, his voice was low, uncertain, almost like testing the waters. "Garrett," he said, his words drawing me in completely, "I remember… some things.I froze, the fork I had been holding midway to the plate of eggs in my hand. My heartbeat faltered for a moment. A memory. His memory. It was a long time since he started recovering it, but now… now
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Shadows Of The Past
Chapter 28This nightmare came with no warning at all, tugging me out of that fragile cocoon of sleep I'd managed to wrap around myself after the emotionally draining night with Garrett. The dream was just so real-so visceral-the initial feeling when I woke was not about knowing where I was. It took a few moments for my mind to sort out just exactly if I was still dreaming or finally awake.I felt the grain beneath me; I was five again and stood at the window of our old house, peering out into the black night. It was raining hard, blowing as if in howls; I was waiting-just for them to come home. A birthday hat sat crooked on my head, its strings pulling uncomfortably at my neck. I remembered clutching the little handmade card I’d spent all day working on, the one with the misspelled words and clumsy drawings. I’d wanted to show it to them so badly.In my dream, I still hear my own childish voice, insistent and pleading, "You have to come home! It's my birthday! You promised!" I didn't
