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Relief
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2024-12-31 20:15:28
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Under The Mask Of My Enemy Intimacy
Chapter 27: Thorne's POVThe night air was so thick with unsaid words and tension that it could wrap itself around the room and just not let go. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window at the weak moonlight filtering through the curtains. The coldness of the day still lingered, and the sharp edge of Garrett's silence cut deeper than the words could ever cut.The creaking of the door opening startled me, and my head jerked up. There he was-Garrett. He stood in the doorway, his shoulders tense, his gaze heavy with something I couldn't quite name. He didn't move, and for a moment, I wondered if he'd simply turn and walk away again.But then he stepped inside, his movements deliberate, the door clicking softly shut behind him.Garrett," I said, my voice slicing through the silence that had stretched between us all day to unbearable lengths.He didn't say anything for a minute. Instead, he crossed the room in a few long strides, stopping directly in front of me. His hands re
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-31Under 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-02Under 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-03Under 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-04Under 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
Last Updated : 2025-01-05Under 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 : 2025-01-06
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Under The Mask Of My Enemy Within
Chapter Title: Shadows WithinDamian’s POVThe room was silent except for the staccato beat of my fingers tapping on the rim of my desk. Outside, the city stretched into the darkness, its lights shimmering like stars stuck in the ground. But I couldn't spare time to enjoy the sight.Carlos was dead. One of our issues had been taken care of. But Bianca? She was still out there. And she had known our every move before we made it. That could be only one thing—someone within my own command had been giving her information.My men were loyal. At least, they were supposed to be. They had all fought, bled, and nearly died on my command. They had suffered betrayals, ambushes, and the struggle for power with me. So, who was the traitor?I scanned the reports covering my desk—transaction records, intercepted communications from Bianca's organization, irregularities in recent orders. The puzzle wasn't coming together yet, but I was close.A knock on the door made me lift my head. "Come in."Loren
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Garett’s Desperation
Chapter 88: Garrett's DesperationGarrett's POVThorne's words lingered in my mind, over and over again, like a horrible joke I couldn't shake off."I can’t fall in love with a person who deceived him like this. Why do you think I won't fall in love with Gavin anymore?"I had thought that nothing else could ever pain me more than the day he left, but this—this was worse.I. My head yelled at me to leave, to stop torturing myself, but my body refused. My eyes locked onto them—on Thorne and Gavin, sitting side by side at their table, laughing, talking, smiling.That smile.It wasn't tense.It wasn't false.He looked. happy.And that understanding sent a searing, anguished pain through my chest.I had seen Thorne smile before, but never like this. Not at me.My hands trembled as I grasped my glass, clenching it so tightly I was afraid it would shatter."He's only doing this to drive me away," I told myself. "He's trying to make me quit."But was he?The more I watched, the more I was co
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Severing Bonds
Chapter 87: Severing BondsThorne's POVI knew Garrett was still watching me.Even though I had warned him to stay away, I could feel it. His presence lingered like a shadow Garrett wasn't the type to back down easily.And if he was still watching me, that meant he still had hope.I needed to crush that hope once and for all.So I did the only thing I could think of. I asked Gavin out.It wasn't serious. I knew that. I wasn't doing it because I was interested in him romantically. I was doing it to end things with Garrett once and for all. If he saw me with Gavin—if he thought I had really moved on—maybe he would finally leave me alone.That was the only reason.At least, that's what I kept repeating to myself.Dinner with GavinWe met at a quaint little restaurant in the city. It was not upscale, but the low lights and soft music gave it a private feel. Safe.Gavin arrived exactly on time, looking casual and upbeat. He wore a fitted white shirt with the top button undone, his sleeves
Under The Mask Of My Enemy The Past That Won’t Let Go
Chapter 86: The Past Won't Let GoThorne's POVThe moment I walked into the FBI office that morning, I knew that it was going to be a long day.I had set myself to work, making use of all I had discovered about the Cullens, in starting the amassing of evidence against them. I had learned too much—too many secrets kept beneath the rug. And now I was going to put everything into practice and destroy them.Each document, each encoded email, each loose thread—I was going to tug at them until the whole empire tumbled.But I knew one thing for sure.Garrett would never allow that to happen without a struggle.I pushed the vision of him from my head and back to my screen. Hours flew by in a blur of documents and numbers, and before I could even consider it, the sun had dipped below the horizon.By the time I started to pack up my belongings, exhaustion weighed heavily in my limbs.As I walked out into the building, a voice called out behind me."Thorne, I'll take you home."I was confronted
Under The Mask Of My Enemy The One I Lost
Chapter 85: The One I LostGarrett's POVI sat in the darkness, the city lights casting faint glows against the windows. My whiskey glass was half-full on the table, the ice having dissolved long ago. I wasn't drinking it for the taste anymore—I just needed something to fill my hands, something to distract me from completely losing it.But it wasn't working.My screen glowed in the dark, the only light coming from the city outside my window. I stared at the photos on my screen, swiping through them one by one.They were all of him.Thorne.Every move, every glance, every damn thing he did—I had it on camera in these photos, being sent to me by the men I had posted around him. It was pathetic, but I couldn't resist.The first photo caught him entering the FBI building, dressed in working attire. He was the same but different all of a sudden. Stronger. Focused. Like he'd finally left the past behind him.Unlike me.The second photograph was of him at the gym, his body tense as he sparr
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Thorne’s Return
Chapter 84: Thorne's ReturnThorne's POVReturning to the FBI was going back to a world I had known all my life, yet now it was somewhat different. The same crowded hallways, the same constant hum of voices, and the same rigid schedule of daily tasks were all the same. But after everything that had occurred to me, I simply did not feel like the same man who had once walked these halls with assurance.I hadn't been assigned any cases yet. My bosses wished for me to have time to get settled, to acclimate to the environment again. I didn't object—I wasn't sure I was prepared to jump into anything heavy right away. So I spent my time reading case files, re-familiarizing myself with procedure, and doing physical training. The days were long, but they restored a feeling of purpose to me.At the end of the day, exhaustion set in, but it wasn't unwanted. It was a feeling of accomplishment. While I was preparing to depart, a group of my fellow agents inexplicably gathered around me, their eyes
Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Sense Of Freedom
Chapter 83: A Sense Of FreedomThorne's POVI healed faster than expected. Maybe it was because I had survived worse before. Maybe it was because I did not let myself be weak for too long. Whatever the reason, within weeks, I was healthy enough to be released from the hospital.So, the release form was signed and I was gone.On the morning of my release, a nurse came into my room with a large bouquet of lily of the valley flowers in her arms."There's no name on the card," she said, setting them down on the bedside table. "But whoever sent them clearly loves you very much."I didn't need to know a name. I knew already.Garrett.I glared at the tiny white flowers, my jaw tight. Lily of the valley. But to me, it represented one thing and one thing only—Garrett's way of reminding me that he was still present. That he still had control over me, even now.I grabbed the bouquet and tossed it into the trash can without hesitation. I did not want anything from him. Not his flowers. Not his at
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Thought
Chapter 82: Thorne’s PovI woke up to the presence of Gavin sitting beside my hospital bed. His usually calm and composed face was furrowed with worry. The moment he noticed my eyes open, he leaned in, his voice in a hushed urgency."How do you feel?"I blinked repeatedly, acclimating to the bright hospital lighting. I ached everywhere, but nothing was unbearable. "I'm okay," I answered, my voice scratchy from disuse.Gavin released a breath, then hesitated before speaking. "Thorne, I should tell you something." His tone had changed, becoming grave. "We found a micro tracker on you. It's been removed now."At first, his words didn't surprise me. I had always known that Garrett had a tracker on me—I had long suspected it. He was too controlling, too obsessed. But as Gavin continued, my breath caught in my throat."It was implanted in your body," he said, watching me closely.I braced myself.Implanted?I had expected something like a hidden GPS in my belongings, or maybe even some dev
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Love And Regret
Chapter 81: Love and RegretGarrett’s POVI stood frozen in place, my body tense as Gavin stepped forward and shoved me aside. I barely stumbled, but I didn’t resist. My hands curled into fists at my sides, and my heart pounded against my ribs, but I remained silent.Gavin positioned himself protectively in front of Thorne’s bed, blocking my view of the man I had fought so hard to find. His expression was a mix of anger and disdain as he looked at me, and when he finally spoke, his voice was filled with cold certainty.“You don’t know how to love, Garrett. You don’t understand what it means to love someone.” His words struck like a blade to my chest. “You were never worthy of Thorne. To him, you’re nothing but an enemy. If it weren’t for you, his life wouldn’t have turned out like this.”I stiffened. “That’s not true,” I said, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I love him. And he loves me.”But even as I said the words, my conviction wavered. Gavin’s expression didn’t change. H
