All Chapters of Shadows Of Deception : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

(IVY POV)Dr. Collins’s car rolled to a stop just outside a quaint little shop. The sun was beginning to dip,I stepped out, and looked over to see Ethan and Lily in the backseat, pressing their noses against the glass. Lily was looking some much healthier now so much more energetic. Their eyes sparkled with that innocent excitement only children seemed capable of. “We’ll be right back, kids!”. I called to them, giving a little wave.Ethan nodded, his face scrunched up in mock impatience, while Lily grinned and wiggled her fingers back at me. The car door closed with a soft thud, and I walked alongside Dr. Collins toward the small shop. A bell jingled as we pushed the door open, the scent of freshly baked bread and cinnamon swirling around us. We grabbed a couple of snacks, some colorful juice boxes, and a small bag of pretzels. Dr. Collins reached for a pack of chocolate chip cookies, glancing over at me with a smile. "A little treat never hurt anyone," she said with a wink.

(IVY POV)I sat on my seat , my fingers tapping anxiously on my knee, trying to mask the tension building inside me. I could see Ethan and Lily exchanging curious glances from the corner of my eye. They were bound to ask questions sooner or later. And I had hoped it would be later."Mum, why are we here?" Ethan finally broke the silence, his voice innocent and probing.I tried to smile, keeping my tone light. "Nothing really just some catch ups with another friend"Lily leaned forward, her big eyes narrowed with curiosity. "What other friend, Mummy? And why this place?"I checked my watch for the hundredth time, forcing a chuckle. "Another old friend, honey. We're just… helping out." I kept my eyes fixed on the building across the street, where Dr. Collins was supposed to be.The small talk continued. I answered their questions about the building, trying to distract them with playful answers. But my eyes kept darting back to the entrance, my heart thumping in my chest. I was

(THIRD POV)Vanessa’s heart pounded in her chest as the footsteps grew louder, echoing ominously through the narrow corridor outside.She could feel the cold sweat running down her back, her breaths becoming shallow and erratic. She bit down hard on her lower lip, silently cursing herself for taking such a stupid risk. Why did I do this? she thought, panic coursing through her veins. Why did I think I could outsmart Maxwell? Her imagination ran wild, conjuring images of what he would do if he found her here his cold, She imagined his devious face, his cold expression.The footsteps stopped just outside the door, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence. Vanessa’s pulse quickened. Maybe they’ll leave. Maybe they’ll think it’s empty and move on, she tried to reassure herself, but she knew better. Her hand gripped the edge of the desk tightly, her knuckles white with tension.Then came the first knock, it was soft, almost tentative, but it sent a jolt through her entire body.

(Adrian’s POV)The road stretched out ahead.The hum of the engine was steady, but the tension in the car was anything but steady.My eyes kept shifting from the road to Barrister Gabriel beside me, who sat stiffly with his gaze fixed straight ahead. He hadn’t moved an inch since we left the restaurant, as if afraid any gesture might betray him.I shifted in my seat, glancing at him again. His face was carefully blank, but there was something too calculated about his stillness, too rehearsed. The memory of the woman in the veil inside that car, at the restaurant flashed across my mind. And the other older woman he was standing with.She had been standing too close to him, like there was something more between them. My gut twisted. Something just seemed off .I thought back to the conversation at the restaurant entrance. When I had asked him about the snacks he told me he wanted to buy, he had waved me off, saying he hadn’t had time to pick them up because I had "forced" him out

(THIRD POV)Vanessa’s mouth went dry. Her mind raced, trying to grasp onto any coherent thought, but all she could focus on was the cold dread spreading through her veins. Maxwell’s gaze bore into her. The whites of his eyes reddeningCaleb subtly squeezed her arm, a silent plea for her to follow along with his ridiculous lie. The room seemed to shrink around her as time stretched on painfully.Vanessa’s lips parted, but no sound came out at first. She swallowed hard, her throat tight, and managed a weak nod. "Y..yes," she stammered, her voice trembling. "Mice... I... I thought I saw something run in here."Maxwell’s expression remained unreadable, his icy stare flicking between the two of them. For a moment, Vanessa wondered if he could see right through her, through Caleb, and knew exactly what they were hiding. Her hands shook, and she clenched them into fists to steady herself.Maxwell stepped further into the room, his presence looming. He didn't say anything for sometime