Semua Bab Tides Of Betrayal: Bab 11 - Bab 20

The party was in full swing, a glittering affair of high society elites mingling effortlessly, their laughter and chatter echoing through the grand ballroom. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting fragmented light across the room like stars in a polished night sky. Servers glided through the crowd, offering trays of champagne and appetizers, their practiced grace blending seamlessly into the opulence of the evening.I was impressed. Even I, couldn’t pull it off at all.I clutched my champagne flute tightly, it’s cool stem grounding me as I fought the creeping unease breathing to choke me. The faces around me were unfamiliar, save for the occasional nods and greetings directed Mr. Railway. I was, quite frankly, out of my depth.“Smile, Veronica,” I whispered to myself, pasting on the same polite expression I had on all evening. Mr. Railway had been kind enough to introduce me to a few of his clients earlier, but I quickly grew weary of the thinly veiled judgements hidden behind

NEILI was furious. I wanted to punch something—scratch that, I wanted to punch that sick bastard in his fucking face. The only thing that was stopping me from going to the police station to beat the living daylights out of Aubert was the woman laying in my bed.“She may suffer a mild concussion because she really hit her head hard,” Dr. Kelsey said and my jaw clenched.I looked down at Veronica, her face pale against my dark sheets. My shirt looked impossibly large on her, swallowing her petite frame. Anger boiled in my chest again. I could still see the faint trace of blood on her arm, even after Dr. Kelsey cleaned the wound. That bastard.“She’ll heal,” Dr. Kelsey said, her voice gentle but firm. “You’ll just need to make sure she rests. No stress.”I nodded, forcing the lump in my throat down. Stress was an understatement. Veronica hadn’t just been hurt—she’d been terrified. And I couldn’t shake the memory of her trembling in my arms as I carried her home.“It will heal, I’ve trea

VERAI couldn’t fall back asleep, so I decided to return to my room. Grabbing my dress and heels from the edge of the bed, I picked up my phone and slipped out quietly.A sigh of relief escaped me when I finally reached my room. Tossing my things onto the chair, I made my way to the bed. Stripping out of Neil’s shirt, I stood completely naked for a moment before climbing under the covers.Oddly, the bed felt harder than his.Wait—why was I calling him Neil?I cleared my throat and sat up, running my fingers through my hair. From where I sat, I could see my reflection in the closet mirror. My eyes traced over my body—from the curve of my small breasts down to my wide hips.I’ve never been ashamed of my small chest, but almost every man I’d been with seemed to prefer women with more. It didn’t bother me until they started cheating.Funny how I thought Berlin would’ve been different. Even though he was an asshole most of the time, I thought he respected me. I really did.I glanced down a

VERAI spent the rest of the morning sleeping. It felt as though my body decided to shut down on its own. Honestly, it was worth it. I hadn’t slept that good in days and somehow, this felt like a vacation. A vacation that I needed. But unfortunately, by tomorrow, I’ll be back in the office, running here and there, carrying out Neil’s endless orders.“I really need to stop calling him Neil,” I mumbled as I wrapped a towel around my body and made my way to the closet to look for a swim suit. I didn’t remember packing any because I knew I wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to the beach. But you know, life can be full of surprises.Raising a brow, I stopped short when I spotted a blue two-piece set lying neatly on top of my clothes. How had I missed that earlier? Picking it up, my eyes widened as I instantly realized who had packed it.Yvonne.“She will be the reason I lose my job. How am I supposed to wear this without looking like…” I groaned as I threw the fabric on my bed and pulled

NEILShe looked at my hand for a moment, as though debating whether or not to take it. Her hesitation made me wonder what exactly she was afraid of, but eventually, her small hand slipped into mine. Her touch was soft yet firm, and it sent an unexpected jolt through me.I pulled her up effortlessly, and she stumbled slightly, letting out a soft laugh. “You really have no patience, do you?”“Not when you ask for tequila before swimming,” I replied with a smirk. “But I’ll get you that shot. A promise is a promise.”Her lips curled Into a teasing smile as she brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Good. I’ll hold you to that.”We walked toward the beach bar in silence, the warm sand shifting under our feet. I was acutely aware of how close she was, her arm brushing mine every so often. The air between us felt charged, though I couldn’t tell if she felt it too or if it was just me losing my damn mind.When we reached the bar, the bartender greeted us with a bright smile. “What can I g