All Chapters of The Orchestrated Lie: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

“Adrian isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets”Stephanie's words cut through me like a dagger, each one piercing and deliberate. She stood on my doorstep, holding a baby with bright blue eyes - eyes that clearly belonged to Adrian. I felt my stomach tighten as I gazed at her, at the existence she cradled in her arms. Is this actually happening? I tried to talk, but no words escaped my lips. The betrayal weighed heavily on the words, trapping them. Stephanie's lips were adorned with a victorious smirk that made me feel like screaming. However, I remained motionless, feeling a combination of anger and shock running through me. Stephanie continued, her voice filled with satisfaction, describing the expression on his face when she revealed she was pregnant. "He didn't think twice about picking me instead of you." The world whirled around me, my thoughts lagging behind as I tried to grasp the meaning of her words. How long? How long had they been carrying on behind my back? How

"You have a lot of audacity coming here." The hallway echoed with Adrian's chilling and sharp voice, sending a shiver down my back. I suddenly stopped, my hand freezing on the doorknob to my apartment. Adrian was the person I most wanted to avoid out of all the people. I hadn't seen him in days since we had a fight at home and I found out about his affair with Stephanie. However, he suddenly showed up in the corridor of my apartment, casually standing by the wall. He looked like the man I had previously admired - tall, with perfectly groomed dark hair, and sporting the identical cocky smile that I once found charming. Now it only makes my skin crawl."I can’t recall inviting you, Adrian," I stated with contempt, trying to keep my voice composed. "What brings you here?" He casually drifted from the wall and strolled over to me, his hands casually tucked in his pockets, as if we were long-lost friends reuniting. As he approached, my anger intensified. I felt outraged by his audacity

“I’m not signing those papers, Shania.”Adrian's voice came through the phone with a crackling sound, each word filled with defiance. I held onto the gadget firmly, sensing a combination of irritation and rage coursing through me. I thought he would oppose, but hearing him say the words infuriated me. I snapped while pacing around the kitchen, “You no longer have control over this. It’s over, Adrian. You’ve already done enough damage.”A bitter laugh echoed from his side of the line. “You think I’m going to let you walk away that easily? After everything?”I tightened my jaw, trying to remain composed, but the shaking in my hands betrayed my true emotions. “I don't need approval. The divorce is going to happen, regardless of your opinion.”A significant silence could be heard from the opposite side. When he ultimately talked, his attitude had changed to be severe and unfriendly. “You don’t get to decide that. You were mine first, Shania, and I’m not letting you run off with some rand