All Chapters of The Orchestrated Lie: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Chapter Eleven"That child will never belong to him."The words from Adrian’s mouth hit me like a sledgehammer as I froze, the pen in my hand hovering over the pile of divorce papers. His voice came from the door to Stefan’s townhouse, where he stood with an arrogance I hadn’t seen in weeks.Stefan, seated beside me, exhaled sharply. "You just don’t know when to quit, do you?"Adrian ignored him, his eyes locked on me. "Shania, we need to talk. Alone."I set the pen down deliberately, the faint sound of it clicking against the glass table cutting through the tense air. "We don’t need to talk, Adrian," I said, my voice calm but firm. "Not now, not ever."Adrian stepped farther into the room, his expression darkening. "I don’t care what you’ve convinced yourself of," he said, his tone low and dangerous. "But you’re still my wife, and that baby—""That baby," Stefan interrupted, rising to his feet with an unsettling calmness, "is none of your business. Neither is she. Sign the papers and

Chapter ThirteenAdrian's words stuck in my head like a bad song on repeat."He’s been controlling your life, Shania."Every time I thought I’d begun to untangle the web of lies surrounding me, another thread seemed to appear, and now, it was Stefan holding the spool. Was Adrian telling the truth? Or was this just another one of his manipulative games to keep me under his thumb?I tried to shake the thoughts away as I stood by the kitchen sink, washing a glass I’d barely used. The rhythmic sound of water running helped steady my nerves. Outside, the sun had set, casting the room in a golden haze.A sharp knock on the front door pulled me from my spiral.I froze, my mind immediately jumping to Adrian. Was he back to cause more chaos? My heart thudded painfully as I dried my hands and walked toward the door.When I opened it, I wasn’t sure whether to feel relief or dread.Stefan stood there, his face as composed as ever, though his piercing eyes burned with an intensity that unsettled m

Chapter Fifteen“Pack your things.”Stefan’s voice was calm, but it held the weight of an unyielding command. He stood in the doorway of my bedroom, his dark eyes locked on mine. Gone was the patience I’d seen before. This was Stefan in his true form—unrelenting, decisive, and unapologetically dominant.I blinked, clutching the edge of the bed. "Excuse me?""You’re moving in with me tonight," he said, stepping further into the room. His tone left no room for argument."Stefan," I said, forcing calm into my voice. "I don’t think—""I didn’t ask what you thought," he interrupted, his gaze narrowing. "This back-and-forth with Adrian ends now. You’ve entertained his theatrics long enough. I won’t stand by while he poisons your life further."I crossed my arms, standing my ground despite the magnetic force of his presence. "You don’t get to decide what I do."His lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "Oh, but I do. You’re carrying my child, Shania. Your safety isn’t negotiable. And whi

Chapter Seventeen“Ms. Hartfield, your new account is now active. The balance has been transferred as per Mr. Ashford’s instructions.”The banker’s words hung in the air as I stared at the document in front of me, the number on the screen so absurdly large it didn’t feel real."That’s not my money," I said flatly, pushing the paper away."Actually, it is," Stefan’s voice drawled from the doorway of the private office. He stepped inside, adjusting his cufflinks as if he hadn’t just casually changed the trajectory of my life.I turned to him, my eyes narrowing. "What the hell is this?""It’s what you deserve," he replied, taking a seat across from me. His tone was calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "Consider it an advance on your new life.""I never agreed to this," I snapped."You agreed when you signed the divorce papers," he countered. "Or did you think walking away from Adrian would leave you unscathed financially? This ensures you don’t have to look over your shoulder for

Chapter NineteenStefan’s penthouse suite radiated power and opulence. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a skyline that shimmered like jewels against the night, while every surface gleamed as though untouched by mortal hands. Yet the man himself, sitting on a sleek leather couch with a glass of whiskey in his hand, seemed far removed from the luxury surrounding him. His piercing eyes followed my every move as I paced the room."You’re wearing a hole in the floor, Shania," Stefan drawled, taking a sip of his drink.I stopped abruptly, glaring at him. "This isn’t a joke, Stefan. My sister, my own twin, is out there spreading venom about you—and me."He smirked, setting his glass down on the table with a sharp clink. "Let her talk. Stephanie thrives on chaos, and I don’t care about the opinions of small minds.""Maybe you don’t," I snapped. "But I do. And it’s not just her words—it’s the way she said them. She knows something about you, Stefan. Something she thought I should be afraid of."