Home / LGBTQ+ / Bouquet Of Deception / Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

All Chapters of Bouquet Of Deception : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

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21

21RileyThe lively buzz of the ballroom had dulled into background noise as I swayed with Ethan just moments ago. Now, leaning casually against the bar, I scanned the crowd, my senses still attuned to the game we were playing tonight. I knew our little performance had its risks, especially with people like Jonathan lurking around. Jonathan—Ethan’s insufferable coworker. The man practically reeked of opportunism, and I’d bet my best leather jacket that he’d sniffed out this chance to cause trouble the moment Ethan left for the restroom. Sure enough, I caught his beady little eyes scanning the room before landing on me. Here we go. He approached, a smug smirk plastered on his face. “Riley, right?” I turned to face him fully, flashing my most polite smile—the kind that didn’t reach my eyes. “That’s me. And you’re Jonathan, correct? Ethan’s coworker?” Jonathan’s smirk deepened as he extended a hand. I shook it briefly, resisting the urge to wipe my palm on my pants afterward. Hi
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-11
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22

22RileyEthan stiffened at first, his hands hovering awkwardly before settling on my waist. His touch was tentative, as if he were unsure of himself. “You’re surprisingly good at this fake boyfriend thing,” he murmured, his tone light but carrying an undertone of something deeper, heavier. I smirked, trying to keep my emotions in check despite the growing tension between us. “What can I say? I’m a natural. Besides, someone had to save you from Jonathan’s smarmy little mind games.” Ethan chuckled, the sound low and warm, but I could sense the tension still coiled in his body. His grip tightened just slightly, his protectiveness slipping through. “What happened with him? Did he try to approach you?” “Oh, he tried,” I said with a roll of my eyes, my voice laced with irritation. “But don’t worry, I handled him. He spent more time tripping over his own words than actually getting under my skin.” Ethan’s jaw tensed, his expression darkening. “That guy,” he muttered, his frustration
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-12
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23

23EthanI watched Riley's every move with a mix of curiosity and unease. His sudden departure from my arms left me standing alone on the dance floor, his absence like an echo I couldn’t ignore. He moved toward the MC with deliberate strides, his posture confident and his intentions completely veiled as a magician’s trick.“What the hell is he up to now?” I muttered under my breath, my eyes glued to him as he leaned in to whisper something to the MC. The man’s brow furrowed at first, clearly taken aback by whatever Riley had said. But then Riley smiled—a mischievous, almost devilish grin that had me gripping the edge of my glass tighter. He said something else, his tone light but insistent, and, to my utter confusion, the MC’s cheeks flushed. He actually *blushed* before nodding and breaking into a grin himself. What on earth did Riley say to make the MC blush?“What is he saying to him?” a voice murmured beside me. I turned slightly to see a woman in a sequined dress, her eyes al
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-13
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24

24EthanThe moment Riley stepped away, leaving me clutching the bouquet, I felt the weight of countless eyes on me. My skin prickled under the scrutiny, and the crowd buzzed with whispers, their gazes bouncing between Riley and me as if we were the stars of some twisted rom-com. I should have been furious. *I was* furious—at Riley, at this ridiculous situation, and most of all, at myself for letting it spiral so far. Then I caught sight of Liam once again.He was standing near the bar, his jaw clenched so tightly it seemed his teeth might shatter. His face was a mask of barely contained rage, and beside him stood Owen, clearly trying to calm him down. But Liam didn’t notice; his entire focus was locked on me. Good. For a split second, satisfaction rippled through me. Liam deserved this—to feel helpless, to be on the outside looking in. Still, the way he stormed toward Owen, dragging him roughly by the arm, sent a jolt of unease through me. “What’s he up to now?” I muttered und
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-13
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25

25EthanLiam’s eyes darted between me and Riley, his face turning an alarming shade of red. He was practically shaking with fury, his jaw clenched so tightly I feared his teeth might crack.“Shut up, Riley!” Liam spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You don’t know anything. You’re just his *puppet*—his little mouthpiece for whatever sick, twisted plan he’s concocting.” He turned his glare back to me. “This is all your doing, Ethan. You can’t handle the fact that I moved on. That I found someone better than you. So you’re trying to destroy everything!”I stepped forward, my hand gripping Riley’s tighter. “No, Liam,” I said, forcing a calmness I didn’t feel. “It’s you who’s destroying everything. Not me. Not Riley. You. You’re lying, and everyone here knows it. You begged me for a second chance in the restroom. I didn’t have to tell anyone that, but I did. Because Owen deserves the truth.”Liam scoffed, his expression twisting into something ugly. “You’re *bitter*. You can’t stand seei
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-13
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26

26EthanLiam’s eyes widened in shock as he looked between Owen and the guards, confusion spreading across his face. “What’s going on, Owen? Why are you—”But Owen didn’t give him the chance to finish. “They’re liars. They’re undesired. They’re frauds. Get them out of here.” His voice cracked with finality.The guards didn’t hesitate. They moved swiftly toward us, their hands ready to escort us out. Liam, looking as though he’d just won some twisted victory, stood up, his fake tears now gone, replaced with a smug grin.Riley stepped in front of me, his face hard as stone, but I could tell he was as caught off guard as I was. “Owen, don’t—” he began, but the guards weren’t listening.One of the guards grabbed Riley’s arm. “Let’s go,” he barked, pulling him toward the door.I was too stunned to speak as I was escorted out alongside Riley. My mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. This wasn’t how I had expected it to go. Everything was falling apart in front of my eye
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-14
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27

27Ethan“I can’t slow down! This is GOLD!” she interrupted, her laughter bubbling through the phone. “Hold on, I’m sending you a link. No, actually, put me on speaker. Riley has to hear this!”I glanced at Riley, who was already looking at me with raised eyebrows. With a sigh, I hit the speaker button. “You’re on,” I said.“RILEY!” Ava shouted, her excitement palpable. “Check your phone right now! It’s all over Twitter, TikTok, everything! Liam’s wedding is the *scandal* of the year!”Riley’s eyes widened, and he immediately pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen. “Wait, no way,” he muttered, his expression shifting as he scrolled. Then, suddenly, he let out a bark of laughter. “Oh my God. She’s right. Ethan, you have to see this.”“What are you looking at?” I asked, still trying to process everything.“The hashtags are insane,” Riley said, turning his phone to show me the screen. “‘#LiamLiar,’ ‘#OwenDeservesBetter,’ ‘#WeddingGoneWrong’—dude, you’re *everywhere*.”A
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-14
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28

28 RileyEthan was heavier than I expected, or maybe I was just exhausted. Either way, carrying his unconscious, drunken body up the stairs to my apartment wasn’t exactly how I thought the night would end. He had made a complete fool of himself in the bar, singing like a dying cat, twirling around like he was the lead in some Broadway disaster. And now, here he was—completely out cold in my arms.I shifted his weight, fumbling with my keys as I finally reached my door. “Damn it, Ethan,” I muttered under my breath. “You really know how to make my life difficult.”Kicking the door open, I stepped inside——and froze.The air was wrong. The scent in my apartment was wrong.My breath hitched as my instincts flared, every muscle in my body tightening. My place was a mess. The couch was overturned, my bookshelves emptied, and the papers from my desk were scattered across the floor like a hurricane had ripped through them. My lamp lay shattered near the doorway, tiny shards of glass glinting
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-15
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29

29RileyEthan groaned before he even opened his eyes. His face scrunched up, and his hand blindly reached for something, probably a pillow to bury his head under. Instead, he smacked the air uselessly before giving up with another groan.I smirked from my chair, arms crossed as I watched him slowly regain consciousness.“Morning, Sleeping Beauty.”He made a noise somewhere between a whimper and a groan. “Ugh. No. Too loud.” His voice was rough, raspy from the alcohol, and his words slurred with exhaustion.I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “You feeling like absolute garbage yet?”Ethan pried one eye open, glaring at me as if I were the cause of his misery. “Why does my skull feel like it got hit by a truck?”“Because you drank enough whiskey to kill a small horse,” I said dryly. “Then proceeded to make a complete fool of yourself at the bar before passing out in my arms. You are welcome, by the way.”He groaned, rubbing his face before abruptly freezing. His fingers clu
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-16
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30

30EthanRiley was being stubborn. Again.“You’re staying here,” I said, crossing my arms as he stood in my doorway, shaking his head.“No, I’m not.” His jaw was set, his eyes sharp. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll figure something out.”“Figure what out?” I scoffed. “Your place is a crime scene. What, you planning to sleep in the wreckage?”Riley sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t want to impose.”I gave him a flat look. “You literally carried my drunk ass home last night. I think I owe you.”“That’s different.”“It’s really not.”He huffed, clearly losing patience. “Ethan, I don’t—”“You don’t what?” I interrupted. “Trust me? Think I can handle a roommate? Because I hate to break it to you, but you are not as low-maintenance as you think.”His lips twitched, but he quickly smothered the amusement. “I just don’t want to be in your way.”“You won’t be,” I said, softer this time. “Look, just stay until your apartment gets sorted. It makes sense. You’re safer here.”He hesi
last updateLast Updated : 2025-01-16
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